World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

AC inspection system “shambolic”

12556669_lUK: A UK contractor has called on the Government to overhaul the inspection process that has allowed 95% of air conditioning systems to miss mandatory inspections.

Nationwide air conditioning contractor AirCon UK says it’s stunned by the findings released by the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) last month which show, it says, “incredible lapses by companies and organisations which operate air conditioning systems on their premises.”

Describing the inspection system as “shambolic from top to bottom,” AirConUK has called on the Government to streamline the regulations to allow companies to register cheap, straightforward reports on their systems through registered inspectors working in the commercial sector.

According to the B&ES, only 5% of all air conditioning systems have been inspected within the first five years of their working life. All units installed prior to 2011 should have had at least one inspection by now.

“The complexity of the regulations and nightmare bureaucracy involved in the government’s implementation of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive means that it often costs twice as much to arrange for an inspection and lodge the paperwork than the fines for not bothering at all,” said AirCon UK spokesman Jonathan Ratcliffe.

“The maximum fine for failing to lodge your inspection report is £300,” said Ratcliffe, “but the system is such a dog’s dinner it costs far more than that in fees and wasted man hours.”

AirCon UK has called on the government to streamline the system to allow simple filing of reports which can be held ready for inspection by recognised industry-employed inspectors.

“This government might be tempted to scrap the scheme altogether, citing its failure, and that’s a very bad message to put across,” added Jonathan Ratcliffe.

Instead he suggests: “Let’s reboot the entire inspection scheme and start again. We can make this thing work and save the country money.”

 

Further reading:

Over 95% of ac systems in breach of energy regsOctober 7, 2013

Latest News

8th November 2024

Daikin invests in composite materials technology

JAPAN: Daikin has invested in Japanese metal matrix composite materials manufacturer Advanced Composites Corporation to advance the application of the technology to air conditioning equipment parts.
8th November 2024

Kuwait signs Kigali agreement

KUWAIT: The  the State of Kuwait, has followed its Gulf neighbours Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, in signing up to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
8th November 2024

CO2 heat pump achieves ecodesign mark

NORWAY: Oslo-based heat pump manufacturer Tequs claims to be the first to achieve Ecodesign certification for its high-temperature, water-to-water CO2 heat pumps.
8th November 2024

Has Daikin finally cracked CO2 VRF?

BELGIUM: As a possible solution to the viability of VRF air conditioning technology in a low-GWP future, Daikin will preview a CO2 VRF system at the ISH show in March.
7th November 2024

Enter the AI-powered propane heat pump

UK: A new manufacturer has entered the heat pump market with a propane air-source unit powered by artificial intelligence to create “significant” energy savings.
7th November 2024

Freor CEO buys out investor Livonia Partners

LITHUANIA: Rytis Bernatonis, CEO, founder and majority shareholder of commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturer Freor, has acquired the 33.34% stake in his company from private equity company Livonia Partners.