IE F-Gas Category IV flashcards
IE F-Gas Category IV · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- GWP definition
- Global Warming Potential is the mass-based factor comparing a gas's 100-year climate impact with CO2, which is set at 1. It converts a refrigerant charge into CO2 equivalent tonnes.
- CO2e formula
- Charge in kilograms multiplied by the refrigerant GWP, then divided by 1000, gives tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This figure drives leak-check frequency and quota accounting.
- Current F-gas Regulation
- Regulation (EU) 2024/573 replaced Regulation 517/2014. It governs HFC phase-down, leak checks, certification, labelling and placing HFCs on the EU market.
- HFC phase-down basis
- The phase-down is measured in CO2 equivalent, not kilograms. Quota steps reduce the tonnage placed on the market over time, hitting high-GWP gases hardest.
- Venting prohibition
- Deliberate release of fluorinated greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is banned. Recovered gas must be reclaimed, recycled or destroyed by an authorised operator.
- Category IV scope
- Category IV certification covers leak checking and recovery of refrigerant from stationary equipment. Installation, servicing and design work need higher categories.
- F-gas portal registration
- Companies placing bulk HFCs on the market must register in the F-gas portal and hold a quota authorisation or a valid exemption before sale.
- ASHRAE class A2L
- A2L means lower toxicity (A) and mild flammability (2L), with burning velocity below 10 cm/s. R-32, R-1234yf and R-454B belong to this class.
- R-410A characteristics
- R-410A is an A1 zeotropic blend with GWP 2088 and near-zero glide. It runs at much higher pressure than R-22 and must always be charged as liquid.
- Zeotropic blend behaviour
- A zeotropic blend has temperature glide and leaks fractionally, with the more volatile component escaping first. A leaked system must be fully recovered and recharged, not topped up.
- POE lubricant hygroscopy
- Polyol ester oil used with HFCs absorbs moisture rapidly. Systems must be kept sealed and dry, or acid and sludge form and damage the compressor.
- Cylinder identification
- Colour codes alone are unreliable. Confirm the gas by reading the cylinder label and valve stamp, and by checking the pressure-temperature relationship.
- Vapour density hazard
- Refrigerant vapour is heavier than air and collects in pits and basements, displacing oxygen. Asphyxia risk can precede any toxic effect at high concentration.
- R-134a and R-404A GWP
- R-134a has a GWP of 1430 and R-404A about 3922. Both are A1 safety class, so high climate impact does not imply high flammability.
- Liquid charging rule
- Zeotropic blends must be charged as liquid from the cylinder to preserve the designed composition. Vapour charging would draw off a different mixture.
- 5 t CO2e threshold
- Equipment holding 5 tonnes CO2 equivalent or more must be leak checked periodically. Below that threshold, no periodic check duty applies.
- Leak check intervals
- Checks run every 12 months for 5 to 50 t CO2e, every 6 months for 50 to 500 t CO2e, and every 3 months at 500 t CO2e and above.
- Leak detection system credit
- A certified leak detection system halves the checking burden: 12 months for 50 to 500 t CO2e and 6 months at 500 t CO2e and above.
- Hermetic equipment exemption
- Hermetically sealed equipment containing less than 10 tonnes CO2 equivalent is exempt from periodic leak checks, provided it is labelled as hermetically sealed.
- Leak record contents
- Records must show gas type and quantity, CO2e tonnage, leak-check dates and results, repairs performed, and the identity of the certified technician.
- Five-year retention
- Operators must keep F-gas records for at least five years and present them to the competent authority on request during an inspection.
- Post-repair follow-up check
- After repairing a leak, a follow-up check must be carried out within one month to confirm the repair before normal intervals resume.
- Recovery before dismantling
- Refrigerant must be recovered before equipment is opened, dismantled or scrapped. Only certified personnel may perform recovery on stationary systems.
- Recovery cylinder 80% rule
- Recovery cylinders must never exceed 80% liquid fill by volume, leaving room for thermal expansion. Overfilling risks hydraulic rupture and violent release.
- Reclaimed versus recycled
- Reclaimed refrigerant is reprocessed to virgin specification and verified by analysis. Recycled refrigerant is cleaned for reuse, often on the same site.
- Never mix refrigerants
- Mixing different refrigerants in one recovery cylinder renders the whole batch waste. It can then only be destroyed, not reclaimed or reused.
- Recovery efficiency target
- Recovery should capture at least 95% of the charge on larger systems and around 90% on small units, following the equipment manufacturer's procedure.
- Push-pull recovery method
- For large charges, push-pull transfers liquid rapidly using the pressure difference, then the remaining vapour is pulled by vacuum to finish.
- Cold burn first aid
- Liquid refrigerant on skin causes cryogenic burns. Flush with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes, remove contaminated clothing and seek medical help.
- Confined space oxygen limit
- Never enter a refrigerant space where oxygen could fall below 19.5%. Use forced ventilation, a gas detector and, where needed, breathing apparatus.
- A2L ignition control
- Work on A2L systems requires removing ignition sources: no open flame or hot work, and only intrinsically safe or ATEX-rated tools where gas could accumulate.
- Cylinder storage rules
- Store cylinders upright and secured, below 50 degrees Celsius, away from heat and oxidisers, and never in a vehicle cabin in direct sunlight.