Here’s what you need to know about ozone depleting substances

As a facilities management professional, it’s essential that you have your air conditioning systems serviced regularly. Not only is it a legal requirement but, if Guardian find a leak during an inspection, we will repair this as soon as possible and repeat the test to ensure the repair worked.

F-gases are fluorinated gases. They are used in refrigerated equipment such as air conditioners. Some of these gases are quite harmful and our clients are conscious of the impact leaks can have on the environment.

Here’s a quick refresher on ozone depleting substances (ODS). These are mainly compounds that contain chlorine and/or bromine, that reach the stratosphere of the Earth, and whose breakdown products react with the stratospheric ozone.

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA) this reduces the concentration levels of ozone in the region of the ozone layer, thus reducing the capacity of the atmosphere to filter UV light.

Within the EU, the use of and trade in substances is regulated by Regulation EC NO 1005/2009, also known as the Ozone Regulation. It applies to all companies producing, or dealing in EU import/export of, controlled substances. In addition, process agent users, feedstock users and destruction facilities must report their activities with regard to controlled substances annually.

Working with ozone-depleting substances (ODS) requires adherence to certain rules.

According to government guidance, you must:

• Hold a licence to export ODS.
• Have a quota to import or produce ODS.
• Record and report ODS that has been imported, exported, sold, or destroyed.
• Be qualified to service equipment containing ODS.
• Use a qualified technician to check for ODS leaks in equipment you own.
• Register if you need to use ODS for laboratory or analytical purposes.

As your facilities management provider, Guardian are able to help you.

We have been issued a company F-Gas certificate by REFCOM, which demonstrates we are qualified to have sufficient equipment to carry out leak checks and repairs.

We get our surveyors on-site in order to assess the systems clients have in place. If the air conditioner is leaking, it will require immediate attention. When our surveyors have proposed a detailed service contract, it is shared with the rest of the Guardian team. Our team of engineers will then carry out the leak inspection under the F-Gas regulations.

Checks should generally be carried out once a year, although bigger systems require checks to be carried out twice or even four times a year. If the client’s organisation is part of the Environmental Management Systems (EMS) ISO 14000, it’s vital they drive towards being environmentally sustainable, as it implies they meet the regulatory obligations and will go beyond these requirements to achieve continuous improvement.

The records we provide to the client give an overview of the gases available in their systems and a global warming number. This shows the potential damage the leak could do to the environment.

Clients should act promptly regarding air conditioning leaks, as not only should a system meet legal requirements, but a clean and healthy system will run far more efficiently in the long run. Additionally, maintaining the heat transfer on the air conditioner is vital, as this could drop if it’s not regularly cleaned, and result in energy deficiency.

With the cost of energy increasing, a regularly serviced air conditioning system will pay for itself through efficient operation.

If you’d like more guidance on working with ozone-depleting substances or you need help with checking equipment for leaks, call the Guardian team on 01525 862 208.