Article 1 — Subject matter
This Regulation: (a) lays down rules on containment, use, recovery, recycling, reclamation and destruction of fluorinated greenhouse gases and on related ancillary measures, such as certification and training ...; (b) imposes conditions on the production, import, export, placing on the market, subsequent supply and use of fluorinated greenhouse gases, and of specific products and equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases or whose functioning relies upon those gases; (c) imposes conditions on specific uses of fluorinated greenhouse gases; (d) establishes quantitative limits for the placing on the market of hydrofluorocarbons; (e) establishes rules on reporting.
Article 4(1) — Prevention of emissions
The intentional release of fluorinated greenhouse gases into the atmosphere shall be prohibited where the release is not technically necessary for the intended use. If an intentional release is technically necessary for the intended use, operators of equipment that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases or of facilities where fluorinated greenhouse gases are used shall take all measures that are technically and economically feasible to prevent, to the extent possible, their release into the atmosphere, including by recapturing the gases emitted.
Article 4(5) — Repair obligation after leakage
Where a leakage of fluorinated greenhouse gases is detected, the operators and manufacturers of equipment ... shall ensure that the equipment or facility where fluorinated greenhouse gases are used is repaired without undue delay.
Article 5(1) — Leak checks (thresholds)
Operators and manufacturers of equipment that contains 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent or more of fluorinated greenhouse gases listed in Annex I or 1 kilogram or more of fluorinated greenhouse gases listed in Section 1 of Annex II that is not contained in foams, shall ensure that the equipment is checked for leaks.
Article 5(6) — Frequency of leak checks
The leak checks referred to in paragraph 1 shall be carried out with the following frequency: (a) for equipment that contains less than 50 tonnes of CO2 equivalent ... at least every 12 months; or where a leakage detection system is installed ... at least every 24 months; (b) ... 50 tonnes or more but less than 500 tonnes ... at least every 6 months or ... at least every 12 months; (c) ... 500 tonnes or more ... at least every 3 months or ... at least every 6 months.
Article 8(1) — Recovery and destruction
Operators of equipment that contain fluorinated greenhouse gases, not contained in foams, shall ensure that those substances are recovered and, after the decommissioning of the equipment, they are recycled, reclaimed or destroyed. The recovery of those substances shall be carried out by natural persons who hold the relevant certificates provided for in Article 10.