What has changed?
Regulation (EU) 2024/573 replaces Regulation (EU) No 517/2014. The aim is the same: lower emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases. The new regulation further limits the amount of F-gases on the market, prohibits more types of equipment containing F-gases and requires training and certification to cover alternatives as well, such as natural refrigerants.
For installers the core stays the same: whoever works on equipment containing F-gases is certified, carries out leak checks on time and records everything. Whether an installation needs leak checks depends on the charge in tonnes of CO2 equivalent, not on the number of kilograms.
Leak checks: the frequency follows from the CO2 equivalent
The CO2 equivalent is the charge in kilograms times the GWP (global warming potential) of the refrigerant, divided by a thousand. A refrigerant with a GWP of 2,000 and a charge of 3 kg therefore gives 6 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. That determines how often a circuit needs a leak check:
| Charge from | Without leak detection system | With leak detection system |
|---|---|---|
| 5 tonnes CO2 eq. | Every 12 months | Every 24 months |
| 50 tonnes CO2 eq. | Every 6 months | Every 12 months |
| 500 tonnes CO2 eq. | Every 3 months | Every 6 months |
From 500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent a leak detection system is mandatory, and that system must itself be checked periodically. Hermetically sealed equipment has different thresholds.
Leak found: repair and check again
If you find a leak, it must be repaired without delay. A certified technician then checks within one month that the repair was effective. Record both the repair and the follow-up check.
What you need to record
For every installation that needs leak checks, the operator keeps records: the F-gas logbook. Among other things, it holds:
- the type of refrigerant and the quantity in the installation;
- how much was added, and why;
- how much was recovered or disposed of;
- the date and result of each leak check, and which leaks were found and repaired;
- who did the work: the company and the technician, with the number of their certificate.
The operator keeps the records for at least five years. The company that does the work for the operator keeps a copy as well.
Certificates
In the Netherlands, work on refrigerant circuits requires a personal certificate for the technician and a company certificate for the business. Only work with a valid certificate, and make sure your measuring equipment, such as leak detectors and scales, is calibrated.
This article is a practical summary, not legal advice. When in doubt, the text of Regulation (EU) 2024/573 prevails.