This guidance is relevant if you manufacture machinery or equipment containing refrigerants, insulation material or other cooling equipment.
Refrigeration machines, air-conditioning equipment and foam insulation may contain:
- ozone depleting substances (ODS) such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) or halons
- fluorinated gases (F-gases) such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
ODS damage the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere. Many ODS are banned or are being phased out.
F-gases are a family of gases containing fluorine. F-gases are powerful greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. Their use is strictly regulated.
What you must do
Do not use banned ODS
If you manufacture refrigeration machines and air-conditioning equipment you must not use certain ODS, including:
• HCFCs
• CFCs
• halons.
You must use alternatives to these ODS, such as HFCs. Be careful if you use F-gases to replace ODS as they can also damage the environment.
Use F-gases carefully
If your business uses or handles F-gases or equipment that contains them, you must:
- not release F-gases
- recover F-gases during servicing and decommissioning of equipment
- label products and equipment as containing F-gases
- keep records about the type and amount of F-gases your equipment contains and your equipment’s service history
- dispose of waste F-gases and equipment correctly.
For further information see our guidance on ozone depleting substances and F-gases.
Be qualified
You must hold certain qualifications if you use or handle ODS or F-gases. Read our guidance on ODS and F-gases to find out what qualifications you need.
ODS in refrigeration and air-conditioning
F-gases in refrigeration and air-conditioning
Avoid using F-gases
Use alternatives to F-gases where possible, such as:
- ammonia
- carbon dioxide
- hydrocarbons, eg butane and propane.
HFC 134a is a particularly strong greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential (GWP). This is also called Genetron 134a, HFA-134a, HFC-134a, Forane 134a, KLEA 134a, R-134a, Suva 134a and Norflurane.
You must not manufacture or place on the market new cars or light vans with air-conditioning systems containing HFC 134a refrigerant unless they meet refrigerant leakage rates for their air-conditioning systems.
The use of HFC 134a will be phased-out between 2011 and 2017 by vehicle type. This includes the retrofitting of air-conditioning systems. You should check that the vehicle type is approved before retrofitting air conditioning systems that use HFC 134a.
Prevent nuisance
If your manufacturing process creates levels of noise, fumes or smoke that could cause a nuisance or harm the health of the surrounding community, your local council can issue an abatement notice that:
- requires you to reduce the nuisance
- bans or restricts the nuisance
- requires you to carry out work or take other steps to reduce or stop the nuisance.
Anyone who is affected by the nuisance, such as your neighbours, can apply to the court in England, Northern Ireland or Wales or sheriff in Scotland to issue you with an abatement notice.
You can be fined if you do not comply with an abatement notice, and the local council can take steps to stop the nuisance itself and charge you for its costs.
Noise, odour and other nuisances
Prevent water pollution and check if you need any permits, consents or other authorisations
Your activities may produce highly toxic trade effluent from testing water cooling circuits, leak detection fluids and any water that may have absorbed ammonia. You must prevent leaks and spills at your site.
Do not discharge to public sewers, surface waters or groundwater without consulting your regulator. You may need an environmental permit or trade effluent agreement (England and Wales) or discharge consent, groundwater authorisation or other authorisation (Northern Ireland and Scotland). For further information, see our guidance on discharges to water and sewer.
Store your oil correctly
If you store oil, for example compressor oils for manufacturing cooling equipment, you may need to comply with the Oil Storage Regulations. For further information, see our oil storage guidance.
Comply with your waste responsibilities
You must comply with your duty of care responsibilities when you manage your waste.
You may need to deal with some of your waste as hazardous/special waste, including:
- hydrofluorocarbons and sludges
- solid wastes containing halogenated organic solvents.
For further information, see our guidance on hazardous/special waste.
Good practice
Maintain your machinery and equipment
Service your machinery and equipment regularly.
Replace hoses when they show signs of age or physical damage.
Check valve seats, ‘o’ rings and gaskets before charging equipment with refrigerants. Test your system using vacuum or positive pressure tests.
Be a good operator
Do not vent ODS or F-gases into the air or use a refrigerant for flushing. Use a flushing agent or dry nitrogen for flushing.
Store your refrigerant containers in a cool place, away from fire risks and direct heat.
When charging equipment, use hoses and lines that are as short as possible and fitted with isolating valves. This will minimise your emissions to air.
Take care not to overfill refrigeration systems.
Close container valves when you are not using them to prevent leaks.
Recover any refrigerant you displace during filling or when you clear your lines after use.
