ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers about the upcoming F-Gas service ban on the launch of first ever World Refrigeration Day (26th June).
The World Refrigeration Day initiative aims to raise awareness about the contribution that refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps make globally across many aspects of modern life.
The EU Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation (also known as the EU F-Gas Regulation), will ban the use of refrigerants with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 2,500 or more in certain refrigeration units. It will also ban refrigeration technicians from servicing these units.
This means that some refrigerants (such as R404A) will become increasingly harder to obtain and retailers may see refrigerants increase in price as the service ban gets closer.
Retailers can already prepare for the service ban by contacting their refrigeration technician to find out which of their refrigeration units will be affected, what refrigerants they are currently using and which alternatives they can use to be compliant.
ACS has produced guidance to help support retailers understand their obligations and the ways they can comply with the Regulation. ACS’ guidance for retailers is available here.
Data from the 2018 Local Shop Report below shows the amount of refrigeration in stores.
