UNEP produces HCFC phase-out guides
8th April 2015
KENYA: UNEP has produced two guides to assist article 5 countries in their phase-out of HCFC refrigerants.
Article 5 countries were obliged to freeze baseline consumptions (2009–2010 average) by 1 January 2013 and achieve a 10% reduction in consumption by 1 January 2015.
Good Servicing Practices: Phasing out HCFCs in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Servicing Sector, was developed to help National Ozone Units and training institutions create HCFC phase-out training sessions for refrigeration servicing technicians.
Its companion guide Phasing-out HCFCs in Small and Medium-sized Foam Enterprises is, as the title suggests, aimed at manufacturers currently using HCFCs in the refrigeration, air-conditioning and other foam sectors.
Service guide
The comprehensive 188-page guide, Good Servicing Practices: Phasing out HCFCs in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Servicing Sector, illustrates how good servicing practices not only help countries meet their HCFC phase-out obligations, but also benefit the climate by reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiency.
It also provides a harmonised approach to training methodologies for technician workshops, developed using the first-hand experiences of refrigeration and air conditioning trainers in the Asia-Pacific region.
Significantly, it also details ways to address safety concerns when installing small air conditioners that use flammable alternative refrigerants.
Pointing out the varied causes of refrigerant leaks, the guide explains how to reduce system leakage by using tools and equipment properly and improving brazing skills.
In the move away from ozone depleting substances, the guide gives advice on safely using low-GWP refrigerants such as hydrocarbons, ammonia, carbon dioxide and HFCs.
Good Servicing Practices can be viewed and downloaded here.
Foam sector
Developed in recent decades, foam is used today in a variety of products ranging from thermal insulation material for buildings to model heads for teaching hairdressing, as well as automotive/furniture accessories.
While some foams are not manufactured with HCFCs, most of them — including polyurethane foam, extrusion polystyrene board and other polyolefin foam — still are. The foam sector is one of the major HCFC consuming sectors in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 72-page brochure Phasing-out HCFCs in Small and Medium-sized Foam Enterprises is designed to help governments and industry, especially SMEs, in better understanding the policies on HCFC phase-out and the alternative technologies for the different foam products.
The guide looks at alternative technologies and provides a number of case studies. It can be viewed and downloaded here.
