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Q)

What are the ODS regulations?

A)

The European Ozone Depleting Substances regulation (EC2037/2000) bans the use of virgin HCFCs from 1st January 2010 and bans the use of all HCFCs, including recycled materials, from 1 January 2015.

An information leaflet is available at the DTI website. The BRA have also produced a factfinder which can be downloaded.

Q)

What are the QFF regulations?

A)

The Quick Frozen Foodstuffs (England) Regulations 2007 require that from 1st March 2007 all new temperature monitoring equipment (TME) complies with CEN standards.

Existing measuring instruments can be used until 31st December 2009, after which they must comply with CEN.

The regulations apply to the transport, warehousing and storage of food labelled as quick-frozen food (QFF).

The relevent CEN standards are EN12830 for temperature recorders and EN13485 for thermometers.

.Q)

What is the F Gas regulation?

A)

The F-Gas Regulation (EC 842/2006) came into force on 4th July 2007 and imposes obligations on end users of equipment for regular leak testing and require that operatives handling refrigerant are qualified.

The BRA have produced a Code of Practice offering advice on leak tightness.

It will also bring to an end the availability of non refillable (or "disposable") containers of HFC refrigerants, and from 4th July 2009 restrict who can purchase HFC refrigerants.

The main elements of the Regulation apply in the UK from 4th July 2007, although restrictions on who may handle R22 applied from 9th April 2007.

For more details see FAQs- F Gas Regulations

Q)

When is R22 to be completely phased out?

A)

The European Ozone Depleting Substances regulation (EC2037/2000) bans the use of virgin HCFCs from 1st January 2010 and bans the use of all HCFCs, including recycled materials, from 1 January 2015. R22 is classed as a HCFC, as is R401A, R401B, R402A, R402B, R403A, R403B, R408A and R409A.

An information leaflet is available at the DTI website.

Customers of Thermofrost Cryo and RCL will be required to return all HCFC cylinders no later than Friday 18th December 2009. If returned later than this date, any deposit due will be lost and any unpaid for cylinders will be charged for.

There are also requirements regarding leak testing and qualification of personnel, which form part of the F-gas regulations. From 9th April 2007 all workers handling R22 refrigerants must have gained a recognised safe handling qualification.

Q)

What is the Climate Change Levy and the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme?

A)

The Climate Change Levy (CCL) is a levy (charge) applied to UK energy bills from April 2001. It's aim is to encourage improved energy efficiency.

The Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme applies to certain products with energy saving characteristics. Not all such products are covered by the scheme.

End users who have eligible products installed can claim 100% ECAs (tax relief) on that investment in the year of purchase, rather than at the normal rate of 25% annually on the reducing balance. The 100% allowance in the first year thus helps cash flow. Eligible end users should notify their tax advisers if they have purchase qualifying products and retain the invoice.

Further details about the scheme for Enhanced Capital Allowances, and a list of products that are approved, can be found on the ECA website.

The UK Carbon Trust also has an information site dealing with many aspects of energy efficiency.

Q)

When is a reduced rate of VAT applicable to the installation of air conditioning systems?

A)

From 7th April 2005, HM Customs and Excise allows businesses installing air source heat pumps in all forms of residential accomodation and certain charity buildings to apply VAT at the rate of 5%.

This rate applies to the installation; the equipment is invoiced by the supplier at the normal VAT rate.

Further information is available at www.hmce.gov.uk ; search for Notice 708/6 - Energy Saving Materials. Heat pumps are to be found in the section on heating systems.

Q)

How do the new hazardous waste regulations affect the recovery and recyling of refrigerant?

A)

The new regulations, introduced in 2005, require those involved in the recovery and recycling of refrigerants to register with the Environment Agency and follow certain paperwork proceedures.

Different regulations apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland to those in force in England.

The British Refrigeration Association (BRA) has produced a fact finder explaining the situation, which can be downloaded from this page as a .pdf file (53K).

Q)

What is BS EN 378: 2000?

A)

BS EN 378: 2000 replaces the previous standard BS4434: 1995. The majority of the requirements of BS4434:1995 are still valid under BS EN 378: 2000 but the new standard adds restrictions on the use of flammable refrigerants for direct air conditioning/heat pump systems, different sizing criteria for pressure relief valves and does not allow the use of taper threads on safety devices.

The new standard applies only to new systems and compliance is not compulsary, however non-compliance may have a bearing should any problems arise. Further information is available from British Standards.

Q)

What is PED 97/23/EC?

A)

This is the Pressure Equipment Directive, which came into force in the UK on 29/11/1999, with a phase in period before compulsary compliance after 29/5/2002. It affects a number of RAC products, depending on the application, and is complex.

Further information on the Directive is available from the DTI, or click here for a summary.

Q)

Why is it necessary to fit head pressure control?

A)

In a refrigeration system the compressor, evaporator, condenser and expansion valve are designed to balance under the worst operating conditions, i.e. high ambient temperatures and high refrigeration load. In the winter when the ambient temperature is low, the condensing pressure falls, as a result the pressure drop across the expansion valve falls. This results in the expansion valve starving the evaporator of liquid. Then the evaporator pressure and boiling point of the refrigerant falls. If the system is air conditioning the coil could soon ice up. This in turn would reduce the refrigeration load and the evaporator pressure falls. A continuing spiral, resulting in loss of refrigeration and possibly damage to the system. This can be prevented in systems using an air cooled condenser, by fitting a fan speed control. This senses the condenser pressure (or temperature) and as it falls with a drop in ambient so the fans are slowed down, thus maintaining a constant condenser pressure and pressure drop across the expansion valve. We offer fan speed controls from Saginomiya, Eliwell and Dixell.

In systems with a water cooled condenser, a pressure operated water regulating valve (e.g. Saginomiya -WR) can be fitted. As the water temperature begins to fall the valve reduces the flow of water through the condenser to maintain a constant condensing pressure and temperature.

Liquid back up in the condenser is another method of head pressure control. In this case a pressure regulating valve is fitted; see the FAQ section "pressure regulators" for more information.

Q)

Where should a liquid line solenoid be fitted?

A)

The solenoid valve should be fitted as close to the expansion valve as is practical, especially if the system is operating on a pump down. If the solenoid valve is mounted close to the condensing unit and there is a long pipe run it is possible for the liquid line to drain down into the evaporator causing problems on start up, e.g. liquid slugging. On a pump down system the liquid line should be acting as part on the liquid receiver. If the solenoid valve is positioned such that the liquid line has to be pumped down this may require a much larger liquid receiver to be fitted or the system may trip on it's HP control.

Q)

Is the direction of rotation of compressors important?

A)

With 1phase compressors the rotation is determined by the way the compressor is wired and should not be altered.
On 3 phase compressors it depends on the type of oil pump or the method of the compression. E.g the centrifugal style of oil feed designed into Maneurop reciprocating compressors can rotate in either direction but it is important with Scroll compressors that the direction of rotation is correct, because the scroll will only pump in one direction. To check the rotation a set of gauges should be connected to the high and low side of the compressor. On start up, if the compressor is noisy and the pressures do not fall on the low side and rise on the high side the direction of rotation is incorrect and two of the electrical phases have to be changed around. It is advisable to fit a phase correction module that would cut off the compressor in the event of a phase change.

Q)

What are IP ratings?

A)

These are protection ratings, usually for electrical items, against water, dust etc.. For most of our purposes they consist of a 2 number code.

The first number of the code relates to the protection of persons from contact with live or moving parts, while the second relates to the protection of the equipment from liquid.

The coding system is as follows:

For example, all Eliwell and Dixell 32 x 74mm panel mount controllers have front fascias which are IP65 rated.