In Belgium, the refrigeration sector is subject to a strict regulatory framework combining European regulations and regional specificities. Enthalpic SRL guarantees installation and maintenance in full compliance with all Belgian legal obligations. Our expertise covers all requirements: from the European F‑Gas regulation to acoustic standards and regional permits (VLAREM, noise decrees), including FASFC obligations for food and NBN standards.

Applicable regulations in Belgium

F‑Gas (EU) 2024/573

Application in Belgium: inspections and certification organised at regional level (Wallonia, Brussels, Flanders). Certification mandatory for any handling of fluorinated gases.

Key points:

  • Technicians and companies certified by region
  • HFC phase‑down and new market placement bans
  • Leak checks according to CO₂e charge and up-to-date equipment register
  • Recovery and traceability of refrigerants
📖 F‑Gas Certification — Wallonia 📖 F‑Gas Certification — Flanders 📖 Refrigeration installations — Brussels Environment

Belgian NBN Standards

Bureau for Standardisation: national technical standards for safety, performance and ergonomics.

Main standards applied:

  • NBN EN 378 — Refrigeration systems and heat pumps (safety and environment)
  • NBN S 01‑400‑1 — Acoustics for residential buildings
  • NBN EN ISO 7243 — Thermal environments at work
  • NBN EN 14511 — Energy performance (heat pumps)
📖 Bureau for Standardisation (NBN)

Regional regulations

Belgian specificities: each region imposes its own rules for acoustics, declarations/permits and energy inspections (EPB).

Compliance by region (summary):

  • Wallonia — EPB inspections every 5 years (≥ 12 kW); acoustic thresholds set via permit.
  • Brussels‑Capital — initial diagnosis ≤ 6 months after commissioning, then periodic every 15 years (12—100 kW) / every 5 years (> 100 kW); noise limits by zone and period.
  • Flanders — airco energy audit every 5 years (> 12 kW); VLAREM classification (class 3 = declaration, class 2 = permit depending on capacity).
📖 VLAREM — Flanders 📖 Airco energy audit — Flanders 📖 Noise decrees — Brussels

Regulatory comparison by region

As Belgium is a federal state, each region applies its own rules regarding acoustics, authorisations and energy inspections for air conditioning and refrigeration installations.

Important: the acoustic limits below are indicative. The applicable value is set by the permit (zone/day-evening-night periods) and/or by specific conditions. Acoustic values are set by the environmental/planning permit according to zone (residential/industrial) and period (day/evening/night).

Criterion 🔴 Wallonia 🔵 Brussels‑Capital 🟡 Flanders
Acoustic limit Typical: ~40 dB (indicative) Typical: ~30 dB (indicative) Typical: ~30—35 dB (indicative)
Measurement distance Often at 3.5 m from façade (variable) Sometimes at 0.5 m from façade (variable) Often at 3.5 m/property boundary (variable)
Declaration required Depending on capacity (≥ 12 kW: EPB obligations) Initial EPB diagnosis ≤ 6 months VLAREM: Class 3 (declaration) depending on capacity
Permit required Depending on capacity (environmental permit) Depending on capacity (environmental permit) VLAREM: Class 2 (> VLAREM threshold)
EPB inspection Every 5 years (≥ 12 kW) 15 years (12—100 kW) / 5 years (> 100 kW) Every 5 years (> 12 kW) — airco energy audit