ROBINS REFRIGERATION LIMITED
 

EC REGULATION No 2037/2000 ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER

Owners of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment need to be aware of Regulation 2037/2000: it has made a number of changes to the law.  CFC and HCFC refrigerants are being phased out.  This very brief summary is put up as a help to our customers, but it should not be relied upon as a definitive statement of the law and is not a substitute for legal advice.  Interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts and we can accept no liability for any loss resulting from reliance on this summary.  For further information contact DETR or DTI, or visit http://www.dti.gov.uk/access/refrigeration/htm.

What do you need to do?

CFC users must take immediate action.  HCFC or HCFC-blend users should note that these will need to be replaced in the future.  Immediate steps must be taken to prevent or minimise leakage of both CFCs and HCFCs.
   
“Category 1” systems
“Category 2” systems
Small self-contained units, mass-produced in a factory using hermetically sealed compressors, e.g. domestic fridges and freezers, small retail displays, “through the wall” air conditioners.  Category 1 systems are usually leak-free for the whole of their working life. Anything larger than Category 1, using more complex items of refrigeration equipment and usually requiring some on-site assembly and refrigerant filling.  They are susceptible to refrigerant leakage and often require regular maintenance.  Examples are cellar coolers, cold stores, remote condensing units, split system air conditioners, central and industrial systems.
  How critical is refrigeration to your business?  If a plant failure could halt production or sales, your CFC/HCFC phase-out plans must take a very high priority.  If all you have is a small air conditioning unit in an office perhaps you can afford to wait until it fails and then replace it.  
Category 1 users:
Category 2 users:
(a) Continue running your existing plant until it reaches the end of its useful life;  

(b) Make plans for when the system breaks down and loses its refrigerant (CFC equipment can no longer be topped-up with CFC refrigerant);  

(c) Plan how you can dispose of an old system safely and legally.

 Among the issues to consider are: how many systems do you own?  How old is each plant?  Environmental / financial / waste / health & safety issues.  Which options will be most practical and economic?   

Then the alternative approaches will come down to:  

(a)  Do nothing (not an option for Category 2 CFC equipment);  

(b) Keep existing systems operational by retrofilling with an alternative refrigerant;  

(c) Replace existing equipment with a new system.
 

If Robins Refrigeration Limited can be of assistance to you with any of the above steps, please do not hesitate to get in touch.  Phone 01892 537291 or email us.

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