UK Refrigerant Reference
Pick a refrigerant to see its 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.
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 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.
- 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. GB retains EU 517/2014 and has not adopted this step — DEFRA consulted on GB reform (closed Dec 2025), response due 2026.
- 2035
Split ban (EU)
EU Regulation 2024/573 bans F-gases in new split AC and heat pumps up to 12 kW. Not yet GB law — GB still follows retained EU 517/2014 pending the delayed HFC phase-down reform.
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.