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EU backs flammable refrigerant project

BELGIUM: A bid to remove barriers currently facing flammable refrigerants in refrigeration and air conditioning applications has received €1m of EU funding.

A new project, led by “natural” refrigerants group Shecco, aims to remove “barriers posed by standards” for flammable refrigerants and improve system design to address flammability risks. This will include setting up a standards action group and best practice manuals for EU equipment manufacturers using flammable refrigerants.

The project – Flammable Refrigerant Options for Natural Technologies – Improved standards & product design for their safe use (FRONT) – is funded under LIFE, the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects.

LIFE FRONT is coordinated by a consortium of six partners. In addition to Shecco, the other partners are European Environmental Citizens Organisation for Standardisation (asbl), German environmental consultancy Heat GmbH, commercial refrigeration manufacturer AHT, Swedish heat pump manufacturer NIBE, and chiller and heat pump manufacturer AIT-Deutschland.

The project, with a total budget of €1.75m, runs until June 2020.

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