LG puts perspective on F-gas Regulation

A total of 5000 to 8000 qualified handlers of refrigerants in air-conditioning systems will be required to meet the requirements of the F-gas Regulation which comes into effect on 4 July 2007 — that was the message of Graham Hendra, technical manager with LG’s air-conditioning division in the UK to nearly 200 contractors, consultants and property managers at its recent series of road shows in Manchester, Birmingham and London. Reminding delegates that it is the owner and operator of a system who will be required by the new regulations to ensure that anyone working on it is appropriately qualified, Graham Hendra pointed out that 60% of the 9000 t of refrigerant used in the UK each year is for topping up existing systems and that a kilogram of R410A has about 1900 times the global-warming potential of carbon dioxide. He also asserted that a third of systems in the UK have the wrong charge. ‘A 15% charge loss reduces capacity by 50% and adds 11% to running costs,’ he said, adding that ‘A qualified installer releases up to 15% less gas while servicing.’ For its part, LG is working towards making units that use less refrigerant. The latest generation of R410A units, for example, use 30 to 40% less refrigerant than their R407C predecessors.

Related links:

• www.lgaircon.co.uk