Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 842/2006, records for refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment shall contain certain information. In order to ensure the effective implementation of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006, it is appropriate to provide for further information to be indicated in the equipment records.

Information on the fluorinated greenhouse gas charge should be included in the equipment records. Where the fluorinated greenhouse gas charge is unknown, the operator of the equipment concerned should ensure that certified personnel determine that charge in order to facilitate the leakage checking.

Before the leakage check is carried out, certified personnel should carefully go through the information contained in the equipment records to determine any previous issues and consult previous reports.

In order to ensure an efficient leakage control, the leakage checks should focus on those parts of the equipment which are most likely to leak.

Leakage checks should be carried out using direct or indirect measuring methods. Direct measuring methods identify leakage by the use of detection devices which can determine whether the fluorinated greenhouse gas charge is escaping from the system. Indirect measuring methods are based on the identification of abnormal performance in the system and on the analysis of relevant parameters.

Indirect measuring methods should be applied in cases where the leakage develops very slowly and where the equipment is placed in a well ventilated environment making it difficult to detect fluorinated greenhouse gases escaping from the system in the air. Direct measuring methods are necessary to identify the exact location of the leakage. The decision on the measuring method to be used should be taken by certified personnel who have the necessary training and experience to determine the most appropriate measuring method on a case by case basis.

Where there is a presumption of a leakage it should be followed up by a check to identify and to repair it.

In order to ensure the safety of the system repaired, the follow-up check provided for in Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 should focus on the parts of the system where leakage has been detected and on the adjacent parts.

Defective installation of new systems constitutes a significant risk of leakage. Therefore, newly installed systems should be checked for leakage immediately after they have been put into service.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 18(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council2,