Air Conditioning Systems

Owners of properties along with landlords and tenants need to look at their air conditioning equipment to see whether any work is going to be needed to remove R22 which is a refrigerant used in air conditioning systems.

Because R22 is an ozone depleting substance under EU law its use is restricted and it became illegal to use new R22 refrigerant in air conditioning systems in 2010 and from 1 January 2015 the use of recycled R22 will no longer be allowed. This means that any existing system that contains R22 can continue to be used but if there is any maintenance work or repairs that involve breaking into the refrigeration circuits then from 1 January 2015 such repairs and maintenance will not be possible.

Most systems will require on-going servicing and maintenance and whilst some pieces of equipment can be adapted relatively easily and at a reasonable cost to operate using a different refrigerant for some types of equipment it may be cheaper to replace the entire system.

Property owners landlords and tenants should all consider whether they have any air conditioning systems that need to be checked modified upgraded and/or replaced.

This article is for general guidance only. It provides useful information in a concise form. Action should not be taken without obtaining specific legal advice.