Phase down of F-gases 2015 – 2030

New guidance from GOV.UK: Fluorinated gases and ozone-depleting substances: how to do business from 1 January 2021

What is the phase down

The phase down of HFCs is designed to steadily reduce the global warming potential (GWP) of all gasses placed on the market in refrigeration, heat pumps and air conditioning in the European Union. The target is to reduce the CO₂ equivalent of all gasses in use to 21% of the baseline by 2030. Individual producers and importers will receive a quota based on their 2009-12 baseline.

This is not a ban on any particular type of F-gas, and operators can continue to use the equipment that they have at present. By limiting the total GWP of the F-gases in equipment it is expected that the gases with the highest GWP will be eliminated from the market first.

The higher the GWP of a particular gas, the more expensive it will become. Future costs should be considered when planning for maintenance and servicing of equipment.

2020 Service ban

In 2020, a service ban will come into force which will mean that equipment with a charge in CO₂ equivalent greater than 40 tonnes will no longer be able to be refilled or serviced with virgin HFCs with a GWP > 2,500.

This ban doesn’t apply to equipment designed for low temperature refrigeration, at temperatures below -50°C

Recycled or reclaimed gases with a GWP > 2,500 can still be used for servicing and maintenance until 2030, if labelled correctly.

Although possible, the use of HFCs with a high GWP will become increasingly expensive, so in the long term it will make financial sense to opt for equipment containing refrigerants with a low GWP.

40 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent

DAERA: 2020 ban on F-gas refrigerants

Read the advice from the regulators about the f-gas phase down.

NetRegs has produced a short e-learning tool covering the main points of the 2020 refrigeration F-gas ban - NetRegs-e-learning tools