F-Gas, WEEE and Sustainable Working — Level 3 Environmental Technologies Practice

Sample questions

1. 01When an electrical contractor removes old electrical equipment, what waste duties apply?

   • AStrip the recoverable copper and ferrous metal on site, then crush the remaining casings, keeping a record of the scrap weights sold on for at least twelve months
   • BDispose of removed equipment in the general site waste skip, provided the contractor holds a valid waste carrier registration and the skip operator sorts the load afterwards
   • CReturn all removed equipment to the original manufacturer, which is legally obliged to accept it back and arrange treatment at its own cost under producer responsibility
   • DSegregate WEEE from general waste, store in suitable conditions, transfer only to authorised facilities under a Waste Transfer Note, and keep records for at least 2 years

   Why: The waste duty of care (Environmental Protection Act 1990 s.34) requires segregation, safe storage and transfer only to authorised persons with a waste transfer note, or a consignment note for hazardous WEEE such as fluorescent tubes. Transfer notes are kept for 2 years and hazardous waste records for 3. The WEEE Regulations themselves mainly place duties on producers and distributors.

2. 02Under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005, what is required when removing fluorescent tubes containing mercury?

   • ABreak the tubes on site inside a sealed drum fitted with a carbon filter to reduce their volume, then dispose of the crushed glass and end caps as ordinary non-hazardous construction waste
   • BTreat them as ordinary WEEE under a standard Waste Transfer Note, since the mercury is bound within the phosphor coating and the tubes are therefore not classified as hazardous waste
   • CTreat as hazardous waste, store in suitable rigid containers protected from breakage, transfer to a permitted facility under a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note, retain records for 3 years
   • DPlace them intact in the site glass recycling skip alongside other glazing waste, provided the skip is kept covered and the operator is told that the load contains lamps and tubes

   Why: Fluorescent tubes are hazardous waste due to mercury content. They must be stored intact in rigid containers, transferred to a permitted facility under a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note (HWCN), and records retained for 3 years.

3. 03Under the F-Gas Regulation, what leak-checking frequency applies to a heat pump containing 5 tonnes CO₂-equivalent of refrigerant?

   • AMonthly leak checks are required regardless of the charge size; any competent electrician may carry them out, provided the results are entered in the equipment logbook kept on site by the user
   • BAnnual leak check by F-Gas-certified personnel at ≥ 5 tonnes CO₂e (none required below 5 t); the interval doubles if a working leak detection system is fitted
   • CNo leak checks are required at all below 50 tonnes CO₂e; above that threshold an annual check by F-Gas-certified personnel applies, halving to a six-monthly check above 500 tonnes of refrigerant
   • DA single leak check at commissioning is required; no further checks apply unless the equipment is moved, recharged, or the refrigerant type is changed at a later service visit

   Why: F-Gas leak-check intervals depend on the CO₂-equivalent charge: 12-monthly from 5 tCO₂e, 6-monthly from 50 tCO₂e and 3-monthly from 500 tCO₂e, with the interval doubled where a working leak detection system is fitted. Below 5 tCO₂e there is no mandatory leak check. Checks must be done by F-Gas-certified personnel.