AREA F-gas guide
Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases aims at reducing emissions of these gases through a variety of measures: rules on containment, use, recovery and destruction of fluorinated greenhouse gases, conditions on the placing on the market of certain types of products or equipment containing or relying upon fluorinated greenhouse gases (bans), specific uses of these gases (service ban), quantitative limits for the placing on the market of HFCs (phase-down). In November 2012, the European Commission proposed to revise Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases. This revision resulted in Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases and repealing Regulation (EC) No 842/2006. It was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 20th May 2014 and entered into force on 9th June 2014. The new Regulation are applicable from 1st January 2015.
The purpose of this AREA (AREA is the European association of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump contractors) Guide is to explain the main changes and obligations arising from the revision, and to identify their consequences for European refrigeration, air conditioning & heat pump contractors. It also sets out the views of AREA on the practical implementation and interpretation of certain provisions in order to ensure that their objectives are fulfilled. This guide has to be put into perspective with and complements the European Commission’s guidelines on Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases that will be provided successively after consultation of the Member States.
The guidance contained in the present document reflects the best knowledge of industry experts across Europe and the state of the art at the moment of its publication. This Guide will be regularly updated to accommodate latest developments.
The principles contained in this Guide are however not legally binding, and following it gives no guarantees.
Contractors must ultimately exercise their own judgment. AREA also recommends to contractors, when using this Guide, to always refer to the national legislation, and guidance if any, of the Member State they are dealing with.