F-Gas Category I key terms

A manufactured gas containing fluorine that traps heat in the atmosphere, including HFCs, PFCs and sulphur hexafluoride, and which is controlled because of its high global warming potential.

A substance such as CFC or HCFC that damages the stratospheric ozone layer by releasing chlorine or bromine when it breaks down in the upper atmosphere.

A number expressing how much heat a gas traps over a set period compared with the same mass of carbon dioxide, which is fixed at a value of one.

A relative score showing how strongly a gas destroys stratospheric ozone compared with CFC-11, which is set at one; HFCs have an ODP of zero.

The mass of refrigerant multiplied by its GWP, used to express leakage or charge size as a single climate impact figure in tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

The charge size, expressed in tonnes of CO2 equivalent, at or above which the operator must carry out periodic leak inspections at a frequency set by the regulation.

The person or organisation that actually controls the day-to-day running of the equipment and therefore carries the legal duties for leak checks, records and repairs.

A technician who holds the required qualification for the activity being performed, such as handling, leak checking, recovery or installation of refrigerant-containing equipment.

A log kept for each unit that documents refrigerant type and charge, leak checks performed, repairs, recovered quantities and the identity of the technician involved.

Fixed or portable equipment that senses escaping refrigerant and alerts the operator, sometimes allowing the inspection interval to be extended when installed and maintained correctly.

A procedure using pressure, electronic sensing, dye or bubble methods to confirm whether a joint, valve or component is releasing refrigerant into the surroundings.

The act of withdrawing refrigerant from a system or container and storing it in a suitable cylinder so it is not released to the atmosphere.

Cleaning recovered refrigerant on site to remove oil, moisture and particulates so it can be reused in the same system, without full laboratory reprocessing.

Reprocessing used refrigerant to a verified specification, typically by an off-site facility with analysis, so it can be used again as if newly manufactured.

A refillable pressure vessel, correctly marked and rated, that is used to collect used refrigerant and must never be filled beyond its permitted capacity.

The maximum mass of refrigerant permitted per unit of cylinder water capacity, set to leave space for liquid expansion and prevent hydraulic rupture.

The shut-off fitting on a refrigerant container that controls flow in and out; it must be capped or plugged when not in use to prevent accidental release.

The planned process of checking, evacuating, charging and testing a new or modified system before handover, with results recorded for the operator.

Removing air, moisture and non-condensable gas from a system with a vacuum pump until a target vacuum is held, confirming the circuit is dry and leak-free.

A strength and tightness check performed with dry nitrogen or another suitable gas to prove a system holds pressure before refrigerant is introduced.

Air or another gas that does not liquefy at normal condenser conditions, raising discharge pressure and reducing efficiency; it must be purged and recovered properly.

The amount by which a vapour's temperature exceeds its saturation temperature at the measured pressure, used to judge charge and expansion valve operation.

The amount by which a liquid's temperature is below its saturation temperature at the measured pressure, used to confirm adequate liquid seal and charge.

A mixture of two or more refrigerants that must be charged as a liquid and recovered without separating, because the components have different boiling points.

The difference between bubble and dew point temperatures of a zeotropic blend during phase change, which affects charging and superheat calculations.

A refrigerant blend whose components behave as a single substance, boiling at one temperature at a given pressure so it has effectively no glide.

A refrigerant rated with a safety class indicating it can ignite under certain conditions, requiring no ignition sources, ventilation and specific handling rules.

The supplier document listing a refrigerant's hazards, first-aid measures, exposure limits, storage conditions and spill response, which must be available on site.

The risk that escaping refrigerant displaces air in a confined space, causing dizziness or suffocation; areas must be ventilated and tested before entry.

The permanent removal of a system from service, requiring recovery of all refrigerant, safe disposal of components and a final record entry.

Converting a system to a different refrigerant, often a lower-GWP alternative, which requires checking materials, oils and components before charging.

An instrument that analyses a cylinder or system sample to confirm the refrigerant type and detect contamination or mixed gases before charging or reclaiming.

Documentation that links each recovered or supplied cylinder to its refrigerant type, quantity, source and the person responsible, enabling audit and legal compliance.

A unit supplied with refrigerant already sealed inside, which carries import and placing-on-market obligations separate from field-installed systems.

A factory-sealed circuit with no refrigerant-containing joints that can be opened in the field, which can affect the leak-check requirements that apply.

The principle of keeping refrigerant inside equipment through good installation, maintenance and prompt repair of leaks, rather than letting it escape.

The proportion of the original charge successfully removed from a system, which must meet a minimum standard before the equipment is dismantled or opened.