Environmental impact of refrigerant gases and F-Gases European rules

Refrigerant gases play a key role in heating, cooling and refrigeration systems, but they can also have a significant environmental impact. For this reason, the European Union has introduced specific regulations to progressively reduce the use of refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP) and to promote more sustainable technological solutions.

Understanding the environmental impact of refrigerant gases and the objectives of the F-Gas Regulation is essential for designers, installers and building owners who need to make informed and future-proof choices.

Today, these considerations extend well beyond the borders of the European Union. Refrigerant regulation has become a global issue, with different countries adopting coordinated yet locally adapted approaches to reduce the climate impact of HVAC technologies.

What are refrigerant gases and why do they impact the environment?

Refrigerant gases are substances used in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems to transfer thermal energy. Many of the refrigerants historically used belong to the family of fluorinated gases (F-Gases), which are characterised by a high Global Warming Potential (GWP).

When released into the atmosphere, even in small quantities, these gases can trap heat far more effectively than carbon dioxide, contributing significantly to climate change. This characteristic has made refrigerant gases a specific target of environmental policies at both European and international level.

The environmental impact of refrigerants is therefore not linked to their direct energy consumption, but to their chemical properties and long atmospheric lifetime, which can amplify their effect on global warming.

The objectives of the European F-Gas Regulation

The European F-Gas Regulation was introduced with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by limiting the production, use and commercialisation of fluorinated refrigerants. Rather than focusing on energy consumption alone, the regulation addresses the indirect emissions associated with refrigerant leakage.

The regulatory framework establishes a gradual phase-down of high-GWP gases, combined with bans on specific applications and requirements related to containment, leak detection, recovery and proper end-of-life management.

Importantly, the regulation does not ban HVAC technologies as such. Instead, it targets refrigerants, encouraging manufacturers and designers to adopt solutions with a lower environmental footprint.

International frameworks and global convergence

Although the European F-Gas Regulation represents one of the most advanced regulatory systems, the issue of refrigerant emissions is addressed globally through international agreements. A key reference is the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which sets binding targets for the global phase-down of HFCs.

This international framework has accelerated regulatory convergence across different regions, with countries adopting measures that reflect common objectives while maintaining flexibility in implementation timelines and mechanisms.

How refrigerant regulations are addressed in different countries

Outside the European Union, several countries and regions have introduced their own regulatory instruments to reduce the environmental impact of refrigerant gases. In North America, for example, federal regulations and state-level initiatives are progressively limiting the use of high-GWP refrigerants, while promoting alternatives based on natural refrigerants.

In other markets, including parts of Asia and Oceania, refrigerant regulation is often linked to broader climate strategies, with specific measures tailored to local climatic conditions, existing building stock and energy infrastructures.

Despite these differences, a common trend can be identified: the gradual transition away from high-GWP refrigerants towards solutions that are compatible with long-term climate objectives.

Which refrigerants are affected by the F-Gas Regulation?

The regulation mainly concerns fluorinated gases such as HFCs, PFCs and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), widely used in HVAC and refrigeration systems. The most restrictive measures apply to refrigerants with the highest Global Warming Potential values.

Similar GWP-based criteria are increasingly adopted worldwide, reinforcing the importance of selecting refrigerants that can ensure compliance across multiple regulatory environments.

List of banned refrigerant gases

Banned refrigerant gases are defined based on their GWP. Among the main ones we find:

• R22 (banned since 2015) → GWP 1810
• R404a (GWP 3922) → already limited and undergoing a progressive phase-out
• R410a (GWP 2080) → subject to restrictions for new systems
• R32 (GWP 675) → phase-out planned in the coming years

Refrigerant gases with a GWP higher than 2500 are banned for new installations and maintenance, while those with a GWP above 150 will be progressively phased out.

The ban on R410a and R32: specific analysis

R410a is still widely used today in many air conditioning systems and heat pumps, but its high GWP makes it particularly harmful to the climate. From 2025, the use of gases with a GWP higher than 750 will be banned in residential air conditioners, strongly limiting the use of R410a.

R32, considered an intermediate solution with a lower GWP than R410a, will be subject to more gradual restrictions, but it is nevertheless destined to be replaced by more sustainable alternatives.

Global Warming Potential (GWP) and implications for R410a

The GWP (Global Warming Potential) parameter indicates how much a gas contributes to global warming compared to CO₂, which has a reference value equal to 1. Some examples:

• CO₂ → GWP 1
• R32 → GWP 675
• R410a → GWP 2080
• R404a → GWP 3922

Although R410a has been a widely adopted choice in recent years for air conditioning systems and heat pumps, it has a significant environmental impact due to its high GWP (2080). This means that 1 kg of R410a released into the atmosphere has a greenhouse effect equivalent to 2080 kg of CO₂, contributing massively to global warming.

For this reason, European regulations provide for the progressive phase-out of R410a, with a ban on its use in new residential air conditioners starting from 2025, in accordance with the GWP 750 limit. Replacing this gas with lower-impact alternatives, such as R32 (which has a lower GWP) or natural refrigerants, will become essential to comply with regulations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental impact of F-gases and consequences for the climate

F-gases contribute to the greenhouse effect much more intensely than CO₂. For example, 1 kg of R410a has an impact equivalent to 2080 kg of CO₂.

The air conditioning and refrigeration sector is one of the main contributors to F-gas emissions, making the transition towards more sustainable refrigerants essential.

Impact of refrigerant regulations on existing systems

Existing systems are generally allowed to remain in operation. However, as regulatory measures become more stringent, the availability and cost of high-GWP refrigerants for maintenance and servicing are expected to decrease, the availability, and increase, the cost, over time.

This trend is observed not only in Europe, but also in other regions implementing similar phase-down strategies. As a result, system owners may face increasing operational constraints when relying on refrigerants subject to progressive restrictions.

Natural refrigerants and future-proof solutions

Natural refrigerants such as ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons are strongly favoured by European policies and increasingly adopted worldwide due to their very low or zero GWP.

Beyond regulatory compliance, these refrigerants offer a strategic advantage: they reduce exposure to future regulatory changes and support long-term sustainability and decarbonisation goals.

Design choices in a global regulatory context

Refrigerant regulation is no longer a purely local issue. Designers, consultants and system integrators must increasingly consider international regulatory trends, especially when technologies are deployed across different countries.

Adopting a forward-looking approach to refrigerant selection helps ensure that HVAC systems remain compliant, efficient and competitive, both in European and international markets.

Frequently asked questions about F-Gas European regulations

What are F-Gases?

F-Gases are fluorinated greenhouse gases used mainly as refrigerants in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems. They are characterised by a high Global Warming Potential.

What is the purpose of the European F-Gas Regulation?

The regulation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by progressively limiting the use of fluorinated refrigerants and promoting alternatives with a lower environmental impact.

Does the F-Gas Regulation ban heat pumps?

No. The regulation does not ban heat pumps as a technology. It focuses on restricting high-GWP refrigerants, encouraging the adoption of low-impact or natural alternatives.

How does the F-Gas Regulation affect existing systems?

Existing systems can continue operating, but over time the availability and cost of high-GWP refrigerants for maintenance may become more restrictive.

Why are natural refrigerants encouraged by European regulations?

Natural refrigerants have very low or zero GWP and support European and international decarbonisation objectives, reducing the long-term environmental impact of HVAC systems.