Environment tip 05

The EC Regulations on the use of ozone depleting substances came into force on 1 October 2000.

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are man-made chemicals that can cause damage to the earth’s ozone layer and are used in refrigeration and air-conditioning.

Most ODS are already banned in the EU, but the Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) that remain in use are due to be phased out soon.

Virgin HCFCs were banned in January 2010, allowing only recycled materials to be used for service, maintenance and topping up of systems and in January 2015 these will also be prohibited.

For more information or guidance on how this could affect you please feel free to contact me directly.

Mark Hingston
Director - Technical Services
NB Entrust
Part of The Capita Group Plc
DD: +44 (0)20 3037 7443
M: +44 (0)7772 313946
F: +44 (0)20 7544 2222
mhingston@nbentrust.co.uk
www.nbentrust.co.uk

Did you know?

Legally, the final responsibility lies with the end user, who must ensure that only qualified people work on their equipment. The Government is considering imposing fines of £5,000 for any breach of the regulations.

Don’t delay - keep your temperature and your costs low?

Have you replaced your system yet?

With the ban on virgin refrigerants already implemented the cost of reclaimed refrigerant has tripled since 2009. As reserves are becoming increasingly depleted, the cost is set to soar.

Chiller replacement projects require careful planning in terms of funding and implementation. It is important to identify when plant replacement projects should take place, taking both plant life-cycle and refrigerant availability into account