HOT TOPICS
The six associations in FETA have various topics and issues they deal with. On this ‘Hot Topics’ page you will find brief details of the topic(s) that the Association is currently dealing with. There is another page for ‘Specialist Topics’ – these are the longer term topics of interest to the association.
Retailers given code to crack energy costs
Some of the country’s largest commercial refrigeration users are backing a new voluntary code of conduct that will help them use less energy and reduce their impact on the environment.
Produced in conjunction with the Carbon Trust, the BRA and IOR Code of Conduct for Carbon Reduction in the Retail Refrigeration Sector hopes to reduce global warming emissions from refrigeration systems by 20 per cent over the next five years.
Refrigeration systems are major contributors to retailers’ energy bills and are responsible for almost five per cent of total UK carbon emissions. By tackling both refrigerant leakage and energy efficiency, the Code of Conduct offers a route to major savings for all UK retailers and a method for tackling the 7.3 million tonnes of CO2 emitted from these systems every year.
Refrigeration firms will be encouraged to work towards the best practice standards in the Code of Conduct and commit to improving standards of system design, installation and commissioning as well as ensuring all equipment is regularly and thoroughly serviced and inspected with any potential leaks quickly and effectively tackled.
Download the three parts of the Code of Conduct for Carbon Reduction in the Retail Refrigeration Sector from the BRA Publications page.
NEW - Global HVAC&R Industry Survey on Natural Refrigerants - 11 July 2011
This "Pulse" survey will be published as part of a "Guide to Natural Refrigerants", planned for publication in the Autumn of 2011 and will be presented at the global workshop ATMOsphere 2011 to be held in Brussels 11-12 October. The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete, and participant information will be kept confidential.
Already, the Pulse has attracted over 700 respondents. However, to ensure the data collected provides as comprehensive an overview of natural refrigerant use as possible, we would appreciate your assistance in further spreading the word. We are aware of the fact that there are criticisms regarding the applicability of CO2, hydrocarbons and ammonia in different applications and we are keen to include all views on the matter to ensure we gather a balanced overview. The input of your members would therefore be most valuable.
If your organisation is already active in Natural Refrigerants you will receive a FREE DIRECTORY ENTRY in the "guide". For all participants, we will share initial SURVEY RESULTS with you.
Please follow this link:
http://www.shecco.com/survey.php
Changes to EN378: 2008
The European Standard for the design and construction of refrigeration systems EN378 has been republished following a comprehensive review period. The previous version of the standard, EN378:2000 has been withdrawn and is replaced by EN378:2008. The title of the standard is unchanged: "Refrigerating systems and heat pumps — Safety and environmental requirements" . The main reason for the update was to harmonise the standard with the European Commission's Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC, and it was also assessed for conformity with the Machinery Directives 98/37/EC and 2006/42/EC.
Fuller details to changes to the individual sections are shown in the IoR Guidance Note which you can download here.
