F-gas regulation will become law from 4 July 2007

EU – European Union F-gas Regulation

• What it means for you
• Do you have a leak detection system installed?
• Who needs to install a system?

On the 4 July 2006 The European Union's F-gas Regulation No 842/2006 became law and will for the majority of measures take effect from 4 July 2007.

The regulation aims to contain, prevent and thereby reduce emissions of the fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) covered by the Kyoto Protocol. This sheet gives a brief summary of its requirements for the UK's Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Heat-pump and Fire Protection Industry, which come into effect on 4 July 2007. (F-gases include all HFC refrigerants, such as R134a, R407C, and R410A.) Leak detection is an import part of this regulation. The tables below give the specific regulatory requirements when a CFC, HCFC, freon (refrigerant / air conditioning / heat-pump gas) leak detection system is required.

The objective of the F-Gas Regulation is to prevent leakage and to ensure repairs are undertaken as soon as possible after a leak is detected.

The information contained on these pages provide details and links to the range of AquiTron f-gas leak detection systems essential for the compliance with this regulation.

System and Equipment Operators
If you operate stationary refrigeration or air conditioning systems, you must prevent leakage and repair any leaks as soon as possible.

The European Commission (EC) will establish standard leak checking requirements. Where f-gas leakage detection is used on large systems, these must be checked at least annually.

You will need to maintain records of all refrigerants within your equipment with a charge of 3kg or more (if hermetic, 6kg or more). You must keep detailed service records for equipment containing a charge of 30kg or more.

Frequency of Leakage Inspection for stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump equipment

Frequency of Leakage Inspection

System Size Leak Detection System Installed? Frequency of Leakage Inspection > 3KG No 12 months Yes 12 months > 30KG No 6 months Yes 12 months > 300KG No 3 months Yes 6 months Note: Hermetically sealed systems, which are labelled as such and contain less than 6kg, are exempt.

Installing a refrigerant Leak Detection system will save time and money by reducing inspection and maintenance costs, and help you comply with the F-Gas regulation.

AquiTron™ range of refrigerant leak detectors are ideally suited to comply with the F-Gas regulations.

The following are extracts from the F-Gas Regulation 842/2006 F-Gas regulation Article 3 section 3. Operators of the applications referred to in paragraph 1, containing 300kg or more of fluorinated greenhouse gases, shall install leakage detection systems. Leakage detection systems shall be fitted by 4 July 2010. F-Gas regulation Article 3 section 4. Where a properly functioning appropriate leakage detection system is in place, the frequency of the checks required under paragraph 2(b) and (c) shall be halved.

The full text can be downloaded on the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) web site or Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases.