Lezione tenuta da Ing. Marco Buoni (Centro Studi Galileo) alla Mostra Convegno Expocomfort 2014 presso la Fiera di Milano il 19/03/2014

1. Marco Buoni
VicePresident, 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

2. AREA
The 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

3. AREA
members

4. AREA Priorities
General 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 objectives
Harmonisation of education & training / certification
Promotion of technical evolutions
Environmental protection / tackling climate change / energy efficiency
Recommendations on and promotion of professional techniques & high-level standards
Key issues
Regulatory aspects
- F-Gas Regulation implementation and review
- Monitoring of Ozone Depleting Substances
- Energy efficiency - Climate change
- Eco-design of energy-related products
Professional standards
- Heat pump installation
- F-gas certification and education
Professional guidance
- Low GWP refrigerants, certification and education

5. 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

6. 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

7. Trends
Source NOAA
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
Actual
contribution
Source 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.

8. Source Nature: Published by Guus J. M. Velders, David W. Fahey, John S. Daniel, Mack McFarland, Stephen O.
Andersen
HFC future consumptions 2050

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Categorie del tecnico del freddo

13. Technology and knowledge
Training, Assessment (1)
Strengthening national refrigeration & air-
conditioning (RAC) associations in Eastern
European & Central Asian countries
27 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.

14. Technology and knowledge
Training, 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.

15. Conclusions of EU commission
Public 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

18. 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 are
readily 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)

19. – 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 UNION
Brussels, 18 December 2013 17963/13 (OR. en) PRESSE 593
(2) Source: Racplus.com 16 December 2013
Revision of the F-Gas Regulation (2)

20. 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

21. Courtesy of Emerson
Pros / Cons refrigerants (1)

22. Pro / Contro dei refrigeranti
Efficienza energetica: ogni refrigerante ha la sua applicazione

23. 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

24. • 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)

25. •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)

26. • Mildly flammable
• LFL lower flammability limit
• BV burning velocity
•  A2L refrigerant
• Is it managable?
HFOs – R32 (3)

27. 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.

28. • 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)

29. (1) Requisiti Minimi divisi per moduli per
refrigeranti HC – NH3 – CO2 – HFO*
*HFO1234yf: same, minimum requirements as Hydrocarbons HC
*HFO1234ze: same minimum requirements as HFCs
R32 as Hydrocarbons HC

30. [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*

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

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

33. Equipment (1)
(few available on the market)
• Characteristic: Flammable proof
• Leak detector
• Recovery unit
• Charging station (automotive)

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. Partners principali del Progetto
Institute ofInstitute of
RefrigerationRefrigeration
London SouthLondon South
Bank UniversityBank University
(LSBU)(LSBU)
Air Conditioning andAir Conditioning and
Refrigeration EuropeanRefrigeration European
Association (AREA)Association (AREA)
Informationszentrum fürInformationszentrum für
Kälte- Klima- undKälte- Klima- und
Energietechnik gGmbHEnergietechnik gGmbH
Foundation forFoundation for
the Protection of thethe Protection of the
Ozone LayerOzone Layer
Associazione TecniciAssociazione Tecnici
del Freddodel Freddo
Limburg CatholicLimburg Catholic
University CollegeUniversity College

38. Condivisione delle migliori professionalità
di tutta Europa
Institute ofInstitute of
RefrigerationRefrigeration
London SouthLondon South
Bank UniversityBank University
Air Conditioning andAir Conditioning and
Refrigeration EuropeanRefrigeration European
AssociationAssociation
InformationszentrumInformationszentrum
für Kälte- Klima- undfür Kälte- Klima- und
Energietechnik gGmbHEnergietechnik gGmbH
Prozon, FoundationProzon, Foundation
for the Protectionfor the Protection
of the Ozone Layer,of the Ozone Layer,
PoloniaPolonia
AssociazioneAssociazione
Tecnici delTecnici del
Freddo, ItaliaFreddo, Italia
Limburg CatholicLimburg Catholic
University CollegeUniversity College

39. 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

40. 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

41. THANK YOU!
Email: buoni@centrogalileo.it
Marco Buoni
VicePresident, AREA
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration European contractors’ Association
(www.area-eur.be)
Secretary General Italian Association of Refrigeration Technician, ATF
(www.associazioneATF.org)