Technical Gases, Refrigerants & Circular Economy Solutions
Specialized gases and refrigerants for advanced applications – including recycling, refurbishing and sustainable alternatives – supporting the phase-out of F-Gas and enabling a true circular economy.
Content: 1 Liter (€354.60* / 10 Liter)
F-Gas Phase-Out, Reuse/Recycling & Replacement Summary
Brief technical summary of key EU F-Gas milestones, reuse/recycling considerations under maintenance contracts, and natural/low-GWP refrigerant replacements (R-290, R-32, CO₂).
Key phase-out milestones (EU — indicative)
| Date / From | Measure (summary) |
|---|---|
| 11 Mar 2024 | New F-Gas Regulation enters into force (framework for subsequent bans & quotas). |
| 2025 → | Restrictions on use of virgin (new) very high-GWP gases (GWP ≥ ~2,500). Recycled/reclaimed gases allowed in limited cases. |
| 2026 → | Extended service/maintenance bans for specific equipment categories unless reclaimed/recycled gas is used. |
| 2030–2035 | Stricter GWP ceilings by equipment type (stationary refrigeration, split A/C, heat pumps); progressive replacement required. |
| By 2050 |
Targeted near-complete phase-out of HFC consumption in the EU (long-term objective). |
Reuse & recycling — operational implications
- Recovery mandatory: refrigerants removed during service, repair or decommissioning must be properly recovered and documented.
- Reclaimed vs virgin: where regulation prohibits virgin high-GWP gases, only reclaimed/recycled gas meeting purity standards may be used (and only for defined categories & time windows).
- Traceability: maintain certificates of recovery/reclamation and purity reports in the maintenance file — contractual requirement for reuse.
- End-of-service: systems that cannot be economically converted to low-GWP refrigerants should be planned for phased replacement with approved alternatives.
Natural / low-GWP replacements (concise)
| Refrigerant | GWP & key property | Typical replacement use |
|---|---|---|
| R-290 (Propane) | GWP ≈ 3 — very low; flammable (A3). | Small refrigeration, plug-in units, some chillers where safety zones & charge limits permit; replacement for R404A/R507A in many small systems. |
| R-32 (Difluoromethane) | GWP ≈ 675 — lower than R410A; mildly flammable (A2L). | Split A/C and heat pumps — common retrofit / new-build replacement for R410A systems (with design & safety adaptation). |
| CO₂ (R-744) | GWP = 1 — non-flammable; very high operating pressures. | Supermarkets, industrial refrigeration, cascade systems, transcritical applications — replaces R404A/R134a in centralised solutions. |
Recommended maintenance contract clauses (core items)
- Mandatory recovery & documentation: all refrigerant removed must be recovered, labelled and accompanied by recovery/reclamation certificates stored for X years.
- Leak detection & repair SLA: defined maximum response time & leak repair performance targets (e.g., repair within 48–72 hours of detection).
- Approved reuse policy: specify when reclaimed gas may be reused (purity thresholds, lab certificate requirement) and when replacement with low-GWP alternatives is mandatory.
- Retrofit & replacement plan: technical and commercial plan for phased retrofit to approved low-GWP refrigerants; cost sharing and timeline milestones.
- Compliance audit: periodic audit right for the client to verify recovery, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
- Safety & training: contractor guarantees technicians are certified for handling flammable (A2L/A3) refrigerants and high-pressure CO₂ systems.
Note: The dates above summarise regulatory direction and are indicative. Local implementation, exact GWP thresholds and national enforcement may vary — include a clause requiring the contractor to remain compliant with the latest regional/national F-Gas rules.