32 Refrigerants F-Gas – the distributor’s tale
Ruth Leland, sales and marketing manager, refrigerants at BOC explains what the F-Gas implications are for distributors.
JUST OVER one year after the F-Gas 2 proposals began we finally have a document that should become legislation this summer. And what a 12 months it has been, with proposals, counter proposals and proposals to counter those. What we have now is a proposal that should provide a practical and achievable solution, while at its core addressing the fundamental principals of looking after our planet.
High Global Warming Potential (GWP) products’ days are numbered: the quantity of HFCs available for use is being phased down and they way in which they are used has to be regulated, controlled and carried out in a responsible way. All of this takes us towards a much greener refrigeration industry.
With a clearer view of the destination now in our minds it’s a case of mapping out the journey ahead and as a distributor of these products it’s important for us to understand our journey as well as that of our customers, so that we can follow the path together.
Responsible supply
One of the first key milestones of the journey for the distributor – after we have clearly interpreted all of the legislation in its entirety – will be to ensure the responsible supply of products and ensuring that those that we sell to are F-Gas registered.
Both users and suppliers of these products should behave in a responsible way, and the onus for doing this is on both parties.
As an industry, we need an efficient and unified way of checking compliance without causing unnecessary delay in the supply chain or delivering bad customer service.
It is also important to remember that the legislation is written for the EU, which means that as a distributor in the UK we will need to recognise an F-Gas certificate from other member state countries. Our aim is to be a compliant and responsible industry, but we must avoid causing undue delay or customer dissatisfaction.
Shared responsibility and a joined-up approach across the industry will ultimately will be better for us all.
ACR News April 2014
Changing gas requirements Another key area, for distributors and others involved in the supply or use of F-Gases, is the combination of the phase- down and the service bans. It is well documented that both the phase-down and service bans will impact the sale of the highest GWP refrigerants. Gases such as R404A, R507A and R422D will be hit hardest. Their high GWP means that they require a substantial quota allocation – a distributor can sell one tonne of R404A, or three tonnes of R134a for the same quota allocation. In addition, the 2020 service and maintenance ban will end the use of virgin HFCs with GWP 2500 and above in existing equipment, in a similar manner to the 2010 service ban on R22.
However there is no need to panic – we still have time to adjust to these changes, and in addition there are many solutions available today.
A number of replacement gases for R404A are widely available in the UK market today – for example R407A and R442A and RS50 can be used as ‘drop- in’ replacements for R404A in existing equipment with minimal system changes. They are also suitable for use with new equipment designed for R404A. R422D has been the most popular R22 retrofit gas, but alternatives exist, such as R438A (Isceon MO99) and R427A.
As R22 equipment is already relatively old, the 2020 ban may prove a sensible time to move to new equipment that can take advantage of the newest refrigeration equipment to combine improved energy efficiency with using low GWP refrigerants, such as Naturals and HFOs. These new gases will become an increasingly large part of our product portfolio over the coming years and it is important that the industry knows how to source, store and use these products.
Reclaiming and re-using
Finally, the combination of the phase down and service and maintenance bans will lead to an increased need for reclaimed refrigerant gases. Notably, users will be able to continue to use reclaimed refrigerants with GWP > 2500 in existing equipment until 2030. Reclaimed gas is also exempted from phase-down restrictions.
R22r has been a significant part of adhering to and working with the ODS regulations from 2009 and this latest round of legislation builds on this. Once the product has been manufactured, its use should not end with its extraction of the system. Correct end of life recovery, together with reclamation, ensure that we minimise the environmental impact of the business. Both avoid release to atmosphere and minimise the energy and natural resource requirements necessary to create new product. Reclaimed refrigerant not only has a place in the future but plays a critical part.
Providing a full range of recovery packages as well as the facility for reclaiming refrigerants to supply back to the market is a critical part of any distributors offer and is a fundamental piece of the total customer solution. In a time of change it’s also about being consistent. Consistency in message, approach and ultimately our joint responsibility as an industry to take legislation and make it the way in which we do business.
Having the complete range of product and package requirements allows us to offer our customers peace of mind through total dependability. Ultimately, no matter how much change needs to be made, we are all in it together and if we all understand where we are going and how we work collectively, the journey will be much smoother.
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