2026 F-Gas Changes Explained: The GWP 2,500 Service Ban and What UK Engineers Can Still Buy

From 1 January 2026, it is illegal in the UK to service or maintain most stationary refrigeration equipment using virgin refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 2,500 or more. In practice this targets R404A and R507A, the high-GWP HFCs that have dominated commercial refrigeration for two decades. This guide explains exactly what changed, which systems are affected, and what F-Gas certified engineers can still legally buy and use.

What actually changed on 1 January 2026?

The UK F-Gas Regulation continues the HFC phase-down – a quota system that shrinks the total tonnes of CO2-equivalent refrigerant that can be placed on the market each year. The 2026 milestone adds a hard service ban: you cannot use newly produced (virgin) refrigerant with a GWP of 2,500 or above to service or maintain stationary refrigeration systems.

The headline figures engineers need to remember:

• GWP 2,500 threshold – the line that determines whether a refrigerant is banned for servicing.
• R404A (GWP 3,922) and R507A (GWP 3,985) are both above the line and therefore affected.
• Reclaimed and recycled refrigerant above GWP 2,500 may still be used for servicing existing equipment until 1 January 2030, provided it is properly reclaimed and labelled.

Which refrigerants are affected – and which are not

Refrigerant	GWP	2026 servicing status
R404A	3,922	Banned (virgin) – reclaimed allowed to 2030
R507A	3,985	Banned (virgin) – reclaimed allowed to 2030
R410A	2,088	Still permitted for servicing
R407C	1,774	Still permitted
R134a	1,430	Still permitted
R32	675	Permitted – preferred low-GWP option
R290 (propane)	3	Outside the quota entirely

Note that R410A is not banned by the 2026 service threshold – at GWP 2,088 it sits below the 2,500 line. However, quota pressure means its price and availability will keep tightening, which is why the industry is moving to R32 and R454B for new equipment.

What this means for your business

If you maintain commercial refrigeration – cold rooms, retail display cases, pack systems – that still runs on R404A, you have three practical routes:

1. Keep running on reclaimed R404A until 2030, buying only reclaimed (not virgin) gas and budgeting for rising prices.
2. Retrofit to a lower-GWP drop-in such as R448A, R449A, R452A or R407F.
3. Replace end-of-life systems with equipment designed for R290, R454B or CO2.

We cover the drop-in options in detail in our guide to R404A phase-out and commercial refrigeration alternatives.

Staying compliant when you buy refrigerant

The service ban sits alongside the existing rule that bulk fluorinated refrigerant may only be sold to businesses that hold F-Gas certification. When you buy from a compliant supplier you should expect to declare your certification details at point of sale. If you need a refresher on the certification routes, read our F-Gas certification guide for the UK.

Refrigerant Gas Supplies Ltd supplies F-Gas compliant refrigerant to certified UK engineers, including R32, R410A, R407C and reclaimed R404A for servicing existing systems. Browse the full refrigerant gas range.

Frequently asked questions

Is R404A banned in the UK from 2026?

Virgin R404A is banned for servicing stationary refrigeration from 1 January 2026 because its GWP of 3,922 exceeds the 2,500 threshold. Reclaimed and recycled R404A may still be used to service existing equipment until 1 January 2030.

Is R410A affected by the 2026 F-Gas rules?

No. R410A has a GWP of 2,088, below the 2,500 service-ban threshold, so it remains legal for servicing. It is still subject to overall HFC quota pressure, which raises cost over time.

Can I still buy refrigerant without F-Gas certification?

No. Bulk fluorinated refrigerant may only be sold to F-Gas certified businesses. You must provide valid certification details when purchasing.

What is the best low-GWP replacement for R404A?

For retrofits, R448A, R449A, R452A and R407F are common drop-in options. For new equipment, R290 (propane) and CO2 offer ultra-low GWP solutions outside quota pressure.