R22 | AACR Blog

National retail chain update R22 air conditioning systems

Posted Date 17/12/2015

Before a major cooperative in the construction industry could handover buildings to a British retail firm, it was important that all air conditioning systems containing the R22 refrigerant were identified and changed. Our customer required us to decommission all units breaching EU laws and switch them with R417A systems instead.

A plan was therefore put into place and involved a series of site surveys conducted across the client’s various properties – helping us determine the condition of all existing cooling equipment. Reports were then produced by an Andrews expert who outlined the findings along with recommendations and a scheduled plan of action. read more

Informed Advice About Inflammable Refrigerants

Posted Date 19/08/2013

The R22 ‘Swap Out’ deadline is approaching, but some alternatives being considered may not be the most responsible choice. Propane based refrigerants are appearing, however “The use of these substances poses a potential fire or explosion hazard for owners and service technicians,” according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (equivalent to UK’s DEFRA) warning that most air conditioning systems aren’t designed for propane or similar flammable refrigerants and the EPA is currently investigating instances where propane has been a substitute for R22. The “EPA is aware of incidents…. where injuries have occurred as a result of the use of propane or other unapproved refrigerants…” read more

Lights, Camera, Aircon!

Posted Date 08/07/2013

Andrews Air Conditioning Services – keeping film production rolling

In the high pressure world of film and TV production, it’s all about keeping your cool and delivering a quality product to a tight deadline. Production, recording and editing suites are high cost facilities which are in constant demand, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They generate considerable quantities of heat and, because of the need to avoid contamination or noise intrusion, reliable air conditioning is essential.

Expensive, sensitive, and high maintenance – not the just actors but the equipment too

That’s why Bristol-based Films@59, the UK’s leading post production and specialist camera provider, relies on Andrews Air Conditioning Services to ensure their essential people and sensitive equipment don’t break into a sweat. With over 70 air conditioning systems across their two Bristol sites, Films@59 are a major client of Andrews Air Conditioning for a range of services including Planned Preventative Maintenance, Emergency Breakdown Repair and their on-going R22 System Replacement programme. read more

Planning Ahead for R22 Replacement

Posted Date 14/02/2013

Why should owners of air conditioning using R22 refrigerant consider replacing it?

Any air conditioning over 10 years old probably uses R22 refrigerant, an ozone-depleting CFC which was banned in most new systems in 2002. By EU law R22 systems will become unserviceable at the end of 2014, meaning that it will be illegal to repair them in the event of any failure. It is not economical to repair the systems as spare parts and recycled R22 are expensive and in short supply.

Modern replacement systems use more environmentally friendly refrigerants and are up to 60% more energy efficient than R22 systems, meaning that owners often pay back replacement costs in energy savings alone within 3 or 4 years. read more

Q & A: What is R22?

Posted Date 14/02/2013

R22 is the name of a commonly used CFC refrigerant which has been banned in new air conditioning systems in UK & Europe since 2002 because of its ozone-depleting properties. Therefore although many are still in use, these ageing systems will, by law, become unserviceable at the end of 2014. At that point it will be illegal to repair them in the event of any failure. Spare parts and recycled R22 are already in short supply and increasingly expensive so, even now, it is often uneconomical to attempt a repair. Furthermore, modern replacement systems use environmentally responsible refrigerants and are up to 60% more energy efficient than R22 systems, meaning that they often pay back their replacement costs in energy savings alone within 3 or 4 years. read more