Obligatory freon gas leakage inspection for your refrigeration equipment now applicable for Malta.
From 1st January 2015, the Law (REGULATION (EU) No 517/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL) concerning the Suppression of Freon Emissions was fully enforced and shall apply to all Member States of the EU without exception.
Obligations required of the operator (equipment owner)
From the 1st January 2015, operators of equipment that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases in quantities of 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent or more shall ensure that the equipment is checked for leaks. This applies to operators of stationary refrigeration equipment, stationary air conditioning equipment, stationary heat pumps, stationary fire protection equipment, refrigeration units of refrigerated trucks and trailers.
Inspection of Equipment Frequency
|
Tonnes CO2 equivalent charge weight
______________________
≥ 5 and ≤ 50
≥ 50 and ≤ 500
≥ 500
Hermetic systems ≤ 10
|
Frequency of inspection
______________________
Every 12 months
Every 6 months
Every 3 months
None
|
Frequency if leak detection equipment fitted
______________________
Every 24 months
Every 12 months
Every 6 months
None
|
Leak detection equipment mandatory
______________________
No
No
Yes
No
|
For some of the commonly used HFC refrigerants this equates to the following kg charge weights
|
Tonnes CO2 equivalent charge weight
(Frequency of inspection)
______________________
R404A
R407A
R410A
R134a
R407C
|
Between 5 & 50 tonnes
(Every 12 months)
______________________
1.27 kg to 12.7 kg
2.37 kg to 23.7 kg
2.39 kg to 23.9 kg
2.81 kg to 28.1 kg
3.49 kg to 34.9 kg
|
Between 50 & 500 tonnes
(Every 6 months)
______________________
12.7 kg to 127.4 kg
23.7kg to 237.3 kg
23.9 kg to 239.5 kg
28.1 kg to 281.8 kg
34.9 kg to 349.6 kg
|
Greater than 500 tonnes
(Every 3 months)
______________________
Greater than 127.4 kg
Greater than 237.3 kg
Greater than 239.5 kg
Greater than 281.8 kg
Greater than 349.6 kg
|
The maximum allowable charge weights for some of the popular high GWP refrigerants are illustrated below:
|
Refrigerant
_______________________________
R404A
R507A
R434A (RS-45)
|
GWP
__________________________
3922
3985
3245
|
Max. Charge Size (40 tonnes CO2 equivalent)
__________________________________
10.2kg
10.0kg
12.3kg
|
To book your scheduled freon leakage inspection please contact us or call (+356) 21370404.