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The F-Gas Regulation restricts the use of various refrigerants. We explain the background, what you need to know about it, and how we can help you convert your cooling system.
The long predominant halocarbons (CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs) combine good efficiency and safety with acceptable costs. But chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) also contribute to ozone depletion and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to global warming. In response to the atmospheric ozone layer depletion caused by CFCs and HCFCs, the Montreal Protocol mandated the phase-out of CFCs and HCFCs in 1987. This protocol has become the first multilateral environmental agreement with truly global participation. It paves the way for refrigerants with low global warming potential (LGWP) that will maximize environmental benefits.
However, the savings potential of these measures was not sufficient to meet the EU’s climate targets in accordance with the emission reduction set out in the Kyoto Protocol. Therefore, after approval by the European Parliament (EP) and the Council, Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 842/2006 was published in the Official Journal of the EU on May 20, 2014 (L150/195) which entered in force on January 1st, 2015.
In 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC. The goal is to keep global warming well below 2°C – and to continue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. This, of course, also applies for the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
The most direct form of EU law. Once adopted, the Regulation is legally binding in the EU Member States. It is equivalent to national law.
Every member state must reach the defined targets. National authorities must adapt their laws to meet these goals.
Gradual Reduction of F-Gases
The current F-Gas Regulation 2014 (EU 517/2014), bans the usage of refrigerants with GWP above 2,500, restricts high GWP refrigerants in some applications, and introduces the phase-down of fluorinated greenhouses gases. As this is not yet sufficient, the directive is currently being revised.
The regulation has already been supplemented in many points and its application has been tightened considerably. A major change is the evaluation of a system according to the global warming potential (GWP) and the filling quantity (kg) in the system. The product of these factors is referred to as the “CO₂ equivalent” and is the decisive parameter for evaluating a refrigeration system, for leak checks, and service refilling.
Required is the reduction of leakage by all technically and economically feasible measures. With a refrigerant charge of 5 tons or more of CO₂ equivalent, a refrigeration system must be leak tested. Excluded are hermetically sealed systems with a quantity of less than 10 tons of CO₂ equivalent.