Refrigerant Conversion & Retrofit Service

ENVIRONMENTAL REFRIGERANT ISSUES

Guidance for stationary air conditioning and heat pump equipment utilising HCFC refrigerant R22

At Colgijan Merault Limited  we think it prudent to update you about the planned phase out of HCFC’s Refrigerant 22 and highlight all salient points as per the legislation “Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Regulation”.

KEY POINTS

·         It will be illegal to use virgin HCFC’s after 31^st December 2009 for the maintenance and servicing of air conditioning and heat pump equipment .

·         As the regulation deals with a ban on use of virgin HCFC’s there will be no possibility to stockpile these products.

·         A complete ban on the use of all HCFC’s including reclaimed/recycled product will be in place by 1^st January 2015.

We feel that it is part of our responsibility to advise our customers to ensure that all those handling and using HCFC’s have plans in place and are taking the appropriate action to be compliant with the regulations as the date and HCFC ban gets closer.

Given below are the key steps that users in conjunction with their contractors should follow:

Ø  Establish which HCFC refrigerants are being used and in what equipment

Ø  Make plans as to the impact of the phase out of ODS on this equipment

Ø  Take actions from the options below

OPTIONS AVAILABLE
 1.       Replace existing equipment with a new system

     2.       Keep existing equipment operational with an alternative non ozone depleting refrigerant

a)   There are a range of readily available retrofit (drop in) refrigerants for direct replacement of HCFC’s.  Please consult your equipment suppliers.

b)   Alternative options using HFC refrigerants are e.g. R134a. R404A, R407C, R507 but these will require a change to synthetic oil and refrigerant control devices.

c)    Other refrigerants which would necessitate component changes would be CO2, Ammonia, Hydrocarbons and R410A  (NB it is not possible to fit these into existing systems)

      3.  In conjunction with 1. and 2. above, recover and re process R-22 for recycling for use in remaining systems.

      4.       A planned mix of all the above options to suit individual company criteria

      5.       Do nothing.  This is a very risky option.  Remember – it is illegal to stockpile virgin HCFCs for use after 1^st Jan 2010.  Those doing nothing will be dependent on obtaining supplies of reclaimed/recycled R-22.  It is recommended that consultation be made with suppliers of reclaimed R-22 to ascertain that the required quantity and quality of material will be available.