The European Communities (Inspection and Assessment of Air Conditioning Systems) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 346 of 2006) require that owners of air conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than 12kW have those systems inspected and maintained in accordance with the Regulations.
The Minister proposes to revoke the Regulations and replace them with the attached revised Regulations. A guidance document will be published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland at the same time as the Regulations. This guidance document will specify the checks that should be made when carrying out an energy efficiency inspection of an air conditioning system.
Comments were invited on the provisions of the draft amended Regulations and the draft guidance document.
In particular, comments were sought on the definition of “suitably qualified person” in section 2(1) of the Regulations. Section 3 of the Regulations provides that only a suitably qualified person may carry out an inspection in accordance with the Regulations. A suitably qualified person is defined in section 2(1) as a person who has a National Craft Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning or a FETAC Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Craft - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. Comments were invited on the appropriateness of these specified qualifications and on how the Minister should provide for the recognition of equivalent qualifications, in particular those held by citizens of other EU Member States who are working in the air conditioning sector in Ireland.
Documents to download:
Draft Regulations
Draft Guidance Document
An assessment of the submissions is still ongoing. Any queries should be directed to airconregs@dcenr.gov.ie or Jonathan Harte at 678 2272.