Under the Law Concerning the Control of Fluorocarbons Emissions enacted in April 2015, administrators of Class 1 specified products (commercial air conditioners, refrigerators, water chillers, freezers, etc., and air conditioners using various types of commercial fluorocarbons) are required to install equipment in appropriate locations, use simple or periodic inspections of equipment, and prevention leakage (identification of leaks and preventive measures).In the case of a lease agreement, the user or the maintenance company shall be the administrator during the execution of the contract and the lease company shall be the administrator after the termination of the contract.
The administrator is obliged to perform periodic inspections and repairs of the relevant equipment by the administrator of the Class I Specific Products.
Failure to comply with the following has resulted in penalties for managers.
- ※For further information, please refer to the of the "Environmental Ministries, METI's "Fluorocarbon Emission Control Act" portal site."
Inspection of equipment
The equipment must be inspected in two ways:
- Simplified periodic inspections: All equipment must be inspected at least once every three months.
- Periodic inspection: Equipment of a certain size or larger should be performed by a ※1 with expertise.Refer to the table below for the target equipment and inspection frequency.
| Product category | Rated output of compressor motor | Frequency of inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioners | Equipment of 7.5kW or more and less than 50kW | At least once a year |
| Equipment of 50 kW or more | At least once every three years | |
| Refrigerator and refrigerating equipment | Equipment of 7.5kW or more | At least once a year |
- ※1A person with expertise in equipment is a person who has sufficient knowledge of specialized inspection methods (refrigerant fluorocarbon engineer).
Countermeasures against leakage
In principle, it is prohibited to fill fluorocarbons without repairs when a fluorocarbon leak is found.Repair and filling of CFCs must be requested by an appropriate specialist.
Storage of records
The history of inspection, repair, and refrigerant filling and recovery of the equipment must be kept from the time the product is installed until it is disposed of.
Report on the amount of calculation omissions
When the volume of leakage is "1,000CO2-ton"※2or more, the company (corporate unit) is required to report it to the ministry in charge.
- ※21,000CO2-ton is equivalent to 500kg of R22 coolant.