2020 ban on certain types of refrigerants containing F-gases

A ban came into operation in NI on 1st January 2020 that prohibited certain types of refrigerants with a GWP greater than 2500 being used to service or refill refrigeration or freezer systems in NI.

This ban applies to many commonly used refrigeration or freezer systems by many businesses in NI. It applies to HFCs in, amongst others:

  • small hermetically sealed systems,
  • condensing units, and
  • central pack systems.

Enforcement notices and possible fines can be applied by enforcing authorities in NI for potential breach of the ban.

Steps that potentially affected businesses could take include:

  • using reclaimed HFC refrigerants,
  • using recycled HFC refrigerants that have been recycled either from your own equipment, or by the company servicing the equipment, or
  • switching to low GWP refrigerants that are not covered by the 2020 service ban.

For further details, including a leaflet with a full description of the ban and steps to take, please see the specially dedicated page of the DAERA web-site on this 2020 ban on certain types of refrigerants containing F-gases.

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