This information applies to Hofors, Ockelbo and Sandvikens municipality.
Handle refrigerants
Refrigerants are different types of substances used in equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and heat pumps.
Equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases
Refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment contain refrigerants for their operation, usually consisting of fluorinated greenhouse gases. These substances are very powerful greenhouse gases compared to carbon dioxide. To reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases, there are rules on which refrigerants can be used and how to install and check equipment. The rules are set out in EU Regulation No 517/2014 and in Regulation (2016:1128) on fluorinated greenhouse gases.
Notification before installation or conversion
If stationary refrigeration equipment containing at least 14 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents is to be installed, the Västra Gästriklands samhällsbyggnadsförvaltning must be notified. The notification must be given in sufficient time to allow consultation with the supervisory authority on the design and environmental impact of the measure. The same requirement applies when converting existing equipment, i.e. when changing to a new refrigerant in the equipment.
Leakage control
For refrigeration equipment containing at least 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, leakage checks must be carried out according to the provisions of EU Regulation number 517/2014. The intervals for checks are set out in the Regulation, and are shown in the table below.
Quantity of carbon dioxide equivalent | Checking interval |
|---|---|
5 tonnes or more | 1 time per 12 months |
50 tonnes or more | 1 time per 6 months |
500 tonnes or more | 1 time per 3 months |
If a leakage warning system is installed, the time between inspections is doubled.
Annual reporting
For refrigerant systems that contain at least 14 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents during any part of a calendar year, the operator must submit a report to the Västra Gästriklands samhällsbyggnadsförvaltning. The report must be submitted no later than March 31 of the year following the calendar year to which the report relates. What the report must contain is stated in Section 15 of the Ordinance on fluorinated greenhouse gases. Examples of information to be provided are the results of the leakage checks carried out and information on equipment scrapped during the calendar year.
Environmental penalty for violation of rules
Environmental penalties are levied for failure to submit a notification or annual report, and for failure to comply with leakage control intervals. Penalties are also levied for violation of certain other rules in the field of refrigerants. The size of the environmental penalty fee is set out in Regulation (2012:259) on environmental penalty fees.
Further information
Contact
If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact Västra Gästriklands samhällsbyggnadsförvaltning via Medborgarservice
026-24 00 00 or e-mail vgs@sandviken.se
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