Fire protection equipment

Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) are used in certain types of fire protection systems - such as specialised buildings serving computers or telecommunications. F-gases used in fire protection systems include hydrofluorocarbons.

The use of perfluorocarbons in firefighting equipment is now banned, except for military and aviation uses.

The use of HFC 23 is banned in new fire protection systems.

Responsibility for F-gas obligations

Most of the key F-gas duties lie with the operator. An operator is a person or business who has actual power over the technical functioning of the equipment. This includes:

  • free access to the system, eg supervising its components or functioning
  • control over the day-to-day running or function
  • powers, including financial, to decide on technical modifications, F-gas quantity modifications or have repairs carried out.

The owner of the equipment is usually the operator unless such functions have been transferred.

What you must do

Key F-gas obligations

If you are an operator of fire protection equipment, you must comply with a number of obligations.

Prevent leakage

Where technically feasible and not disproportionately costly, you must prevent leakage of F-gas from stationary fire protection systems and repair discovered leaks as soon as possible.

Check for leaks regularly

Leak checks must be conducted using certified personnel. Frequency depends on the quantity of F-gases, measured in CO2 equivalent (CO2e) and whether a leak detection system is installed.

Leak testing frequencies

Equipment charge (CO2 e)

Leak check frequency

With leak detection system

<5 tonnes

N/A

N/A

5 to <50 tonnes

12 months

24 months

50 – 500 tonnes

6 months

12 months

> 500 tonnes

3 months

6 months

From 1 January 2017, any equipment with an F-gas charge >5 tonnes CO2e (even if under 3kg by mass) must be leak tested. This closed a previous derogation.

The system must be checked within a month after a leak has been repaired to ensure that the repair has been effective.

If you install a system to automatically detect leaks, you can double the period of time allowed between leak checks. For example, with a leak detection system you must check a product that contains F gas equivalent to 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide every 2 years.

Install automatic leak detection systems

You must fit a leak detection system to equipment with 300 kilograms or more of F-gases. This system must be checked every 6 months.

Testing in accordance with either the BS EN15004  or ISO 14520 standards will satisfy the F-gas obligations, as all gaseous fire protection systems should be checked every six months to meet the standard's requirements.

British Standards Institution (BSI): BS EN15004

International Organisation for Standardisation: ISO 14520-13

Maintain records

You must keep records on systems which contain F-gases equivalent to 5 tonnes CO2 or more, including:

  • quantity and type of F-gas in the system
  • quantity of F-gas added to the system
  • quantity of F-gas recovered through servicing, maintenance and disposal
  • identity of business or personnel servicing or maintaining the system, and the dates and results of leak checks and leak detection system checks.

Recover gases

If F-gases are removed from any fire protection system or fire extinguisher, they must be properly recovered by appropriately certified personnel.

Get certified

Personnel

Anyone carrying out leak checking, gas recovery, installation, maintenance or servicing of equipment containing F-gas must be appropriately qualified.

GOV.UK: Qualifications required to work with equipment containing F-gas

Companies

Businesses working with F-gas equipment must have a company certificate issued by a UK approved certification body.

Certification requires proof of:

  • Qualified staff
  • Suitable tools and procedures
  • Adequate workforce for services provided

GOV.UK: Certification for companies working on equipment containing F-gas

Labelling

New systems must be correctly labelled, stating the type and quantity of refrigerant used. The label must be located near to the service point.

This will include:

  • that the equipment contains f-gases
  • which f-gas is contained
  • the charge size
  • the CO2 equivalent of the charge
  • the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the f-gas contained

Submit reports

If you produce, import or export   equipment containing (pre-charged with) F-gases you must make sure that the HFCs are secured through a quota system and are purchased from an HFC quota holder. You must label the equipment and keep records of the F-gas you use.

GOV.UK: Importers of products containing F-gases – labels and record keeping

GOV.UK: Manufacturers of products containing F-gases – labels and record keeping

EUROPA: F-gas standard reporting template

Don't use non-refillable containers

Use of non-refillable containers for transporting and storing F-gases is banned. The placing on the market of non-refillable containers is banned, except for those manufactured (filled with F-gas) before 4 July 2007.

GOV.UK: F-gases in refrigeration, air conditioning and fire protection equipment

Further information

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