Regs & Legs - Do You Need To Comply ?
Below are three of the trade typical Legs & Regs which we feel are important to be aware of (for those who aren`t already) so if you have Refrigeration, Air Conditioning or Ventilation chances are that one or more of them may apply to you.
We have concentrated on some of the information and commonly used substances that would mainly relate to the refrigeration, air conditioning and ventilation trades within the commercial sector but the Regulations are extensive and not necessarily specific to these trades or sector so please don`t assume this information is definative. If in doubt ask.
Other regulations apply within the building industry which ensure that any new building is designed to conserve as much fuel and power as viable. Calculations, commercially known as SBEM, are one of the methods undertaken to make sure a building is designed to meet these regulations.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC`s) are already required by law whenever a building is built, sold or rented and these, in conjunction with Display Energy Certificates (DEC`s - used for applicable Public Authority Buildings or institutions) are measures brought in to assess the energy efficiency of such buildings.
Buildings have to be assessed and SBEM calculations, EPC`s & DEC`s have to be issued by suitably qualified persons and Anglia Heating can assist presently with SBEM and is investigating the feasibilty of EPC assessment so watch this space for further news.
For further information or advice please phone or use our contact form.
R22 Phaseout - Are You Prepared ?
If you have air conditioning or refrigeration this regulation may be of interest and could apply to you :
The EU Regulation 2037/2000 (CFC`s, HCFC`s, Halons)- Ozone Depleting Substances
These relate to the supply and use of all Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and brings in tighter restrictions and in some cases bans on refrigerants, solvents, foam blowing agents and fire fighting fluids, to name but a few, which contain CFC`s. This has all stemmed from the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty for the protection of the stratospheric ozone layer.
Certain CFC`s such as R-12 and R-502 which were widely used as refrigerants are now banned for supply (defined as change of ownership, even without payment and referred to as "placing on the market") or use (defined as use in production, maintenance or servicing of equipment). This would now include use in Military applications
In addition HCFC`s such as R-22 , a common refrigerant in air conditioning, refrigeration and used as a foam blowing agent, are subject to a phase out timetable with a total ban being in place of its supply or use by January 1st 2015.
What could this mean to you if you have Air Conditioning or Refrigeration ?
For any equipment containing CFC refrigerants such R-11, R-12 and R-502 you are unable to replace or top up these system with the same should they be lost from the system.
- All Ozone Depleting Substances used in refrigeration & air conditioning equipment must be recovered during servicing & maintenance of equipment or prior to dismantling or disposal of equipment.
- If your system contains more than 3kg liquid charge of an ODS it must be checked annually for leakage.
- To ensure CFC leakage or full recovery completed correctly this has to be done by suitably qualified engineers.
- For any equipment containing HCFC refrigerants such as R-22 you will only be able to use replacement virgin R-22 refrigerant up to 31st December 2009 and reclaimed or recycled R22 refrigerant up to 31st December 2014. It may be time to look into alternatives.
- Older coldroom insulated panels may contain HCFC`s so these must be disposed of in the correct manner
If you have air conditioning or refrigeration equipment that you think may contain a CFC based refrigerant such as R-12 or R-502 or HCFC based refrigerant such as R-22 and are concerned then please contact us on 01603 860101 or use our contact form for further information or assistance.
We can help you comply.
F-Gas Regulations - Are You Ready ?
If you have air conditioning or refrigeration this regulation may be of interest and could apply to you :
The EU Regulation 842/2006 (HFC`s , PFC`s & SF6)- Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases
Known as the F-GAS Regulations they relate to certain substances known as fluorinated greenhouse gases which have a high global warming potential with most of it being enforced from 17th May 2006 Its main commitment is to the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol.
The gases used in the air conditioning & refrigeration industries that this would apply to are HFC gases such as R-134A, R-404A, R-407C and R-410A but other fluorinated gases are included.
What could this mean to you if you have Air Conditioning or Refrigeration ?
This regulation puts the responsibility onto the natural or legal person who has actual power over the technical functioning (this is not necessarily the owner), of stationary equipment to employ technically possible (whilst not disproportionate in cost) methods to:
- prevent leakage of these gases
- repair as soon as possible detected leaks
- properly recover these gases to ensure recycling, reclamation or destruction
- maintain records on the quantity & type of fluorinated greenhouse gases installed, added, recovered during servicing, maintenance or final disposal.
- ensure certified personnel complete all such works
The F-GAS Regulations apply to any application containing more than 3kg of fluorinated gas. It does not apply to Hermetically sealed (and labelled as so) systems containing up to 6kg.
A set schedule for leak testing has been laid out and is specific to the amount of refrigerant contained within a system.
If you have air conditioning or refrigeration equipment that you think may need to comply with F-GAS regulations then please contact us on 01603 860101 or use our contact form for further information or assistance.
We can help you comply.
LEV Testing To BOHS P601- Are You Acting?
If you have Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) this regulation may be of interest and apply to you :
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation (COSHH ) - LEV Testing
These regulations should be more widely known as they apply in some form or another to anyone in business but we wish to summarise these in relation to Local Exhaust Ventilation systems (LEV) as this seems to be an issue likely to be brought to the forefront in the near future.
Local Exhaust Ventilation is likely to be put in place as a control measure for a process which could lead to people breathing in a hazardous substance such as dust, fumes, smoke, vapours or gases when prevention of such occurrences is not practical to achieve.
Some examples of LEV applications could be cooker hood extraction in commercial kitchens, fume cupboards in schools or laboratories, dust extraction for lathes, powder extraction for dry ingredients, paint spray booth extraction or printing process extraction.
What could this mean to you if you have a Local Exhaust Ventilation System (LEV) ?
- If you have any LEV system you have a legal requirement to ensure that thorough examination and testing of those controls is carried out and in the case of local exhaust ventilation plant this would be at least once in every 14 months and could be at more frequent intervals such for certain processes.
- You must keep suitable records of the examinations, tests and repairs carried out as a result of these and the records must be kept for at least 5 years from the date on the record.
An LEV system is not defined in COSHH so it is likely that there could be confusion over what items of plant are covered by the regulations so if you think you may have a system that may need to comply and are unsure then please contact us on 01603 860101 or use our contact form.
Servicing Industry For Nearly Half A Century
For further information or advice please phone or use our contact form.
For further information or advice please phone or use our contact form.
