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Latest regulation news

From Europe to Australia via the United States, an update on the latest regulatory developments in the field of refrigeration. 

European Union

 

F-Gas [1-2] 

 

The update of the EU F-Gas (517/2014) regulation is stalling: the last discussions held in July have not been successful. The plan proposed by the European Parliament is fairly ambitious, aiming eventually for a total ban on fluorinated gases. The Council is more sceptical and considers it necessary to maintain them on the market, particularly in the heat pump or commercial refrigeration sectors. 

Further discussions should be held during the autumn: the entry into force of this update was scheduled for January 1, 2024 but it may be postponed. 

 

Flammable refrigerants [3-4] 

 

The European standard EN IEC 60335-2-89:2022 was updated in the Official Journal of the European Union in August. It will allow European manufacturers to market self-contained equipment with a flammable refrigerant charge of up to approximately 500g of R290 and up to 1.2kg of A2L refrigerants. [5] The maximum flammable refrigerant charge authorised within the updated standard depends on the flammability of the refrigerant. The update of this standard had been awaited for almost 10 years. 

 

United States [6-7] 

 

This summer, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a rule enabling the provisions of the Kigali Amendment to be followed, with a 40% reduction in the production and consumption of HFC refrigerants from 2024. This rule follows a law passed in 2021 (American Innovation and Manufacturing Act) which provides for an 85% reduction in the consumption and production of HFCs by 2036. 

 

Australia [8] 

 

From July 1, 2024, Australia will ban the import and manufacture of small air-conditioning equipment using a refrigerant with a GWP greater than 750. This ban will apply to equipment with up to 2.6kg of refrigerant charge. 

 

Sources:

 

[1] https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/opinion/f-gas-revision-far-more-than-a-climate-victory-for-europe/  

[2] https://www.coolingpost.com/world-news/no-agreement-on-f-gas-revision/

[3] https://www.rdandt.co.uk/news/new_60335-2-89

[4] https://refindustry.com/news/legislation/eu-harmonized-standard-that-allows-500-g-of-r-290-in-commercial-refrigeration-applications-is-in-for/  

[5] https://m.boutique.afnor.org/fr-fr/norme/nf-en-iec-60335289/appareils-electrodomestiques-et-analogues-securite-partie-289-exigences-par/fa199143/332851  

[6] https://r744.com/u-s-epa-finalizes-rule-cutting-hfcs-by-40-in-2024-2028/  

[7] https://www.coolingpost.com/world-news/us-announces-40-hfc-cut-from-2024/ 

[8] https://www.hvacrnews.com.au/news/australia-to-ban-high-gwp-refrigerants-in-small-ac/