Other Recent Legislation
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Additional Info
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ADR (2005)
MAC Directive
Hazardous Waste/Special Waste Regulations (2005)
End of Life Directive
ADR (2005)
ADR refers to standardising transport legislation across Europe. This enabling legislation is reviewed every two years and brings changes.
- The main changes that occurred in 2005 were:
- Clarification on driver’s responsibility:
- Loads must be calculated to ensure the driver knows if the load is under the limit
- Driver must be trained in the use of fire fighting equipment
- Driver must know the hazards of the load they are carrying
- Training records must be kept by the employer
- Increase in some of the limits allowed to be carried before drivers have to be ADR certified
- Requirement to carry certain equipment:
- New requirements for companies:
- Appointment of a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor
- Annual report to Company Board on Compliance with ADR
- Automatic reporting to Dept for Transport of transport accidents that involve 24 hour stay in hospital
- Additional equipment for vehicles where loads are over the threshold limit
MAC Directive
The MAC (mobile air conditioning) Directive was published by the European Parliament in 2006.
Summary
- Adoption of harmonised leakage tests 4 July 2007.
- HFC134a leakage rates introduced 4 July 2008.
- HFC134a banned in new vehicle models by 2011.
- Phase out of HFC134a in all new vehicles by 2017.
- Replacement of HFC134a by HFC152a permitted
| Timetable |
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| Leakage test introduced |
4 July 2008 |
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| HFC134a leakage rates in existing vehicles |
4 July 2008 |
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| HFC134a leakage rates in new vehicles |
4 July 2009 |
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| HFC134a banned in new models |
2011 |
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| HFC134a banned in all vehicles |
2017 |
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Proposals
- A standard test to measure leakage from MAC systems will be introduced within 12 months from adoption of a harmonised leakage detection test.
- HFC134a leakages from motor cars & light vehicles will be restricted to 40-60 grams pa.
- HFC134a leakages from new vehicles will be restricted to 40-60 grams pa.
- HFC134a will not be permitted in new models after 1/1/2011 which allows sufficient time for new MAC systems to be fully tested & integrated into a mass production line.
- HFC134a will be banned in all new vehicles from 1/1/2017
- Refilling HFC134a in MAC systems fitted to vehicles not categorised as new models before 2017 will be permitted after 2017.
Hazardous Waste/Special Waste Regulations (2005)
Fluorocarbon Refrigerants have been classified as hazardous waste across Europe as they are regarded as ECOTOXIC. England and Wales adopted these changes on 16 July 2005. The main changes are:
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| Engalnd & Wales |
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Waste must only be recovered by businesses whose premises are registered with
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The Environment Agency (EA) – England & Wales .
Further information: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
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| Scotland |
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Waste must use SEPA consignment notes and give 3 days pre-notification of movement.
i.e. Notify Monday – move Thursday
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Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
Further information: www.sepa.org.gov.uk
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| Northern Ireland |
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Must use EHS consignment notes and give 3 days pre-notification of movement.
i.e. Notify Monday – move Thursday
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Environment & Heritage Service (EHS)
Further information: www.ehsni.gov.uk
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| Republic of Ireland (when licensed) |
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Waste must be transported with C1 forms from the Local Authority from
where the waste originated. This requires 3 days pre-notification of
movement. Once the waste is received back in BOC Dublin a further
set of paperwork must be raised (trans frontier shipment forms) which
is completed and sent with the load back to the UK.
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Further information: www.epa.ie
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End of Life Directive
This European legislation requires electrical goods that contain hazardous wastes are disposed of in a careful, controlled and traceable way. The qualifying criteria for electrical goods is >1000 Volts AC or 1500 Volts DC. This has an impact on cars (e.g. air conditioning gases) and domestic fridges (e.g. R134a or R12 from the fluids and CFCs from the foam carcase). This took effect in the UK on 13 August 2005.
The Environmental Protection Act (EPA) (1990)
The EPA established the Duty of Care requirement for individuals and companies to abide by and outlined responsibilities and sanctions.
- Waste would be disposed of in a responsible way
- Waste should be disposed in a traceable way
Montreal Protocol
The first ever international agreement of its kind to regulate ozone depleting substances (ODS) was signed
in 1987. This introduced the phase out of ODS (HCFCs). Europe was the first region in the world to ban ODS and manufacture of these refrigerants within Europe ceased in 1994. There is a timetable of phase-outs for other regions of the world, which extend from 2007 to 2050.
EU Regulation 2037/2000 on Ozone Depleting Substances
Europe introduced controls in 2000 under EU Regulation 2037/2000 to introduce
- Sales ban of CFCs in Europe from 2000
- Phase out plan for HCFCs by 2010
- Competence standards for refrigeration engineers
- Requirement for record keeping of refrigeration systems
Under EU Regulations all refrigeration and air conditioning engineers are required to be trained to a minimum standard by April 2007.
What is the standard?
- City & Guilds 2078 (available from BOC)
- CITB Safe Handling of Refrigerants
Who is defined as an engineer?
- Anyone who breaks into a refrigerant circuit in a stationary system, containing 3kg or more. i.e. Charging, recovering, maintenance etc
- Note: In the future, only qualified persons will be able to be supplied refrigerant.
Republic of Ireland
Recent Statutory Instruments (June 2006) make it mandatory for refrigeration engineers to be qualified to:
- City & Guilds 2078
- This must be completed by December 31st 2006
Kyoto Protocol
CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs are significant Global Warming Gases and all nations have an obligation to reduce Global Warming Emissions (expressed as tonnes of CO2). The Kyoto treaty created legislation to reduce emissions of these gases to 5.2% below the 1990 levels. This sets out goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thought to be responsible for global warming. This became a global treaty when Russia adopted it in 2005.
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Please Note:
- For further information please contact the refrigerants team on 0800 02 0800
- For information on Refrigerant Services offered by BOC click here
- BOC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
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