VDI 2292 in Practice
VDI 2292, published in June 2025, defines the state of the art for emission control in the treatment of refrigerators and other temperature exchanger equipment. Its relevance has grown further as regulatory pressure on fluorinated gases has increased under Regulation (EU) 2024/573 and operators continue to process mixed appliance streams with varying refrigerants and blowing agents.
For this edition of our series “3 Questions – One Expert”, we spoke with Peter Heßler, Managing Director at URT and contributor to VDI 2292, about what the guideline means in practice and how cooling device recycling has evolved in recent years.
1. Peter, you contributed to VDI 2292, the guideline on emission control for the treatment of refrigerators and other temperature exchanger equipment. What practical gap did this guideline aim to close for operators and plant designers?
There have long been standards describing recovery efficiencies for refrigerants and blowing agents. What was missing, however, was a more comprehensive technical framework for emissions beyond the core recovery figures.
This is exactly where VDI 2292 adds value. The guideline addresses aspects that had previously been described only to a limited extent, including diffuse emissions to the surrounding area, system monitoring, energy efficiency, storage specifications and safety-related considerations. In that sense, it closes an important practical gap by providing a broader technical basis for plant design and plant operation.
2. What have you seen change most significantly in the market – in terms of appliance composition, operator requirements or the regulatory framework, especially with Regulation (EU) 2024/573 now in force?
What has changed most is the combination of more complex input streams and a more demanding regulatory framework. Operators are increasingly dealing with mixed appliance streams containing different refrigerants and blowing agents, while Regulation (EU) 2024/573 has further increased the pressure on compliant handling of fluorinated gases.
At the same time, VDI 2292 now provides a clearer technical reference for operators, authorities and plant builders. This combination is currently shaping the market more than anything else.
3. Looking ahead, which technical capabilities will matter most for operators who want to combine compliant treatment, reliable depollution and efficient recovery in cooling device recycling?
One particularly important point addressed in VDI 2292 is the qualification of operating personnel. The guideline makes it clear that plant performance is not defined by technology alone, but also by the competence and training level of the people operating and maintaining the plant.
This is highly relevant in practice. Long-term compliant and efficient operation depends not only on recovery technology and process design, but also on clearly defined requirements for operators and maintenance staff. In my view, this is one of the most important forward-looking aspects of the guideline, because it links technical performance directly with operational competence.
