Fluorinated Gas (F-Gas) regulation update

27 March, 2018

The quantity of HFCs that can be placed on the EU market will be cut in stages and by 2030, only 20% of the volume of HFCs that were sold in 2015 will be available. In 2018, around 40% of supplies will be cut meaning that HFC refrigerant prices are likely to rise sharply as the market starts to feel the effect of supply shortages.

Although it is not illegal to continue using HFC gas, it is against the law to knowingly top-up refrigerant equipment with the wrong gas, but there are a number of ways that end-users can reduce the impact on their business.

The best long-term solution is, of course, to convert systems to lower GWP alternatives or to swap out the equipment where financially viable.

If capital investment is not feasible, a good short-term measure is to use recovered gas. This can be carried out until 1 January 2030 if the gas has been reclaimed from the same type of system. Best practice must be used when recovering gases if they are to be used during routine maintenance after 2020. This is when the ban comes in for using virgin gases with a global warming potential (GWP) above 2500.

It is illegal to knowingly allow refrigerant equipment to leak gas, so continuing with routine servicing is critical. In particular, as long as the gas is ‘compliant’ the maintenance provider can still recharge - which means customers can use cheaper, recovered gas too.

For further information on the free associate membership offer, contact Vanda Jones BCAS executive director, stating your company name, along with the name of the supplier of your compressed air services – Email: vanda@bcas.org.uk, Tel: 020 7935 2464.