UK F-Gas Consultation: What Proposed Changes Mean for Chiller Users

Cooling Compliance for Modern Labs

Applied Thermal Control’s Sales Director, Ryan Watson, joined GAMBICA at this year’s Lab Innovations exhibition to discuss one of the most pressing topics facing laboratories today: how rapid changes to F-Gas legislation and refrigerant regulations are reshaping the way labs cool their equipment.

For anyone who didn’t get the chance to attend the session, here is a summary of they key themes covered in the presentation.

Regulatory Change is Transforming Refrigeration

The presentation began by outlining the major regulatory drivers behind the shift to low-GWP refrigerants, particularly the Kigali Amendment, which is accelerating the global phase-down of high-GWP gases such as R134a and R410A. With the UK and EU targeting refrigerants below 150 GWP by 2027, cooling equipment must adapt rapidly.

These changes affect not only manufacturers, but also laboratories and OEMs. Increasingly strict quotas, evolving charge limits, and varying regional rules are influencing procurement decisions, service requirements, and the long-term viability of legacy systems.

The Refrigerants of Tomorrow: Complex Trade-Offs

The talk explored the small pool of viable low-GWP alternatives now available for recirculating chillers. Each comes with its own considerations.

With limited hardware availability and the need to redesign systems around these refrigerants, manufacturers face increasingly complex supply chains and development cycles.

R290 – energy-efficient, ultra-low GWP, no PFAS; however, it is highly flammable and requires appropriate safety controls

R454C – lower flammability but less efficient and contains PFAS chemicals

R744 – non-flammable and very low GWP, but operates at extremely high pressures, requiring Class IV pressure vessels and more involved maintenance

How Lab Environments Are Affected

The presentation highlighted the growing impact on laboratory layouts and daily operations.

Labs must now consider physical space, ventilation, ambient temperature, and facility safety earlier in the planning stage than ever before.

Charge limits under EN378 now restrict where A2L and A3 refrigerant-based chillers can be installed

Larger, safer units may take up more lab space

Increased logistical constraints, including export restrictions under F-Gas quotas, affect how easily equipment can move between sites

A rise in in-situ servicing is expected as refrigerant rules tighten

Is It Time to Centralise Cooling?

A core message of Ryan’s talk was the growing relevance of centralised cooling systems. Instead of multiple stand-alone chillers – each consuming energy, generating heat, and occupying valuable lab space – centralised systems can support multiple instruments simultaneously, improve energy efficiency, simplify heat removal, reduce long-term operating costs, and free up lab floor space.

Different configurations – series, parallel, or hybrid – can be tailored to the equipment being cooled. However, planning is essential to ensure the correct flows, pressures, and temperatures are achieved.

Cooling Inside vs Outside the Lab

The talk emphasised the increasing need to think creatively about chiller placement. Options include:

Outdoor installations, which can be effective in the UK’s cooler climate but require protection from weather and careful summer planning.

Dedicated cooling rooms, which provide controlled environments, lower noise and heat exposure for staff, and more efficient maintenance access.

Passive cooling solutions such as water-to-water heat exchangers or air blast coolers, where precise temperatures are not required.

Each option has benefits and constraints, particularly when building space is limited or when energy use must be optimised.

Capturing Waste Heat: An Untapped Opportunity

The presentation also considered the potential for heat recovery. By recapturing the waste heat generated by cooling systems, labs can produce hot water at temperatures up to 55°C, reducing overall utility costs and supporting sustainability goals.

Planning Ahead Is More Important Than Ever

The session concluded by stressing that laboratory cooling can no longer be treated as an afterthought. Regulatory pressures, refrigerant changes, and sustainability goals mean that long-term planning – factoring in space, infrastructure, refrigerants, and future needs – is essential for achieving efficiency, compliance, and reliability.

Applied Thermal Control continues to support laboratories and OEMs navigating this transition, with new low-GWP product developments and guidance available for labs reviewing their cooling strategies.

To find out more from Ryan’s talk, discuss heat recovery, or to plan your next move, get in touch!

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