DEDICATED TO KEEPING YOU COOL

Why You Should Use A Refcom Company

Ahead of a Europe-wide ban on the use of disposable cylinders for topping up air- conditioning systems, refrigerant supplier BOC is urging maintenance companies to change the cylinders these use.

The ban affects gases that contribute to global warming, including refrigerants R134a, R404A, R407A and R410A. Thousands of contractors and maintenance engineers in the UK rely on refrigerants supplied in portable 13 kg cylinders to replace air-conditioning units. Discarding of near- empty cylinders into landfills had led to 80 tons of residual gases leaking into the atmosphere every year, according to DEFRA.

As of July 2007, refrigerants need to be sourced in non- disposable cylinders, with a disposable returned to the sender for the gas to be recycled or disposed of legally.

Barry Lyons, refrigerants business development manger with BOC, says, “We know that major refrigerant companies servicing the sector are preparing for the changeover, but it is clear that independent contractors and many of those responsible for building maintenance are unaware the regulation exists, let alone what effect it will have on their business or customers.

As of July, refrigerant gas will be available only in non-disposable compressed gas cylinders from an acknowledged gas supplier. In the lead up to the changeover, BOC is advertising its customers to ensure they have access to a secure supply of non-disposable cylinders and that that their staff has been trained in safety with compressed gases.

Refcom - the register of companies competent to handle refrigerants in the UK to provide an even easier and more accurate means of recording refrigerant movement between supplier, cylinder and plan- from commissioning and charging, through to subsequent recovery and final disposal.