Refrigerant compliance · Leak checks · Fixed detection · EKOMVET
F-Gas Leak Detection and Refrigerant Compliance
Refrigeration and air conditioning systems containing fluorinated greenhouse gases must be leak checked at intervals set by their charge in CO₂ equivalent, registered and documented. Erdinç Klima calculates the CO₂ equivalent, carries out the checks with MYK-certified technicians, completes the EKOMVET registration, supplies fixed leak detection where required and hands over inspection-ready records.
In Türkiye the primary F-Gas legislation is the Regulation on Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases published in Official Gazette No. 32693 on 15 October 2024, prepared with reference to EU Regulations 517/2014 and 2024/573. Obligations depend on the refrigerant charge expressed in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, not in kilograms: from 5 t CO₂e the system is registered and leak checked every 12 months, from 50 t CO₂e every 6 months, and from 500 t CO₂e a fixed automatic leak detection system is required, itself verified every 12 months, with 6-monthly checks. Where a fixed system is installed the intervals extend to 24, 12 and 6 months. A quarterly band exists only in EU Regulation 2024/573, not in Turkish law. Erdinç Klima has carried out F-Gas checks on more than 800 units at more than 30 facilities with 4 MYK-certified technicians and holds the TSE 13905 service certificate.
Which rules apply in Türkiye
The Regulation on Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases of 15 October 2024 (Official Gazette No. 32693) is the primary reference; it updated the 2022 regulation (No. 31881) and was prepared taking EU Regulations 517/2014 and 2024/573 into account. Its scope is defined by CO₂ equivalent, and leak-check intervals are 12 or 6 months depending on the charge band.
- A quarterly (3-month) inspection band exists only in EU Regulation 2024/573; Turkish regulation does not have it.
- Registration and activity records are kept in EKOMVET, the national database for refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.
- Leak checks are carried out by personnel holding the MYK F-Gas vocational qualification (19UY0401-5) working for a company with the TSE 13905 service certificate.
- Administrative fines are set under Environmental Law No. 2872 and updated annually by the revaluation rate.
| Charge band | Obligation | Without fixed detection | With fixed detection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 – 50 t CO₂e | Registration and periodic leak check | Every 12 months | Every 24 months |
| 50 – 500 t CO₂e | Periodic leak check | Every 6 months | Every 12 months |
| ≥ 500 t CO₂e | Fixed automatic leak detection system required, verified every 12 months | Every 6 months | Every 6 months |
Regulatory information on this page is provided for orientation and is not legal advice. Requirements change and differ by jurisdiction; confirm the current obligations applying to your site with the competent authority or a qualified compliance adviser.
How the CO₂ equivalent threshold is calculated
The obligation depends on charge × global warming potential, not charge alone. CO₂ equivalent in tonnes equals the refrigerant charge in kilograms multiplied by the GWP of that refrigerant, divided by 1,000. The same 100 kg charge can fall in completely different compliance bands depending on which gas is in the system.
SCROLL THE DRAWING →
- 1The charge is read from the equipment nameplate; GWP depends on the refrigerant (R-404A 3922 · R-410A ≈ 2088 · R-32 675)
- 2Example: 1.3 kg R-404A × 3922 ÷ 1000 = 5.1 t CO₂e → above the registration and check threshold
- 3With a fixed leak detection system installed the interval doubles; the quarterly band exists only in EU Regulation 2024/573, not in Turkish law
- —Equipment in scope is registered in EKOMVET; checks are carried out by MYK-certified personnel
Example: 1.3 kg of R-404A equals 5.1 t CO₂e, which already exceeds the 5 t registration threshold. GWP values are indicative for orientation; the figures that apply legally are those listed in the annex of the regulation in force, so calculations are always made against the published annex.
This is why refrigerant selection is a compliance decision as well as a technical one. Replacing R-404A with a lower-GWP alternative can move a plant into a longer inspection interval and in some cases below the fixed-detection threshold, an operating benefit that continues for the life of the equipment.
| Refrigerant | Indicative GWP | Charge reaching 500 t CO₂e |
|---|---|---|
| R-404A | 3,922 | ≈ 127 kg |
| R-410A | 2,088 | ≈ 240 kg |
| R-134a | 1,430 | ≈ 350 kg |
| R-32 | 675 | ≈ 740 kg |
| R-1234ze | < 10 | Effectively not reached |
When a fixed leak detection system is required, and what a compliant one looks like
A fixed automatic leak detection system is mandatory for equipment containing 500 t CO₂e or more. The system must alert the operator when a leak occurs, not merely log it, and must itself be verified at least once every twelve months. Detector placement matters more than detector count: most refrigerants are heavier than air and collect at low level.
Record keeping is part of the obligation, not an optional extra. Operators keep records of refrigerant quantity and type, quantities added or recovered, results of leak checks, verification of the detection system and the identity of the certified company or technician performing the work. In an inspection, missing records are treated the same as a missing system.
We supply and install fixed refrigerant detection including our own APEX-EK refrigerant leak detection system with the APEX-EK-RV-00 Modbus RTU sensor, together with controllers, calibration service and the documentation required for inspection.
- Detector type — semiconductor, infrared or heated diode, selected for the refrigerant and the required sensitivity; infrared holds calibration longest in dirty plant rooms
- Placement — low level near likely leak sources: compressors, valve stations, flanged joints, oil separators
- Communication — Modbus RTU output allows integration into an existing BMS without a separate monitoring system
- Alarm strategy — a pre-alarm for early leaks and a main alarm for concentrations requiring evacuation and ventilation
- Verification — annual functional test with calibration gas, documented
Leak checks, EKOMVET registration and reporting by a certified team
One appointment covers the CO₂-equivalent calculation, the leak check by an MYK-certified technician, the EKOMVET entry and the stamped report. Erdinç Klima has checked more than 800 units at more than 30 facilities; urgent F-Gas requests are answered within 48 hours on average.
- Any leak found is reported to the customer; a repair quotation is prepared on request and the repair is carried out by Erdinç Klima after approval
- For service companies and facility managers with their own technicians: equipment data and photographs are enough to register the systems without a site visit; activities are then logged by the customer's team
- Sectors served include automotive, energy, refineries, metal, building management, hotels, marinas, chemicals, healthcare and education
- Istanbul's Anatolian side within 30 minutes; nationwide and export projects on a planned basis
Türkiye, the EU and other markets
EU member states apply Regulation 2024/573 directly, including its quarterly band for the largest charges; candidate countries in the Balkans are progressively aligning. Türkiye operates its own regulation with comparable inspection and record-keeping duties. Gulf states work primarily through the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment HFC phase-down rather than an equivalent inspection regime.
For a plant operator this means the equipment specification is broadly portable but the paperwork is not. A detection system that satisfies an EU inspection will satisfy a Turkish one technically; the reporting format and the certification of the company performing checks differ. Tell us the jurisdiction at enquiry stage and we supply documentation in the expected form.
Related pages
The other systems on this site, and the Turkish version of this page.
- 07-A
All industrial cooling systems
Evaporative cooling, panel air conditioners, chillers, smoke ventilation and F-Gas compliance from one supplier.
Go to the overview → - 07-B
- 07-C
Turkish version of this page
F-Gas leak control and EKOMVET page in Turkish, with the CO₂-equivalent calculator and EKOMVET guides.
Turkish version →
Frequently asked questions
Threshold, interval, detection and record-keeping questions from operators and facility managers.
Find out which band your plant falls into
Send the refrigerant type and charge per circuit. We calculate the CO₂ equivalent, tell you the inspection interval and whether fixed detection is required, and quote the check and EKOMVET registration. Technical consultation by phone or WhatsApp is free; site visits are quoted.
20+ years · authorised Rittal service partner · Istanbul, Türkiye
- Phone
- +90 216 344 48 19
- +90 532 424 62 19
- info @erdincklima.com
- Address
- Esatpaşa Mah., Binikli Sk., Alibey Apt. No: 2/A-B-C, 34704 Ataşehir / İstanbul
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00 · Sat by appointment
SON GÜNCELLEME: · İçerik Erdinç Klima teknik ekibince hazırlanır ve üretici dokümanlarıyla doğrulanır.