UK Refrigerant Reference
Pick a refrigerant to see its Global Warming Potential (GWP), ASHRAE safety class, UK F-Gas status with the ban date that applies here, and the compliant replacement — for R-32, R-410A, R-454B, R-404A and more.
Or jump to the Replacement Finder or the F-Gas phase-down timeline.
Select a refrigerant — sorted by global warming potential
R-410A
HFC blend · azeotropic
- UK F-Gas
- Banned in new single-splits under 3 kg since January 2025 (GWP over 750). Virgin refrigerant is still legal to service existing systems — it sits below the 2,500 GWP service-ban threshold — but wholesale prices have risen sharply.
- Typical use
- Legacy split AC & heat pumps
- ODP
- 0
GWP = Global Warming Potential (100-year, CO₂ = 1) · ODP = Ozone Depletion Potential · safety class per ASHRAE Standard 34.
Full R-410A reference — GWP, F-Gas status and replacements →
GWP against the UK legal thresholds
Bars coloured by F-Gas trajectory. Dashed lines mark the limits that decide what you can fit and service.
UK F-Gas phase-down — the dates that matter
Great Britain retains EU 517/2014 and diverges from here.
- 2015
R-22 servicing ban
No virgin or reclaimed HCFCs for servicing. The original ozone phase-out completes.
- 2020
High-GWP service ban
Virgin F-Gas with GWP of 2,500 or more banned for refrigeration of 40 tCO₂e or more — hits R-404A / R-507A.
- Jan 2025
New single-split ban
New single-split AC systems containing under 3 kg of F-gas cannot use refrigerants of 750 GWP or more (retained EU 517/2014, Annex III) — rules out R-410A and R-407C.
- Jan 2027
GB quota step (unchanged by the reform)
The existing GB HFC quota drops a further 22.6%. DEFRA consulted on a more ambitious phase-down (closed Dec 2025) but confirmed in May 2026 it will not legislate in 2026, so this step applies as written — expect price and availability pressure on higher-GWP gases rather than a change of rules.
- 2030
Quota squeeze
The HFC quota drops to about 21% of the 2015 baseline and the reclaimed/recycled exemption for GWP 2,500+ servicing ends — R-404A / R-507A become effectively unavailable.
- 2032
Monobloc ban (EU)
EU Regulation 2024/573 bans F-gases in new self-contained / monobloc AC and heat pumps up to 12 kW (the same rule already caps them at 150 GWP from 2027). GB retains EU 517/2014 and has NOT adopted this step: DEFRA consulted on GB reform (closed Dec 2025) and confirmed in May 2026 that it will not legislate in 2026, with a response summarising feedback due later in the year.
- 2035
Split ban (EU)
EU Regulation 2024/573 bans F-gases in new split AC and heat pumps up to 12 kW. Larger splits above 12 kW are capped at 750 GWP from 2029 and 150 from 2033 under the same regulation. None of this is GB law — GB still follows retained EU 517/2014, and the GB reform was deferred in May 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is GWP (Global Warming Potential)?
GWP measures how much heat a refrigerant traps in the atmosphere compared with CO₂ over 100 years, where CO₂ is fixed at 1. A refrigerant with a GWP of 2,000 traps roughly 2,000 times more heat per kilogram. UK F-Gas rules set legal thresholds using this figure.
Is R-410A banned in the UK?
Not for servicing. R-410A cannot be used in new single-split systems under 3 kg since January 2025, because its GWP of 2,088 is above the 750 threshold. Virgin refrigerant remains legal for servicing existing systems — it sits below the 2,500 service-ban threshold — but wholesale prices have risen as the wider quota tightens.
What does A2L mean on a refrigerant safety label?
A2L is an ASHRAE Standard 34 safety classification: 'A' means lower toxicity, '2L' means mildly flammable with a low burning velocity. R-32 and R-454B are common A2L refrigerants and need A2L-rated tools, leak detection and charge-limit checks.
What's the difference between the 750 and 2,500 GWP thresholds?
750 GWP is the ceiling for refrigerant used in new single-split air conditioning and heat pump systems under 3 kg charge. 2,500 GWP is the threshold above which virgin refrigerant cannot be used to service existing equipment. A refrigerant can sit below one and above the other — R-410A (GWP 2,088) is banned in new splits but still serviceable.
Which refrigerant replaces R-404A?
R-449A and R-448A are common retrofits for R-404A commercial refrigeration systems, both with substantially lower GWP. CO₂ (R-744) is increasingly used in new commercial refrigeration builds.