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The best-known fluorinated greenhouse gases are R134a, R143, PFC and SF6. Until now, the rules governing these gases were set out in Regulation 842/2006 of May 17, 2006.
The new Regulation No. 517/2014 of April 16, 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases repeals and replaces the 2006 Regulation as of January 1, 2015. Its purpose is to prevent and reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases in the European Union.
This applies not only to operators of refrigeration units, air conditioning systems, heat pumps, fire protection systems and electrical switchgear, but also to refrigerated trucks and trailers.
Until now, the rules governing certain fluorinated greenhouse gases were set out in Regulation 842/2006 of May 17, 2006. The best-known F-Gases are R134a, R143, PFC and SF6.
The new Regulation No. 517/2014 of April 16, 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases repeals and replaces the 2006 Regulation as of January 1, 2015.
Its aim is to prevent and reduce emissions of fluorinated gases in the European Union.
It applies to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs such as HFC-134a or HFC-143, ...), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and the other greenhouse gases listed in Annex I of the regulation, or mixtures containing any of these substances.
The regulation applies to operators of the following fixed installations: refrigeration (e.g. chillers), air conditioning and heat pump equipment, including their circuits, fire protection systems, electrical switchgear, and now also refrigerated trucks and trailers.
Operators must implement measures to prevent any atmospheric release of fluorinated gases from this equipment.
This new regulation goes beyond the confinement and periodic inspection of equipment. The new requirements are designed to gradually reduce the marketing of HFCs, so that users turn to existing, economically viable, energy-efficient and safe alternatives.
The prevention of fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions is based on ...
- periodic leak checks (equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases in quantities equal to or greater than 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent) and the presence of periodically checked leak detection systems;
- the keeping of records by the operator in which information on the quantities and types of fluorinated greenhouse gases installed, any quantities added and quantities recovered during maintenance and servicing operations ;
- training and certification of personnel working on the equipment concerned;
- labelling: products and equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases must be labelled with the name of the fluorinated gas and its quantity.
Additional marketing bans are added in Annex III to restrict the use of certain gases in the following equipment (depending on the gases contained and their warming potential): fire protection equipment containing HFC-23, commercial refrigerators and freezers, split-system air conditioners and self-contained mobile air conditioners.
There are also restrictions on use for certain applications and equipment.
To support the gradual reduction in the use of HFCs, producers are now allocated quotas for the marketing of these substances (quotas determined on the basis of quantities produced or imported over the period 2009 to 2012).
Companies producing small quantities (less than 100 tonnes CO2 equivalent of HFCs per year), as well as certain categories ofHFCs (HFCs imported for destruction, HFCs used as synthesis intermediates, etc.) are exempt from this system.
An electronic register has been set up to manage the allocation and transfer of quotas between producers.