Fluorinated gas (F gas): guidance for users, producers and traders
Requirements if you work with F gas.
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
Last updated 7 February 2024 + show all updates
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Added guidance on operating or servicing high voltage switchgear containing SF6 under ‘Using or servicing F gas equipment’.
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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."
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Added 'Moving F gas between Great Britain and Northern Ireland'.
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Added guidance on F gas exports rejected at an EU border control post.
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First published.