AREA decided to call for a ban on pre-charging of fluorinated gases in non-monobloc air conditioning equipment. The aim is to ensure installation of this equipment by certified professionals, a legal requirement under the current F-Gas Regulation though hardly applied in practice. Whereas AREA originally requested to align the regime for fluorinated gases in such equipment with that of fluorinated gases in containers, it was felt that the solution should be adapted in order not to limit distribution channels. Banning pre-charging would guarantee installation by certified professionals, solely allowed to take delivery of fluorinated gases. In addition, reporting (currently lacking for this kind of equipment) would be done under the responsibility of contractors. Control on imports would be easy. Finally, it is a cost-neutral option, whether for public authorities (who would actually save control costs compared to the current situation) or users (charging the refrigerant only takes a few seconds).

 

Here is the detailed position.