Marco BuoniVicePresident, AREA

Air Conditioning & Refrigeration European contractors’ Association(www.area-eur.be)

Secretary General Italian Association of Refrigeration Technician, ATF (www.associazioneATF.org)

Formazione e Certificazione sui refrigeranti fluorurati HFC,

naturali NH3, CO2, HC e sintetici HFO

Milano, 19 marzo 2014

AREAThe indisputable voice of European RACHP contractors

• Funded in 1988 in Brussels, Belgium• Represents RACHP contractors• AREA in figures:

20 national member associations 18 countries from EU and beyond > 9,000 companies (mainly SMEs) +/- 125,000 work force +/- € 20 bn annual turnover

Design, installation, maintenance and repair of all Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps RACHP systems

AREA members

AREA PrioritiesGeneral mission statement"support and initiate activities to promote the industry and its high standards of quality, in order to serve users' interest in a safe and uninterrupted usage of efficient refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment, and to create and maintain a favourable business climate for European refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump contractors, in terms of quality, safety, employment, fair competition and profitability".General objectivesHarmonisation of education & training / certificationPromotion of technical evolutionsEnvironmental protection / tackling climate change / energy efficiencyRecommendations on and promotion of professional techniques & high-level standardsKey issuesRegulatory aspects- F-Gas Regulation implementation and review- Monitoring of Ozone Depleting Substances- Energy efficiency - Climate change- Eco-design of energy-related productsProfessional standards- Heat pump installation- F-gas certification and educationProfessional guidance- Low GWP refrigerants, certification and education

The Environment

Source UNEP United Nations Environment Programme

Currently, global temperature is around 0.8 degrees Celsius higher than in the pre-industrial era. Without climate policy, this increase will rise to around 2 degrees by 2050, and to between 2.5 and 6 degrees by the end of this century.

They have been rising ever since, and today are about 394 ppm. A level of 450 ppm has generally been associated with an average global temperature rise of 2 degrees C

Europe: The current political context

The EU 20 – 20 – 20 target

To stay below 2°C every country will have to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), but developed countries will need to take the lead by targeting a cut of 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050.(1) (1) EU Commission Climate Action - FAQ

TrendsSource NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Actual contributionSource US Similar in all developed countries

Impact of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps – and refrigerants

Air-conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump equipment is using 15 to 20% of the electrical energy globally.

Source Nature: Published by Guus J. M. Velders, David W. Fahey, John S. Daniel, Mack McFarland, Stephen O. Andersen

HFC future consumptions 2050

Refrigerants trends

Source: AFEAS until 2006, 2030 projection by Öko-Recherche.

In synthesis the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps systems with HFCs should have: - Logbook (each unit above 3kg of charge)- Periodical inspections- Installation, repair only by certified craftsmen

To prevent HFCs emissions In Europe:

F-gas regulation and certification

REGULATION (EC) 842/2006

  CATEGORIE

CONOSCENZE E COMPETENZE I II III IV

1 basi termodinamiche T T T

2 impatto ambientale refrigeranti – regolamenti ambientali T T T T

3 Operazioni durante il ciclo di vita degli impianti e su registro P P

4 controlli delle perdite T/P T/P T/P

5 controllo del refrigerante in tutte le attività P P P

6 installazione, messa in esercizio e manutenzione di un compressore P P

7 installazione, messa in esercizio e manutenzione di un condensatore raffreddato ad aria o acqua

P

8 installazione, messa in esercizio e manutenzione di un evaporatore raffreddato ad aria o acqua P

9 installazione, messa in esercizio e manutenzione della valvola di espansione termostatica ed altri componenti P

10 allestimento di una tubazione a tenuta ermetica P P

REGOLAMENTO CE 842/2006 e 303/2008 ALLEGATO COMPETENZE E CONOSCENZE

REGOLAMENTO CE 842/2006 e 303/2008 ALLEGATO COMPETENZE E CONOSCENZE

Categorie del tecnico del freddo

Technology and knowledgeTraining, Assessment (1)

Strengthening national refrigeration & air-conditioning (RAC) associations in Eastern

European & Central Asian countries27 November 2012 – Casale Monferrato: The Italian Centro Studi Galileo, the European Association of Refrigeration, Air-conditioning and Heat Pump Contractors (AREA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) joined forces to strengthen national refrigeration & air-conditioning (RAC) associations in Eastern European and Central Asian countries.

Technology and knowledgeTraining, Assessment (2)

Representatives of national RAC associations participate since 2009 in the meetings of the Regional Ozone Network for Europe & Central Asia (ECA network) and they play a crucial role in implementing the national HCFC phase-out management plan. The meeting focused on those countries with relatively young RAC associations and those which are planning to establish such associations in the near future. So far, the ECA network supported the creation of national RAC associations in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, and Macedonia FYR. All participants successfully passed the theoretical and practical assessment and were certified under the F-gas regulation. This certification is mandatory in the member countries of the European Union and will shortly become mandatory in accession countries like Croatia.

Conclusions of EU commissionPublic consultation

In the context of the overall EU objective to cut emissions by 80–95 % by 2050, the stabilisation of F-gas emissions at today’s levels is not adequate and the analysis shows that

already available or emerging low-GWP technologies are technically feasible and can be cost effective in many application areas

The agreed regulation will allow to reduce F-gas emissions by two-thirds of today's levels by 2030. The use of F-gases in some new equipment, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, will be banned where viable and more climate-friendly alternatives arereadily available. The new regulation will not only benefit the climate, but also create great business opportunities for EU companies on the market for alternative technologies.It establishes rules regarding containment, use, recovery and destruction of those gases. In addition, the new law imposes conditions on the placing on the market of products and equipment containing or relying upon F-gases, whilst setting out quantitative limits for the placing on the market of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC).The regulation also introduces bans on the placing on the market of the following products:– domestic refrigerators and freezers containing HFCs with a global warming potential (GWP) of 150 or more as from 1 January 2015;– refrigerators and freezers for commercial use containing HFCs with a GWP of 2500 or more from 1 January 2020, and containing HFCs with a GWP of 150 or more from 1 January 2022;– stationary refrigeration equipment that contains or relies upon for its functioning HFCs with a GWP of 2500 or more from 1 January 2020;– centralised refrigeration systems for commercial use with a capacity of 40kW or more that contain or rely upon their functioning, fluorinated gases with a GWP of 150 or more, from 1 January 2022;

Revision of the F-Gas Regulation (1)

– movable room air-conditioning appliances that contain HFCs with GWP of 150 or more from 1 January 2020;– single split air-conditioning systems containing less than 3 kg of F-gases that contain F-gases with a GWP of 750 or more from 1 January 2025;– foams that contain HFCs with a GWP of 150 or more, extruded polystyrene from 1 January 2020 and other foams 1 January 2023; and– technical aerosols that contain HFCs with a GWP of 150 or more from 1 January 2018. (1)

The first ban is the much-touted service and maintenance ban on high-GWP refrigerants, over 2500 GWP, which is planned to come in 2020 (2)

The Regulation will apply from 1 January 2015.

(1) Source: COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONBrussels, 18 December 2013 17963/13 (OR. en) PRESSE 593(2) Source: Racplus.com 16 December 2013

Revision of the F-Gas Regulation (2)

Contractors’ training with low GWP refrigerants: mind the gap!

If the use of HFCs is legislatively decreased and consequently the use of natural refrigerants is pushed, there will be a gap between training offer and training needs resulting in a shortage of trained contractors

The European Commission is working on a revision of the F-Gas Regulation that could include measures in favour of a decreased use of HFCs in RACHP equipment. Such measures would, in turn, result in an increased use of alternatives, namely low GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants, and in particular the so-called “natural refrigerants” (CO2, hydrocarbons and ammonia). Mindful of the key role played by contractors in the safe, efficient and reliable functioning of equipment working with natural refrigerants, AREA sought an overview of the availability and level of training in the EU.

Solution could be starting from the F-Gas certification of personnel adding modules for natural refrigerants

Courtesy of Emerson

Pros / Cons refrigerants (1)

Pro / Contro dei refrigeranti

Efficienza energetica: ogni refrigerante ha la sua applicazione

Gli HFC sono gas refrigeranti che soddisfano ogni applicazione, se in futuro venissero messe restrizioni queste a fianco le alternative

Parametri:

EFFICIENZA

AMBIENTE

SICUREZZA

COSTO

NON ESISTE UN REFRIGERANTE UNICO

OGNI APPLICAZIONE

UN REFRIGERANTE

Applicazione Refrigerante

Refrigerazione industriale

Tutti i tipi di refrigerazione industriale

Ammoniaca

Impianti a cascata Anidride Carbonica + Ammoniaca

Fluidi secondari Anidride Carbonica

Refrigerazione commerciale

Mobiletti frigo Idrocarburi

Bottle cooler Idrocarburi

Supermercati Anidride Carbonica

Refrigerazione domestica

Frigo e Freezers Idrocarburi

Aria condizionata

Pompe di calore per acqua calda

Anidride Carbonica trans-critica

Grandi chillers Ammoniaca

Aria condizionata piccoli monoblocco

Idrocarburi

Settore Automobili HFO1234yf

• Pro- Nearly drop-in

- Low changes for the manufacturers, the contractors and the end-users

- Good/High performances

- Low Toxicity

- Nearly same tools-equipments

HFOs – R32 (1)

•Con -Not yet widely used (even if R32 is a old known refrigerant but rarely used as single, component of R410a)

-HFOs not commercially available – few factories (mainly in US) high costs for high demand low offer (over 100 €/kg at the moment?). Mainly automotive.

-Mildly flammable

-R32 GWP=675 is it a low GWP refrigerant?

HFOs – R32 (2)

• Mildly flammable

• LFL lower flammability limit• BV burning velocity • A2L refrigerant

• Is it managable?

HFOs – R32 (3)

AREA position on training and certification of LOW GWP refrigerants (1)

• A future phase-down of HFCs will lead to a higher use of alternative refrigerants / low GWP refrigerants. Low GWP refrigerants have issues on safety, flammability, toxicity and high pressure which will need to be properly considered when handling those refrigerants. With this guidance document, AREA would like to recommend to worldwide and European decision-makers minimum requirements for training and certification of contractors handling low GWP refrigerants.

• It is not AREA’s intention to create a new certification scheme – only to add specific modules to the existing HFCs certification scheme based on Regulation 303/2008. While HFC certification will be the basis for every contractor who want to handle every refrigerant, each added module will focus on the specificities of the respective LOW GWP refrigerant (i.e. Hydrocarbons – Flammability).

AREA position on training and certification of LOW GWP refrigerants (2)

(1) Requisiti Minimi divisi per moduli per refrigeranti HC – NH3 – CO2 – HFO*

*HFO1234yf: same, minimum requirements as Hydrocarbons HC*HFO1234ze: same minimum requirements as HFCsR32 as Hydrocarbons HC

[1] All practical trainings should include theoretical training[2] City and Guilds, Level 2 and Level 3 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning CPD Pathways, March 2012 v1.0[3] It is normally accepted to vent hydrocarbons with low charges (please refer to national legislation)[4] It is normally accepted to vent CO2 (please refer to national legislation)

(2) Minimum Requirements listed for the Specific module HC – NH3 – CO2 – HFO*

(3) Minimum Requirements listed for the Specific module HC – NH3 – CO2 – HFO*

(4) Minimum Requirements listed for the Specific module HC – NH3 – CO2 – HFO*

Equipment (1)(few available on the market)

• Characteristic: Flammable proof• Leak detector• Recovery unit• Charging station (automotive)

Equipment (2)(few available on the market)

• A flammable gas detector should be used to monitor the air in the work area.

• If an electronic leak detector is used it must be safe and sensitive to the flammable refrigerant. Most HFC leak detectors do not need this requirement. Leak detection fluid can be used.

• HFC recovery machines have not been assessed for use with flammable refrigerants. Approval must be sought from the manufacturer before using a standard HFC recovery machine with any flammable refrigerant – they may be safe to use with flammable HFCs but not HCs. A recovery machine suitable for use with HCs is available and could be used with other flammable refrigerants.

• More accurate scales are necessary when charging small, critical charged systems with some flammable refrigerants such as HCs. An accuracy of ±5 g is often necessary – most scales used for service are not this accurate.

• A dry powder or CO2 fire extinguisher must be available at the location.

• A suitable ventilation fan should be used when working inside if there is insufficient natural ventilation.

Source: BRA Guide to Flammable Refrigerants, July 2012

• You will need to determinate if your current R-134a detector can be used with a mildly flammable refrigerants

Source: Dupont Guidelines for Use and Handling of HFO-1234yf

Refrigerant Emissions and Leakage-blended learning for alternative refrigerants in new equipment

safety, efficiency, reliability and containment

REAL Alternatives

e-learning

classroom practice

e-library

Co-financed by

REAL alternatives è un progetto europeo che si propone di migliorare le abilità dei tecnici che lavorano nel settore della refrigerazione, del condizionamento e delle pompe di calore.

L’addestramento ha come oggetto l’uso di alcuni tipi di refrigeranti come l’anidride carbonica, l’ammoniaca, gli idrocarburi e gli HFO.

Riguarderà in particolare gli aspetti legati alla sicurezza, all’efficienza, all’affidabilità ed al contenimento delle fughe durante

le fasi di assistenza e manutenzione degli impianti.

Il progetto si basa su una forma innovativa di apprendimento, che prevede sia l’e-learning, sia le tradizionali lezioni frontali, che

l’utilizzo di librerie virtuali con materiali da tutta Europa, sfuttando la positiva esperienza maturata con i progetti REAL Skills Europe &

REAL Zero containment.

Addestramento sulle emissioni di refrigerante e ricerca delle fughe di refrigeranti alternativi nei nuovi impianti

sicurezza, efficienza, affidabilità e contenimento

Partners principali del Progetto

Institute of Institute of RefrigerationRefrigeration

London South London South Bank University Bank University

(LSBU)(LSBU)

Air Conditioning andAir Conditioning andRefrigeration EuropeanRefrigeration European

Association (AREA)Association (AREA)

Informationszentrum für Informationszentrum für Kälte- Klima- und Kälte- Klima- und

Energietechnik gGmbHEnergietechnik gGmbH

Foundation forFoundation forthe Protection of thethe Protection of the

Ozone LayerOzone Layer

Associazione Tecnici Associazione Tecnici del Freddodel Freddo

Limburg Catholic Limburg Catholic University CollegeUniversity College

Condivisione delle migliori professionalità di tutta Europa

Institute of Institute of RefrigerationRefrigeration

London South London South Bank UniversityBank University

Air Conditioning andAir Conditioning andRefrigeration EuropeanRefrigeration European

AssociationAssociation

Informationszentrum Informationszentrum für Kälte- Klima- und für Kälte- Klima- und

Energietechnik gGmbHEnergietechnik gGmbH

Prozon, FoundationProzon, Foundationfor the Protectionfor the Protection

of the Ozone Layer, of the Ozone Layer, PoloniaPolonia

Associazione Associazione Tecnici del Tecnici del

Freddo, ItaliaFreddo, ItaliaLimburg Catholic Limburg Catholic University CollegeUniversity College

Programma di lavoro biennaleArea di impegno e partner di riferimento

Ricerca dei fabbisogni e delle necessità in Europa di aggiornamento riguardo i refrigeranti alternativi

LSBU

Definizione delle risorse disponibili per implementare ed aggiornare continuamente il processo di e-learning

LSBU

Sviluppo del processo di e-learning attraverso l’integrazione e la traduzione dei vari materiali disponibili nelle diverse modalità (cartacea, multimediale, ecc)

KHLim

Pilotaggio e testing dei materiali prodotti attraverso sperimentazioni in 5 lingue diverse (inglese, italiano, tedesco, polacco e fiammingo)

ATF

Monitoraggio dell’efficacia e della soddisfazione IKKE

Pubblicità, promozione e coinvolgimento delle parti interessate

AREA / IOR

Gestione del progetto IOR

Individuazione degli elementi che permettono di garantire una sostenibilità a lungo termine dei risultati

PROZON

REAL Alternatives prevede: • un sito web plurilingue con risorse e notizie di interesse

• accesso all’e-learning ed ai materiali di studio in cinque lingue diverse sia per quanto riguarda i test pratici, che le valutazioni che gli attestati finali

• una e-library sfogliabile con la possibilità di consultare un’ampia gamma di materiali per l’apprendimento provenienti da tutta Europa

• percorsi d’apprendimento flessibili per soddisfare differenti necessità formative

• programmi personalizzabili per formatori e datori di lavoro

• possibilità di creare gruppi di apprendimento

• possibilità per chi è interessato di rimodulare nel tempo l’addestramento e le abilità in Europa

THANK YOU!

Email: buoni@centrogalileo.it

Marco BuoniVicePresident, AREA

Air Conditioning & Refrigeration European contractors’ Association(www.area-eur.be)

Secretary General Italian Association of Refrigeration Technician, ATF (www.associazioneATF.org)