Guidance
Fluorinated gases (F gases)
A list of all F gases with rules you must follow, and F gases that you must report on only.
If you work with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) or sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), you may need to:
- keep records of equipment you own containing them
- have equipment leak checked
- be qualified to work on products containing them
- make checks before you sell them or equipment containing them
- keep records of how much you sell as gas and in equipment
You may need to report on these gases if you:
- import, export or destroy them
- use them as feedstock
- import them in pre-charged equipment
If you work with HFCs you’ll need:
- quota to import or produce them
- authorisations to import them in pre-charged equipment
Use the global warming potential to calculate the carbon dioxide equivalent weight of an F gas
HFCs
The UK is phasing down HFCs by 79% by 2030 from the average use between 2009 to 2012.
The phase down also applies to mixtures containing these gases.
| 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 |
Read guidance on uses of HFCs exempt from the phase down.
Alternatives to HFCs being phased down
If you use or service equipment containing HFCs being phased down, 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
PFCs
| 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
| 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 these gases if you:
- import, export or destroy them
- import them in pre-charged equipment
Other F gas rules do not apply to these 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 |
Published 7 February 2019
Last updated 11 February 2019 + show all updates
Last updated 11 February 2019 + show all updates
-
Added a list of common mixtures
-
First published.