R22 Replacement

R22 is a refrigerant gas found in most air conditioning equipment over 10 years old. It is a hydrochloroflourocarbon (HCFC) and has an ozone depletion potential (ODP) if leaked into the atmosphere.

In response to government and EU legislation to reduce ozone depleting gases, all HCFC refrigerants such as R22 stopped being used in newly manufactured air conditioning systems by 2004.

Since 1 Jan 2015, the use of virgin, recycled and reclaimed R22 is no longer permitted.

Less harmful ‘drop-in’ refrigerants are available. These were manufactured to mimic R22. They have a zero ODP and are legal to use in air conditioning systems under EU Ozone Regulations.

Any AC equipment on your site containing R22 refrigerant gas needs to be replaced or adjusted immediately.

How will my systems be affected?

All equipment containing R22 refrigerant gas needs to be replaced or adjusted right away in order to comply with EU legislation.

Where can I get advice?

We can advise you on the best course of action for existing R22 equipment. We can look at your specific situation, help you plan for downtime and keep disruption to a minimum.

How would I know if my existing air conditioning equipment contains R22 refrigerant gas?

We can carry out a free site survey to investigate.

What are my options for my existing R22 equipment?

Replace the whole installation with a new system
Re-purpose the existing equipment so that it can operate with an alternative HFC refrigerant
Replace the refrigerant within the system with a different refrigerant

What happens if I do nothing?

Since 1 January 2015 it has become illegal to use any HCFC - including R22.

Who can carry out the work?

Any process involving the handling of HCFC refrigerant must be carried out by experienced and qualified personnel under the F-Gas Regulations. All our refrigeration engineers hold this qualification.

What do I need to do next?