F gases are the common name for a group of gases used in many domestic and commercial appliances. There are issues when working with these meaning only Gas Safe registered plumbers are legally allowed to do so. There are stringent rules in place around working with refrigerant gases (so-called F gases) that are not commonly understood. Read on to discover more about these.
What is F Gas?
F gases are man-made gases and used in various applications. They are not ozone-depleting substances but are considered greenhouse gases and do contribute to global warming. Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gases) include:
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
- Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
The main types of F gas found in air conditioning systems are the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) 404A and 410A. These have been designated global warming contributors and have been subject to increasingly stringent regulation by the EU.
Government regulation
To control their emissions there are several sets of regulations including the ‘F-gas regulation’ and ‘Mobile Air Conditioning systems Directive’. The government publishes guidance for anyone who uses or services equipment that contains F gases, like for use in air conditioning or refrigeration systems.
The reason F gas is of such concern to the government is that they have been linked with damage to the environment, in particular by contributing to global warming. There are many different types of F gas but HFCs are of particular relevance to the HVAC industry since two F gases (404A and 410A) are prevalent in air conditioning systems.
In an effort to tighten up on F gases and ultimately phase them out, the EU has introduced various regulations on their sale, usage, monitoring and disposal and has required firms such as ours to become F gas certificated to continue to operate legally.
More Information on F Gas
If you are interested in finding out more about F gases you can call the Environment Agency on 0370 8506 506 or email f-gassupport@environment-agency.co.uk. To talk to one of the K2 team about installing, maintaining or repairing an air conditioning system containing F gas, please call us on 0800 107 5097.
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