What refrigerant gas does your Air Conditioning – Refrigeration equipment run on? Is it about to become unserviceable?

At the beginning of 2013 it was estimated that around 55% of the UK’s air conditioning systems were still using R22 refrigerant. The phase out for this refrigerant has been coming for some time with the complete outright ban of this refrigerant coming into force this year! (2014).

You need to be aware that if your refrigeration or air conditioning system runs on this gas it will not be repairable or serviceable come 31^st December 2014! That’s the law and it could present a potentially critical risk to many UK businesses..

The supply of new air conditioning and refrigeration systems using R22 was banned in 2004 and the ban on supplying new virgin R22 refrigerant to service existing any equipment came into force on the 31^st Dec 2009. Current legislation only allows reclaimed or recycled refrigerant to be used until 31 Dec 2014.

A complete ban on the use of R22 (reclaimed or recycled) comes into force 31st Dec 2014, are you and your equipment ready?

All systems operating on R22 after that time will be classed as ‘not serviceable’!! Could you cope without it? What are your options?

    1.   Replace the existing system

 Top of FormBottoReplace or upgrade your R22 system could dramatically reduce your energy consumption by 30-40% by replacing your existing R22 System with a modern HFC based inverter system. The Carbon Trust have partnered with Siemens Financing to offer an Energy Efficiency Financing program where energy savings wholly offset the cost of a new system installation!

2. Convert your existing system to a HFC “drop in” refrigerant.

For newer systems in good condition, it may be possible to convert with a ‘drop-in’ HFC compatible refrigerant and some modifications.  This is likely to reduce cooling capacity and be less efficient than the original system and each conversion will need to be looked at case by case to assess if the conversion is viable. Our team of highly qualified and experienced engineers can do a site visit to provide you with the specific options for your system.

3. Do nothing

This option may be suitable for small non-critical installations such as an office split air conditioning system. Such systems are usually very reliable and could be replaced quickly and fairly cheaply with a new system when they become irreparable.

LoCool Services can help you find the best solution for your business. For more information about F Gas regulations visit out information pages or give us a call for a chat.

We hold regular reviews to maintain our high standards and to take into account any new hazards, or improved methods of control. It is our belief that given care, commitment and co-operation by employees, it is possible to conduct our activities without risk to Health & Safety.

We like to keep our clients informed of  any changes in legislation as we recognise the duty of care on everyone to protect our local and wider environment and actively encourage and support energy efficiency and waste reduction initiatives.

The duty of care is on everyone to protect, prevent and minimise pollution to our local and wider environment by elimination/substitution of polluting substances with “greener” alternatives.

We love to work  with company’s that share and adopt sustainable work practices and whom value trained and qualified personnel to carry out those tasks required of them. That is why at LoCool services we strive to bring you great service whilst reducing the level of risk to the Environment.

We have found that placing high importance on Planned Preventative Maintenance ensures that your equipment operates as effectively and efficiently as possible, not only does it help to reduce energy costs but it keeps money in your pocket by prolonging the operational life and to minimising equipment failure. Our priority is to keep your equipment in service!

Our engineers have years of experience and are well briefed with new legislation that affect your business to keep you the right side of legislation.

There has been new legislations in recent years that have changed the way the industry carry’s it’s work.  The new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and F Gas legislation being two of them!

What does this means to you, the customer and owner of refrigeration and air con equipment?

Well, you will need your equipment to be regularly inspected and certificated. Depending of the refrigeration systems size, or your units combined size and capacity this can vary. If you would like a copy of current legislation or want  better understand your commitment to the environment then give us a call on 07531 949 273 or drop us an email.

New legal directives and laws have come into force in recent years that as an owner of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment you should be aware of. F-Gas legislation being one of them which has now been handed to DEFRA to enforce! More detailed information on F-Gas can be found on my blog “What is F-Gas?” but there are other legislations that as an owner or if you are responsible for refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

The Directive on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD) was set out by Set out by the European Parliament and Council on energy efficiency of buildings and came into force January 2003. Inspired by the Kyoto Protocol  the directive commits the EU to reduce CO₂ to 5.2% below 1990 levels.

Directive 2002/91/EC EPBD, 2003 states that all EU Member States by  January 2006 must implement Articles 7
(Energy Performance Certificates) and Article 9 (Inspection of air conditioning systems) relate to the refrigeration and air conditioning industry and owners of refrigeration equipment.

LoCool Services recommended practices and Environmental Policy

LoCool Services recognises the duty of care on everyone to protect our local and wider environment and actively encourage and support energy efficiency and waste reduction initiatives.

The duty of care is on everyone to protect, prevent and minimise pollution to our local and wider environment by elimination/substitution of polluting substances with “greener” alternatives. LoCool

Through the adoption of sustainable work practices, LoCool is commitment to comply with all relevant and applicable legal requirements and ensure that personnel are trained and qualified for the tasks required of them and assess all work activities with regard to reducing level of risk to the Environment.

Importance of Planned Preventative maintenance

Planned Preventative Maintenance of all types of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment ensures that it operates as effectively and efficiently as possible, helping to reduce energy costs and prolong its operational life and to minimise equipment failure. The new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) means that equipment will need to be regularly inspected. New F gas Legislation will also affect all businesses using refrigeration & air conditioning equipment.

We recommend that you arrange to have your equipment serviced at least once a year and leak tested according to F-Gas regulatory intervals which are dependent on the size and amount of refrigerant your system holds. On larger systems this can be 4 times yearly!

Want to know more about F-Gas and your responsibility’s? Check out our F-Gas blog or simply give us a call, we will be happy to chat on how LoCool Services can help you stay in line with legislation in keep your refrigeration and air conditioning equipment running, safely, efficiently and meet the high standards of expected duty of care.

Our highly trained and experienced staff are just a phone call away 07531 949 273

“F Gases” are chemicals that contain “Fluorine”. We encounter the “F Gases” in everyday refrigerants used for heating and cooling applications within refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

These gases acts as a powerful greenhouse gas and have potential to form a reflective layer in the stratosphere.

This reflective layer causes rays from natural sunlight to reflect back to the earth’s surface rather than pass through the stratosphere. Thus the build up of greenhouse gases, acts like a pane of glass within a green house, causing the area under the glass to warm up.  It is in everyone’s best interest to reduce the release of these harmful gases…

Part of our works with refrigeration and air conditioning systems involves the safe reclamation of “F gases” from plant requiring repairs, or from redundant plant.

The reclamation of “F gas” is now mandatory by law. The responsible use and actions to minimise loss lies with the operators and owners of plant containing such gases.

‘F Gas Regulations: On the 4th July 2009 the new F Gas Regulations (similar to Corgi) came into force which makes it illegal for you as a user of Refrigeration or Air Conditioning equipment to employ any company to work on this type of equipment who isn’t an approved ‘F Gas’ contractor.

 New F gas Legislation will affect all businesses using refrigeration & air conditioning equipment.

We recommend that you arrange to have your equipment serviced at least once a year and leak tested according to F-Gas regulatory intervals which are dependent on the size and amount of refrigerant your system holds. On larger systems this can be 4 times yearly!

If you are unsure about your commitments or require more advice then give us a call on 07531 949 273!