F-GAS changes for 2015 onwards

The F-Gas regulation 842/2006 has been repealed and replaced with the new EU Regulation 517/2014 on fluorinated gases. This came into effect on 16th April 2014 but will not start to impact on industry until January 2015. The reasoning behind the changes to the regulation is to promote a gradual reduction in F-Gases from now until 2050. Fig.1 demonstrates the anticipated effect for three scenarios in equivalent tonnes of CO2 emissions up to 2050;

carrying on without implementing change carrying on with current legislation adopting the new revised F-Gas regulations

Fig. 1 - Anticipated effect of changes up to 2050 The reductions will be achieved by a number of changes affecting many different industries including refrigeration and air conditioning. One of the key changes is implementing a phase down of the quantity of HFCs that can be placed on the market by producers and importers between 2015 and 2030 relevant to the 2012 quantity. Fig. 2 shows the proposed phase down starting with a cap in 2015 equal to the 2012 quantity. Target is a reduction of 78% of 1990 levels by 2050.

Fig. 2 Phase down to 2050

Exemptions include:

Producers and importers of less than 100 tonnes of CO2 equivalent HFCs per year. HFCs imported for destruction HFCs used in feedstock applications HFCs supplied by a producer to undertakings for export out of the Union HFCs supplied directly for use in military equipment HFCs supplied for use for etching or cleaning in semiconductor manufacturing

sector Applications for medical treatment (inhalers, etc.) Applications where no alternatives are available

Most F-gases are between 1,000 and 20,000 times more powerful then CO2 in terms of GWP. Therefore the way GWP is calculated has been revised to reflect the equivalent tonnes of CO2; changing the GWP of HFCs and HFC blends. The following table lists the HFCs and HFC blends covered in both the previous and new legislation that do or may impact on Airedale (directly or indirectly), this includes those added to the new list and the revised GWP for HFCs and HFC blends.

Refrigerant Chemical Formula Revised GWP R23 CHF3 14,800 R32 CH2F2 675

R125 CHF2CF3 3,500 R134a CH2FCF3 1430 R143a C2H3F3 4,470 R404A Blend of R-143a/134a/125 3,922 R407C Blend of R-32/125/134a 1,774 R410A Blend of R-32/125 2,088 R417A Blend of R-125/134a/600 2,346 R422D Blend of R-125/134a/600a 2,729

Refrigerants added to new HFC list R1234yf 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene 4 R1234ze 1,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene 7

A number of prohibitions are to be implemented in the future and those of interest are listed below.

Product or equipment Date of prohibition Domestic refrigerators with GWP=>150 01/01/2015 Commercial refrigerators and freezers with GWP=>2500 01/01/2020 Commercial refrigerators and freezers with GWP=>150 01/01/2022 Stationary refrigeration equipment that contains, or whose function relies on, HFCs with GWP=>2500

01/01/2020

Multipack centralised systems for commercial use of 40kW or greater using HFCs with GWP=>150

01/01/2022

Moveable air conditioning units with GWP=>150 01/01/2020 Single split A/C systems containing less than 3kg using HFCs with GWP=>150

01/01/2025

HFCs with a GWP of 2500 or greater will be prohibited for service and maintenance use on systems with a charge size equivalent to 40 tonnes of CO2 from 01/01/2020 for virgin refrigerant and for all service work from 10/01/2030. Pre-charged Systems In order to protect the integrity of the gradual reduction of HFCs placed on the market, HFCs charged in equipment should be accounted for under the EU quota system. From 1 January 2017 refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment charged with HFCs shall not be placed on the market unless HFCs charged into this equipment are accounted for within the quota system referred to in Chapter IV of Regulation 517/2014. When placing pre-charged equipment on the market, manufacturers and importers of equipment shall ensure that compliance is fully documented and shall draw up a declaration of conformity in this respect. Where HFCs contained in the equipment have not been placed on the EU market prior to the charging of the equipment, importers of equipment shall as of 2018 ensure that the accuracy of the documentation and declaration of conformity shall be verified every year by 31 March, for the preceding calendar year, by an independent auditor, accredited pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC or accredited to verify financial statements in accordance with the legislation of the Member State concerned. Manufacturers and importers of equipment shall keep the documentation and declaration of conformity for a period of at least 5 years after the placing on the market of the equipment. Change to Operator definition

Operator means the natural or legal person exercising actual power over the technical functioning of products and equipment covered by this Regulation

Applies to: Stationary refrigeration equipment Heat pumps

Leak testing Changes have been made to the limiting quantities which define the frequency of leak testing. The previous limits of 3, 30 & 300kg have been replaced with a number relating to the equivalent tonnes of CO2. The new labelling takes effect from 01/01/2017. Units with less than 3kg of refrigerant or 6kg for a hermetically sealed system will be exempt until 01/01/2017. The equivalent tonnes of CO2 must be displayed on the serial label alongside the actual weight and type of refrigerant. To calculate the equivalent tonnes of refrigerant the following simple equation is used; Equivalent tonnes of CO2 = Weight of refrigerant x Global Warming Potential / 1000 Example: A system with 10kg of R410A ET CO2 = 10 x 2088/1000 = 20.88 tonnes Leak testing

Product and Equipment Minimum Frequency Systems with GWP 5 and 50 and 500 tonnes CO2 Four times every 12 months

If leak detector fitted Twice every 24 months The following table shows the new requirements for leak testing limits (kg) using the equivalent tonnes of CO2 compared to the old system of weights. This will reduce the actual weight allowable for some refrigerants before leak testing is necessary at the differing intervals.

HFC GWP Charge weight (kg) equivalent

to 5 tonnes CO2

Charge weight (kg) equivalent to 50 tonnes

CO2

Charge weight (kg) equivalent to 500 tonnes

CO2 R32 675 7.41 74.1 741 R134a 1430 3.49 34.9 349 R404A 3922 1.28 12.8 128 R407C 1774 2.82 28.2 282 R410A 2088 2.39 23.9 239

R422D 2729 1.83 18.3 183 R1234ze 7 714.30 7143.0 71430 Previous limits for testing 3kg 30kg 300kg After 01/01/2017 leak detection systems must be fitted on equipment with equivalent tonnes CO2=>500 and the detectors must be tested every 12 months. Record keeping (system log books) will be as per the previous regulation and manual records must be kept by the Operator for a minimum of 5 years if electronic versions are not available. Labelling and equipment information The label on the unit must be visible and indelible. The following information must be included.

A reference that the equipment contains or its function relies on HFCs The designation of the HFC concerned The quantity expressed in weight until 31/12/2016. From 01/01/2017 the weight

and the equivalent tonnes of CO2 or for uncharged units, the weight and GWP with a clear space for the installer to add the final quantity.

If appropriate, a reference that the HFCs are contained in an hermetically sealed system (fully brazed or welded).

The label should be placed; o Adjacent to the service ports for charging or recovery, or o On the part of the product that contains HFCs.

The label should be in the official language of the Member State in which it is to be placed on the market.

The above information is also to be included in the instruction manuals and where the HFC has a GWP of 150 or greater the information must also be included in descriptions used for advertising the product. Keith Nicholls, Training School Manager Airedale International Air Conditioning Ltd 10th November 2014