Policy · 6 min read · Updated 2026-05-08
F-gas regulation 2024 — what changes for heat-pump buyers
EU 2024/573 phases down high-GWP refrigerants. Timeline, GWP limits per heat-pump class and what it means if you're buying in 2026 vs 2030.
What changed and why
Regulation (EU) 2024/573 replaced the 2014 F-gas regime in March 2024 and tightened the phase-down of high-GWP fluorinated refrigerants across the EU. Its goal: cut HFC supply by 95% by 2030 vs 2015 baseline, aligning with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
For heat pumps specifically, the regulation sets per-product GWP caps that bite harder over time.
The timeline that matters
| Year | What's banned (new sales) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Single-split AC ≤ 12 kW with refrigerant GWP ≥ 750 (effectively bans R410A) |
| 2027 | Self-contained heat pumps ≤ 12 kW with GWP ≥ 150 (R32 still allowed only briefly) |
| 2032 | Split heat pumps ≤ 12 kW with GWP ≥ 150 |
| 2035 | Split heat pumps > 12 kW with GWP ≥ 750 |
R32 (GWP 771) is therefore acceptable for split systems through 2032 but is being squeezed out of small monobloc designs from 2027.
What that means for your purchase
Buying in 2026: R32 is fine. Most mid-2020s residential air-water HPs use it. Performance is excellent and refrigerant supply is stable. Cost-optimal choice.
Buying in 2027–2031: monobloc air-water units shift hard to R290 (propane, GWP 0). Manufacturers redesign for charge limits (usually < 1 kg) and improved leak safety. Expect higher MSRPs early on, then convergence as the market matures.
Buying after 2032: R290 dominates monobloc; split systems re-engineer for R454C (blend, GWP 148) or natural refrigerants.
Practical advice for 2026 buyers
1. R32 today is not stranded. Service support and refrigerant availability run for 10+ years after a product family ends. A R32 unit installed in 2026 will be serviceable until ~2040. 2. R290 is the future-proof choice if you can absorb the small premium. Lower lifetime CO₂eq by ~700× per kg of refrigerant. 3. R410A is end-of-life. Avoid for new installs even where technically still legal. 4. Don't pay for "F-gas-ready" claims. All compliant equipment sold in EU meets the rolling deadlines automatically.
How we surface this
Every model in our catalog shows the refrigerant code and (where the supplier discloses) GWP. Filter by R290 for the greenest current production. Our refrigerant reference table lists F-gas phase-out dates per code.