EU’s revised F-gas Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/573) explained

The European Union’s revised F-gas Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/573) came into effect in March 2024.

Key themes and recent developments include an accelerated phasing down of F-gas use in the HVAC-R sector (aiming for an 80% reduction by 2030 and a near-total phase-out by 2050); new compliance obligations such as updated labelling requirements for F-gas containers and the mandatory use of the F-gas Portal for licensing, quota tracking, and reporting; plus additional requirements to identify and control PFA’s: F-gases, particularly HFCs and their alternatives like HFOs, are increasingly being linked to PFA ‘forever chemicals’.

The regulation change includes additional measures such as a ban on high GWP (global warming potential) in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors of the Irish economy. The focus is on how do we shift from F-gas containing equipment to more climate friendly alternatives like CO2, ammonia, and hydrocarbons.

How do these changes affect Ireland?

The new EU F-gas Regulation applies directly to the Republic of Ireland because we are an EU Member State. This means that Ireland must implement and enforce the regulation, which supersedes the previous EU F-gas Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 517/2014). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the competent authority for enforcing these laws in Ireland. The F-gas regulations are relevant to Irish business in the following ways:

Accelerated Phase-Out: Irish businesses in sectors like refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pumps must align with the accelerated EU-wide phase-down schedule for HFCs, aiming for a full phase-out by 2050. This means a faster move away from high-GWP refrigerants in new equipment.

New Product Bans: Ireland will see the introduction of bans on placing various new products and equipment containing high-GWP F-gases on the market according to the set timelines (e.g., for chillers, split systems, etc.).

Stricter Leak Prevention & Maintenance: There are stricter requirements for leak checks, repair, recovery, recycling, and destruction of F-gases from equipment, which directly affects operators and service companies.

Certification Deadlines: The regulation requires Member States (including Ireland) to have updated certification and training programs in place, likely by March 2027, and all existing F-Gas handling certificate holders will need to undergo refreshment training or evaluation by March 2029.

F-gas Portal: Irish entities involved in the production, import, or export of HFCs or pre-charged equipment will need to register and comply with the new EU F-gas Portal for quota allocation and customs control.

Financial Impact: A fee of €3 per tonne of CO2 equivalent on HFC quotas starts to apply, which will affect the cost of placing HFCs on the Irish market.

EU’s revised F-gas regulations explained

How do these changes affect Ireland?

Companies in Ireland with refrigeration equipment containing F-gases should focus on immediate compliance with existing obligations under the national implementation of the EU F-gas Regulation, while preparing for the accelerated phase-out schedules introduced by the new Regulation (EU) 2024/573.

The primary responsibilities, as advised by the Irish EPA and industry bodies, fall into these key areas:

Leak Prevention and Repair

Prevent Emissions: Take every precaution to prevent the intentional or unintentional release of F-gases from the equipment.

Leak Checks: Ensure your equipment undergoes regular leak checks by certified personnel at the frequency determined by the system’s F-gas charge, expressed in CO2 equivalent (CO2e).

Repair Leaks: If a leak is detected, it must be repaired without undue delay. After repair, a verification check must be performed to ensure the fix was effective.

F-gas leak detection

Certification and Personnel

Engage Certified Contractors: Businesses must hire certified refrigeration engineers with appropriate F-gas certification.

Certification Validity: Be aware that UK-issued certificates are generally no longer recognized in the Republic of Ireland post-Brexit, so ensure all personnel working on your equipment hold EU-recognized qualifications.

F-gas regulations compliance

Record Keeping and Labelling

Maintain Records: Operators must keep detailed written records for five years on all equipment containing F-gases above certain thresholds.

These records must include: Type and quantity of F-gas; Charge size (in kg and CO2e); Dates and results of all leak checks and repairs; Identity and certification details of the servicing personnel/company.

Verify Labelling: Ensure your equipment has the required label indicating it contains F-gases, the specific gas used, its mass in kg, and its Global Warming Potential (GWP).

F-gas certification

Future Planning

Assess Refrigerants: Review the type of F-gas your equipment uses. The new regulation accelerates the phase-down, meaning virgin refrigerants with a high GWP will become severely restricted or unavailable for servicing older equipment in the near future.

Consider Alternatives: Begin planning for potential replacement or retrofitting of equipment using high-GWP refrigerants with systems that use low-GWP alternatives.

Check Purchase Dates: Be aware of the new bans on placing new equipment containing high-GWP F-gases on the market, as these deadlines are now tighter.

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Next steps: F-gas Controls & Regulations

Is your business in Ireland grappling with the complex F-Gas Regulations affecting your Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, or Heat Pump systems?

Don’t let high Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants leave you exposed to regulatory risk or unnecessary downtime. Our specialist engineering firm handles the entire compliance lifecycle for our clients: from expert F-Gas certification and leak detection to system maintenance, repair, and responsible decommissioning.

We manage the transition from high-GWP legacy equipment to future-proof, low-GWP alternatives, ensuring you meet all EPA requirements. Contact us today for a full system survey and a clear pathway to compliance!