AREA welcomes the adoption of the report on the F-Gas Regulation in the European Parliament's Environment Committee.
In particular, we are pleased to see that the proposal to extend the current F-Gas training and certification scheme to alternative refrigerants, for which AREA has been advocating for, has been adopted with broad support. Training and certification will be required to avoid accidents, injury and fatalities involving systems with alternative greenhouse gas refrigerant systems. However, ensuring the widespread of training and certifications for those refrigerants across Europe will require time.
AREA members fully support the transition to climate-friendly alternatives to f-gases, yet the timing needs to be aligned with market and technological realities.
We also regret that the importance of extending periodical inspections and leak checks to prevent safety risks on technicians, personnel and end-users has not been recognised. Since they were introduced in the 2006 F-Gas Regulation, leak check requirements have proven to be effective and efficient, bringing lower leakage rates with positive climate and energy consumption impacts.
With the increased use of alternative refrigerants, all of which present safety issues and many of which are flammable, regular leak checks are necessary to ensure safe and energy-efficient system operation.
Progress should not compromise safety.
For more info, read our position paper https://bit.ly/3maDl7X
