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.
- 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
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.