Changes in phase-out

The European Commission has adopted legislation to accelerate the phase-out of fluorinated greenhouse gas (F-gas) based refrigerants. This pertains to F-gases or HFCs used in refrigeration and freezing systems. Phasing out means a future prohibition on (re)filling refrigeration systems with synthetic refrigerants. The new legislation includes:

1. Reducing the use of synthetic refrigerants.
2. Decreasing the number of leaks in refrigeration and freezing systems using F-gases through more mandatory leak checks.

WHICH BUSINESSES IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR?
Hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs use systems cooled with synthetic refrigerants. Our country has approximately one million industrial refrigeration systems and half a million air conditioners and heat pumps that use these refrigerants. They are used in almost every sector where cooling is part of the process, from food and hospitality to chemistry, real estate, and data centers.

WHAT ARE SYNTHETIC REFRIGERANTS?

• (H)CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons): (H)CFCs are harmful to the ozone layer. The most well-known and commonly used refrigerant from the (H)CFC group is Freon. Examples include Freon 12 (R12) and Freon 22 (R22), both of which are already banned.
• HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons): HFCs are greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. They are still allowed and are often used as replacement products for CFCs and HCFCs. Commonly used refrigerants with HFCs include R134a, R407C, R507A, and R410A.

WHY WAS THIS LEGISLATION ADOPTED?
The legislation aims to reduce the use of synthetic refrigerants, a consequence of stricter European environmental policies.

MORE ON REDUCING THE USE OF HFCs
The new legislation introduces three significant changes to limit the use of HFCs: a usage ban, a production restriction, and a new construction ban.

WHAT DOES THE USAGE BAN ENTAIL?
Refilling systems filled with an HFC with a GWP > 2,500 is only allowed with regenerated/recycled refrigerant as of January 1, 2020. From January 1, 2030, refilling a system with an HFC with a GWP > 2,500 is entirely prohibited.

WHAT DOES THE PRODUCTION RESTRICTION ENTAIL?
The production of F-gases, including HFCs, is gradually reduced from 100% in 2015 to 21% in 2030. A quota system is introduced where importers/manufacturers are assigned quotas based on the average amounts of HFCs they brought to the market between 2009 and 2012.

WHAT DOES THE NEW CONSTRUCTION BAN ENTAIL?
From January 1, 2020, a ban applies to the construction of systems with a GWP > 2,500, such as R507A and R404A.

WHAT DOES THE F-GAS REGULATION FOR HFCs PRECISELY ENTAIL?
Legal frequency of leak checks

The frequency of mandatory leak checks for refrigeration and freezing systems filled with HFCs is determined not only by the amount of refrigerant in your system, according to the current PED legislation. The frequency of legal leak checks is no longer determined solely by the amount of refrigerant in your refrigeration system but also by the CO2 equivalent of your system. A CO2 equivalent expresses the contribution to the greenhouse effect. This CO2 equivalent differs for each refrigerant.

The frequency of leak checks for systems with a refrigerant content is:

> 5 tons CO2-eq and < 50 tons CO2-eq = at least once a year

> 50 tons CO2-eq and < 500 tons CO2-eq = at least every six months

> 500 tons CO2-eq = at least every six months. An automatic leak detection system is mandatory in this case. The leak detection system must be checked for proper functioning at least every 12 months.

If your system is equipped with a leak detection system, this frequency of legal leak checks can be halved. The leak detection system must be checked for proper functioning every 12 months.

The rules for leak checks apply with the F-gas legislation to the following equipment:

• Stationary cooling equipment
• Stationary air conditioning equipment
• Stationary heat pumps
• Stationary fire protection equipment
• Cooling units of refrigerated trucks and trailers
• Electric switchgear
• Organic Rankine cycles