1. Level 3 Air Conditioning Inspections for Buildings
1d. Reading Material needed for F-GAS Training (Day 1)
PRESENTED BY
Anthony Balaam

2. List of the F-GAS Papers presented
F-GAS – Guidance for Stationary refrigeration and Air Conditioning – ‘overview’
F-GAS – Guidance for Stationary refrigeration and Air Conditioning – ‘Usage’
F-GAS – Guidance for Stationary refrigeration and Air Conditioning – ‘key obligations’
F-GAS – Guidance for Stationary refrigeration and Air Conditioning – ‘Getting Started’
F-GAS – Guidance for Stationary refrigeration and Air Conditioning – ‘Qualifications and Certification’
F-GAS – Guidance for Stationary refrigeration and Air Conditioning – ‘Practical Guidance’
7. F-GAS – Guidance for Stationary refrigeration and Air Conditioning – ‘Support Guidance’

3. Books on F-GAS 1.Overview, 2.Usage

4. Books on F-GAS 3.Key Obligations, 4.Getting Started

5. Books on F-GAS 5.Qualifications, 6.Certification

6. Books on F-GAS 7.Support Guidance
In March 2014, the European Parliament voted to introduce tighter regulations on Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), to ensure a significant reduction in their use by 2030.
The new regulations- applied from January 2015 – both repeal and enhance the controls introduced in 2006 legislation on the handling of HFCs, including refrigerants used in air conditioning and refrigeration.
The regulations originated in the drive to reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases – covered by the Kyoto Protocol – through controlled containment and active prevention.
The increase in the application of HFCs had been driven by replacement of the ozone depleting refrigerants outlawed by the EU IN 1994.
The 2006 EU regulations set out to restrict fluorocarbon use, permitting the continued use of HFCs such as R410A – under strict controls to prevent environmental damage. 6

7. Support Guidance on changes to the legislation
Almost all refrigerants have a global warming potential (GWP) as shown below:-
Refrigerant
Refrigerant Family
GWP
R22
HCFC
1810
R32
HFC
675
R134a
1430
R290(propane) HC
3.3
R404a
3922
R407c
1774
R410a
2088
R717(ammonia)
Inorganic compound
R744(Coƨ) 1
R1234ze (E)
HFO -3

8. Support Guidance on changes to the legislation
Inorganic compound,  any substance in which two or more chemical elements (usually other than carbon) are combined, nearly always in definite proportions. Compounds of carbon are classified as organic when carbon is bound to hydrogen.
Carbon compounds such as carbides (e.g., silicon carbide [SiC2]), some carbonates (e.g., calcium carbonate [CaCO3]), some cyanides (e.g., sodium cyanide [NaCN]), graphite, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide are classified as inorganic.

9. Support Guidance on changes to the legislation
Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) such as R22 refrigerant and certain aerosol propellants have already been banned because of their impact on global warming and ozone depletion.
Systems using R22 are still allowed to operate, however should it be necessary to work on the refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant charge has to be removed from the system and treated as a hazardous waste. So any reduction in charge as a result of leakage or major component change will render them inoperable.
Most manufacturers do not recommend the use of drop-in refrigerant replacements especially in complex direct expansion (DX) systems such as variable refrigerant volume/flow(VRV/VRF).
Significant Changes to F-Gas regulations: Refrigerants with GWP Over 2500
The phase out of higher GWP HFCs such as R404a – mostly affects the commercial refrigeration sector, with deadlines for various market segments staggered over the coming 10 years.
There are deadlines affecting portable air conditioning units (2020) and single split air conditioning units with less than 3kg of refrigerant.
Refrigerants with GWP below 2400
The lower GWP HFCs such as R32,R134a,R407c and R410a are to be phased down over a 15 year period.

10. Support Guidance on changes to the legislation
Metric for refrigerant global warming potential
Refrigerant charge is now measured in ‘tonnes of COƨe’ (Carbon dioxide equivalent).
This is calculated by * the charge (in kg) by the GWP/1000, and is the amount of COƨe that would have the same GWP as the refrigerant when measured over 100 years.
E.g. – a 10kg charge of R410A (GWP of 2088) equates to tonnes of COƨe,
Whereas a similar charge of R32(GWP 675) would be 6.75 tonnes of COƨe
The metric ‘Carbon dioxide equivalent’ does not take account of operational application.
This will alter the true comparative life-cycle global warming effect of refrigerants since seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) and seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) will significantly effect the system’s energy use, and these will be dependant on the thermodynamic performance of the refrigerant, as well as the system design and operation.
Leak-checking requirements
The new F-gas regulations increase leak detection obligations, so if a refrigerant has a higher GWP, more leak-checking will be required.
E.g. regular leak checks by a certified installer are required for systems in which the refrigerant equates to more then 5 tonnes of COƨe (more than 10 tonnes COƨe for hermetically sealed systems

11. Support Guidance on changes to the legislation
F-gas Enforcement
The ‘Environment Agency’ enforces F-gas regulations in the UK using the following guidance:-
Provide targeted advice and guidance to an organisation to secure compliance
Serve an ‘Enforcement Notice’ on suspicion of past, present or future contraventions
Serve a ‘Prohibition Notice’ for contraventions posing imminent danger of serious environmental pollution.
Fines for F-gas contraventions will not exceed £5,000 in a magistrates court, but could be unlimited in higher courts.
The ‘Enforcement Notice’ – details suitable remedies and sets a deadline for implementation.
The ‘Prohibition Notice’ – empowers the ‘Environment Agency’ to insist that an item of equipment – or a whole site- be shut down.

12. Technical Helpline
Technical Support :-

13. LEVEL 3 Air Conditioning ENERGY ASSESSORS TRAINING
ANY QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK ON ANY SLIDE
Any questions or clarity needed over this topic and slides 13

14. Contacts:- STROMA Certification Ltd – Contacts Web Links
Contacts:-
STROMA Certification Ltd.
4 Pioneer Way, Castleford, WF10 5QU

15. End of this section