Climate change & energy

Climate change: Fluorinated greenhouse gases in the UK

As part of the European Union’s obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, the Community has taken action to regulate fluorinated greenhouse gases through EC Regulation No 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases (‘The F Gas Regulation’).  The principal objective is to contain, prevent and thereby reduce emissions of fluorinated gases (F gases).

Background information on climate change and F gases can be found on the international action page.

How to comply

The Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2008 (FGG Regulations 2008) are in force and put in place offences and penalties applicable in Great Britain to infringements of the following provisions of the EC F Gas Regulation:-

  • Leakages
  • Leakage checking/leak detection systems
  • Record keeping
  • Instruction manuals
  • Recovery
  • Provision of information
  • Placing on the market prohibitions
  • Existing qualifications for personnel working on equipment

The FGG Regulations 2008 entered into force on 15 February 2008

A consultation was launched on the 11 July seeking views on proposals that carry forward the implementation of ten Commission Regulations establishing fleshed out legal requirements for companies and qualifications for personnel working in five industry sectors covered by EC Regulation 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases, as well as dealing with other requirements relating to leakage checking, reporting and labelling.

Main sectors affected – how to comply

The main sectors affected where F gases are used are:-

  • Stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pumps
  • Stationary fire protection
  • High voltage switchgear (electrical transmission networks)
  • Air-conditioners in cars and light vans

The FGG Regulations 2008 also provide new enforcement powers for enforcement bodies and apply the Regulations to offshore oil and gas installations that use F gases in equipment.

If you or your organisation own, use, work on,  contract out work or provide services for work on equipment in use in the sectors above, you will need to make sure you are complying with the relevant provisions in the EC F Gas Regulation and the FGG Regulations 2008. You may also wish to refer to the 2007 consultation paper, and the other information products below and take appropriate action. 

Useful documents

This guidance contains rules of thumb to form a quick view on whether particular refrigeration equipment will fall within the scope of the obligations set out in the F-gas Regulation.

The refrigeration calculator can be used where a more careful estimate of refrigerant charge is needed. After inputting some information on the refrigeration system, the Excel document will indicate what obligations are related to the amount of refrigerant in the system. This is based on the rule of thumb work and should be used in conjunction with the ‘Guidance for stationary refrigeration air-conditioning and heat pump users’.

F-Gas Support

Defra is working closely with the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, LACORS (Local Authorities' Coordinators of Regulatory Services) and the devolved administrations to prepare for the implementation of a risk-based enforcement approach to the EC Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases and Ozone  Regulations and related GB Regulations that create offences and penalties for failure to comply.

F-Gas Support is a Government funded team set up to help organisations understand their obligations under the EU Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Regulations.  F-Gas Support will also be working with councils and national regulators to promote compliance with these important environmental regulations. F-Gas Support is being run on behalf of Defra and the devolved administrations by LACORS and Enviros.

Contact details are:-

F-Gas Support,
P O Box 481
Salford,
M50 3UD

Telephone Help Line: 0161 874 3663  
Email: fgas-support@enviros.com

Contact

See also:

Page last modified: 11 July 2008
Page published: 18 August 2006

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs