Construcciones Yamaro: National EPA warns on demolition gas risks

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National EPA warns on demolition gas risks
Before walls fall, regulated gases need to be safely recovered. (Image: Chawran/stock.adobe.com)

The National Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is urging contractors to ensure refrigerants and fire-extinguishing agents are safely recovered before the demolition of buildings begins.

Equipment such as air conditioners, refrigeration equipment, chillers, some fire suppression systems and heat pump hot water systems may contain regulated gases that can damage the environment. Examples include refrigerants such as HFC-410A, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, and extinguishing agents such as HFC-227ea.

Some gases are hundreds or thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide and can stay in the atmosphere for more than a decade, contributing to global warming. Gases in older systems may also damage the ozone layer, which protects people from harmful UV radiation. Some systems use more environmentally friendly refrigerants, but these may be flammable or present other safety hazards.

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It’s illegal to release these gases into the air. Before demolition begins, contractors must identify any equipment that contains regulated substances and arrange for them to be safely recovered. Refrigerants must be recovered by an ARC-licensed technician, and fire-extinguishing agents by an FPIB-licensed technician.

Businesses can also have employees trained by a licensed technician to recover refrigerant.

Recovering these gases has environmental and financial benefits. Licensed technicians can receive a rebate of $3 per kilogram for refrigerant returned to wholesalers. As Australia continues to restrict the import of these gases over the next 10 years, recovered gases may become more valuable for servicing existing systems.

The National EPA may investigate alleged breaches of these requirements. Potential non-compliance involving the illegal release of regulated gases can be reported to the National EPA.

The post National EPA warns on demolition gas risks appeared first on Inside Construction.



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