News and updates from ACRIB

ACRIB issues regular updates here. To be kept informed of latest developments please register for e-news updates.

ACRIB commentary on F Gas Review - 14/12/2011

ACRIB has submitted this commentary as part of its response to the Commission Consultation on Effectiveness of the F Gas Regulations which closed on 19th December 2011. "ACRIB encourages the... read more

Responding to the Commission Review of F Gas Regulations - 16/11/2011

ACRIB’s has prepared a draft response to the Commission with input from key trade associations and professional institutes to highlight the most effective policy measures... read more

Stuart Millar awarded Bronze in London competition - 17/10/2011

Congratulations are due to Stuart Millar of South Eastern Regional College and A & N Shilliday & Co Ltd, and his training team, for placing with a bronze medal in the World Skills 2011 held in... read more

Skillfridge competition winner announced - 28/9/2011

Twenty four-year old Shaun Bann from Godfrey & Lappage Services Ltd has won the 2011 SkillFRIDGE UK national championship after three days of intense practical competition at Leeds College of... read more

F Gas Review and Consultation published by the Commission - 27/9/2011

The European Commission haslaunched a public consultation on strengthening EU measures to reduce emissions of fluorinated gases.  The consultation runs until 19 December 2011 and is... read more

Guidance and webinars on Energy from the Carbon Trust - 8/9/2011

The Expert in Energy series are free monthly low carbon business guides, web advice and webinar sessions to help businesses save money and reduce their energy use. The content has been written by... read more

If you only work on small systems - obligations under F gas regulations - 3/8/2011

Obligations for those undertaking servicing and maintenance of equipment containing less than 3kg of HFC in the field Qualifications for personnel Personnel involved in certain... read more

Retail refrigeration code of conduct launched - 3/8/2011

Some of the country’s largest commercial refrigeration users are backing the new voluntary code of conduct for carbon reduction and energy efficiency. Produced in conjunction with the Carbon... read more

Retailers recognise short course in co2 service and maintenance - 3/8/2011

The British Refrigeration Association, part of ACRIB member FETA, have launched a carbon dioxide short course to meet the immediate requirements of refrigeration contractors and their supermarket... read more

News on F Gas compliance visit programme - 13/4/2011

Over the last 2 years F-Gas Support has been working closely with the Regulators, including the Environment Agency and Local Authorities, to ensure that there is good compliance with the EC F gas and... read more

ACRIB Annual Report and Review - 22/3/2011

The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board has issued an annual review of activities and priorities. Key issues being dealt with by ACRIB at the moment (2010/11)are: F Gas... read more

RAC and Heat Pump contribution to efficiency - position paper from AREA - 22/2/2011

AREA, the European Contractors Association, has issued a position paper on energy efficiency which may be of interest. The general recommendations are: - Correctly implemented and properly applied... read more

HSE Safety Alert re Cold Store Ceilings - 15/12/2010

HSE has recently completed a fatal accident investigation following the failure of the ceiling of a frozen food store. Two men fell to the floor of the store when insulation panels separated from the... read more

Presentation on the F Gas Review - 28/9/2010

ACRIB has produced a presentation summarising the purpose of the EC Review of the F Gas Regulation, and the UK industry comments to improve the regulations effectiveness based on input from ACRIB... read more

SummitSkills Guide to F Gas Training published - 28/9/2010

SummitSkills, the national sector skills council covering the RAC and Heat Pump sector, has issued a guide in association with ACRIB to F Gas Training. The guide seeks to explain the different between... read more

ACRIB issues position statement on effectiveness of the F Gas Regulations - 21/7/2010

An industry-wide analysis of the F Gas Regulation in the UK carried out by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB) has found that the single most significant barrier to... read more

Industry Input Required to Improve Operation of F Gas Regulations in the UK - 11/5/2010

The EU Commission has launched the F-Gas Regulation Review, as mandated by Article 10 of the Regulation. This states that “By 4 July 2011, the Commission shall publish a report based on the... read more

National Training update - 27/4/2010

Updated National Vocational Qualifications To Allow Greater Flexibility   Some 6,000 technicians in the UK RAC sector hold Level 2 (small systems) or Level 3 (complex systems) NVQs, which... read more

DEFRA consulting on penalties related to revisions to ODS Regulations - 11/1/2010

DEFRA have issued a consultation on proposals for GB offences and penalties legislation in relation to EC Regulation 1005/2010 - the rvision of the EU Regulation on Substances that Deplete the... read more

ACRIB issues statement on future HFC policies - 10/11/2009

UK Government support for a proposal that would allow Montreal Protocol parties to negotiate proposals for a phase down of HFC use after the Copenhagen Climate discussions in December this year, must... read more

New requirements for users of R22 refrigerant (ODS) - 22/9/2009

The refrigerant R22 is one of many currently in use in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment which is classified as an Ozone Depleting Substance (also known as an HCFC refrigerant), and... read more

News on company certification and qualifications under F Gas - 28/7/2009

  News received from F Gas Support (www.defra.gov.uk/fgas)   1. Company Certification DEFRA have now designated three bodies are now able to issue Company Certificates – Refcom,... read more

Company Certification under F Gas Regulations after 4th July - 7/7/2009

DEFRA's F Gas support have issued the following statement on behalf of government regarding the 4th July deadline:    “Given the difficulties encountered in designating an... read more

ACRIB publishes F Gas FAQs - 23/6/2009

ACRIB has launched a series of F Gas Regulation Frequently Asked Questions.  Now that all of the elements of this regulation are in place more detailed questions of interpretation are coming to... read more

REFCOM CONFIRMED AS F-GAS CERTIFICATION BODY - 11/6/2009

REFCOM has this week signed an agreement with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirming its appointment as a mandatory F gas company certification body for businesses... read more

F Gas Regulation Compliance Seminar 22nd June - 2/6/2009

ACRIB is organising a half day seminar entitled "F GAS ESSENTIALS" jointly with its member organisation the HVCA to help inform contractors on their legal obligations. The presentations from... read more

FAQs for Contractors - 2/6/2009

The ACRIB (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board) F Gas Implementation group brings together all of the key trade associations and professional bodies representing the sector to help... read more

Hazardous Waste Regulations 2009 - 23/4/2009

Waste Refrigerant is classified as Hazardous Waste. A number of changes have been introduced in a review of the Hazardous Waste Regulations carried out earlier this year. The changes increase the... read more

Options expand for F Gas training - 23/4/2009

The list of places where operatives can go for F Gas Training is expanding rapidly and training centres are offering a variety of ways of completing the assessment: Part time classroom based... read more

ACRIB register recognises new F Gas and ODS qualifications - 13/3/2009

ACRIB has operated a voluntary register of personnel qualified as Safe Refrigerant Handlers for nearly 20 years. Under UK F Gas and ODS laws any individual who handles these refrigerants must be... read more

List of Centres offering F Gas Qualifications - 3/2/2009

It has been well publicised that all personnel whose work involves handling of refrigerants within the scope of the F Gas Regulation need to take the new City & Guilds 2079 Assessment, or the CITB... read more

Air Conditioning owners guidance on efficiency inspections under EPBD - 19/9/2008

New (August 2008) guidance on the EPBD regulations is available from Government (DCLG).  The regulations require that all air-conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than 12kw... read more

Skills and Training Chapter of BRA and IOR Guide to Good Commercial Refrigeration Practice published - 11/9/2008

The BRA Guide to Good Commercial Refrigeration Practice, which has been an industry standard reference document for many years, is being completely revised as a joint document by the British... read more

Respond to draft F Gas regulation implementation measures - 5/8/2008

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning industry asked to help shape registration schemes under new F Gas Regulation consultation   ACRIB has produced a Briefing Document summarising the key... read more

Latest UK proposals for implementing the F Gas Regulations - 22/7/2008

Consultation on proposed Regulations - further implementation measures - fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances.   Government is invitings views on proposals that... read more

City & Guilds Information update on new F Gas Training - 23/5/2008

The following was extracted today from the City and Guilds website and will be of interest to all training providers: A launch / briefing event will be held for current and prospective centres on... read more

Commission Guidance on F Gas Interpretation Now Available - 19/3/2008

The Commission has published guidance on interpretation of the F Gas Regulations. This covers the following topics: definition of the operator definition of preparations ... read more

More news on F Gas Training Deadlines - 13/3/2008

DEFRA extends the deadline for existing workers to get the new F Gas qualifications to July 2011.   The ACRIB F Gas Implementation Group has been successful in highlighting to DEFRA the need... read more

F Gas Support team launched by DEFRA - 29/2/2008

UK Government have set up a helpline to deal with individual queries about the F Gas Regulations and to provide a central resource for information, particularly for end users but also for anyone... read more

Commission agrees F Gas leak check procedure - 1/11/2007

The European Commission voting to accept a proposed standard leak check procedure under the F Gas Regulation at meetings in Brussels in October 2007.  The procedure was developed following... read more

New obligations from 4th July - 3/7/2007

 EC Regulation No842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases   The principal objective of the EC Regulation is to prevent and thereby reduce emissions of F Gases covered by the Kyoto... read more

F gas Discussion Forum - 15/5/2007

The Institute of Refrigeration has opened a discussion Forum on issues related to the implementation of the F Gas Regulation in the UK.  If you have a query or question you can post this on the... read more

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulation 2006 - 28/2/2007

An 80 page guidance note has now been issued on the regulation in the UK and can be downloaded here.  This clarifies the scope of the regulation and obligations of producers and distributors of... read more

Subsidised training for experienced employees - 18/9/2006

New training scheme launched for existing employees    Evidence shows Train to Gain will help 50,000 employers and 350,000 employees every year get the skills they need to boost... read more

F Gas Regulation - 10/8/2006

ACRIB has set up an FGas Regulation Implementation Group to provide advice and guidance to industry and government on this new European legislation.  The Group will issue regular updates and... read more

Safe Handling of Ammonia - 10/7/2006

The Institute of Refrigeration has produced useful Guidance on Working with Ammonia. You can download a free copy of this guidance here. City & Guilds offer a qualification in Safe Handling of... read more