The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has reported a spate of irresponsible online sales of air conditioning equipment to members of the public as the UK grapples with its third official heatwave of the year.
Record high temperatures in June prompted a spike in online searches for cooling products and, despite specialised cooling equipment being subject to sales restrictions, BESA members are reporting installation enquiries from members of the public who have already bought units from online retailers.
Some online marketplaces were reporting that requests for air conditioning installations were up by more than 300% at the start of July and with the UK now in the grip of repeated hot spells, the industry is braced for another bounce in demand.
BESA, which runs REFCOM, the UK’s leading F-Gas certification body responsible for maintaining professional standards in the sector, said products containing refrigerant gases, including some that require specialist handling and may present a flammability risk if improperly installed or used, continue to be purchased by DIY users and unqualified installers. This is despite repeated warnings and the potential safety risks to people and property.
The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for enforcing the F-Gas regime which includes measures to protect the public by requiring retailers to only sell equipment charged with refrigerant gas to properly qualified engineers. It has successfully prosecuted online sellers in the past for failing to establish the credentials of the buyer, but the practice has continued and accelerated again recently, according to BESA.
“Most professional merchants and wholesalers are well aware of their obligations and take a responsible approach, but online sales remain something of an Achilles heel,” said the Association’s technical director Kevin Morrissey.
“Anyone selling specialised air conditioning and heat pump equipment must be able to prove they received confirmation from the buyer that the equipment would be installed by someone holding a valid F-Gas handling certificate or by an F-Gas registered contractor,” said Morrissey.
He added that there was “genuine frustration” among certified companies who invest in training to make sure their technical skills are up-to-date, when they witness less responsible individuals carrying out uncertified installations and undercutting the market.
REFCOM members also complain about the lack of an adequate deterrent with only limited enforcement of the law by the EA. “They are seriously worried that the safety situation could deteriorate as our climate gets progressively warmer prompting more domestic consumers to look for low-cost solutions online,” said Morrissey.
“The safety issue will only become more serious as the industry transitions to more equipment charged with flammable refrigerants including R290 (propane).”
BESA said it was also aware of reports that some buyers had attempted to misuse details of certified businesses when purchasing equipment online. However, the REFCOM register does not publish the information required for sales compliance verification of a company’s F-Gas certification and said it had no evidence that information held within its systems had been accessed improperly.
REFCOM added that it processes personal data “in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation”.
www.refcom.org.uk