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Reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the use of refrigerants in RAC sector

About HFC Mitigation Measures

GWP of Refrigerant and its blend/mixture

Registration of Suppliers and GHG entities

Registration and Renewal of Regulated Goods

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are commonly used as refrigerants in Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAC)equipment and have high Global Warming Potential (GWP). In the atmosphere, HFCs are much more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide and contribute significantly to global warming.

To reduce GHG emissions from the use of HFC refrigerants in the RAC sector, NEA implemented mitigation measures for household air-conditioners and refrigerators, and water-cooled chillers in 2022. From 1 July 2027, NEA will introduce measures for large commercial refrigeration systems, transport refrigeration, and air-conditioning for passenger cars and light goods vehicles (LGVs). More details can be found here.

Restriction on the supply of RAC equipment using high-GWP refrigerants

NEA is phasing out RAC equipment that use high-GWP refrigerants, starting with those that have available climate-friendly alternative refrigerants. The following requirements will apply:

The GWP of the refrigerant used or required in the regulated goods listed below should not exceed the prescribed GWP limits. The GWP of a refrigerant and its blend/mixture can be found here.

Regulated goods*	Prescribed GWP Limits	With Effect From
Air-conditioners Single-phase non-ducted room air-conditioner (split type (inverter)) with cooling capacity of 17.6 kW or lower that is not a single-phase variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air-conditioner Single-phase non-ducted room air-conditioner (split type (non-inverter)) with cooling capacity of 17.6 kW or lower	750	1 October 2022
Single-phase refrigerator with an adjusted volume of up to 900 litres.	15	1 October 2022
Electrically driven water-cooled chiller with a cooling capacity of 1,055 kW or more that is used for one or more purposes that include producing chilled water for air-conditioning.	15	1 October 2022
Centralised commercial refrigeration systems (Refer to Annex for Requirements) (Examples are multipack compressor racks and semi-plug in water-loop systems. Excludes remote condensing units.)	150	1 July 2027
Passenger cabin air-conditioning systems for passenger cars/taxis and LGVs (Refer to Annex for Requirements)	150	1 July 2028

*Goods supplied before the effective date will not be affected.

Any supplier that intends to supply any of the regulated goods in Singapore, must apply to be a registered supplier and register the regulated goods with NEA before supplying the regulated goods in Singapore. This is with the exception of the following where they will be considered as already registered under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA):

Companies supplying regulated air-conditioners and refrigerators and are already registered under the Energy Conservation Act (ECA) for Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS) / Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)
Models of regulated air-conditioners and refrigerators that are already registered under the MELS/MEPS and meet the GWP limits Please refer to www.nea.gov.sg/els for more information on MELS/MEPS.
Companies or person(s) supplying motor vehicles which have been granted Vehicle approval code (VAC) under Section 3E of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules.
Models of motor vehicles which have been granted VAC under Section 3E of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules.

Any person who intends to directly import a regulated water-cooled chiller into Singapore for their own use must also apply to NEA to register the chiller before importing into Singapore.

Under the EPMA Section 40C and 40D, any person found to be non-compliant with the measures shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

Works involving the use or handling of GHG refrigerant

(A) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Works

Companies that carry out the following works involving handling of refrigerants with GWP more than 15 must comply with the following requirements:

	Types of refrigerant handling works
	Water-cooled chiller	Centralised commercial refrigeration systems	Centralised Industrial Refrigeration systems for cold rooms	Passenger cabin air-conditioning systems in passenger cars & LGVs	Transport refrigeration units (E.g. on refrigerated trucks)
Regulated GHG works	Installation, maintenance, or decommissioning, including works that disrupt the refrigeration system in the equipment (e.g. the evaporator, condenser, refrigerant piping, expansion valve etc.)			Dismantling of deregistered passenger cars/taxis and LGVs	Dismantling of refrigeration system from refrigerated vehicles
With Effect From	1 October 2022	1 July 2027	1 July 2027	1 July 2027	1 July 2027
1. Register with NEA as a GHG Entity.	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
2. Maintain and adhere to the policies, procedures, and processes of the servicing company for carrying out regulated GHG works, and provide adequate equipment for such works	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
3. Recover spent refrigerants with GWP of more than 15 from RAC equipment during decommissioning works	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
4. Ensure that the spent refrigerants with GWP above 15 are sent to a treatment facility authorised by NEA	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
5. Maintain and submit proper records of regulated GHG works.	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
6. Employ at least one certified chiller technician and ensure that regulated GHG works are carried out with/ directly supervised by at least one certified chiller technician.	✓

It is an offence under the Section 40L of the EPMA to:

(i) carry out regulated GHG works on water-cooled chillers without a certified chiller technician (the list of GHG entities with certified chiller technicians is available here);
(ii) carry out regulated GHG works without a valid registration with NEA;
(iii) engage companies not registered as a GHG entity to carry out regulated GHG works.
Person(s) found to be non-compliant shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.

Any person found to be non-compliant to the obligations of registered GHG entities and competent persons under section 40P and 40Q of the EPMA shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 and $10,000 respectively.

Mandatory training and certification for chiller technicians

As part of efforts to enhance the competency of the RAC sector, NEA has worked with Temasek Polytechnic to introduce and conduct training courses for chiller technicians. To attain the certification for compliance with the regulatory requirements, chiller technicians must complete the Refrigerant Handling for Chillers course conducted by Temasek Polytechnic and pass an assessment test.

The course covers both theory and practical hands-on lessons on refrigerant handling during installation, maintenance and decommissioning of water-cooled chillers, with a focus on minimising refrigerant leakages so as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will also cover the impact of HFCs to the environment, the rationale for refrigerant recovery as well as the relevant regulations. For further information on the course, please refer to this link. You may also register for the course at this link.

(B) Household Air-Conditioning Servicing Works

Institute of Technical Education (ITE) offers the Certificate of Competency in Residential Air-Conditioning System (Refrigerant) course to raise technical competency of household air-conditioner technicians.

To comply with SCDF’s requirements on the handling of R32 air-conditioning systems in Singapore, manufacturers are required to ensure that service personnel have completed training courses conducted by ITE. For more information on SCDF’s requirements on the use of R32 air-conditioning system, please refer to the latest circular published on their website, here.

A list of technicians who have completed ITE Certificate of Competency in Residential Air-Conditioning System (Refrigerant) training course is available here.

Mandatory recovery of refrigerants
Spent refrigerants are sometimes vented into the atmosphere during equipment disposal, resulting in HFC emissions. Under the Resource Sustainability Act, e-waste recyclers must take all reasonable steps to (i) remove all specified pollutants* from any electrical or electronic product that is processed or treated in its operated disposal facility; and (ii) process or treat the specified pollutants removed so as to prevent the specified pollutants from polluting the environment.

*Specified pollutants such as refrigerant gases that are ozone-depleting or have a Global Warming Potential of more than 15, including hydrofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons and its blends, and hydrocarbon refrigerants.

NEA also mandates the collection and proper treatment of spent refrigerants from decommissioned RAC equipment under the Environmental Public Health Act. Operators of refrigerant treatment facilities and e-waste recyclers who handle the reclamation and destruction of spent refrigerants have to obtain a Toxic Industrial Waste Collector (TIWC) licence from NEA.

The Act and regulations governing the requirements are:

The regulations will be amended to reflect the new measures for large commercial refrigeration systems, transport refrigeration, and air-conditioning for passenger cars and LGVs when they come into effect from July 2027.

FAQs

For more information, please refer to FAQs on the mitigation measures here.

Climate Change

Reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the use of refrigerants in RAC sector