What is R22?
Refrigerant R22 had been used for many years in air conditioning equipment, it is the gas that is contained within the pipework and is at the heart of the cooling/heating performance of system. In 2003 The Ozone Legislation banned the use of R22 in new equipment and therefore any plant that has been purchased since that date is likely to contain a refrigerant other than R22.
Whilst some end-users are aware of the imminent phasing out of R22 refrigerant and the relevant legislation, there is a lot of confusion circulating and few clients fully understand the potential impact that this legislation may have on them and their business.
As a responsible contractor GC Air Conditioning are keen to present the facts to help clarify the issues that surround the phasing out. We aim to help our clients to cut through conflicting information, to realize the facts and appreciate the wider implications of this ban:
• HCFC refrigerants have been proven to have ozone depletion potential and legislation has been put in place to ensure that the use of all HCFCs is phase out by 2015.
• R22 is an HCFC refrigerant and as such is covered by the EC Ozone Regulation No.2037/2000:
- The sale and/or use of virgin HCFC was banned from 31/12/2009. This applies to all virgin HCFCs even if purchased before the deadline.
- The sale and/or use of recycled HCFC will be banned from 31/12/2014. This applies to all recycled HCFCs, even if purchased before the deadline.
• Since 31/12/2009 only recycled or reclaimed R22 can be used for maintenance or repair and availability is rapidly declining, the price for the gas is increasing on a week by week basis.
• Any organisation operating air conditioning systems that use R22 will be affected by the ban and MUST comply with the regulation.
• Operators of all air conditioning systems must ensure that:
1. They use appropriately trained personnel to carry out installation, servicing, maintenance and leak checking: GC Air Conditioning's engineers are fully qualified and hold the latest certificates for this work.
2. Ozone depleting Substances, such as R22, are recovered during servicing and maintenance and at the end of systems life.
We believe that an uninformed approach to the ban could prove to be expensive and at worst leave users without their air conditioning systems entirely. By presenting the fact, highlighting the potential implications and providing cost effective solutions we aim to enable you, our client, to make informed decisions on which course of action best suits your individual needs.
In simple terms the options are:
Do nothing
Use drop in replacement refrigerants
Replace the system
If nothing is done then the costs of repair will escalate as the price of R22 soars due to demand outstripping supply. The availability of spares for R22 equipment is also a growing problem due to the obsolescence of the components. After 31st December 2014 it will be illegal to carry out repairs involving the use of R22.
Whilst there are a number of direct replacement or "drop-in" refrigerants being promoted within the air conditioning industry, they at best only offer a partial solution; they can severely compromise system performance and affect the way that the system operates. Most of the major equipment manufacturers do not support the use of these gasses in their plant.
This option is undertaken entirely at the client's risk and it should be borne in mind that this route would only defer the problem as opposed to solving it.
Replacement of existing systems is inevitable, it is obviously far better to do this in a planned and organised way rather than to wait for a critical failure of plant and then have to rush to a solution. It is also worth noting that, when compared with the new advanced systems of today the running and maintenance of ageing air conditioning systems can prove uneconomical and this is set to become increasingly so. GC Air Conditioning will be happy to provide guidance in the matter of equipment selection.
