Bakers have been urged to get to grips with new mandatory responsibilities for operators of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, following the implementation of the F-Gas Regulation.

The new laws, which came into force this summer, require those who operate refrigeration or air conditioning systems above a certain size to carry out regular checks to ensure equipment is not leaking refrigerant to atmosphere.

Any leaks found must be repaired, and further checks carried out to ensure equipment is completely leak-tight.
Failure to carry out the checks, or take action in the event of a leak being discovered, could result in prosecution and fines.

The legislation came into force on July 4, 2011, and is part of a European-wide push to reduce emissions of HFCs, potent Global Warming gases in widespread use as refrigerants in commercial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

"There are literally hundreds of thousands of refrigeration and air conditioning systems in use across the country that depend on so-called F-Gases. HFCs are by far the most common refrigerants in use in commercial cooling systems, and all are subject to the new requirements," says Iona Spencer of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Show.

"It is vital that everyone who uses this equipment gets rapidly up to speed with the new legislation. We understand the authorities are gearing up to take more concerted enforcement activity, and that prosecutions may follow."