It is generally known that the Netherlands has been at the forefront in the field of emissions and leak-tightness of refrigeration systems for some time. STIK certification for refrigeration companies was introduced over 10 years ago. With the combination of technician-oriented training and company-oriented certification, this has meant that the leak-tightness of refrigeration systems was reduced to 3%.
Now that the European legislation on F-gasses regulations is being harmonized, the Dutch industry association wishes to encourage the involved parties to opt for quality, which is provided by the Dutch certified technician.
The NVKL’s motivation is given in the quote below:
Quote from NVKL Newsletter>>>
Distinction on the basis of quality
The new direction of the association is inspired by changing factors in the industry. In 2009, the present STEK legislation that must be met by technicians in the industry will be replaced by a European certification system as a result of the European F-gasses regulations. The European standard is much lower than the level in the Netherlands, where the leakage percentage of refrigeration equipment is below 3 percent, in comparison to neighbouring countries where the leakage percentage is at least 20 percent.
By relaxing the law, entry into the industry will become easier and it is expected that the high quality level will be lost. The members of the NVKL are against this and wish to take action in response. Refrigeration is a specialised trade that cannot just be done by anyone. To be able to work in a safe and responsible manner requires sound training, regular refresher courses and a lot of experience. In order to meet future government targets with regard to energy savings and environmental friendliness, the refrigeration sector must therefore not lower the standard, but at least maintain or even increase the standards. NVKL certification is the answer to the implementation of the overly relaxed F gasses regulations.
This certification is not only important for the environment and the level of expertise in the sector, but also for the financial situation of the technician. With quality certification, technicians have an answer to undercutters in the market. The margins that are held to by the certified technician are made possible by guaranteeing professionalism.
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