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Fluorinated gas (F gas): guidance for users, producers and traders

Requirements if you work with F gas.

From:
Environment Agency and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published
21 August 2019
Last updated
7 February 2024 — See all updates

Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gases) include:

  • hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  • perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
  • sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

This guidance affects anyone who:

  • uses or services equipment that contains F gases, like refrigeration and air conditioning systems, solvents or aerosols
  • produces, imports, exports or sells F gas or equipment containing F gas

Contact

Telephone: 03708 506 506 (find out about call charges)
Email: f-gassupport@environment-agency.gov.uk

Lists of F gas and how to calculate the carbon dioxide equivalent of an F gas

Read the list of F gases and calculate CO2 equivalent to understand where to apply F gas rules. 

Find out about uses of F gases exempt from certain rules, including rules you must follow.

Producing, importing or exporting F gas and equipment

If you produce, import or export F gas and equipment pre-charged with F gas, you must follow the rules on:

  • importing, exporting or manufacturing equipment pre-charged with F gas
  • recording and reporting F gas and equipment pre-charged with F gas

You may also need to get quota, quota authorisations or quota delegations.

Importers and exporters may also need to read the guidance on:

  • F gas exports rejected at an EU border control post
  • moving F gas between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Getting and transferring quota

If you produce or import F gas and plan to place it on the market in Great Britain, you will need quota, quota authorisations or quota delegations. You should either: 

  • apply for quota (for bulk gas only) 
  • check the list of incumbent F gas quota holders and authorisation managers to see where to get a transfer, authorisation or delegation of quota 

F gas quota holders can transfer, authorise or delegate quota to another business.

Using or servicing F gas equipment

If you use or service equipment contain F gas, you may need to: 

  • have qualifications and company certification to work with F gas 
  • check certain F gas equipment for leaks 
  • record F gas in certain equipment you own or service 
  • recover, reclaim or recycle F gas 
  • follow rules for operating and servicing high voltage switchgear containing SF6 

You should also check if the use of the F gas is banned.

Labelling F gas equipment

You must label all products you produce, import or install that contain regulated F gas.

Banned F gases

You must check if the use of an F gas is banned: 

  • for refilling equipment 
  • in new products and equipment, if you plan to place the F gas on the market in Great Britain

Selling F gas

You must follow certain rules if you sell F gas in cylinders or equipment.

Updates to this page

Published 21 August 2019
Last updated 7 February 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added guidance on operating or servicing high voltage switchgear containing SF6 under ‘Using or servicing F gas equipment’.

  2. Added 2 new pages under "Producing, importing or exporting F gas and equipment" collection: "Import, export or manufacture equipment pre-charged with F gas" and "Incumbent F gas quota holders and authorisation managers in Great Britain."

  3. Added 'Moving F gas between Great Britain and Northern Ireland'.

  4. Added guidance on F gas exports rejected at an EU border control post.

  5. First published.

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