Graeme Fox, vice chairman,
HVCA’s RAC Group executive committee.

SPEECH SYNOPSIS

We firmly believe any business serious about its future in the industry should be using the database. It will save money, win business, streamline procedures, safeguard against incoming legislation, promote environmental responsibility and, most importantly, set the end-user’s mind at rest.

The database represents standards already aligned with the proposed Government F-Gas initiatives we have all heard so much about.

REFCOM is also the only registration scheme for companies competent to handle refrigerants in the UK to be publicly recognised by the Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Board (ACRIB).

We have been recognised by successive Ministers of State for Construction and it has been agreed that REFCOM members will automatically be accepted onto any new national refrigerant handling scheme without the need for reassessment.

As we all know, the proposed EU regulation contains obligations to minimise emissions of all F-Gases by at least 8% between 2008 and 2012 because of their global warming potential. HFCs are key to our industry and the most widely used refrigerants because of their stability, non-flammability and energy efficiency.

Although the general industry consensus is that a national mandatory handling scheme is a long way off, refrigerant tracking is undoubtedly something firms must consider now. We are already seeing an increasing paranoia amongst end-users whose responsibilities are growing all the time and will be firmly cemented when the legislation does come in. Major contractors are already asking for detailed proof that refrigerants are being handled responsibly as a condition of appointment. Businesses across the sector are likely to lose out if standards are not raised.

So, what will be expected of our industry?

In real terms, new F-Gas regulations will mean tough standards for refrigerant handling. All equipment using more than 3kg of refrigerant charge will need to be monitored.

Liability in preventing leakage and ensuring proper recovery during replacement and servicing of cooling systems will be shared along the supply chain, but with final onus on the end user.

• All parties will be expected to be able to report in detail on the history of the refrigerant they use, down to individual cylinders. So that includes the installers, maintenance contractors, sub-contractors, and the equipment manufacturers or distributors of any products containing HFC refrigerants
• Maintenance logs and details of supplier transactions on cylinders and engineers will be required
• Specific data such as the name of the technician who has undertaken servicing, type of F-Gas used, and quantities of gas added and recovered will need to be logged
• Operatives will need to be registered as carriers of controlled waste and possess certification in competency to handle refrigerants
• They must be proven to be conforming to all legal requirements and using purpose-designed refrigerant recovery equipment with auditable procedures.

I’m sure we would all agree, it’s a potential administrative nightmare.

In conjunction with Welplan and HVCA Publications, REFCOM has developed the Refrigerant Tracking Database, which enables the user to closely monitor the movement of refrigerant without the major paperwork. It fits in with forthcoming legislation and it will, we predict, be an absolutely indispensable tool in preparing businesses for the new working practices the regulations will require.

In a nutshell, the refrigerant tracking database is an interactive software package that enables the user to track refrigerant movement from supplier to cylinder to plant, including return date and hire charge data. It covers the whole ‘life’ of the refrigerant where each individual company is concerned, from commissioning and charging to recovery and final disposal.

The database is designed to be user-friendly for all staff, from engineers to office workers. The result is an automated monitoring system from which comprehensive reports can be generated. These reports provide an audit trail, proving the company is compliant with F-Gas legislation by providing the information I was talking about earlier – for example, the database can tell the user who handled refrigerant cylinder XYZ, when, and verify they were qualified to do so. Crucially, they provide logged, written proof at every stage of the handling process that no emissions were generated and cylinders were disposed of responsibly.

Being able to do this offers an amazing service and invaluable peace of mind to clients, giving companies using the database a competitive edge, especially where big contractors are concerned.

Additional key benefits to businesses using the database now, before the standards become mandatory, include:

• The introduction of a streamlined, cost-effective refrigerant tracking system for the company
• The virtual eradication of manual record-keeping, saving time and money
• Immediate cost savings on refrigerant cylinder hire charges – because the system logs the exact location of each cylinder, there will be no more unnecessary hire costs when the cylinder may not be in use.

In terms of future developments, we are working towards a multi-user version of the database that would allow each company in the chain to access a central bank of information. We would also like to put the program online to enable remote access. This would be a fantastic tool for engineers when out on site. The database is offered on a subscription basis, which means that users will automatically gain upgrades as they are launched.

In conclusion, the REFCOM committee, RAC Group, Welplan and HVCA Publications are proud to launch this software, and firmly believe the refrigerant tracking database will be a priceless instrument in raising industry standards as a whole, ensuring we are fully prepared for the inevitable F-Gas legislations.

On a personal note, I feel we are providing something that will genuinely improve the way businesses work and save them money. I can see that it will become an invaluable tool for firms active in the installation, commissioning and maintenance of all types of refrigeration plant.