NEWS


ACRIB responds to F-gas phase-down consultation


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he Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB) has issued a formal response to the Department


for Environment, Food and Rural Aff airs (DEFRA) consultation on the proposed F-gas phase down, representing the views of its association and institute members. ACRIB’s technical group, which has examined the consultation in detail, has raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposals on installers, service companies, manufacturers and end-users across the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) sector. The group warns that servicing options for much of the existing equipment will be restricted in future, noting that 46% of cold stores are still


operating on HFCs, according to the CCF Cold Chain Report 2026, and that retrofi t solutions are not available. It also highlights the risk that customers may face premature obsolescence of equipment, requiring earlier-than-expected investment in new systems using alternative refrigerants. Manufacturers, meanwhile, would need to adapt product lines to accommodate diff erent refrigerants, while employers would need to increase investment in training to ensure staff can work safely, despite such training not being mandatory at present. ACRIB, which represents a range of trade associations and professional institutes, is calling on the government to provide more support for information campaigns and training


Copeland and Daikin expand joint venture to UK


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opeland and Daikin have expanded their joint venture into the UK and Europe. The


cooperation will introduce inverter swing rotary compressors, power electronics and controls tailored for European residential heat pumps, a technology widely recognised as central to reducing carbon emissions. Industry reports estimate that heat pumps could cut global carbon dioxide emissions by 500 million tons by 2030.


The partnership comes as Europe


accelerates eff orts to move away from fossil fuels, with demand for residential heat pumps rising alongside ambitious sustainability targets. Copeland and Daikin intend to provide a comprehensive package of technologies and customer support designed to help Original Equipment Manufacturers bring products to market more quickly and to strengthen the adoption of effi cient heating systems across the region. Ross B. Shuster, chief executive


offi cer of Copeland, said the cooperation expands Copeland’s


standards to ensure awareness, compliance and a safe transition. Responses from the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) and the FETA technical committees are available on the ACRIB website.


compression portfolio and combines advanced power electronics, controls and customer support to help OEMs accelerate product development. Jiro Tomita, executive associate offi cer of Daikin, emphasised the company’s role in engineering and producing inverter swing rotary compressors. Building on their earlier partnership, the companies will combine Copeland’s established sales channels and customer support with Daikin’s swing rotary technology, known for reliability and effi ciency. The joint venture is expected to begin operations in 2026, serving the United Kingdom, the European Economic Area, Switzerland and neighbouring territories.


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CIBSE conference charts next steps


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IBSE’s recent conference, Building Performance Reimagined – What’s Next?, convened engineers, architects, innovators and policymakers at the Royal Society in London to examine the future of building performance. The event, which built upon CIBSE President Fiona Cousins’ 2024–25 theme, focused on practical strategies to improve sustainability, effi ciency and occupant wellbeing. Drawing on recent CIBSE reports, discussions centred on thermal comfort, energy saving, data measurement and retrofi t, with case studies illustrating how these priorities are being applied in practice. Three sessions framed the day’s debate. A ‘fabric fi rst’ discussion


chaired by Sasha Krstanovic highlighted decarbonisation and resilience, with speakers off ering examples from the housebuilding sector. A second session, led by Sam Baptist, explored the role of research and policy in shaping aff ordable, sustainable homes. The fi nal session placed people at the centre of performance, with case studies showing how occupant needs drive design and operational outcomes.


www.acr-news.com • January 2026 7


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