Legislation

With successive governments focused on the environment and the impact industry has on it, owners and operators of any air conditioning or refrigeration equipment are faced with changing & ever tighter legislation. 

Airco, as part of our planned maintenance service, can ensure you are not in breach of any regulations, and your equipment is performing to the correct standards.

R22 Refrigerant

The Environmental Protection Regulations 2002 ban the use of new R22 refrigerant from the end of 2009. Recycled R22 can continue to be used until the end of 2014, but then any work on R22 systems will be banned.  Both the gas itself and replacement parts are becoming more expensive and difficult to source.

Airco are happy to advise you of your options for maintenance and replacement of equipment. New systems will have efficiency benefits & may qualify for  financial incentives.

F-Gas Regulations

Introduced in July 2007, the legislation requires the owners and operators of refrigerant based systems to take steps to eliminate the emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (HFCs). These include all the commonly used refrigerant gases used in air conditioning, fridges and freezers.

All systems containing more than 3kg of refrigerant must have a minimum of one maintenance inspection and leak test every year. Accurate records must be kept. We would advise this for all systems to keep them operating effectively & efficiently. Inspections and testing on plant containing over 3kg should be carried out every 6 months, with systems containing over 30kg being checked every 3 months or more frequently if necessary.

Air Conditioning Assessments

From January 2011, any building with an air conditioning duty of over 12kw, must have had an independent inspection, & the issue of an EPC providing the equipment was installed before January 2008. This must be repeated every 5 years.