The Montreal Protocol has scheduled the phasing out of controlled substances, including chemicals containing chlorine and bromine used as refrigerants, solvents, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, fire suppressants, and for other purposes. Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance (Cap. 403) 1989 gives effect to Hong Kong’s international obligations to control the manufacture, import and export of ozone depleting substances. Ozone Layer Protection (Controlled Refrigerants) Regulation 1994 requires the conservation of controlled refrigerants used in large scale installations and motor vehicles. Scheduled substances under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance are listed by the Environmental Protection Department. In addition to having suitable thermodynamic properties, the ideal refrigerant would be nontoxic, non-inflammable, completely stable, environmentally benign, readily available, self-lubricating, compatible with materials used in equipment, easy to handle and detect.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides information on suitable substitutes for ozone depleting substances, including refrigerants for various types of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment, fire suppression, blowing agents, solvents, etc. U.S.EPA has developed and implemented regulations for management of ozone depletion substances (ODSs) in the United States. The regulations include programs that ended the production of ODSs and require the manufacturers to label products either containing or made with chemicals that have significant ODSs. Banning the usage of CFCs in refrigerants slows the ozone depletion and global climate change.

In BEAM Plus Manual, the credits of MA P2 (Use of Non-CFC Based Refrigerants) and MA8 (Ozone Depleting Substances) cover the concerns on usage of refrigerants. The air-conditioning and refrigeration equipments shall fulfill the following equation which determines a maximum threshold for the combined contributions to ozone depletion and global warming potentials: LCGWP + LCODP x 105 ≤ 775. The Client shall submit a report by a suitably qualified person giving details of the air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment installed; and demonstrating that the global warming potential and ozone depletion potential of the refrigerants used in equipment meets the specified requirement. Reference shall be made to refrigerant supplies and/or equipment manufacturer’s data together with guidance provided by recognised authorities such as ASHRAE, etc. In this seminar, the experts of refrigerants from ASHRAE will present the update on the relevant ASHRAE Standards as well as local development trends on new refrigerants.