Département fédéral de
l'environnement, des transports, de l'énergie et de la communication DETEC
Office fédéral de l'environnement OFEV
Swiss policies and
measures for the
phase down of HFCs
Swiss HFC emissions estimates based on air
measurements in Jungfraujoch (3580 m)
Blaise Horisberger, Federal Office for Environment, Switzerland
Ozone Secretariat Workshop on HFC Management
Paris, 11-12 July 2014
,
Swiss policies and measures for the phase down of HFCs
Drivers

to reduce the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases emissions at minimal marginal costs

to promote the development and marketing of environmentally friendly technologies

to support the industry in developing long term reliable strategies

to discourage the development of new applications which would require future regulation

to avoid potential regulatory loopholes (unregulated Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases)

to promote the implementation of Life Cycle Climate Performance
Approach

To ban the use of Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases for applications for which other products or techniques
are applicable and environmentally better based on the state of the art

To allow, when recognised necessary, time limited essential use exemptions upon technically justified
requests and based on the state of the art

To request emission reduction measures for the allowed applications of Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases

To consider voluntary commitments developed by industrial branches
Key challenges mainly in RAC sector

Domestic harmonization of some safety requirements

Training of technicians for the handling of “natural” refrigerants

Prejudice against applicability of “natural” refrigerants

Cost of the alternatives (capital / operating)

Availability of HFO 1234ze
Workshop on HFC Management
Paris, 11-12 July 2014
Blaise Horisberger, Federal Office for Environment
Switzerland
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Swiss policies and measures for the phase down of HFCs
Ordinance on Chemicals Risk Reduction (ORRChem)
Substances Stable in the Atmosphere (SSA)
Alternatives
Challenges
Definition:
 Fluorinated VOCs with half-life in air > 2 years
 SF6, NF3 (not only HFCs)
Miscellaneous applications:
Enforced
since
Level
of
phase
down
2003
Low
General ban with exceptions for Feedstock, Laboratory,
High Voltage (SF6), Electronics (PFCs, SF6) and
emission reduction requirements
Solvents
Banned for emissive uses; allowed in closed installations
for surface treatment
Synthetic foams
Allowed only in insulation foams for applications with
space or safety limitations (transport, buildings)
Spray cans
General ban with exceptions for MDIs, One component
spray foams, Cleaning of equip-ments under electrical
tension (safety reasons)
Extinguishing agents
Ban with exceptions for aircrafts, military vehicles,
nuclear plants, and when safety of persons cannot be
assured without the use of SSA
Workshop on HFC Management
Paris, 11-12 July 2014
No-clean, water,
other solvants
Costs,
Energy
2003
High
Non foam-based,
CO2, hydrocarbons,
HFOs?
Energy,
Safety,
Costs?
2003
High
Non-spray,
Hydrocarbons
HFOs
Health
Safety
2003
High
CO2, water, foam,
Novec , halons
no-extinction
Halon
phase- out
1995
High
Blaise Horisberger, Federal Office for Environment
Switzerland
3
Swiss policies and measures for the phase down of HFCs
Ordinance on Chemicals Risk Reduction (ORRChem)
Substances Stable in the Atmosphere (SSA)
Alternatives
Refrigerants
 Ban of placing on the market for household appliances;
 Ban of placing on the market of equipments for:
 Comfort cooling / heating with capacity > 600 kW (170 RT);
 VRF/ VRV > 40 evaporator with capacity > 80 kW (23 RT);
CO2 (R744),
NH3 (R717),
HC (R290),
HFO
(R1234)
Challenges
Enforced
since
Phase
down
Safety,
Costs,
Energy
2003 /
2007 /
2013
Low medium
 Commercial refrigeration with:
(+) cooling with cooling capacity > 40 kW (11 RT),
(-) cooling with cooling capacity > 30 kW (9 RT),
(-) cooling with cooling capacity > 8 kW (3 RT) when
combined with (+) cooling;
 Industrial refrigeration with a capacity > 400 kW (115 RT)
 Deep freezing with a cooling capacity > 100 kW (30 RT),
 Ice rinks, except for temporary systems
 Exemptions based on availability of alternatives or safety
standards EN 378-1, -2, -3 inapplicability without HFC
 Requirements for installations with > 3 kg SSA
Yearly tightness control for stationary and mobile equipments
Mandatory maintenance booklet for all stationary equipments
Public register for ODS or SSA based equipments
Workshop on HFC Management
Paris, 11-12 July 2014
Blaise Horisberger, Federal Office for Environment
Switzerland
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