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

No flammable refrigerants without training

BURKINA FASO: Companies in Africa have called for a halt to the introduction of flammable refrigerants and equipment until its technicians are appropriately trained.

In an open letter, U-3ARC, the refrigeration and air conditioning group representing companies in all 54 African countries, has declared that without training the introduction of flammable refrigerants and technologies in Africa is inappropriate. 

“This preliminary training must be accompanied by a vast awareness campaign among end users of these technologies which can cause disasters for humans, in terms of fires, even if they are beneficial for the environment,” it says.

U-3ARC argues that the risks are “enormous” and that it has already received reports of accidents.

“The protection of the environment only makes sense if the human being, who is at its center benefits from it. We find it imperative that this human being is safe from explosions due to flammable gases.

“This is an opportunity for us to firmly express Africa’s refusal to serve as a “guinea pig” for a technology, so far only tested here, in the absence of training sessions, without delay and supported by these same designers and other OEMs.”

The announcement comes as the world begins phasing down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol, a move which will require the transition to flammable refrigerants. Further, the latest European F-gas revision proposals which would begin banning non-flammable HFCs in new equipment from as early as 2026, would also ban European manufacturers from exporting non-flammable HFC equipment at the same time.

Latest News

22nd June 2025

Samsung confirms APP as heat pump distributor

UK: Samsung has announced that APP Plumbing and Heating has now been confirmed as an official distributor of its EHS range of monobloc heat pumps and hot water tanks.
22nd June 2025

Nicholls steps up at BESA

UK: The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has appointed Jill Nicholls as director of competence and compliance. She replaces Helen Yeulet who moves to a new position as strategic consultant.
22nd June 2025

Empower implores customers to limit AC to 24ºC

UAE: Dubai-based district cooling service provider Empower has launched its annual summer campaign to limit air conditioning in the region to 24ºC.
22nd June 2025

UNEP support for governments’ NDCs

KENYA: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has produced a guide to support governments in the integration of sustainable cooling into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
21st June 2025

HPA celebrates 20 years with first conference

UK: The Heat Pump Association (HPA) is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary at its first annual conference in London in November.
21st June 2025

Cooling upgrade at remote Jersey data centre

UK: A logistically complex project involving the replacement of cooling units at a data centre in the Channel Islands has been successfully completed by Biggleswade-based Secure IT Environments (SITE).