HFC Phase Down (F-Gas Regulation)The EU F-gas regulation will take effect from 1 January 2015. The regulation implies an HFC phase-down from 2015 to 2030 by means of a quota system and sectorial bans on high GWP refrigerants. Especially R404A/R507 is under pressure and likely to be phased out of all commercial systems.
Since the regulation has just been adopted, there is still a great deal of uncertainty as to what will happen. Tepse follows the situation closely and just like other experts we expect the use of natural refrigerants and other low GWP refrigerants to grow with intermediate solutions emerging like for instance 407A/F as substitution for R404A; although these solutions are intermediate they are likely to be used for some years into the future. We also expect new blends to play a role yet to be seen.
What is certain, however, is the reduced availability and eventually increasing price of traditional HFCs due to the quotas calling for changes in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry.
The phase down is controlled by a quota allocation system that will ensure a declining supply of HFC leading to increasing refrigerant prices. 2018 looks to be a critical year in the demand/allocation balance.
- Exemption for charge less than 40 tonnes CO2 eq. (for R404A 10,2kg)
- Exemption for temperatures below -50˚C
- Exemption for military equipment
This means that distributed R404A refrigeration systems in supermarkets may use recycled R404A after 2020 or shift to new drop-in blends like R407A&F.
Pre-charged equipment will still be allowed. From 2017, however, the quota system will also apply to pre-charged equipment imported into the EU. Importers must state compliance in a declaration of conformity, which must be audited by a third party each year. When non-hermetically sealed equipment is sold to end-users, evidence must be provided that installation will be done by a certified company.
The definition of hermetically sealed systems remains the same as in the current F-gas regulation. Valves with caps can be used, e.g. service valves, ball valves or TXV with adjustment features.
The new requirements for recording are:
- Both parties must store records for 5 years.
- In some countries records will be stored by reporting to a national database.
- In other countries logbooks for systems and service personnel are likely to be enough.
Similar recording requirements apply to companies selling or buying HFC’s.
Reporting to the commission is also required when bringing products to market containing more than 500 tonnes of CO2eq per year. This is equivalent to:
- 349.65 kg of R134a, or
- 282.49 kg of R407C, or
- 239.23 kg of R410A, or
- 127.55 kg of R404A.
Importers must provide evidence that R23 by-product from production of the HFC is destroyed.
What is certain, however, is the reduced availability and eventually increasing price of traditional HFCs due to the quotas calling for changes in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry.
The phase down is controlled by a quota allocation system that will ensure a declining supply of HFC leading to increasing refrigerant prices. 2018 looks to be a critical year in the demand/allocation balance.
- Exemption for charge less than 40 tonnes CO2 eq. (for R404A 10,2kg)
- Exemption for temperatures below -50˚C
- Exemption for military equipment
This means that distributed R404A refrigeration systems in supermarkets may use recycled R404A after 2020 or shift to new drop-in blends like R407A&F.
Pre-charged equipment will still be allowed. From 2017, however, the quota system will also apply to pre-charged equipment imported into the EU. Importers must state compliance in a declaration of conformity, which must be audited by a third party each year. When non-hermetically sealed equipment is sold to end-users, evidence must be provided that installation will be done by a certified company.
The definition of hermetically sealed systems remains the same as in the current F-gas regulation. Valves with caps can be used, e.g. service valves, ball valves or TXV with adjustment features.
Leak Test Frequency, Record Keeping and Reporting
|
CO2 eq. |
Year |
R-134a |
R-407C |
R-410A |
R-404A |
|
|
GWP:1430 |
GWP:1770 |
GWP:2090 |
GWP:3920 |
|||
|
Non-hermetically sealed equipment: Every 12 month (every 24 month if gas leakage detection system is installed) |
≥5t |
2015 |
3,5 kg |
3,0 kg |
3,0 kg |
3,0 kg |
|
2017 |
3,5 kg |
2,8 kg |
2,4 kg |
1,3 kg |
||
|
Hermetically sealed equipment: Every 12 month. (every 24 month if gas leakage detection system is installed) |
≥10t |
2015 |
7,0 kg |
6,0 kg |
6,0 kg |
6,0 kg |
|
2017 |
7,0 kg |
5,7 kg |
4,8 kg |
2,6 kg |
||
|
All systems Every 6 month. (every 12 month if gas leakage detection system is installed) |
≥50t |
2015 |
35 kg |
28 kg |
24 kg |
13 kg |
|
All systems In practice every 6 month due to the requirement for gas leakage detection system . (from 2017 for Organic Rankine Cycle) Otherwise every 3 month. |
≥500t |
2015 |
350 kg |
282 kg |
239 kg |
128 kg |
Training and Certification
Certification is needed for people installing, servicing, leak checking, and decommissioning installations. Existing certificates will still be valid, and companies delegating the tasks to other companies must take reasonable steps to ensure that the task is carried out by certified personnel. Certificates issued by one country will be accepted in all other countries.Record Keeping
Servicing on equipment involving adding or removing refrigerant and leak detection must be recorded by both the operator of the system and the servicing company.The new requirements for recording are:
- Both parties must store records for 5 years.
- In some countries records will be stored by reporting to a national database.
- In other countries logbooks for systems and service personnel are likely to be enough.
Similar recording requirements apply to companies selling or buying HFC’s.
Reporting
Import, export, or production of fluorinated gas must be reported to the commission when quantities are more than 100 tonnes CO2eq per year or 1 metric tonne.Reporting to the commission is also required when bringing products to market containing more than 500 tonnes of CO2eq per year. This is equivalent to:
- 349.65 kg of R134a, or
- 282.49 kg of R407C, or
- 239.23 kg of R410A, or
- 127.55 kg of R404A.
Importers must provide evidence that R23 by-product from production of the HFC is destroyed.
Labelling
From 2017, refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps and organic Rankine cycle equipment must be labelled with:
- Information that the equipment contains or relies on HFCs
- Refrigerant type
- Refrigerant quantity expressed in both weight and CO2 equivalents
- GWP of the refrigerant
If the equipment is hermetically sealed this must also be stated.
Information is also to be included in instruction manuals and descriptions used for advertising. Containers for HFC’s must be labelled as above, but also stating if HFC is reclaimed, to be destroyed, for military purposes, or for direct export.
- Information that the equipment contains or relies on HFCs
- Refrigerant type
- Refrigerant quantity expressed in both weight and CO2 equivalents
- GWP of the refrigerant
If the equipment is hermetically sealed this must also be stated.
Information is also to be included in instruction manuals and descriptions used for advertising. Containers for HFC’s must be labelled as above, but also stating if HFC is reclaimed, to be destroyed, for military purposes, or for direct export.
(source: Danfoss site//http://refrigerants.danfoss.com/hfc/)
Login