European regulations and standards present operators of refrigeration and air conditioning systems with comprehensive tasks and require regular leakage checks, recording of direct and indirect emissions, optimization of energy efficiency, maintenance tasks and logging. The operators of refrigeration and air conditioning systems are responsible for implementing and complying with the following legal requirements:

Repair and maintenance

Since 2020 (apart from a few exceptions), fresh refrigerant with a GWP of 2,500 or more has not been allowed to be used for servicing existing refrigeration systems. From 2025 most exceptions will no longer apply. This applies, for example, to the refrigerant R404A (GWP 3,922), which is widely used in commercial refrigeration. Refrigerants with GWPs over 2,500 may be used in recycled or reprocessed form up to and including 2029. From 2032, a GWP limit of 750 for fresh produce will apply to refilling existing refrigeration systems.

Other ban dates apply to refilling refrigerant in air conditioning systems and heat pumps. The use of refrigerants with a GWP of 2,500 or more as fresh products will be prohibited in these systems from 2026. The use of recycled or processed refrigerant with a GWP of 2,500 or more will no longer be permitted from 2032. The use of spare parts and components is permanently permitted for maintenance and repair work.

Leak checks

Another change concerns the range of refrigerants for which regular leak checks are required. So far, only substances listed in Annex I of the regulation were affected, i.e. PFCs, HFCs and their mixtures. With the new F-Gases Regulation, substances according to Annex II Group 1 (unsaturated substances, HFOs) – e.g. R1234yf – are also covered by the obligation to check for leaks.

Leak detection system

Operators of systems with large quantities of refrigerant (from 500 t CO2 equivalent and from 100 kg of the gases listed in Annex II Group 1) must ensure that the systems are equipped with a leak detection system that the operator or a maintenance company can contact at any time Leakage warns. These systems must be checked and checked for functionality at least once every twelve months. The operators of the systems are responsible for carrying out the leak checks!

records

The operators of facilities for which a leak check is required must ensure that records are kept for each individual system, which, in addition to the system description, also document, among other things, the refrigerant quantities refilled and the leak checks carried out. This can be done electronically or on paper. The documents must be retained by operators and specialist companies for at least five years.

Expertise and certification

All work on refrigeration systems, air conditioning systems and heat pumps with fluorinated greenhouse gases, such as: B. Maintenance, servicing, installation and leak checks may only be carried out by certified persons. Existing certificates remain valid; However, they must be refreshed no later than five years after the regulation comes into force and every seven years thereafter. The companies commissioned also require company certification.

Source: VDKF
Association of German Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Specialist Companies. v.

info@vdkf.de
www.vdkf.de