The F Gas Regulations aim to contain, prevent and reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases, covered by the Kyoto Protocol, to help combat climate change and global warming. On March 9th 2009 the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2009 came into force.

From 4th July 2009 it is an offence to carry out the installation, servicing or maintenance of Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Hertfordshire equipment containing F Gases without a company certificate issued by an appointed certification body.

In Great Britain, the person having control of the equipment containing the F gas refrigerant (the “operator”), typically a company, is likely to have responsibility for compliance. Also, any business employing personnel involved in refrigerant handling must ensure that they have the appropriate qualifications.  Local Authorities will act as enforcing bodies.

DEFRA has designated REFCOM as a provider of the mandatory F gas company certification scheme and it can issue full certificates and interim certificates.

Between July 4th 2009 and July 4th 2011 an Interim Company Certificate will be sufficient.  To apply for interim certification a company must provide information about the business and a list of employed engineers who hold an appropriate qualification of City & Guilds 2078 or CITB J01.

By July 4th 2011 all companies will need a Full Company Certificate (valid for 3 years).  A company must provide information about the business and a list of employed engineers who hold an appropriate qualification of City & Guilds 2079 or CITB J11-J14, and proof that appropriate recovery systems and refrigerant handling procedures are in place and in use.

Once a company is registered, REFCOM issues a Certificate and the Company details, along with their registration number, appear in the public listing on REFCOM’s website http://www.refcom.org.uk

Do you own or operate air conditioning or cooling equipment containing HCFC refrigerants? Are you aware of your new legal obligations under EU F Gas Regulations?  Take advice from an air conditioning specialist to give your business a head start before the next phase of legislation comes into effect on 1st January 2010.

HCFC’s (such as the commonly used R22) are being phased out and from 1st January 2010 the sale and use of newly produced HCFC refrigerants will be illegal in the maintenance and servicing of air conditioning and cooling equipment.  Recycled or recovered HCFC’s may be used until 31 December 1014 but this is a short term option with likely reduced availability and higher costs becoming an issue as the deadline approaches.

If you own or operate an air-conditioning system it is your responsibility to comply with the new regulations and all air-conditioning systems are affected.  Operators must take precautionary measures to prevent and repair leaks and use appropriately qualified personnel to carry out installation, servicing & maintenance, and leakage checks. Companies who do not comply may face penalties.

In the current economic climate, business’s are especially cost conscious. Financial benefits of an air conditioning upgrade include:
•    the Government’s ECA Scheme (tax relief on certain new equipment)
•    new equipment is likely to be more efficient and cheaper to run
•    Up to 5 years warranty on new equipment
•    significantly reduce CO2 emissions and your Company’s carbon footprint
•    avoidance of non-compliance penalties

D-Mec Services is a specialist, professional, provider of air conditioning  Milton Keynes area. We can provide assessments and suggest effective solutions to enable companies to comply with their obligations under the new legislation.  Take a look at our web site which has information about our specialist air conditioning services and information to raise awareness of the impending phase out.

For people living in Dunstable, D-Mec Services can confirm that we provide air conditioning installations, servicing, maintenance and repairs to Dunstable and surrounding areas. Our experienced and friendly team of expert installers have been providing air conditioning services across the UK for over 12 years, specialising mainly in areas throughout the south eastern counties such as Bedfordshire and the east midlands.

For air conditioning Dunstable, come to D-Mec Services.

If you have opted to have an air conditioning unit in your home then you probably understand just how valuable they are when the weather gets a little too hot or too muggy. Walking into a cool home or business is so much better than heading into a stuffy room that makes you want to take an ice cold shower then and there. However, just imagine how you would feel if the unit you had suddenly decided to go on strike! Well, you can prevent this from occurring with a little air conditioning maintenance every so often.

Air conditioning maintenance is easy enough once you know how to do it and what to look for. Any good engineer that comes to install a unit for you will be happy to tell you what to do and what common problems you should look out for. However, they do also tend to offer a maintenance service if you would rather pay a professional to do the air conditioning maintenance for you.

It is essential that you get into a routine if you are to complete the air conditioning maintenance yourself. Taking a look at the unit every six weeks to three months will help you to remember when a service is due, spot any problems before they get out of hand and call in the necessary electricians for repairs if need be.

The majority of people that do not get into a routine forget to perform air conditioning maintenance in winter when it is cooler because they tend to forget about it. An air conditioning unit can be used all year round to maintain a desirable temperature but if it is not on or not needed then your routine could fall by the wayside.

Air conditioning maintenance, no matter who performs it, is designed to ensure that your unit is running efficiently, is reliable, uses as little energy as possible, is clean so that dirt will not clog it up and will last longer, thus putting off the need to buy a new one for as long as possible. All of the above will save you money in the long run in terms of your energy bill and the need to buy another expensive unit before you absolutely have to! Good air conditioning maintenance is a must if you do have a unit in your home so plan ahead and get into a routine before you forget!

Air Conditioning Milton Keynes - Air con experts

 Come hot or humid temperatures, walking into any building with air conditioning installed is like a breath of fresh air!  

Until recently, very few homes and businesses in the UK had air conditioning and the vast majority of homes and small businesses still do not. However, the need for it is likely to drastically increase in the near future as a result of climate changes. When the weather is warm in the summer, it is often unbearably hot with temperatures that break records left, right and centre. Air conditioning can often help homeowners and families to bear the heat that is associated with climate change, thus maintaining their health and comfort where possible.

Air conditioning is still considered to be a luxury at the moment because temperatures have not reached the level that they are at elsewhere in the world. The British weather is still with us as yet! However, the need for them may arise in the near future. It does not hurt to start looking around at your options now rather than leaving it until it is your only option.

You have many options in terms of air conditioning in your home. You can choose to have portable units that you can bring out and put away as and when you choose or you can have a permanent unit installed. A permanent unit could potentially be an expensive investment, depending on the facilities you want. However, there is funding available that could enable you to purchase a permanent unit and have it installed in your home.

Air conditioning is far more energy efficient than operating a fan in your home when it does get uncomfortably warm, and many air conditioning units can also be used to maintain the warmth in a room in winter as well. As a result, it is multifunctional and could potentially save you money over the years, which is never a bad thing. There are plenty of units available to look at so a little research would not go amiss!

D-MEC specialise in all areas of air conditioning from air conditioning Milton Keynes, Bedford and Northampton and surrounding areas.

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