NEWS
REFCOM welcomes ‘landmark’ prosecution of online seller
O
nline retailer Appliance Direct (AD) has been found guilty of breaching F-Gas regulations
resulting in its holding company, Buy It Direct (BID), being fi ned £37,500. AD was found to be in breach of F-Gas Regulation article 11 paragraph 5 which seeks to ensure equipment charged with refrigerant gas is safely installed to protect the public and the environment. The Environment Agency (EA) took legal action after receiving information provided by REFCOM in July 2020, which alleged that the company was selling split air conditioning heat pump systems without meeting its statutory obligation to ensure the appliances would be installed by properly qualifi ed engineers.
BID chief executive offi cer Nick Glynne had argued in the company’s defence that purchasers “could not proceed to actual purchase without agreeing contractual terms which included installation by a relevantly qualifi ed engineer”. However, this was dismissed by the
prosecutor on the grounds that there was “no evidence that the installation will be properly carried out”. The judgement found that 94% of AD’s sales to end-users were lacking evidence indicating compliance with the regulations. REFCOM has welcomed the successful prosecution. “This is a landmark prosecution that sets a precedent for anyone trying to circumvent these important public safety regulations using online sales
platforms,” said Graeme Fox, technical director of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) which operates the REFCOM register. “REFCOM and its members have
been raising the alarm about online sellers for several years as they represent a vulnerability in the system that can lead to equipment falling into the wrong hands. Most distributors and wholesalers are fully aware of their responsibilities and ensure they receive confi rmation of safe installation before selling refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, but we remain vigilant for any that might seek to act irresponsibly for profi t,” added Fox. “We will continue to work hard on behalf of the industry and its customers to ensure only properly
trained, qualifi ed and registered individuals and companies carry out this important work.” REFCOM produced a technical bulletin: ‘A practical guide for wholesalers and distributors’ in April 2017, which was approved by the EA, and set out the procedures that equipment sellers needed to follow to ensure compliance with the regulations. These include receiving confi rmation from the buyer that the equipment will be installed by someone holding a valid F-Gas handling certifi cate or by an F-Gas registered contractor.
Carrier urges building owners to act now to secure funding for low-carbon heat network projects
C
arrier is urging building owners and operators to apply for UK government grants to commercialise and construct new low-
and zero-carbon heat networks before the funding application deadline expires. There are a number of net-zero funding incentives available in the UK, including the Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF). The GHNF is a capital grant programme that opened in March 2022 to help organisations in the public, private and third sectors in England develop low- and zero-carbon heat and cooling networks. The popularity of the initial £288m fund has meant more funding is available and can be drawn down in fi scal years 2023/24 through 2026/27. After six rounds of applications, there are fi ve
more opportunities to apply with the next round closing February 23, 2024.
“Heat networks will be vital for helping the UK
reach net zero,” said Oliver Sanders, commercial HVAC director, United Kingdom & Ireland, Carrier. “Adopting heat pumps in these networks will provide highly effi cient methods of heating and cooling to reduce carbon emissions.” According to the UK Government Heat and Buildings Strategy, heat pumps and heat networks
are proven scalable options for decarbonising heat and will play substantial roles in achieving net zero targets. It says deploying at least 600,000 hydronic heat pumps per year to replace fossil fuel boilers by 2028 can keep the UK on track to get to net zero. “When you consider that only 55,000 hydronic heat pumps were sold in the UK in 2021, there is work to do in order to reach the 600,000 per
year target,” said Sanders. “The GHNF provides an excellent opportunity to make up the defi cit so the UK can benefi t from energy-effi cient district heating and lower carbon emissions. With the next round of government funding closing February 2024, we are urging organisations to submit their application and tap into this £288 million before it expires.” Round seven of the GHNF is now open.
Download the ACR News app today
www.acr-news.com • February 2024 5
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
