The Montreal Protocol set in place the gradual phasing out of substances that deplete the ozone layer. The first to go were CFC refrigerants like R12 and R502 which were banned in Europe in the 1990s. The HVAC industry was given a longer period to phase out HCFCs like R22 due to their lower ozone depleting potential. The phase-out of HCFCs are covered by the European Regulation EC2037/2000, and the key aspects are detailed below.

The HCFC use ban (EC Regulation 2037/2000): Essential information

• As of 1st January 2010 it is illegal to use virgin HCFCs to service RAC equipment
• The ban applies even if the HCFC was purchased before the ban date
• It is therefore illegal to stockpile and use any supplies of virgin HCFCs after the end of 2009
• From 1 January 2015 it will be illegal to use recycled or reclaimed HCFCs to service RAC equipment
• The ban covers all HCFCs not just R22! This includes blends containing R22 such as R401A, R401B, R402A, R402B, R406A, R408A and R409A as well as numerous others

These bans refer to the “use” of virgin HCFCs for servicing and maintenance. RAC equipment containing HCFCs can continue to be used beyond the phase out dates provided that no virgin HCFC refrigerants are added.

RECYCLED

• Recycled HCFCs are recovered HCFCs that have been subject to a basic cleaning process (this might include mechanical filtering and moisture removal)
• Recycled HCFCs may only be used by the company carrying out the recycling (in most cases the refrigeration contractor), or by the equipment owner
• Recycled HCFCs may not be placed on the market – "placing on the market" means the supplying or making available to third persons within the EU for payment or free of charge. For example, the owner could use the recycled HCFC in RAC equipment at other sites they operate from but they could not sell or give away the recycled HCFC to a third party. However, an alternative option is to return it to a licensed waste processor, please contact A-Gas for further details.

RECLAIMED

• Reclaimed HCFCs are recovered HCFCs that have been reprocessed to a specified standard e.g. ARI 700
• Reclaimed HCFCs may be placed on the wider market and used by undertakings other than the original contractor and owner
• Reclaimed HCFCs must be held in correctly labelled containers with information relating to the batch number and name and address of the reclamation facility
• Reclaimed material has been reprocessed to a specified quality that is suitable for use in a refrigeration system whereas recycled material is of an unknown quality – it might contain contaminants that could impair the performance of a refrigeration plant
• Reclaimed material is only available from a licensed waste management facility such as A-Gas

for further information in relation to the F-Gas regulations visit www.fgas.org.