DEFRA suspends cellar cooler ban
19th December 2024
UK: DEFRA has suspended the January 1 ban on cellar coolers following representations from industry representatives, product manufacturers and suppliers.
The original decision caused consternation and serious concern in the industry after DEFRA and the Environment Agency decided that cellar coolers, consisting of an outdoor condensing unit linked to a cellar room evaporator, would be included under the split system air conditioner ban under the EU F-gas regulation 517/2014.
DEFRA has now indicated that it will not enforce the cellar cooler ban on January 1 pending further enquiries.
The confusion revolves around the definitions of “refrigeration” and “air conditioning” and “comfort cooling” and “product cooling”. The industry maintains that the regulation defines “single split air conditioning systems” as systems for room air conditioning, while cellar cooling is classed as refrigeration equipment for product cooling.
In an email today to Graeme Fox, F-gas scheme director at Quidos, DEFRA said that the Environment Agency was now in consultation with both DEFRA and the European Commission regarding the intent and application of the law in respect of cellar coolers.
“Until such time that the Environment Agency has concluded those inquiries and ascertained the intent of the policy we confirm that whilst we will enforce the ban in relation to comfort cooling, we will not enforce Point 15 Annex III 517/2014 in relation to single split air conditioning systems which are intended to cool product.”
DEFRA does, however, warn that it may enforce this point in future, “given the context of the HFC phasedown in Great Britain and the fact that lower GWP alternatives to these systems are available”.
Related stories:
Urgent meeting sought over cellar cooler ban – 17 December 2024
UK: Graeme Fox, F-gas scheme director at Quidos, has sought an “urgent meeting” with DEFRA over its decision to include cellar coolers within the January 1 split system AC ban. Read more…
Cellar cooler trade in uproar over F-gas ban – 16 December 2024
UK: Manufacturers and suppliers of cellar coolers are in uproar after UK government agencies declared that such systems using higher GWP refrigerants will be banned from January 1. Read more…
