New F-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573: what changes?
The new F-gassenverordening (EU F-gas Regulation), Regulation (EU) 2024/573, was adopted on 7 February 2024 and applies since 11 March 2024. It replaces Regulation (EU) 517/2014. The three biggest changes are these. HFCs disappear from the EU entirely by 2050. There are bans on new air conditioners and heat pumps with F-gases. Certification now also applies to natural refrigerants. The official text is on EUR-Lex , and the European Commission explains the regulation.
F-gases (fluorinated greenhouse gases) are used as refrigerants in air conditioners, refrigeration systems and heat pumps. If they leak, they warm the planet many times more strongly than CO2. For installers, the regulation mainly means new certificates. Read who needs an F-gas certificate. For owners, it concerns leak checks and the logbook.
In the Netherlands, the regulation is implemented in the Besluit (Dutch decree) and the Regeling gefluoreerde broeikasgassen en ozonlaagafbrekende stoffen (Dutch regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances) , plus the assessment guidelines BRL 100 and BRL 200.
What changes compared with the old F-gas Regulation?
The structure resembles that of 517/2014, but on many points the new regulation is stricter. These are the changes that installers and owners notice most.
| Topic | Old regulation (517/2014) | New regulation (2024/573) |
|---|---|---|
| Certification | Only for work with F-gases | Also for natural refrigerants: hydrocarbons, CO2 and ammonia |
| Validity of personal certificate | Lifetime | Refresh or re-assess, at least every 7 years |
| Leak check | Based on tonnes of CO2 equivalent | In addition, for gases in Annex II (such as HFOs), based on kilograms |
| Check after repair | Within 1 month after the repair | Between 24 hours and 1 month after the repair, so no longer on the same day |
| Bans on new equipment | Limited number | Many more, with a complete ban on F-gases in small split systems from 2035 |
| HFC phase-down | Reduced to 21% by 2030 | Complete phase-out of HFCs in 2050 |
| Topping up with a GWP of 2,500 or higher | Banned for installations from 40 tonnes CO2 equivalent | Banned for all refrigeration equipment since 1 January 2025, regardless of the charge |
GWP stands for global warming potential: how much more strongly a gas warms than CO2. R32 has a GWP of 675, R404A about 3,922, and propane almost zero.
Bans on new air conditioners and heat pumps
The regulation prohibits placing new equipment with F-gases above a certain GWP on the market. Existing installations may continue to be used. These are the bans that matter most for installers, according to the European Commission :
| Equipment | Capacity | Banned from | What is no longer allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single split air conditioner | Less than 3 kg F-gas | 1 January 2025 | F-gases with a GWP of 750 or higher |
| Monoblock air conditioner and monoblock heat pump | Up to and including 12 kW | 1 January 2027 | F-gases with a GWP of 150 or higher |
| Monoblock air conditioner and monoblock heat pump | 12 to 50 kW | 1 January 2027 | F-gases with a GWP of 150 or higher |
| Split air-to-water heat pump | Up to and including 12 kW | 1 January 2027 | F-gases with a GWP of 150 or higher |
| Split air-to-air (air conditioner, heat pump) | Up to and including 12 kW | 1 January 2029 | F-gases with a GWP of 150 or higher |
| Split systems | Above 12 kW | 1 January 2029 | F-gases with a GWP of 750 or higher |
| Monoblock equipment | Up to and including 12 kW | 1 January 2032 | All F-gases |
| Split systems | Above 12 kW | 1 January 2033 | F-gases with a GWP of 150 or higher |
| Split systems | Up to and including 12 kW | 1 January 2035 | All F-gases |
For most bans, an exception applies if safety requirements at the location rule out another refrigerant. For monoblocks, a limit of GWP 750 then applies.
Example: what does this mean for an R32 heat pump?
R32 has a GWP of 675. That is more than 150. A new 8 kW monoblock heat pump with R32 may therefore, in principle, no longer be placed on the market from 1 January 2027. Manufacturers are switching to propane (R290). An R32 heat pump installed in 2026 may keep running and be maintained.
For what this means for the installer’s certificate, read certificate needed to install a heat pump.
Topping up and maintaining existing installations
Since 1 January 2025, you may no longer maintain or top up refrigeration equipment with F-gases that have a GWP of 2,500 or higher, regardless of the charge. Until 1 January 2030, this may still be done with regenerated or recycled gas, under conditions. A supermarket with an old R404A installation (GWP 3,922) must therefore be replaced or converted, or temporarily work with regenerated refrigerant.
From 1 January 2032, a stricter limit of GWP 750 applies to the maintenance of stationary refrigeration equipment, with exceptions. Military equipment and installations that cool below -50 °C fall outside these bans.
Certification under the new F-gas Regulation
Article 10 of the regulation sets out who must be certified. This applies to persons who install, maintain, repair, decommission, check for leaks or recover refrigerant. Companies that do this work must also be certified. The European minimum requirements are in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2215 (Uitvoeringsverordening). For vehicle air conditioning, a training certificate applies since 7 October 2026. See training certificate for mobile air conditioning.
In the Netherlands, this is implemented as follows:
| Date | What changes |
|---|---|
| 11 March 2024 | New F-gas Regulation applies |
| 29 September 2025 | Certification requirement also for work with natural refrigerants |
| 29 March 2026 | Only new personal certificates A1 to E (BRL 200 version 2.0) |
| 31 August 2026 | BRL 100 version 3.0 takes effect for companies |
| 31 August 2028 | BRL 100 version 2.0 expires |
| 12 March 2029 | Old personal certificates expire, and everyone must be in the new system |
More about the certificates: BRL 100 for companies, and the personal certificate for fitters.
What must you do now?
What the new F-gas Regulation asks of you depends on your role.
| Role | Action |
|---|---|
| Installation company | Switch to BRL 100 version 3.0, choose the right sub-areas, and retrain fitters before 12 March 2029 |
| Fitter | Plan a supplementary exam for A1 or A2, and for B or C if you work with CO2 or ammonia |
| Owner or user | Recalculate leak check frequencies, including for HFOs, and update the logbook |
| Buyer of installations | When buying new air conditioners and heat pumps, check the GWP of the refrigerant |
Do you have an ISO 14001 environmental management system? Then include the regulation in your legal register. For the CO2 Performance Ladder (CO2-Prestatieladder), count leaked refrigerant in scope 1.
Common mistakes with the F-gas Regulation 2024
- Thinking existing installations must go. The bans concern new equipment. Topping up with high-GWP gas may, however, be banned.
- Forgetting HFOs in the leak check. A blend such as R454B now counts twice: the HFC part in CO2 equivalent, and the HFO part in kilograms.
- Seeing propane as a “free” refrigerant. Work on propane installations now also requires a certificate. See air conditioning without F-gases for natural refrigerants.
- Waiting until 2029 to retrain. The transition is already under way.