2020 ban on certain types of refrigerants containing fluorinated greenhouse gases
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A ban came into operation in Northern Ireland on 1st January 2020 that prohibited certain types of fluorinated greenhouse gases ("F-gases") with a global warming potential ("GWP") greater than 2500 being used to service or refill refrigeration systems in NI. For full details, and especially if you believe that this may affect your business, please see the leaflet which can be downloaded below.There is also a Q&A sheet to download, showing the answers to frequently asked questions.
The ban applies to many commonly used refrigeration or freezer systems which are currently in use in many businesses in NI.
It applies to hydrofluorocarbons ("HFCs", i.e. one of the F-gases) 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 upcoming ban.
Steps that potentially affected businesses in NI could take include:
- using reclaimed HFC refigerants,
- 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.
To verify the full details of whether or not your business is affected by the ban, and, if so, the actions that you should take, please feel free to download the information leaflet and question and answer documents below.