‘Non-compliance costs’ – air con industry calls on Government to enforce eco-regs

The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) is leading the charge in efforts to force the new Government to tackle the woeful level of compliance with the environmental regulations drawn up to ensure air conditioning units run efficiently.


The CIBSE campaign is backed by the UK Green Building Council, BRE Global, the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association and the British Institute of Facilities Management and has already got the support of over 300 industry signatories.

Non-compliance with the Energy Performance in Buildings regs and the F-Gas regs is at a staggering low and the campaign argues that this is costing industry – and the environment.

Amazingly, less than one in 20 air conditioning units inspected by officials meets the required standards.

CIBSE President Elect Rob Manning said: “The campaign aims to bring together the many voices of frustration and concern to form one united call for action. We need to raise the issue of non-compliance up the government agenda and promote the benefits of increasing compliance rates.

“Non-compliance has real costs; it costs the environment, it will cost the UK any chance of meeting the emissions targets and it costs non complying companies who are missing out on a real opportunity to increase their profits.”

The campaign asks that:

  • The UK government must acknowledge that air conditioning inspection compliance is not working and must move the responsibility for enforcement away from Trading Standards to a body which is more interested and able to act.
  • The government must set targets for air conditioning and f-gas compliance that the enforcing body agree are achievable and sign up to.
  • The government must increase communication with UK companies informing them of their obligations to comply with air conditioning inspection and f-gas legislation
  • Sam Bond

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