In eighteen months, the usage of hydrochlorofluorocarbones (HCFC) will be forbidden in the European Union (EU). A banishment born in the protocol of Montreal which aims at abolishing the use of gases which destroy the ozone layer. An inquiry driven by INDUSTRIALIST DUPONT shows that industry hardly seems to care about expiry date.

HCFC was developed to replace CFC in the systems of refrigeration and spray cans. Less destructive for the ozone, they keep an impact nevertheless on the layer which protects us from ultraviolet radiance. Where from their ban decided by the countries of the EU. From the first of January, 2010, alone the usage of recycled HCFC will be allowed before a total ban which will come into force five years later.

DUPONT leads a big campaign of information on subject. The industrialist very has interest in it since he commercialises products of substitution intended for the producers of air-conditioners, machines of production of ice, refrigerated windows, freezers of shops etc. In the European Union, 130 000 tons of HCFC are always applied in 7 million installations, and the industrialists hesitate to change their equipment.

According to the inquiry driven by DUPONT in new country (Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland), 65 % of installations of cooling still use HCFC. Worse, 17 % industrialists who again made nothing does not plan to go without HCFC after 2010. Many people hope that there will be enough available recycled gases on the market, to maintain their installations, what questions of course DUPONT. Among the candidates for the replacement of HCFC represent HFC who, for lack of chlorine, does not attack the ozone. On the other hand, HFC is powerful gases with greenhouse effect, the potential of warming of which is from hundred to ten thousand times that some carbon dioxide.

Picture: © Denis Delbecq - on 2008