Two leading UK air conditioning companies have joined forces to launch a ground-breaking initiative aimed at end users still dependent on R22-based cooling plant.

Under the scheme, Klima-Therm Ltd and Cool-Therm Ltd will replace R22 chillers with modern state-of-the-art equipment, and then recondition and export the removed plant to developing countries, such as India.

The use of HCFCs in developing countries is permitted under the Montreal Protocol long after (10 to 15 years) the phase-out being imposed in the UK and across Europe under EU legislation.

The financial benefit of selling on rather than scrapping the R22 plant is passed onto the client, resulting in a significant saving in capital outlay and delivering ongoing benefits associated with modern, high efficiency plant.

On a chiller replacement project with an overall value of, say, £50,000, exporting the ‘redundant’ R22 plant could generate several thousand pounds of additional revenue, which can then be factored into the project cost to the benefit of the client.

Recent research carried out by a leading refrigerant producer revealed that the amount of R22 equipment still in use in the UK was much greater than previously thought. A significant proportion of this is relatively new, with many years of useful working life left.

London-based Klima-Therm and Bristol-based Cool-Therm Ltd are pooling market knowledge and engineering resources to roll-out the replace-and-export package, to target what they see as a major business opportunity with benefits for all sides.

Ian Mundie of Klima-Therm said: “The recent research suggests that up to 65 per cent of all installations still depend on R22. That is an extremely high figure. From our own experience, we know that there is a huge amount of plant out there still running on R22.

“With a European-wide ban on the use of new R22 for topping up systems coming into force in 15 months time, and the cost of R22 rising steeply, end users could find themselves in serious difficulties if they do not grasp the nettle now. The replace-and-export option helps cushion the upfront investment required, and delivers immediate and ongoing savings in running costs.”

Ken Strong of Cool-Therm said: “The approach results in a win-win situation. UK end users get modern, high efficiency replacement systems that cost less to run and maintain, and for a reduced capital outlay; and overseas end users get low cost reconditioned cooling systems that help meet the urgent need for industrial development to drive their own economies.

“All it takes is knowledgeable and experienced people in the middle to make it happen. This is where we come in.”

Another important advantage for the end user is that it provides an opportunity to precisely match the replacement equipment to the needs of the existing application.

Often over time, additions and modifications to buildings can result in a mismatch between the plant originally installed and current requirements – wasting energy and causing expensive maintenance problems. Installing a modern tailor-made solution can deliver immediate benefits, saving money, improving occupant comfort and helping to protect the environment.

Key to the scheme is ensuring R22 plant destined for export is thoroughly inspected and reconditioned prior to shipping overseas. The companies have teams of highly qualified engineers familiar with servicing and maintaining R22 plant; in some cases, it will be plant that has been part of ongoing maintenance contracts operated by the respective companies over many years.

Klima-Therm’s well-equipped refrigeration engineering workshops in Wimbledon will be used as a servicing and pre-export “flight-test” centre for outgoing R22 plant.

In the EU, use of R22 and R22-containing blends has already been banned in new plant. The next stage is a ban on the use of “virgin” or new R22 for topping up existing systems – which comes into effect from the end of 2009.

After that date only recycled R22 may be used to top up plant. After the end of 2014, top-up with any R22 will become illegal. There are now suggestions that the European Commission may bring this final date forward by up to three years.

The price of R22 is expected to increase steeply as the chemical manufacturers wind-down production over the next 15 months. One major refrigerant manufacturer has warned that R22 prices will rise every quarter until the ban comes in. In the US, the cost of R22 has already risen by a factor of five - and is still increasing.

Email: andrew.lingfield@btinternet.com