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Guidance: Fluorinated gases (F gases)

Environment Agency

February 7
13:59 2024

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:

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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