IMPACT OF THE F-GAS 2014 REGULATION ON FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Besides the reduction of available material due to the progressive HFC phase-down (although there is a significant bank of recycled material which can be used for new systems and for recharges), the new F-Gas Regulation 517/2014 will have some specific impacts on the Fire Protection Industry.

While the 2006 regulation had a lower limit of 3 kg on the size of system that was covered by the leak checking requirements, this lower limit becomes 5 tonnes CO2-eq. The new requirements will be applicable from January 2017.

HFCs used in Fire Protection have high GWP : 3,220 for HFC-227ea (FE-200) and 9,810 for HFC-236fa (FE-36). The consequence will be that a great number of Fire extinguishers, which contain typically 1-2 kg HFC, and were previously outside the leak checking requirements, will be covered : for FE-36 even a 1 kg system is now covered by the requirements and for FM-200 a 2kg system.

Member states will have to make sure that system owners and service providers are informed of the new regime, and make sure there are enough qualified personnel and registered companies to meet the challenge of more systems coming under the requirements.

Source: FIA - Fire Industry Association and IS 10   Fire Protection Systems