International. A group of European associations came together to demand the immediate cessation of the use of HFC, R404A and R507A gases.
Through an explanatory campaign in which the reasons for curbing the use of these refrigerant gases are explained, the European Association of Refrigeration Installers, Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps (AREA) that leads this initiative, hopes to raise awareness in the current imlemantation of these refrigerants.
The reason for this warning is due to the big jump in the gradual reduction (known as Phase Down) of HFCs coupled with the limitation of 2500 in the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the refrigerant gas in 2020. If rapid measures are not taken to replace these gases with others with lower GWP, the cold industry is doomed to an endless escalation of the increase in prices – which has already been appreciated since the beginning of 2017 with 500% increases in gases such as R-404A – and an immediate shortage of these fluids and the mixtures that contain them.
The solutions provided by the European Cold Associations are, in addition to the cessation of the use of these high GWP refrigerants, their replacement by lower GWP refrigerants -especially if the equipment is prone to leaks or other failures-, the reduction of leaks, the reduction of the refrigerant load in the equipment as much as possible and recovery, recycling and, where appropriate, destruction of refrigerants. This last point, proper fluid management is the best way to fight the black market and protect the environment.
In addition to the measures for the elimination of HFCs in 2018 and 2021, the EU Fluorinated Gases Regulation prohibits the use of HFCs with a GWP>_ 2500 in new refrigeration equipment from 2020 and also for service and maintenance in refrigeration equipment with a load of 40 T of CO2 equivalent or plus ( = approx. to 10kg. of R404A / R-507A), says a part of the brochure.
"The concern in the cold industry about the situation created by the shortage of refrigerant gases and the escalation of prices in confluence with the entry into force of a new phase of the European F-Gas Regulation is immense. However, it is urgent to act to avoid shortage problems that would have fatal consequences for many companies and would have an impact on the end user," said Manuel Lamúa, manager of AEFYT.
Source: www.infohostelero.com
