What is the F-Gas Regulation?

F-Gas legislation is progressively reducing the use of higher-GWP refrigerants.

This is achieved through several measures, including:

• Reducing the quantity of HFC refrigerants that can be placed on the market
• Restrictions on the refrigerants that can be used in certain new equipment
• Requirements designed to prevent refrigerant leakage
• Controls around servicing and refrigerant handling
• Refrigerant recovery and disposal requirements
• Training and certification requirements for people working with regulated refrigerants

The exact requirements and implementation dates depend on the country, type of equipment, refrigerant, and application.

Within the European Union, the current legislation is Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases.

The regulation entered into force in March 2024 and replaced the previous Regulation (EU) No 517/2014.

It significantly strengthens the EU’s transition away from higher-GWP fluorinated refrigerants through a combination of HFC quota reductions and product-specific restrictions.

For organisations buying or operating process cooling equipment within the EU, this makes the refrigerant used by a chiller an increasingly important consideration when specifying new equipment or planning the long-term support of an existing installation.

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, Great Britain has its own F-Gas regulatory framework.

Businesses operating in the UK should therefore refer to current Great Britain F-Gas requirements rather than assuming that every new EU restriction applied automatically.

Great Britain’s legislation continues to phase down the quantity of HFCs placed on the market and includes requirements covering areas such as equipment restrictions, refrigerant handling, leak prevention, servicing, and recovery.

The UK Government is continuing to review the GB F-Gas regime and its longer-term HFC phasedown.

Northern Ireland has different regulatory arrangements, so organisations operating there should check the requirements applicable to their equipment and location.

The HFC phasedown progressively reduces the quantity of HFC refrigerants that can be placed on the market.

Rather than immediately banning every HFC refrigerant, the phasedown reduces their availability over time while additional restrictions apply to particular types of equipment and refrigerants.

This encourages manufacturers and users to transition towards refrigerants with a lower climate impact.

For chiller users, this can affect:

• New equipment selection
• Availability and cost of some refrigerants
• Long-term servicing of older equipment
• Decisions about repairing or replacing legacy chiller

F-Gas regulation does not automatically mean that an existing chiller using an older refrigerant must immediately be replaced.

Many existing systems can continue to operate and be maintained, subject to the requirements applying to their refrigerant and equipment.

However, as equipment ages, refrigerant restrictions, availability, and cost can influence whether continued repair remains practical.

If you operate an older ATC, Thermal Exchange, or third-party chiller, ATC can help identify the refrigerant and assess the available service, repair, or replacement options.

Depending on the equipment, refrigerant charge, and location, operators of equipment containing regulated F-gases may have legal responsibilities.

These can include requirements relating to:

• Preventing refrigerant leakage
• Arranging leak checks where required
• Repairing detected leaks
• Maintaining appropriate records
• Ensuring refrigerant is handled by appropriately qualified personnel
• Recovering refrigerant during servicing or at the end of the equipment’s life

The exact obligations depend on the applicable legislation and equipment, so customers should check the current regulatory requirements for their installation.

ATC’s current recirculating chiller ranges have been developed around lower-GWP refrigerants, including R290 and R454C.

The MG and G Series uses R290 (propane), a natural refrigerant with very low GWP.

The H Series uses R454C, providing a substantially lower-GWP alternative to many refrigerants historically used within process cooling equipment.

Refrigerant selection is considered alongside cooling capacity, operating temperature, equipment design, safety requirements, and the intended application.

Refrigerant is one factor to consider when assessing an existing chiller, but the decision should also take into account:

• Equipment age and condition
• Reliability
• Availability of compatible replacement parts
• Refrigerant availability
• Applicable servicing restrictions
• Cost and extent of required repairs
• Requirements of the process being cooled

Where appropriate, ATC can advise whether continued servicing, repair, refurbishment, or replacement with a current lower-GWP chiller is the most suitable option.

The refrigerant type and refrigerant charge are shown on the rating plate attached to your chiller.

See “What refrigerant is used in my chiller and how much is used?” for more information.

If you are unsure how current F-Gas requirements affect your existing equipment or a new chiller specification, contact ATC to discuss your application.