If you work on air conditioning, heat pumps or refrigeration, the F-Gas rules and the long-term HFC phasedown shape which refrigerants you can buy and use. There has been a lot of movement in this space, so here is where things actually stand in Great Britain in 2026, without the scare stories.
The Headline: GB Reform Is Delayed
DEFRA consulted in late 2025 on tightening the GB HFC phasedown schedule. In May 2026 it confirmed it would not legislate in 2026 to change the phasedown steps that apply from 1 January 2027. Further work is underway, with next steps expected to be set out later in 2026.
In short, the direction of travel is towards tighter restrictions on high-global-warming-potential refrigerants, but the bigger step changes have not yet been brought into GB law. That gives engineers a bit of breathing room, not a reason to ignore it.
The EU is moving faster than GB, with stricter limits and bans already in force across the market. If you read F-Gas news, check whether it refers to the EU regulation or the separate GB regime. They are no longer the same, and the dates differ.
What Already Applies in GB
Even with reform on hold, the existing GB rules continue to bite, and they are the ones that affect day-to-day kit selection:
- New single split air conditioning systems containing less than 3kg of refrigerant with a GWP of 750 or more have been off the GB market since 2025.
- Reclaimed or recycled refrigerant of the same type can still be used to service existing equipment, with the widely cited backstop for certain high-GWP gases being 1 January 2030 in GB.
- The core duties remain: F-Gas company and engineer certification, leak checking, record keeping and proper recovery of refrigerant.
When you spec new equipment, favour lower-GWP refrigerants now. It future-proofs the install against the next round of restrictions and avoids designing in a gas that becomes hard or expensive to source.
Why Your Records Matter More, Not Less
As the rules tighten and refrigerant supply gets squeezed, the paperwork around F-Gas work becomes more important. Commissioning records, leak check logs and recovery records are how you demonstrate compliant work, and they protect you if a job is ever queried.
Installation and commissioning
Record the system, refrigerant type and charge at handover with an F-Gas installation and commissioning certificate.
Air conditioning
Document the commissioning results for AC systems with an air conditioning commissioning report.
For the official position, see DEFRA's F-Gas regulation in Great Britain consultation and update pages, which carry the confirmed GB position.
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Published June 2026. This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. F-Gas rules are changing; always refer to current GOV.UK and DEFRA guidance.