R22 Legislation – How the New Environmental Laws Could Impact Your Business

It’s a well-known fact that the way we currently conduct business and consume creates a big impact on the environment. There are now new developments in the law to protect the ozone layer, with a deadline for companies to do so before next year. This is called the R22 Refrigerant Legislation or the ‘R22 Phase Out’. If you own, lease or manage a commercial property then here’s what you need to know.

What Is R22?

R22 is a refrigerant gas that has been extremely popular and widespread for over a decade as an effective and efficient refrigerant. It is actually a Hydrocholoflourocarbon (HCFC), which means that it has ozone depletion potential when it is released into the atmosphere.

If your air-conditioning equipment is over 10 years old, then it will most likely contain R22 and will need to be replaced. Here’s why…

What Has Changed?

According to the UK government and wider EU’s regulations to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases that are damaging the environment, a new law states HCFC’s should be phased out by December 2014. Although this date has passed, many businesses are still not aware that their equipment needs to be changed. But they better act fast, as the use of R22 will actually be illegal from January 2015.

Businesses who fail to take any action will find that their systems are unserviceable and could risk spending a large amount of money to fix the issue or even worse. Read more on the subject at CN Plus who have reported on the problem and how the number of companies ignoring the legislation will be at risk in the future.

What Should I Do?

If you use commercial property, you should first identify if your air conditioning is actually functioning on R22. It is best to do this as early as possible to give plenty of time for the required services, assessments and changes.

There are less harmful ‘drop-in’ gases available on the market to replace R22 that comply with EC ozone regulations as they have zero ozone depletion potential. However these carry their own risks of reliability, performance so be sure to get a thorough consultation on the best route to take. There are many companies that can be found online now who will install new air conditioning commercially and be able to quote you before.

So don’t let yourself get caught out last minute with the strict R22 this year regulations. Seek reputable advice from a specialised air conditioning service that can help you make the right choice.