If you've got an extra 20,000 €, there's no need to read this article. Because you may receive a fine up to this amount, if your personal air-conditioning is installed by someone not certified for handling refrigerant gas. It should be done by a certified company for the installation of AIR CONDITIONING and HEAT PUMPS.
If you are thinking of installing air conditioning, it is important to know the new law. As a purchaser, you also have obligations and possible fines, so get information on the company and fitters you contract, in order not to break the law. We'll tell you about it:
Air conditioning: installation only by professionals
Last February, the Royal Decree 115/2017 was passed, in order to regulate the sale and handlingof equipment containing fluorinated gas, which are not hermetically sealed. This is the case of current air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pumps.
Double certification, According to the new law, this equipment can only be installed by professionals certified for handling fluorinated gas and who work for an installation company authorized to install apparatus using this type of gas. This means that double certification is required.:
·As a professional certified to handle fluorinated gas.
·As a company authorizedto handle fluorinated gas.
The need to have duly trained and certified professionals to handle these systems is mainly because of the highly pollutant elementsinvolved.
Obligations of the seller and purchaser
In addition to the requirements imposed on installers, this law also establishes obligations for sellers, who handle apparatus with fluorinated gas, although to a lesser extent, and for purchasers:
·The seller should inform the purchaser that the installation can only be done by an authorized company. In order to guarantee that this is done, both the seller and the purchaser should sign a document indicating this information( Annex V1, part A) of the RD.
·The purchaser should send to the seller within a maximum period of one year, if it is not the same company, Annex V1, part B
signed by him/her and by the installer, who has carried out the installation, indicating the equipment details and the certificates of the installer and authorized company.
· From 1 January 2018, the seller is obliged to inform the competent authorities of their Autonomous Region, of the purchasers who have not provided Annex VI, Part B, by sending a copy of Annex VI, part A.
· Non-compliance by the purchaser or seller, could mean a fine of up to € 20,000.
· On the website of theMinistry of Industry you can consult the companies that now have fluorinated gas certification.
