EUROPE: AREA, the European association of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump contractors, has largely welcomed the publication of the long-awaited proposal for a revision of the F-Gas Regulation.
A statement by the association said it is very pleased to see that the ban on pre-charging of non hermetically sealed systems, which featured in the draft proposal leaked in September, remained in the final proposal. Graeme Fox, president of AREA, said: 'We have promoted a ban on pre-charging since the beginning of the Regulation's review, simply because it is the most efficient measure from both an environmental and policing point of view. We are delighted our proposal was taken on board by not just DG CLIMA but the entire Commission despite the pressure of these last few weeks.'
 
 
 


Similarly, AREA welcomes the provision on mandatory certification for HFC alternatives.

AREA maintains that natural refrigerants have issues on safety, flammability, toxicity and high pressure, which it insists must be properly considered when handling those refrigerants. Mandatory certification, it says, ensures that contractors manipulating these refrigerants do have the required knowledge to operate safely. The proposal for mandatory training to acquire certification and have it renewed however came as an unpleasant surprise.

'What matters is proper knowledge, whether it comes from experience or training, and this is what certification proves,' said Graeme Fox.

'Training should only be compulsory when certification cannot be achieved otherwise, as it is now the case under the current Regulation. Providing mandatory training every five years would represent a disproportionate recurring cost for our contractors, the vast majority of which are very small companies.'
 
 
 


Finally, AREA is concerned with the proposed bans related to commercial refrigeration and to the use of HFCs for servicing and maintenance. As Graeme Fox points out: 'Our members are worried that these bans may negatively impact on the service they provide. Our general feeling is that a phase-down is sufficient to achieve the Regulation's objectives.'