EU F-Gas Regulation Equipment-Specific Sales Ban Schedule — Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Equipment and SF6 Electrical Equipment
ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE
In force since March 11, 2024 (Annex IV equipment-specific bans apply in stages from 2025 to 2032)
Overview
This card focuses on the specific operational practice for the equipment-category-specific new-sale ban schedule under Article 11 and Annex IV of the EU F-Gas Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/573), covering refrigerant-charged equipment (refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pumps) and SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride)-using electrical switchgear.
For refrigeration equipment, the sale of new equipment using refrigerants with a GWP above 150 is, with the exception of chillers, in principle banned from 2030. For air-conditioning and heat pump equipment, the use of refrigerants with a GWP of 150 or higher is banned from January 1, 2027 for split systems and similar equipment of 12 kW or less output, among other category-specific application dates. For electrical switchgear, the installation of new equipment using SF6 and other high-GWP gases is progressively banned by voltage category: from 2026 (up to and including 24 kV), 2028 (above 52 kV up to and including 145 kV), 2030 (above 24 kV up to and including 52 kV), and 2032 (above 52 kV). For servicing of existing switchgear, the use of anything other than recovered or reclaimed SF6 is in principle banned from 2035.
Enforcement Timeline
March 11, 2024: The EU F-Gas Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/573) enters into force.
2026: The ban on installing new SF6 and other high-GWP switchgear rated up to and including 24 kV takes effect.
January 1, 2027: Use of refrigerants with a GWP of 150 or higher is banned for split systems and similar air-conditioning and heat pump equipment of 12 kW or less output.
2028: The ban on installing new switchgear rated above 52 kV up to and including 145 kV takes effect.
2030: The ban on installing new switchgear rated above 24 kV up to and including 52 kV takes effect, along with the general ban on GWP-150-plus refrigerants in new refrigeration equipment (excluding chillers).
2032: The ban on installing new switchgear rated above 52 kV takes effect.
2035: The use of non-reclaimed SF6 for servicing existing switchgear is in principle banned.
Business Impact
Refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump equipment manufacturers need to develop a product line transition plan that accounts for the differing ban dates and GWP thresholds across equipment categories. In particular, for equipment categories facing approaching 2027 and 2030 ban dates, prioritising a design transition to products compatible with low-GWP refrigerants (natural refrigerants, HFOs, and the like) is called for.
Electrical utility operators and switchgear manufacturers need to make investment decisions on alternative technologies (such as SF6-free insulating gases) aligned with the voltage-category ban schedule. Businesses holding existing equipment should, in anticipation of servicing SF6 procurement being limited to recovered and reclaimed material from 2035 onward, consider either an equipment replacement plan or securing a supply route for reclaimed SF6.