Legislation
Your equipment and the F-GAS REGULATION.
This link takes you to a basic PDF issued in 2007.
It outlines the basics “as was”, but times have moved on, and there have been significant updates:
If YOU as a Customer (or as the legislation puts it, “operator” – which is not necessarily the owner of the equipment), are using a company – which includes “one-man bands” – that is NOT registered on one of the three government registration schemes, not only is the company you are using breaking the law but as from 1st January 2015, SO WILL YOU. You have a legal requirement to ensure that the company you are using is registered with one of the schemes.
Be aware of the law and YOUR legal obligations.
You can view updates and download all current information from HERE.
As well as the above, and under different legislation, it is a UK legal requirement derived from EU directive 2202/91/ec (and directive 2010/31/eu) that all sites that need 12kw or more of cooling MUST have an Air Conditioning Energy Assessment. The first assessment should have been carried out by the 4th January 2011.
However, those sites needing 250kw or more (this includes water chilled systems), should have had their first assessment by 4th January 2009. Whilst AACR does NOT carry out these Air Conditioning inspections in house, we have teamed up with an accredited Air conditioning assessor, and can arrange inspections. Please note however, that it is only “comfort cooling” systems that need to be compliant: At present (September 2012), Server, Rack, IT, Lift motor and Process rooms are exempt. However, there are moves to “phase in” some, if not all of the aforementioned. Please do not take the above as definative, as it is only meant to serve as a guide.
IF YOUR PREMISES FALLS INTO EITHER OF THE ABOVE CATEGORIES, AND YOU HAVE NOT YET HAD YOUR FIRST INSPECTION, YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW.
If in doubt seek advice!
UK Schemes
These Three schemes operate in the UK.
The Refrigeration / Air conditioning company you use legally has to be registered with one of the following bodies:
The F-gas Register (powered and run by)
and finally
With Refcom and the F-gas register, the end user (you!), can search for companies on their corresponding websites. For example: AACR has chosen to be registered with Refcom. One would go to the Refcom site, look for the panel that has a button “scheme members”, click on it, and then search for AACR.
The F-gas resister search is a little easier, in that the “company search” is directly from the home page.
With Bureau Veritas, this facility isn’t available: You will have to contact Bureau Veritas to check.
In all cases, some companies may have chosen not to “go public” with their registration, in which case, if you have any doubts, you’d be wise to ask the Environment Agency F-gas support team for verification.