EN 50574-1:2012

Collection, logistics & treatment requirements for end-of-life household appliances containing volatile fluorocarbons or volatile hydrocarbons

This European Standard defines requirements for the end of life handling, transportation, storage, sorting and treatment of WEEE household appliances containing volatile fluorocarbons, volatile hydrocarbons, or both. Furthermore, this standard only applies to WEEE household appliances that use heat-transfer media other than water e.g. refrigerators, freezers, heat pump tumble dryers, de-humidifiers and portable air conditioners. Discarded appliances covered by this standard will have been deposited at a collection facility as domestic WEEE. The European Standard describes requirements for the removal of volatile fluorocarbons and volatile hydrocarbons. These substances can be found as refrigerant in the refrigerating system (partly dissolved in the oil) and as blowing agent in the insulation foam of discarded household appliances. NOTE This standard has been prepared to fulfil the requirements of Directive 2002/96/EC but does not preclude the procedures described herein from being used to treat appliances that are not commonly found in private households. It defines requirements pertaining to producers, WEEE compliance schemes (acting on behalf of producers) and waste treatment facilities so as to ensure the provisions of applicable national laws resulting from European legislation are fulfilled. These requirements are intended to define procedures, parameters based on the best available technologies at the time of the publication; however, provisions laid down by national regulatory bodies will continue to additionally apply. This standard only describes the results to be achieved, it does not specify how they are to be achieved nor does it prescribe the use of any specific technology. This European Standard does not generally cover collection facilities, nor does it cover how appliances arrive at these facilities. However, this standard does address the sorting of heat-pump tumble dryers from other types of tumble dryer, a task that could be performed at a collection facility. This European Standard defines requirements relating to handling, transportation, sorting and treatment of WEEE covered by the scope of this standard. This standard does not include any activity prior to delivery to a logistic facility.

Anforderungen an die Sammlung, Logistik und Behandlung von Altgeräten aus dem Haushalt, die flüchtige Fluorkohlenwasserstoffe oder flüchtige Kohlenwasserstoffe enthalten

Exigences de collecte, logistique et traitement pour la fin de vie des appareils domestiques contenant des fluorocarbures volatils ou des hydrocarbures volatils

Zahteve za zbiranje, prevoz in ravnanje z gospodinjskimi napravami s pretečeno uporabnostjo, ki vsebujejo hlapne fluorokarbone ali hlapne ogljikovodike

Ta evropski standard določa zahteve za upravljanje, prevoz, skladiščenje, razvrščanje in ravnanje z gospodinjskimi napravami s pretečeno uporabnostjo, ki spadajo med odpadno električno in elektronsko opremo ter vsebujejo hlapne fluorokarbone, hlapne ogljikovodike ali oboje. Poleg tega se ta evropski standard uporablja le za gospodinjske naprave, ki spadajo med odpadno električno in elektronsko opremo ter uporabljajo sredstva za prenos toplote, ki niso voda, npr. hladilniki, zamrzovalniki, sušilni stroji s toplotno črpalko, razvlaževalniki in prenosne klimatske naprave. Zavržene naprave, zajete v tem evropskem standardu, se zbirajo v obratih za zbiranje kot domača odpadna električna in elektronska oprema. Evropski standard opisuje zahteve za odstranitev hlapnih fluorokarbonov in hlapnih ogljikovodikov. Te snovi je mogoče najti kot hladilo v hladilnem sistemu (delno raztopljene v olju) in kot penilec v izolacijski peni zavrženih gospodinjskih naprav. Standard določa zahteve v zvezi s proizvajalci, shemami skladnosti odpadne električne in elektronske opreme (ki delujejo v imenu proizvajalcev) ter napravami za obdelavo odpadkov, da se zagotovi izpolnjevanje določb veljavnih nacionalnih zakonov, ki izhajajo iz evropske zakonodaje. Te zahteve so namenjene definiciji postopkov in parametrov, ki temeljijo na najboljših razpoložljivih tehnologijah v času izdaje; vendar še naprej dodatno veljajo določbe nacionalnih regulativnih organov. Ta standard le opisuje rezultate, ki jih je treba doseči, pri čemer ne določa, na kakšen način jih je treba doseči, in ne predpisuje uporabe posebne tehnologije. Ta evropski standard ne opisuje obratov za zbiranje na splošno, prav tako ne opisuje, kako se naprave dostavijo v te obrate. Vendar pa ta standard obravnava ločevanje sušilnih strojev s toplotno črpalko od drugih vrst sušilnih strojev; to nalogo lahko izpolnjevali obrati za zbiranje. Ta evropski standard določa zahteve v zvezi z upravljanjem, prevozom, razvrščanjem in ravnanjem z odpadno električno in elektronsko opremo, ki je zajeta v tem standardu. Ta standard ne zajema dejavnosti pred prihodom v logistični obrat.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 24-May-2012
• ICS: 13.030.30 - Special wastes
• ICS: 13.030.40 - Installations and equipment for waste disposal and treatment
• ICS: 97.030 - Domestic electrical appliances in general
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 111X - Environment
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available
• Due Date: 26-Sep-2012
• Completion Date: 25-May-2012
• Directive: 2002/96/EC - Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) relating to Article 9
• Directive: 2012/19/EC - Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
• Directive: 2012/19/EU - Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
• Mandate: M/518 - Mandate to the European standardisation organisations for standardisation in the field of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE))
• Ref Project: SIST EN 50574:2012 - Collection, logistics & treatment requirements for end-of-life household appliances containing volatile fluorocarbons or volatile hydrocarbons

RELATIONS

• Corrected By: EN 50574:2012/AC:2012 - Collection, logistics & treatment requirements for end-of-life household appliances containing volatile fluorocarbons or volatile hydrocarbons
• Effective Date: 20-Nov-2012
• Corrected By: EN 50574-1:2012/AC:2014 - Collection, logistics & treatment requirements for end-of-life household appliances containing volatile fluorocarbons or volatile hydrocarbons
• Effective Date: 14-Jan-2015
• Revised: EN 50625-2-3:2017 - Collection, logistics & treatment requirements for WEEE - Part 2-3: Treatment requirements for temperature exchange equipment and other WEEE containing VFC and/or VHC
• Effective Date: 17-Mar-2015
• Replaced By: EN 50625-2-3:2017 - Collection, logistics & treatment requirements for WEEE - Part 2-3: Treatment requirements for temperature exchange equipment and other WEEE containing VFC and/or VHC
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2017

Standards Content (sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN 50574:2012
01-julij-2012
=DKWHYH]D]ELUDQMHSUHYR]LQUDYQDQMH]JRVSRGLQMVNLPLQDSUDYDPLVSUHWHþHQR
XSRUDEQRVWMRNLYVHEXMHMRKODSQHIOXRURNDUERQHDOLKODSQHRJOMLNRYRGLNH

Collection, logistics & treatment requirements for end-of-life household appliances

containing volatile fluorocarbons or volatile hydrocarbons
Anforderungen an die Sammlung, Logistik und Behandlung von Altgeräten aus dem
Haushalt die flüchtige Fluorkohlenwasserstoffe oder flüchtige Kohlenwasserstoffe
enthalten
Exigences de collecte, logistique et traitement pour la fin de vie des appareils
domestiques contenant des fluorocarbures volatils ou des hydrocarbures volatils
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50574:2012
ICS:
13.030.30 Posebni odpadki Special wastes
97.030 (OHNWULþQLDSDUDWL]DGRPQD Domestic electrical
VSORãQR appliances in general
SIST EN 50574:2012 en,fr

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN 50574:2012
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SIST EN 50574:2012
EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 50574
NORME EUROPÉENNE
May 2012
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.030.30; 13.030.40; 97.030
English version
Collection, logistics & treatment requirements for end-of-life household
appliances containing volatile fluorocarbons or volatile hydrocarbons
Exigences de collecte, logistique et Anforderungen an die Sammlung, Logistik

traitement pour la fin de vie des appareils und Behandlung von Altgeräten aus dem

domestiques contenant des Haushalt die flüchtige
fluorocarbures volatils ou des Fluorkohlenwasserstoffe oder flüchtige
hydrocarbures volatils Kohlenwasserstoffe enthalten

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2012-03-26. CENELEC members are bound to comply

with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard

the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on

application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other

language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified

to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,

the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,

Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,

Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B - 1000 Brussels

© 2012 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.

Ref. No. EN 50574:2012 E
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SIST EN 50574:2012
EN 50574:2012 – 2 –
Contents

Foreword ................................................................................................................................ 3

Introduction............................................................................................................................. 4

1 Sc op e ......................................................................................................................... ...... 5

2 Normative references ....................................................................................................... 5

3 Abbreviations, terms and definitions ................................................................................. 5

3.1 Abbreviations .......................................................................................................... 5

3.2 Terms and definitions .............................................................................................. 6

4 Requirements prior to treatment ....................................................................................... 9

4.1 General ................................................................................................................... 9

4.2 Site requirements .................................................................................................... 9

4.3 Transportation ......................................................................................................... 9

4.4 Sorting .................................................................................................................. 10

4.5 Compliance criteria ............................................................................................... 10

5 Requirements for treatment facilities .............................................................................. 10

5.1 General ................................................................................................................. 10

5.2 Step 1 treatment .................................................................................................... 11

5.3 Step 2 treatment .................................................................................................... 11

5.4 Step 3 treatment .................................................................................................... 11

5.5 Monitoring ............................................................................................................. 12

5.6 Regular reporting .................................................................................................. 13

5.7 Compliance criteria ............................................................................................... 14

6 Responsible take-back party  General ......................................................................... 14

Annex A (normative) Methodology for running performance tests for step 1 treatment ......... 16

A.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 16

A.2 Operating conditions, test preparation, and test procedures of the

performance test ................................................................................................... 16

A.3 Calculations for performance test step 1 ................................................................ 18

Annex B (normative) Methodology for running performance tests for step 2 treatment ......... 22

B.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 22

B.2 Operating conditions, test preparation, and test procedures of the

performance test ................................................................................................... 22

B.3 Calculations performance test step 2 ..................................................................... 25

Annex C (informative) Overview of monitoring requirements at treatment facilities ............... 32

Annex D (informative) Sorting requirements for heat pump tumble driers - Instructions

for identifying tumble dryers containing fluorinated refrigerants ...................................... 34

D.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 34

D.2 Identification of heat pump tumble dryers with VFC ............................................... 34

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SIST EN 50574:2012
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Foreword

This document (EN 50574:2012) was prepared by CLC/TC 111X/WG 04, "Environment - End

of life requirements for household appliances containing volatile fluorinated substances or

volatile hydrocarbons".
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2013-03-26
• latest date by which this document has to
be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national standard
or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards (dow) 2015-03-26
conflicting with this document have to
be withdrawn

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the

subject of patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying

any or all such patent rights.
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SIST EN 50574:2012
EN 50574:2012 – 4 –
Introduction

This document establishes requirements for the transportation, sorting and treatment of

household appliances containing volatile fluorocarbons or volatile hydrocarbons after they

have been discarded as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

The methodologies for the inspection of the performance of treatment systems for household

refrigerators and freezers in step 2 treatment was developed in the early 1990s. The

methodologies used for performance tests since then have been created to evaluate the

efficiency of treatment plants designed to recover VFCs from insulating foam. The evaluation

criteria used for performance testing are based on the VFC content of household refrigerators

and freezers that were produced in the 1970s and 1980s.

The increasing appearance on the recycling market of appliances with VFC-free insulation

(foamed with VHC) has had a strong impact on the general framework conditions for

performance testing over the last few years. In the early 1990s the quantity of R11 (a VFC)

was reduced by approximately 50 %. R11 was then largely phased out in favour of VHCs in

the early 2000s.

Consequently the expected values from step 2 treatment that had been achieved in the 1990s

are no longer applicable for the appliances that are recycled today. Nowadays more and more

VFC-free appliances and appliances containing reduced quantities of VFC come back for

recycling.

The WEEE within the scope of this standard could contain substances that if released

untreated to the atmosphere could contribute to ozone depletion or global warming. The

substances may be present in the refrigerating system and in insulating foam. This standard

seeks to reduce the environmental impact caused by such WEEE by defining requirements

covering sorting, transportation, handling and treatment. It covers how substances with a high

global warming potential and/or ozone depletion potential are removed from WEEE and

subsequently treated so as to significantly reduce environmental impacts.

By addressing the above issues this standard supports the WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC.

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1 Scope

This European Standard defines requirements for the end of life handling, transportation,

storage, sorting and treatment of WEEE household appliances containing volatile

fluorocarbons, volatile hydrocarbons, or both. Furthermore, this European Standard only

applies to WEEE household appliances that use heat-transfer media other than water e.g.

refrigerators, freezers, heat pump tumble dryers, de-humidifiers and portable air conditioners.

Discarded appliances covered by this European Standard will have been deposited at a

collection facility as domestic WEEE.

The European Standard describes requirements for the removal of volatile fluorocarbons and

volatile hydrocarbons. These substances can be found as refrigerant in the refrigerating

system (partly dissolved in the oil) and as blowing agent in the insulating foam of discarded

household appliances.

NOTE This European Standard has been prepared to fulfil the requirements of Directive 2002/96/EC but does not

preclude the procedures described herein from being used to treat appliances that are not commonly found in

private households.

It defines requirements pertaining to producers, WEEE compliance schemes (acting on behalf

of producers) and waste treatment facilities so as to ensure the provisions of applicable

national laws resulting from European legislation are fulfilled. These requirements are

intended to define procedures, parameters based on the best available technologies at the

time of the publication; however, provisions laid down by national regulatory bodies will

continue to additionally apply. This standard only describes the results to be achieved, it does

not specify how they are to be achieved nor does it prescribe the use of any specific

technology.

This European Standard does not generally cover collection facilities, nor does it cover how

appliances arrive at these facilities. However, this standard does address the sorting of heat-

pump tumble dryers from other types of tumble dryer, a task that could be performed at a

collection facility.

This European Standard defines requirements relating to handling, transportation, sorting and

treatment of WEEE covered by the scope of this standard. This standard does not include any

activity prior to delivery to a logistic facility.
2 Normative references
None
3 Abbreviations, terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1 Abbreviations
3.1.1
WEEE
waste electrical and electronic equipment
3.1.2
CFC
chlorofluorocarbon
3.1.3
HCFC
hydrochlorofluorocarbon
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EN 50574:2012 – 6 –
3.1.4
HFC
hydrofluorocarbon
3.1.5
hydrocarbon
3.1.6
VFC
volatile fluorocarbon
3.1.7
VHC
volatile hydrocarbon
3.1.8
polyurethane
3.2 Terms and definitions
3.2.1
collection facility

location designated for the gathering of WEEE from private households to facilitate separate

collection

Note 1 to entry: The term “WEEE from private households” is defined in Directive 2002/96/EC (the WEEE Directive)

and the terms “collection” and “separate collection” are defined in Directive 2008/98/EC (the Waste Framework

Directive).

Note 2 to entry: Collection facilities are typically registered, listed, or otherwise approved or designated in

accordance with the national legislation implementing Directive 2002/96/EC (the WEEE Directive).

3.2.2
logistics facility

location for receiving WEEE in order to sort, store, and prepare for transport, with the

intention to deliver to treatment facilities
3.2.3
storage
locating WEEE temporary prior to treatment
3.2.4
responsible take-back party

organisation that both a) arranges for the physical delivery of WEEE from a collection facility

or logistics facility to a treatment facility and b) ensures that environmentally sound transport

and treatment is performed on behalf of producers

Note 1 to entry: Different countries have different names for responsible take-back parties.

Note 2 to entry: Depending on the particular legislative provisions, The responsible take-back party could be the

producer or a second party acting on their behalf (such as a WEEE Compliance Scheme).

3.2.5
handling

activity where WEEE is physically moved by workers or equipment for the intended purpose of

storage, transport or treatment
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3.2.6
transport

delivery of WEEE from a collection facility or a logistics facility to a treatment facility

3.2.7
treatment
Note 1 to entry: Directive 2002/96/EC defines “treatment” as:

“any activity that takes place after WEEE has been handed over to a facility for depollution, disassembly,

shredding, recovery or preparation for disposal and any other operation carried out for the recovery and/or the

disposal of WEEE”.
3.2.8
treatment facility
location where WEEE undergoes treatment
3.2.9
step 1 treatment
removal of VFC, VHC and oil from the refrigerating system

Note 1 to entry: Other components (i.e. compressors cable, glass shelves, plastic parts, mercury switches,

capacitors) can also be removed during step 1 treatment.
3.2.10
step 2 treatment
removal of VFC, VHC from insulating foam

Note 1 to entry: Other fractions (i.e. ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, plastics, PU foam) can also be separated

during step 2 treatment.

Note 2 to entry: Step 2 treatment is not applicable for heat pump tumble dryers, de-humidifiers and portable air

conditioners if they do not contain insulating foam.
3.2.11
step 3 treatment

converting VFC, VHC as a part of the treatment process into compounds that do not deplete

the ozone layer

Note 1 to entry: Compounds should be considered to deplete the ozone layer are covered by EC Regulation

1005/2009.
3.2.12
refrigerant

fluid used for heat transfer in a mechanical refrigerating system which absorbs heat at a low

temperature and a low pressure of the fluid and rejects it at a higher temperature and higher

pressure of the fluid usually involving reversible changes of the phase of the fluid

[SOURCE: ISO 817:2005]
3.2.13
refrigerating system

part that uses a refrigerant to transfer thermal energy from one part of an appliance to

another part

Note 1 to entry: The refrigerating system in new appliances is hermetically sealed and typically also contains oil.

3.2.14
blowing agent
substance that is used to produce cells in the structure of an insulating foam
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SIST EN 50574:2012
EN 50574:2012 – 8 –
3.2.15
volatile fluorocarbon (VFC)

organic chemical compound consisting of carbon and fluorine atoms (in some cases also with

chlorine and/or hydrogen), which is able to change phase when used as a refrigerant or

produce cells in plastic structure of an insulating foam when used as a blowing agent

Note 1 to entry: Common commercial designations for these materials are R12, R11 for CFCs, R22, R141b for

HCFCs and R134a for HFCs.

Note 2 to entry: Chemically, volatile fluorocarbons could be either alkyl halides or alkene halides.

Note 3 to entry: CFC, HCFC, HFC and HC are all VOCs – Volatile Organic Compounds.

3.2.16
volatile hydrocarbon (VHC)

organic chemical compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon which is able to

change phase when used as a refrigerant or produce cells in plastic structure of an insulating

foam when used as a blowing agent

Note 1 to entry: Common designations for volatile hydrocarbons are R290 for propane, R600a for isobutane,

R1270 for propene and RC601 for cyclopentane. Mixtures of VHC are also possible.
3.2.17
oil
oil within the refrigerating system that lubricates the compressor
3.2.18
target value

quantity of blowing agent or refrigerant that is required to be recovered during treatment

Note 1 to entry: Target values could be set by e.g. an industry expert group or law.

3.2.19
category 1 appliances

single-door refrigerators having a storage capacity of less than 0,18 m , as specified by the

appliance manufacturer
Note 1 to entry: Category 1 appliances only have one compressor.
3.2.20
category 2 appliances

refrigerators or combined refrigerator/freezers having a total storage capacity ranging from

3 3
0,18 m to 0,35 m , as specified by the appliance manufacturer
Note 1 to entry: Category 2 appliances can have one or two compressors.
3.2.21
category 3 appliances

freezers having a storage capacity of less than, or equal to, 0,50 m and refrigerator or

combined refrigerator/freezer having a total storage capacity greater than 0,35 m and less

than or equal to 0,50 m as specified by the appliance manufacturer
Note 1 to entry: Category 3 appliances can have one or two compressors.
3.2.22
category 4 appliances

refrigerators or freezers or combined refrigerator/freezer with a total storage capacity of more

than 0,50 m
3.2.23
category 5 appliances

refrigerators or freezers or combined refrigerator/freezers that are not household appliances

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Note 1 to entry: Appliances like heat pump tumble dryers, de-humidifiers and portable air conditioners are not

explicitly categorised but are taken into account in monitoring.
3.2.24
Disposal

operation which is not recovery even where the operation has as a secondary consequence

the reclamation of substances or energy
Note 1 to entry: Text taken from Directive 2008/98/EC.
3.2.25
recovery

Note 1 to entry: Directive 2008/98/EC (the Waste Framework Directive) defines this term as:

“any operation the principal result of which is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials which

would otherwise have been used to fulfil a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfil that function, in the

plant or in the wider economy. Annex II [from Directive 2008/98/EC] sets out a non-exhaustive list of recovery

operations."
4 Requirements prior to treatment
4.1 General

The requirements prior to treatment apply to all operators involved in handling, transportation,

sorting, and storage of WEEE of appliances according to the scope of this document.

WEEE covered by this standard shall be stored, handled and transported in a way that

damage of any part of the refrigerant system or the insulating foam is avoided. In particular,

appropriate measures shall be introduced and documented so as to:
• prevent, as far as reasonably practicable, the emission of VFCs;

• reduce the risk of explosion due to the release of VHCs by ensuring that levels and

measures are consistent with health and safety legislation.

NOTE 1 These measures are required to ensure that VFCs and VHCs are not released due mishandling, since

leakage of VFC could damage to the environment and leakage of VHC in confined places could result in an

explosion.

NOTE 2 Employers should ensure that they are familiar with the general requirements for health and safety as laid

down in Directive 89/391 EEC and also the particular requirements set out in Directive 1999/92/EC for the safety

and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres and Directive 94/9/EC on

equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX).

If leakage of oil is detected, appropriate measures shall be taken to minimise environmental

impacts.
4.2 Site requirements
All sites shall be secured against unauthorised access or egress.

The operator shall possess infrastructure in terms of size, technologies installed, and

characteristics of the operations that are suitable for the activities performed on site.

Suitability of site shall be assessed by an operational risk management process for all tasks

performed on site and include the identification of hazards, the assessment of risk and, where

appropriate, the elimination or reduction of the risk, and documentation of the process.

NOTE Technical requirements for sites for storage and treatment are described in Annex III of Directive

2002/96/EC.
4.3 Transportation

It is permitted to transport WEEE within the scope of this standard with other WEEE providing

the WEEE covered by this standard is not damaged as a consequence of this optimisation.

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SIST EN 50574:2012
EN 50574:2012 – 10 –

The WEEE within the scope of this standard shall not be crushed, compacted, or handled in a

way that could damage any part of the refrigerant system or the insulating foam. In particular

during transportation, internal transit or when loading and unloading appliances, care shall be

taken to ensure that appliances’ refrigerating systems and cabinets are not damaged.

4.4 Sorting

WEEE within the scope of this standard shall be separated from other WEEE at logistic

facilities and delivered to treatment facilities primarily specialized in the treatment of WEEE

containing VFCs or VHCs. This sorting shall only be performed by trained or adequately

supervised personnel.

To ensure that heat pump tumble dryers are treated correctly, as a precondition it is

necessary that they are first identified and correctly sorted (see Annex D).The treatment of

these appliances containing VFC shall be carried out only at facilities that perform step 1

treatment.

NOTE Treating WEEE without first separating appliances within the scope of this standard from other WEEE could

result in emission of substances that are either harmful to the environment or present a risk of fire or explosion.

Separating VHC-containing appliances from VFC-containing appliances for separate

treatment is only permitted if analytical evidence exists that identifies the blowing agents for

each appliance.
4.5 Compliance criteria

Parties responsible for any action covered by 4.1 through 4.4 shall have procedures in place

to ensure and document compliance with the requirements set there.

These procedures (e.g. trainings, operational measures) and their regular approval shall be

documented (for instance as part of that organisation’s quality, environmental, or health and

safety management system) and periodically audited. The results of such audits shall be

made available to the party having responsibility for the quality of WEEE delivered for

treatment on request (normally the responsible take-back party).
5 Requirements for treatment facilities
5.1 General

The operator of the treatment facility shall ensure that all removed VFCs and VHCs are

captured and subsequently disposed of, or recovered, in accordance with requirements set by

the responsible take back parties. Removed VFCs, VHCs and mixtures thereof shall either be

transported to an authorised facility for recovery or disposal, or recovered or destroyed by on-

site conversion.

NOTE 1 Requirements for transportation are given by national measures implementing the “Accord européen relatif

au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par route” (ADR).

NOTE 2 Recovery and destruction of used controlled ozone depleting substances is covered by EC Regulation No

1005/2009.

Separated VFCs shall be converted by a suitable process so that they no longer have the

potential for causing depletion of the ozone layer. Where the VFCs are sent for conversion to

a facility remote from the treatment facility, records of bills or delivery sheets shall be

documented and maintained.

NOTE 3 All treatment facilities that treat WEEE in accordance with this standard will need to comply with explosion

protection measures. Refer to Directive 1999/92/EC on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health

protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres and Directive 94/9/EC on the approximation of

the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially

explosive atmospheres (ATEX).
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– 11 – EN 50574:2012

NOTE 4 Attention is drawn to the fact that national emission limits on VFCs and VHCs may apply.

NOTE 5 In practice, explosions inside shredders can be avoided by controlling ambient conditions. Examples of

measures to control those conditions include a) dilution of the VHC fraction in the local atmosphere by blowing air

into the process or, b) reduction of the oxygen content by substituting air with inert gases and c) using alternative

explosion proof processing-technologies.

All separated VFCs and VHCs or admixtures thereof shall be carefully stored, handled and

transported to avoid any emissions before their recovery or destruction.
5.2 Step 1 treatment
This section applies to all WEEE within the scope of this standard.
1) All refrigerants and all oil shall be removed from the refrigerating system;
2) All refrigerants shall be separated from oil;

3) All oil shall be contained within a closed system until the concentration of refrigerant is

below 0,2 % w/w VFC;

NOTE The VFC content should be measured and expressed as concentration of R12 in the oil.

4) No residual VFC within the oil shall be allowed to be released to the atmosphere;

5) The total mass of refrigerants removed from the refrigerating system (sum of VHCs and

VFCs) shall be monitored and documented continuously.
5.3 Step 2 treatment

This section applies to WEEE containing insulating foam with either VFCs or VHCs.

1) The treatment of appliances in step 2 is normally carried out with step 1 treated

appliances (called “cabinets”);
2) Insulating foam shall not be manually removed;

NOTE 1 Future insulation material technologies may necessitate a manual dismantling of insulating foam.

3) The crushing of cabinets and the separation of crushed fractions shall be performed in a

way so that emissions of VFCs and VHCs to the atmosphere are minimised according to

national legislation;

4) The residual content of VFCs contained in the separated metal and plastics fractions

shall be minimised;

5) The residual VFCs within the crushed insulating foam shall not be released to the

atmosphere. They shall be converted into compounds that do not deplete the ozone layer;

NOTE 2 The conversion into non-ozone depleting substances is necessary according to EC Regulation No

1005/2009.

6) The total mass of blowing agent (sum of VHCs and VFCs) removed from the insulating

foam shall be monitored and documented continuously.
5.4 Step 3 treatment

Where the VFCs are being converted on site into compounds that do not deplete the ozone

layer, continuous recorded input data for raw gas and output data for clean gas shall be

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SIST EN 5057
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