F-gas regulation
Also known as: fluorinated greenhouse gases regulation, EU 2024/573
Short definitionThe rules that limit the sale, use and leakage of fluorinated greenhouse gases. They ban high-GWP gases in stages and require leak checks, record keeping and certified personnel.
In the European Union, Regulation 517/2014 was tightened in 2024 by 2024/573. The amount of HFC placed on the market is cut by a quota system; the target for 2030 is 5 per cent of the 2015 level. Gases above GWP 2,500 cannot go into new commercial refrigeration systems. Turkey’s regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases follows the same line: records, labelling, certified technicians and leak checks.
How often leak checks are due depends on the CO₂ equivalent of the charge: once a year at 5 tonnes and above, every six months above 50 tonnes, every three months above 500 tonnes. With R404A the 5 tonne threshold is passed at 1.3 kg. For a new investment the gas is chosen for the life of the plant, not for today’s limit: low-GWP blends such as R454C, CO₂ or propane. A wrong choice means an expensive, hard-to-find gas a few years later.