The new year has come and we are ready for some changes. With the coming of the new year,  the ban on refrigerants with high GWP (global warming potential) starts to apply, in accordance with EU Regulation 517/2014 on combustion gases, which applies to all countries of the European Union.

What will apply from this year?

The most common fluorinated gases are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are commonly used in refrigeration systems.

According to the regulation, from January 1, new HFC refrigeration equipment with GWP 2500 and above is prohibited from the market. It is also prohibited to use HFC refrigerants with GWP 2500 or higher for the maintenance of new and existing refrigeration systems with a refrigerant load of 40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent or more. This equates to about 10.2 kg R404A, a common refrigerant in medium-sized systems.

The goal of the fluorinated gas regulation is to achieve a 79% reduction in HFC use by 2030, through a gradual reduction in HFC use.

CRYOART urges companies to consider switching to a low-GWP replacement coolant.