F-Gas Regulation 2024/573: what is already in force and what will change in HVAC through 2035.
As of 6 August 2026, the first new ban for small split systems and the servicing restriction on very high-GWP HFCs are already in force. The next changes will arrive between 2027 and 2035, while the obligations on prevention, leak checks, recovery, record-keeping and certification continue to apply.
2024/573
In August 2026, not all equipment and not all refrigerants are banned
Regulation (EU) 2024/573 replaced the 2014 EU regime and, since 11 March 2024, has governed a gradual transition. As of 6 August 2026, the first 2025 and 2026 restrictions already apply; the following dates depend on the type of equipment, rated capacity, whether it is self-contained or split, and the refrigerant’s global warming potential, known as GWP.
The bans that have already started to apply mainly affect the placing on the market of new equipment and, for several categories, also their putting into service. Legally installed equipment does not have to be removed automatically: it may continue to operate, be maintained and be repaired under the conditions of the Regulation.
For the sector, the real change is twofold: technologies must be selected with the next thresholds in mind while professional competence must also be strengthened to work with hydrocarbons, CO₂, ammonia and other alternatives.
Having an air-conditioning system with R410A or R32 does not mean it must be replaced now, in August 2026. Restrictions already apply today to certain new equipment and to servicing with very high-GWP gases; the rest of the timeline will progressively take effect between 2027 and 2035.
What is the legal framework currently in force and what is being adapted in Spain?
The EU Regulation is directly applicable. Spanish legislation remains relevant to marketing, proof of installation, certificates and the administrative regime, but it is being updated.
One main EU rule and several implementing measures
Not all obligations come from the same legal text. Regulation 2024/573 sets the framework, implementing regulations detail certification, labelling or reporting, and each Member State adapts its internal procedures.
In force and directly applicable
Regulation 2024/573 entered into force on 11 March 2024 and repealed Regulation 517/2014. Companies and operators do not need to wait for national transposition in order to comply with EU obligations.
National adaptation still awaiting publication
MITECO submitted the draft Royal Decree to public consultation between 21 July and 5 September 2025. In 2026 it also opened the prior public consultation on the order concerning qualifications and enabling competencies. As of 6 August 2026, both consultations are recorded as closed, but the final provisions have not yet been published.
Do not confuse a draft with the rule in force
Obligations announced in a national draft should not be presented as final until the new provision is officially published. This article expressly separates the rules currently in force from texts still being processed.
F-Gas timeline 2025–2050 for air conditioning and heat pumps
The timeline combines equipment bans, servicing restrictions and quota reductions. Filter the milestones to see only the category that interests you.
The first restriction for single-split systems already applies
From 1 January 2025:
- The restriction applies to single-split systems with less than 3 kg of Annex I fluorinated gases.
- They may no longer be placed on the market if the Annex I gas has a GWP ≥ 750.
- R410A is no longer permitted in this category of new equipment.
The servicing restriction for very high GWP is already in force
From 1 January 2026:
- Virgin Annex I gas with GWP ≥ 2,500 may no longer be used to service air-conditioning equipment and heat pumps.
- Reclaimed or recycled gas retains a temporary exemption until 2032, subject to conditions.
The 150 threshold will start to apply in several categories
- From 1 January 2027, air-to-water split systems ≤ 12 kW: GWP ≥ 150.
- From 1 January 2027, self-contained units ≤ 12 kW: GWP ≥ 150.
- From 1 January 2027, monobloc/self-contained units > 12 and ≤ 50 kW: GWP ≥ 150.
- From 1 January 2027, chillers ≤ 12 kW: GWP ≥ 150.
- From 1 January 2027, chillers > 12 kW: GWP ≥ 750.
A new limit for air-to-air and larger systems will enter into force
- From 1 January 2029, air-to-air split systems ≤ 12 kW: GWP ≥ 150.
- From 1 January 2029, split systems > 12 kW: GWP ≥ 750.
- From that date, R32 will no longer meet the threshold for the first category.
The restriction for other self-contained equipment and a much lower quota will apply
- From 1 January 2030, other self-contained air-conditioning and heat-pump equipment: GWP ≥ 150.
- The HFC quota will fall to around 9.13 Mt CO₂e per year.
- This figure will be approximately 95% below the 2015 baseline.
The fluorinated-gas-free phase will arrive for small self-contained units and chillers
- From 1 January 2032, new self-contained equipment up to 12 kW that contains fluorinated gases or relies on them may no longer be placed on the market, subject to the safety exemption provided for by the Regulation.
- From 1 January 2032, new chillers up to 12 kW that contain fluorinated gases or rely on them may no longer be placed on the market, subject to the safety exemption provided for by the Regulation.
- That date will also end the servicing exemption for recycled or reclaimed gas with GWP ≥ 2,500.
The 150 threshold will apply to higher-capacity systems
- The measure will affect split systems with a rated capacity above 12 kW.
- From 1 January 2033, they will be prohibited with fluorinated gases having a GWP ≥ 150.
- Safety-based exemptions will remain available where justified.
The timeline will culminate in two stages
- From 1 January 2035, new split systems up to 12 kW that contain fluorinated gases or rely on them may no longer be placed on the market, except where necessary to meet safety requirements.
- From 2050, the quota for placing HFCs on the market will be set at zero.
- The Commission must review the 2050 point before 2040.
Split systems: the timeline with the greatest impact on the air-conditioning market
The Regulation distinguishes between single-split, air-to-water, air-to-air, up to 12 kW and above 12 kW. This classification is essential before assessing whether a refrigerant will remain permitted in new equipment.
There is no single date for all split systems
Since 1 January 2025, the GWP 750 limit already applies to single-split systems with less than 3 kg of Annex I fluorinated gases. The more stringent dates are still in the future and will arrive in 2027, 2029, 2033 and 2035.
| Category | Date | Regulatory effect of the date | Practical interpretation | Exemption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-split with less than 3 kg | 01.01.2025 | Already in force: GWP ≥ 750From 1 January 2025, this equipment may no longer be placed on the market with Annex I fluorinated gases or where it relies on them. | R32: GWP 675It meets this specific threshold. R410A: GWP 2,088 does not. | The general safety exemption is not included in this specific point. |
| Air-to-water split ≤ 12 kW | 01.01.2027 | Future: GWP ≥ 150From 1 January 2027, fluorinated gases from any applicable Annex will be affected. | New domestic split air-to-water heat pumps should move towards refrigerants below 150. | Yes, where necessary to meet the site’s safety requirements. |
| Air-to-air split ≤ 12 kW | 01.01.2029 | Future: GWP ≥ 150From 1 January 2029, fluorinated gases from any applicable Annex will be affected. | R32 and R454B are above 150 and do not meet the ordinary threshold for this category. | Yes, where necessary for safety requirements. |
| Any split ≤ 12 kW | 01.01.2035 | Future: any fluorinated gasFrom 1 January 2035, new equipment in this category that contains fluorinated gases or relies on them may no longer be placed on the market. | New equipment placed on the market will need to move towards non-fluorinated alternatives, without automatically affecting equipment already installed. | Yes, where necessary for safety requirements. |
| Any split > 12 kW | 01.01.2029 | Future: GWP ≥ 750From 1 January 2029, the first step will apply to higher-capacity systems. | R32 and R454B are below 750; R410A is not. | Yes, where necessary for safety requirements. |
| Any split > 12 kW | 01.01.2033 | Future: GWP ≥ 150From 1 January 2033, the second step will apply to higher-capacity systems. | Solutions below 150 or non-fluorinated solutions will be required. | Yes, where necessary for safety requirements. |
Self-contained units, monoblocs and chillers: different dates from split systems
A monobloc should not be analysed using the split-system timeline. The Regulation reserves point 8 for self-contained equipment and point 7 for stationary chillers.
Self-contained air-conditioning equipment and heat pumps
Equipment in which the refrigerant circuit forms part of a self-contained unit, without the separate configuration characteristic of a split system.
Stationary chillers
The timeline distinguishes units up to 12 kW from chillers with a higher rated capacity.
What happens to existing equipment and to refrigerants such as R410A, R32 or R290?
The right question is not only “which gas does it use?”, but also “what type of equipment is it, when was it placed on the market, what charge does it have, what rated capacity does it provide and what operation is intended?”.
Continuing to use it is not the same as placing it on the market again
The Annex IV prohibitions do not order a general withdrawal of the existing installed base. The owner must prevent emissions, repair leaks, keep records where required and ensure recovery of the gas during decommissioning.
What was prohibited was the placing on the market of single-split systems with less than 3 kg where the gas has a GWP equal to or above 750. This does not require equipment already installed to be removed automatically.
Since 1 January 2025, it no longer meets the 750 limit for new small single-split systems. Existing equipment is not automatically prohibited.
It is below 750 but above 150. It therefore meets the restriction already in force since 2025, but it will not meet the one for air-to-air split systems ≤ 12 kW from 2029.
It reduces the impact compared with R410A, but remains above 150 and is also affected by the more stringent timelines.
R290 is not subject to the Annex IV prohibitions aimed at fluorinated gases. However, its flammability requires appropriate design, charge and location, and its handling is integrated into the new EU training and certification framework for alternative refrigerants.
It is not a fluorinated gas. It operates at high pressures and requires suitable equipment, procedures and qualifications.
Leak checks, repair, record-keeping and refrigerant recovery
Product prohibitions are only one part of the Regulation. For installation operators, containment and traceability obligations can be equally important.
The frequency combines tonnes of CO₂ equivalent and kilograms
Leak checks generally start from 5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent for Annex I gases or1 kg for Annex II, Section 1 gases. Hermetically sealed equipment has specific exemptions when correctly labelled.
Convert the charge into tonnes of CO₂ equivalent
Select a refrigerant and enter the charge shown on the equipment nameplate.
Informative calculation: kg × GWP ÷ 1,000. Legal thresholds are shown only as guidance when a refrigerant identified as Annex I is selected. Blends, Annex II gases, hermetically sealed equipment and residential exemptions require a specific check.
Sale, installation and certification: the transition also affects professionals
The new EU regime is not limited to HFCs. Training and certification are being expanded to ensure the safe handling of flammable or toxic refrigerants and refrigerants that operate at high pressures.
The sale of non-hermetically sealed equipment remains linked to certified installation
Non-hermetically sealed equipment charged with fluorinated gases may only be sold to the end user where evidence is provided that the installation will be carried out by a certified undertaking.
Practical action plan for installers, companies and owners
Compliance is not achieved simply by replacing one refrigerant. Product selection, safety, training, documentation, maintenance and renewal strategy must be coordinated.
Select a profile
Prepare skills, tools and procedures
The objective is to be able to work safely with the mix of refrigerants that will dominate each market, not simply to renew the existing fluorinated-gas certificate.
Review catalogue, stock and project specifications
The dates in the Regulation must be turned into purchasing and specification criteria. A product permitted today may not be suitable for a project that will be delivered after the next regulatory restriction.
Know the inventory and prioritise real risks
The decision to renew should not be based solely on the refrigerant. Age, efficiency, criticality, leak rate, maintainability and total cost of ownership should also be assessed.
Frequently asked questions about the new F-Gas Regulation
Does the Regulation require installed equipment to be replaced?
Not in general. The prohibitions mainly affect new equipment. Existing equipment may continue operating provided it is legally maintained, leaks are checked where required and the gas is recovered at end of life.
Can equipment with R32 still be placed on the market and put into service?
As of 6 August 2026, equipment with R32 can still be placed on the market and put into service in categories where it meets the applicable requirements. The equipment type, rated capacity, charge, date of placing on the market and conditions for putting into service must be checked. R32 has a GWP of 675 and is below the 750 limit for single-split systems with less than 3 kg of Annex I gases; however, it will not meet the ordinary 150 threshold applicable to air-to-air split systems up to 12 kW from 2029, except where required by safety requirements.
What happens to R410A?
R410A has a GWP of 2,088. Since 1 January 2025, it may no longer be placed on the market in new single-split systems with less than 3 kg. Existing equipment is not automatically prohibited. The servicing restriction in force since 1 January 2026 starts at GWP 2,500, above R410A.
Is R290 the definitive solution for every project?
No. It has a very low GWP and is not fluorinated, but it is an A3 flammable refrigerant. Feasibility depends on equipment design, charge, location, room volume, ventilation, ignition sources, access and the applicable safety regulations.
When are leak checks required?
For Annex I gases, the general threshold starts at 5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent; for Annex II, Section 1 gases, it starts at 1 kg. Frequency is annual, six-monthly or quarterly according to the parallel 50/500 t CO₂e or 10/100 kg scales, with longer intervals where leakage detection is installed.
Are hermetically sealed units exempt from periodic leak checks?
They may be exempt from periodic checks if they are labelled as hermetically sealed and contain less than 10 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent of Annex I gases or less than 2 kg of Annex II, Section 1 gases. In residential buildings there is also a specific exemption for hermetically sealed equipment containing less than 3 kg of fluorinated gas, provided it is labelled as such.
Under what conditions can a pre-charged split system be sold to the end user?
Non-hermetically sealed equipment charged with fluorinated gas may only be sold to the end user where evidence is provided that the installation will be carried out by a certified undertaking. The refrigerant circuit must be handled by personnel with the required certification.
Has the new Spanish regulation already been approved?
As of 6 August 2026, MITECO continues to list Royal Decree 115/2017 among the applicable national legislation. The public consultations on the replacement draft and the qualifications order are recorded as closed, but the final rules have not yet been published. The EU Regulation, however, is already in force and directly applicable.
Official sources
EU · MAIN RULE
Regulation (EU) 2024/573
EUR-Lex consolidated version, which incorporates published corrigenda, and access to the authentic OJ text. The consolidated version is a documentary tool; acts published in the Official Journal are the legally authentic texts.
Open the consolidated versionOpen the official OJ text
EU · CERTIFICATION
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2215
Minimum requirements for certifying persons and companies working with fluorinated gases and alternative refrigerants.
View certification requirementsEU · ALTERNATIVES
European Commission: air conditioning
Official tables of GWP values, safety groups and alternatives for air conditioning, heat pumps and chillers.
View official alternativesES · NATIONAL FRAMEWORK
MITECO: fluorinated gases
Official summary of the phase-down, national legislation, certificate registry and status of the Royal Decree update.
View MITECO informationES · DRAFT REGULATION
Draft new Royal Decree
Public information on the text intended to replace Royal Decree 115/2017. It is a draft, not the final regulation.
View the procedureEU · 2026 REPEAL
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1444
It entered into force on 23 July 2026 and repealed Regulations 1497/2007 and 1516/2007. It is a repealing act: it does not approve any new harmonised method or remove the obligations in Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Regulation 2024/573.
Open the update
