UK F-Gas Phase-Down Timeline
The dates that decide what you can fit and service. Great Britain retains EU 517/2014 and diverges from the EU from 2032 — each milestone below notes which applies 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
Does the EU F-Gas ban apply in Great Britain?
No. Great Britain retains EU 517/2014 and has not adopted the 2024/573 revision, so the 2032 monobloc and 2035 split bans are EU-only for now. DEFRA consulted on GB reform (closed December 2025) with a response due in 2026.
What changed for new single-split systems in 2025?
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. In practice that means refrigerant at or above 750 GWP — including R-410A and R-407C — can no longer be used in those new systems.
What is the difference between the 750 and 2,500 GWP thresholds?
750 GWP is the ceiling for refrigerant in a new single-split system under 3 kg. 2,500 GWP is the level above which virgin refrigerant cannot be used to service existing equipment. They are separate limits — a refrigerant can be banned in new kit yet still legal to service.
When did the R-22 servicing ban take effect?
No virgin or reclaimed HCFCs for servicing. The original ozone phase-out completes. That completed the original ozone phase-out in 2015.