Fluorinated gases (F gases)
A list of all F gases and their global warming potentials.
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 |
| HFC-125 / HFC-134a / R-600 / R-601 | R-437A | 1805 |
| HFC-32 / HFC-125 / HFC-134a / R-600 / R-601a | R-438A | 2264 |
| HFC-32 / HFC-125 / HFC-134a / R-1234ze / R-1234yf | R-448A | 1386 |
| HFC32 / HFC125 / R1234yf | R-452A | 2140 |
| HFC-134a / HFC-125 / HFC-32 / HFC-227 / R-601a / R-600 | R-453A | 1765 |
| HFC-125 / HFC-143a | R-507A | 3985 |
| HFC-23 /PFC-116 | R-508B | 13396 |
PFCs
The following table lists all PFCs.
Global warming potential figures in this table are rounded to the nearest whole number. You can use these figures as a guide to:
| Industrial designation | Chemical name | Chemical formula | Global warming potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFC-14 | tetrafluoromethane (perfluoromethane, carbon tetrafluoride) | CF4 | 7,390 |
| PFC-116 | hexafluoroethane (perfluoroethane) | C2F6 | 12,200 |
| PFC-218 | octafluoropropane (perfluoropropane) | C3F8 | 8,830 |
| PFC-3-1-10 (R-31-10) | decafluorobutane (perfluorobutane) | C4F10 | 8,860 |
| PFC-4-1-12 (R-41-12) | dodecafluoropentane (perfluoropentane) | C5F12 | 9,160 |
| PFC-5-1-14 (R-51-14) | tetradecafluorohexane (perfluorohexane) | C6F14 | 9,300 |
| PFC-c-318 | octafluorocyclobutane (perfluorocyclobutane) | c-C4F8 | 10,300 |
Sulphur hexafluoride
Global warming potential figures in this table are rounded to the nearest whole number. You can use these figures as a guide to:
| Chemical name | Chemical formula | Global warming potential |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur hexafluoride | SF6 | 22,800 |
F gases you must report on only
You may need to report on unsaturated hydro(chloro)fluorocarbons, fluorinated ethers and alcohols, and other perfluorinated gases if you:
- import, export or destroy them
- import them in pre-charged equipment
Check the guidance on recording and reporting F gas to find out when you must report on these gases.
The following tables list all relevant gases.
Unsaturated hydro(chloro)fluorocarbons
| Chemical name | Chemical formula | Global warming potential |
|---|---|---|
| HFC-1234yf | CF3CF = CH2 | 4 |
| HFC-1234ze | trans — CHF = CHCF3 | 7 |
| HFC-1336mzz | CF3CH = CHCF3 | 9 |
| HCFC-1233zd | C3H2ClF3 | 4.5 |
| HCFC-1233xf | C3H2ClF3 | Not yet available |
Fluorinated ethers and alcohols
| Chemical name | Chemical formula | Global warming potential |
|---|---|---|
| HFE-125 | CHF2OCF3 | 14,900 |
| HFE-134 (HG-00) | CHF2OCHF2 | 6,320 |
| HFE-143a | CH3OCF3 | 756 |
| HCFE-235da2 (isofluorane) | CHF2OCHClCF3 | 350 |
| HFE-245cb2 | CH3OCF2CF3 | 708 |
| HFE-245fa2 | CHF2OCH2CF3 | 659 |
| HFE-254cb2 | CH3OCF2CHF2 | 359 |
| HFE-347 mcc3 (HFE-7000) | CH3OCF2CF2CF3 | 575 |
| HFE-347pcf2 | CHF2CF2OCH2CF3 | 580 |
| HFE-356pcc3 | CH3OCF2CF2CHF2 | 110 |
| HFE-449sl (HFE-7100) | C4F9OCH3 | 297 |
| HFE-569sf2 (HFE-7200) | C4F9OC2H5 | 59 |
| HFE-43-10pccc124 (H-Galden 1040x) HG-11 | CHF2OCF2OC2F4OCHF2 | 1,870 |
| HFE-236ca12 (HG-10) | CHF2OCF2OCHF2 | 2,800 |
| HFE-338pcc13 (HG-01) | CHF2OCF2CF2OCHF2 | 1,500 |
| HFE-347mmy1 | (CF3)2CFOCH3 | 343 |
| 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanol | CF3CF2CH2OH | 42 |
| bis(trifluoromethyl)-methanol | (CF3)2CHOH | 195 |
| HFE-227ea | CF3CHFOCF3 | 1,540 |
| HFE-236ea2 (desfluoran) | CHF2OCHFCF3 | 989 |
| HFE-236fa | CF3CH2OCF3 | 487 |
| HFE-245fa1 | CHF2CH2OCF3 | 286 |
| HFE 263fb2 | CF3CH2OCH3 | 11 |
| HFE-329 mcc2 | CHF2CF2OCF2CF3 | 919 |
| HFE-338 mcf2 | CF3CH2OCF2CF3 | 552 |
| HFE-338mmz1 | (CF3)2CHOCHF2 | 380 |
| HFE-347 mcf2 | CHF2CH2OCF2CF3 | 374 |
| HFE-356 mec3 | CH3OCF2CHFCF3 | 101 |
| HFE-356mm1 | (CF3)2CHOCH3 | 27 |
| HFE-356pcf2 | CHF2CH2OCF2CHF2 | 265 |
| HFE-356pcf3 | CHF2OCH2CF2CHF2 | 502 |
| HFE 365 mcf3 | CF3CF2CH2OCH3 | 11 |
| HFE-374pc2 | CHF2CF2OCH2CH3 | 557 |
| - (CF2)4CH (OH)- | 73 |
Other perfluorinated compounds
| Chemical name | Chemical formula | Global warming potential |
|---|---|---|
| perfluoropolymethylisopropyl-ether (PFPMIE) | CF3OCF(CF3)CF2OCF2OCF3 | 10,300 |
| nitrogen trifluoride | NF3 | 17,200 |
| trifluoromethyl sulphur pentafluoride | SF5CF3 | 17,700 |
| perfluorocyclopropane | c-C3F6 | 17,340 |
Updates to this page
Published 7 February 2019Last updated 7 February 2024 + show all updates
-
Clarified that global warming potential figures listed in the tables of F gases are rounded to the nearest whole number.
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Added a list of common mixtures
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First published.