Environment Agency
If you work with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) or sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) (F gases), you must follow the guidance for F gas users, producers and traders.
Some rules do not apply to certain types of F gas. These are F gases you must report on only.
HFCs
The UK is phasing down HFCs by 79% by 2030. This is compared to the average use of HFCs between 2009 and 2012. The phase down also applies to mixtures containing these gases.
If you use or service equipment containing HFCs, ask your supplier for advice on alternatives.
F gas equipment manufacturers should:
- produce goods that use gases with lower global warming potential
- identify compatible gases with lower global warming potential that can be used when servicing existing systems
Read guidance on uses of HFCs exempt from the phase down.
Types of HFC
The following tables list all HFCs and common HFC mixtures.
Global warming potential (GWP) figures in these tables are rounded to the nearest whole number. You can use these figures as a guide to:
- calculate carbon dioxide equivalent of an F gas
- apply for quota to produce or import F gas
- record and report F gas (GWPs are expressed to 3 decimal places in the reporting template)
Industrial designation | Chemical name (common name) | Chemical formula | Global warming potential |
---|---|---|---|
HFC-23 | trifluoromethane (fluoroform) | CHF3 | 14,800 |
HFC-32 | difluoromethane | CH2F2 | 675 |
HFC-41 | fluoromethane (methyl fluoride) | CH3F | 92 |
HFC-125 | pentafluoroethane | CHF2CF3 | 3,500 |
HFC-134 | 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane | CHF2CHF2 | 1,100 |
HFC-134a | 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane | CH2FCF3 | 1,430 |
HFC-143 | 1,1,2-trifluoroethane | CH2FCHF2 | 353 |
HFC-143a | 1,1,1-trifluoroethane | CH3CF3 | 4,470 |
HFC-152 | 1,2-difluoroethane | CH2FCH2F | 53 |
HFC-152a | 1,1-difluoroethane | CH3CHF2 | 124 |
HFC-161 | fluoroethane (ethyl fluoride) | CH3CH2F | 12 |
HFC-227ea | 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane | CF3CHFCF3 | 3,220 |
HFC-236cb | 1,1,1,2,2,3-hexafluoropropane | CH2FCF2CF3 | 1,340 |
HFC-236ea | 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane | CHF2CHFCF3 | 1,370 |
HFC-236fa | 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane | CF3CH2CF3 | 9,810 |
HFC-245ca | 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane | CH2FCF2CHF2 | 693 |
HFC-245fa | 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane | CHF2CH2CF3 | 1,030 |
HFC-365 mfc | 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane | CF3CH2CF2CH3 | 794 |
HFC-43-10 mee | 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5- decafluoropentane | CF3CHFCHFCF2CF3 | 1,640 |
Common mixtures containing HFCs
Industrial designation | Mixture common name | Global warming potential |
---|---|---|
HCFC-22 / HFC-152a / HCFC-124 | R-401A | 2088 |
HFC-125 / HFC-143a / HFC-134a | R-404A | 3922 |
HFC-32 / HFC-125 / HFC-134a | R-407A | 2107 |
HFC-32 / HFC-125 / HFC-134a | R-407C | 1774 |
HFC-32 / HFC-125 / HFC-134a | R-407F | 1825 |
HFC-32 / HFC-125 | R-410A | 2088 |
PFC-218 / HFC-134a / HC-600a | R-413A | 2053 |
HFC-125 / HFC-134a / HC-600 | R-417A | 2346 |
HFC-125 / HFC-134a / HC-600a | R-422A | 3143 |
HFC-125 / HFC-134a / R-600a | R-422D | 2729 |
HFC-125 / HFC-134a / R-600 / R-600a / R-601a | R-424A | 2440 |
HFC-32 / HFC-125 / HFC-134a / HFC-143a | R-427A | 2138 |
HFC-125 / HFC-143a / R-290 / R-600a | R-428A | 3607 |
HFC-125 / HFC-134a / HFC-143a / R-600a | R-434A | 3245
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