The European Commission F-Gas and ODS Regulations are European Regulations that are directly in force in all EU Member States. They came about as a result of two global environmental agreements:
The purpose of these two protocols is to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases, including fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) on climate change and ozone depleting substances (ODS) on the ozone layer, by reducing emissions of F-Gases and ODS respectively.
Background to F-Gas
Commission Regulation 303/2008 of 2 April 2008 sets out the requirements for a company certification scheme for companies working with stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gases) in accordance with Article 5.1 of EC Regulation 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases (the EC F-Gas Regulation).
On the 16th April 2014 Regulation (EU) 517/2014 on Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases repealed Regulation (EC) 842/2006
In accordance with Article 7.1 of Commission Regulation 303/2008, companies carrying out one or more of the activities referred to in Article 2.2 (installation or maintenance or servicing), must hold a certificate as referred to in Article 8 (Company Certificate).
In accordance with Article 8 of Commission Regulation 303/2008, a company is entitled to be issued with a company certificate by a certification body provided that the company has properly certified personnel employed in sufficient numbers to cover the expected volume of activities and proof that the necessary tools and procedures are available to personnel engaged in activities for which certification is required.
Commission Regulation 303/2008 is directly applicable in all Member States. However, national legislation is required to give full effect to its provisions. In Ireland it is an offence if a person carries out installation or maintenance or servicing in respect of stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment, but does not hold a stationary equipment company certificate for the company in which that person is employed.
Commission Regulation 304/2008 requires that similar arrangements be made for the certification of companies working with stationary fire protection systems and fire extinguishers containing certain fluorinated greenhouse gases.