F-GAS REGULATION AND REFCOM REGISTRATION
GB legislation to implement the European F-Gas Regulation came into force on 9 March 2009. The legislation establishes a mandatory inspection regime to ensure containment of refrigeration gases, sets minimum requirements for training and certification of personnel involved in the handling of refrigerants, and establishes a mandatory company registration scheme. The key points for members to be aware of are:

Certification of companies

• Government has confirmed that REFCOM, the body originally set up by HVCA, will operate the mandatory company registration scheme within the UK;
• Companies that carry out installation or maintenance and servicing in respect of stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment must be registered with REFCOM by 3rd July 2009.

Obligations for operators under the EC F-Gas Regulation All operators of RAC systems that use refrigerants containing F gases must comply with obligations in the EC F Gas Regulation.

Summary of EC F Gas Regulation Obligations for RAC Systems

Obligation		Applicability to RAC Systems (for systems using F gas Refrigerants)
(a) Take steps to prevent F gas leakage and repair detected leakage as soon as possible		All stationary systems
(b) Regularly check for leakage (annually)		Stationary systems 3 kg < 30kg hermetically sealed systems
(c) Fit automatic leak detection system		Stationary systems above 300 kg
(d) Keep certain records about refrigeration plant that uses F gases		Stationary systems 3 kg or more
(e) Recover F gases during plant servicing and maintenance, and at end of plant life		All stationary systems
(f) Use appropriately qualified personnel to carry out installation, servicing and checking		All stationary systems

‘Compliance with F-Gas Legislation in the UK is now a legal requirement. There is now an ever increasing responsibility on end users to ensure that they employ suitably competent and qualified contractors, who fully comply with existing legislation. End users are now wholly responsible for all aspects of RAC Plant under their control.’

Ceilite have been competent in accordance with the Requirements of REFCOM since March 2004, our registration number is 174. This voluntary scheme has now become mandatory from 9th March 2009.

To learn more about F-Gas regulations click here to read an article recently written by Scott Gleed and published in Construction News.

How to contact F-Gas Support
Telephone help line: 0161 874 3663
Website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/fgas
Email: fgas-support@enviros.com

EPDB
Under the European Union’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) inspections of all air-conditioning systems with a total cooling capacity over 12kWr are required at least every five years. The aim is to give building owners and operators information about the performance of their buildings’ air conditioning systems and to identify options to save energy and reduce operating costs.

From January 2009, it is illegal to sell or let any commercial property without a current, valid air conditioning inspection report covering all installed, in-scope equipment, including centralised systems, individual splits, multi-splits and heat pumps. By January 2009, all systems over 250kWr must be inspected. A first inspection of any new system over 12kWr installed since January 2008 is required within the next five years, with all other systems over 12kWr inspected by January 2011. Subsequent inspections must then be commissioned every five years.

Ceilite has trained the relevant personnel, are able to carry out this service for you as required and would welcome your enquiry.

BESCA
BESCA has been established by the Heating and Ventilation Contractors’ Association to act as an independent assessment and certification body for the building services industry.

The company was set up in response to the growing number of registration schemes required to satisfy Government initiatives such as Trustmark and new legislative requirements such as the Energy Assessor Schemes required by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and Competent Person Schemes allowing self-certification and notification work under the Building Regulations.

Ceilite have trained its staff to attend to this requirement on your behalf as needed.

Fuel Increases
From August 1st 2008 we increased our rates to cover the fuel cost rises that we were seeing at the time, from April 1st 2009 this increase will be removed.