AREA proposal on the certification of personnel in the context of the F-Gas revision

AREA represents European refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) contractors. RACHP contractors are the essential link between end users and manufacturers. They design, install and maintain RACHP equipment using every available solution with complete neutrality towards equipment and refrigerants, in the sole aim of ensuring the highest level of reliability, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

The F-gas Regulation is arguably the most important and impactful piece of EU legislation for our sector. Its provisions dictate the conditions under which our contractors carry out most of their operations.

The Regulation has also had a tremendous impact on our industry, bringing opportunities but also unprecedented challenges that put many of our companies - in particular the smallest ones - to a tough test as regards refrigerants prices, available technical alternatives, and of course competence and skills.

Despite the Regulation’s proven success, the proposal for a revision substantially toughens two of its core provisions - the phase-down scheme and the placing on the market prohibitions – with the stated goal of further accelerating the market penetration of alternatives, and in particular natural refrigerants. Yet, the proposal ignores the actual ability of the RACHP contracting sector to cope with such a surge. More worryingly, it fails to ensure that equipment working with alternative refrigerants can only be handled by competent contractors, thereby leaving the door wide open to widespread safety hazards and energy inefficient equipment.