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R22 Refrigerant In Air Condioning And What It Means For The Office Owner/Occupier

R22 is a gas used in many air conditioning systems and other refrigeration equipment (such as used in food and drink production).

R22 is also a HCFC gas, responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer and because of this its use has been outlawed.

Initially this meant that new R22 gas could not be used after 2004. Recycled R22 gas can still be used for maintenance and repair purposes, where it is available, until the end of 2014.

Therefore, from the end of 2014, any existing air conditioning systems running on R22 will need to have been replaced.

What does this mean for building owners and occupiers?

If you are looking to purchase or lease new premises with air conditioning equipment, you should be aware that you will probably have to factor in the cost to replace the systems.

It may be possible to modify your existing system to run on a new refrigerant which has the advantages that the process should be quicker and cheaper than a whole system replacement.

The disadvantages are that there may be a loss of efficiency in the system, it is not applicable to all systems and there is not the benefit of life extension that comes with a new system

Installing a new system will provide the opportunity to improve energy efficiency and give the building plant a life expectancy of 20 – 30 years. A careful cost analysis needs to be carried out at this stage because the increased efficiencies and lower ongoing maintenance may make replacement a cheaper long term solution.

It does however mean greater disruption and potential time when cooling plant is not available which may impact on critical services like computer rooms.

An office refurbishment is of course an ideal time to implement these changes and conversely you may want to take advantage of the disruption caused with changing the air conditioning system to carry out additional refurbishment works.

One thing that you should not do is leave the decision too late. The date of 31 December 2014 has legal force and you need sufficient time to plan source and implement any changes, including the possibility of a temporary relocation whilst work is being carried out.

In the meantime there is an obligation to leak test existing systems at least annually (and more often for larger systems) to ensure there is no loss of existing R22 into the atmosphere.

How we can help:

• If you are acquiring new air conditioned office accommodation talk to us first. We can advise on the implications and what you should expect from the vendor/lessor so that you do not lose out now or at the lease end.
• If you are looking to carry out an office refurbishment or fit out, we can assist with cost / benefit analysis to assist you in making the right decision in relation to replacement of R22 systems.

Tags: Air Conditioning, R22

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