CHILLERS & REFRIGERANT F-Gas regulations – what you need to know T
James Chaplen, senior product manager at Mitsubishi Electric gets consultants and designers up to speed with changing F-Gas regulationsOmron Electronic Components Europe elaborates
he F-Gas regulations were initially introduced in 2015, to phase down and eventually ban the use of HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) between 2015 and 2030. These gases contribute towards global
warming and climate change, and their removal will support the UK’s ambitious environmental targets. The overall target of the phase down is to
reduce the CO2 equivalent of all gases in use to 21% of the baseline by 2030. To achieve this, legislation initially targeted gases with high global warming potential (GWP), and over recent years they have been phased down or out. Now, the European Commission is proposing further restrictions on the use of F-Gases, in line with net zero targets.
Despite no longer being a part of the EU, the UK is still committed to following the F-gas phase down regulations. And with refrigerants being present in most buildings, it’s vital to ensure that consultants and designers comply with the latest requirements, and understand how they will affect the industry going forwards.
Keeping track of changing regulations
Regulation around refrigerants has changed in recent years, and will continue to change further. For example, R22 refrigerant was banned in new equipment in 2004 and in all existing systems in 2010. Since then, other refrigerants with a higher GWP have also been phased down and replaced by new, low-GWP alternatives. R32 is now one of the most popular refrigerants on the market – a replacement for the higher-GWP R410A - and is often found in low temperature air conditioning systems, like Mitsubishi Electric’s Hybrid VRF.
The fourth generation of refrigerants –
hydrofluoro olefin refrigerants (HFOs) - are also increasingly being applied to equipment such as chillers, offering a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative. In addition, commercial heat pumps, like the QAHV Air Source Heat Pump, are using CO2 (R744) as a natural and stable refrigerant, which has a GWP of one - one of the lowest available GWPs on the market.
Complying with F-Gas rules
Under these F-Gas regulations, the onus is on the ‘operators’ of equipment containing refrigerants to ensure they comply. So, it’s vital to ensure that building owners, managers and even maintenance teams understand and work within the F Gas rules, as the Environment Agency has powers to enforce heavy fines for any breaches. There are a number of ways to do this. Under F-Gas rules, all HVAC systems now require a mandatory leak test, so equipment must be regularly checked, and any detected leaks must be repaired as quickly as possible. The frequency of checks depends on the size of the equipment, but should take place between twice a year and every two years. It’s also important to log the quantity and type of F-Gas in the equipment installed, the dates and results of any checks and also the measures taken to recover and dispose of F-Gases.
Under F-Gas regulations, anyone deployed to service or maintain equipment in your building must also be qualified to do so. There are a number of accredited organisations that currently offer certification, and the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has also established a nationally recognised REFCOM scheme. This allows consultants and designers to have building equipment serviced and maintained by expert REFCOM Elite F-Gas certified engineers, meaning
they can benefit from the most up-to-date industry expertise.
Looking to the future
While it’s important to ensure refrigerants comply with current F-Gas regulations, a good knowledge of the phase down plans can help to ensure buildings are prepared for future changes to legislation as well. For example, as refrigerants go through the phase down process, their price will inevitably rise as they become less readily available. This means that the cost of maintaining and repairing equipment will also increase. But a well-informed maintenance team can offer advice on upcoming changes to the rules, so building owners are prepared for potential price increases on the horizon. Changing F-Gas regulations are not just affecting maintenance costs but are also leading to changes in the overall design and manufacture of systems and equipment. For example, manufacturers are introducing product ranges that use low-GWP refrigerants, which also have different performance characteristics when used in equipment like chillers. As a result, it’s important to ensure that replacement or new systems are commissioned by engineers who understand the latest technologies and how to get the optimum performance out of them. Building designers, consultants and maintenance teams are faced with changing F-Gas regulations, and must take responsibility for complying to them. By deploying a knowledgeable service and maintenance team, carrying out regular inspections and opting for HVAC solutions which are designed to use low-GWP refrigerants, buildings can meet the required regulations both now and into the future. To download the free, CPD-Accredited Guide to the F-Gas Regulations, click here
R32 is now one of the most popular
refrigerants on the market – a replacement for the higher-GWP R410A - and is often found in low temperature air conditioning systems, like Mitsubishi Electric’s Hybrid VRF.
16 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JANUARY 2023
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