CHAS (Government Health and Safety Accreditation)

Each month thousands of contractors and consultants (suppliers) apply for work with public and private sector organisations (buyers). To win work, they must meet the buyer's health and safety standards.

Assessing suppliers health and safety competence is usually a lengthy and time consuming process. Suppliers can sometimes meet one buyer's Health and Safety standards but not another. Being CHAS approved reduces duplication as suppliers compliance is accepted by all CHAS buyers.

CHAS assesses applicants:

1. Health and safety policy statement;

2. Their organisation for health and safety;

3. Their specific health and safety arrangements to a standard acceptable to our buyers and to others.

SAFE CONTRACTOR (Independent Governing Body for Health & Safety for Contractors)

As a leading health and safety pre-qualification assessment scheme, they are dedicated to promoting higher standards of competence and compliance through the provision of relevant industry specific and tailored health and safety assessments for all professions and sectors.

F-GAS (DEFRA)

From 4 July 2009 it became a legal requirement for all businesses that install, maintain or service stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning and/or heat pump equipment containing or designed to contain F-Gas refrigerants to obtain an F-Gas Company Certificate. And any engineers working as refrigeration engineers must also hold a Fgas qualification if they are to work with refrigerants on systems.

REFCOM (Industry Governing Body monitoring contractors to ensure compliance with refrigerant legislation)

The Refcom Register of Companies Competent to Handle Refrigerants (now Refcom Elite) was set up in 1994 in response to atmospheric damage caused by certain refrigerant gases. Since then the Register has evolved to cover fluorinated refrigerant gases which if released to atmosphere have a global warming potential significantly higher than CO2. In June 2009, Refcom Certification Ltd was appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to operate a Certification Body under the stationary equipment provisions of the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2009 No 261. Subsequently, Refcom was also appointed by the Department of Environment in Northern Ireland under separate NI Regulations.

REFCOM ELITE

Refcom has been operating Refcom Elite (formally Refcom voluntary registration scheme) since 1994 to promote the responsible handling of ozone depleting refrigerant gases. Refcom recognised early the need for controlled handling of fluorinated gases - widely used in the industry for their stable, non-flammable and energy efficient qualities, but with a high global warming potential if released.

As well as undertaking the certification role required by Defra and the Department of Environment, Refcom continues to operate its long-standing voluntary company registration scheme, Refcom Elite, which requires higher standards than those stipulated in the F-Gas Regulations. Refcom Elite encourages employers to operate entirely to industry best practice; for them to be environmentally aware and to operate entirely in compliance with current legislation; for their operatives to be suitably trained and competent to carry out their work in accordance with Company procedures. Refcom Elites set of high professional standards are recognised by The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board ACRIB and the RAC Industry

ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE LICENSES

The EU Waste Framework Directive provides the legislative framework for the collection, transport, recovery and disposal of waste, and includes a common definition of waste. The directive requires all businesses in member states to take the necessary measures to ensure waste is recovered or disposed of without endangering human health or causing harm to the environment and includes permitting, registration and inspection requirements. European Refrigeration Ltd has been granted licence by the Environment Agency to act to the requirements of this legislation.

Hazardous waste is waste that contains hazardous properties which if mismanaged has the potential to cause greater harm to the environment and human health than non-hazardous. As a result, strict controls apply from the point of its production, to its movement, management, and recovery or disposal. European Refrigerant performs its practises in line with all relevant legislation.