F-gas phase down: Navigating regulations for a sustainable future

Whitepaper launch – F-gas regulation 2025

Preparing your cooling systems for changing refrigerant regulations

F-gas regulations are changing the way businesses manage, maintain and plan industrial cooling and refrigeration systems.

For organisations that rely on temperature-critical operations, resilience, cost control, compliance and continuity all need to be considered. As restrictions tighten around high-GWP refrigerants, businesses need to understand where existing equipment may be exposed, how maintenance strategies could be affected and what steps can be taken to transition to lower-impact alternatives.

This is particularly important for sites operating large-scale refrigeration, process cooling, HVAC or low-temperature systems. A refrigerant leak, servicing issue or ageing asset can quickly become more difficult to manage if the system depends on gases that are increasingly restricted, expensive or difficult to source.

Aggreko’s F-gas phase-down whitepaper explores the changing refrigeration landscape in more detail, including the regulations, refrigerants most at risk and practical steps businesses can take to prepare.

Download our whitepaper

Why F-gas regulations matter for cooling system operators

Fluorinated gases, commonly known as F-gases, have been widely used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems for many years. They have traditionally offered strong performance, efficiency and safety advantages across a wide range of cooling applications.

The challenge is their global warming potential. Many F-gases have a much higher environmental impact than CO2 if released into the atmosphere. As a result, regulations are placing increasing pressure on the use, supply, servicing and maintenance of refrigerants with higher global warming potential.

For operators, this creates environmental and operational challenges. The issue isn’t only whether a cooling system is compliant today. It’s whether that system will remain practical, cost-effective and serviceable as regulations continue to tighten.
Businesses that wait until equipment fails, refrigerant becomes difficult to source, or a leak occurs may face fewer options, higher costs and greater disruption. A planned transition gives operators more control over asset strategy, maintenance schedules, investment decisions and contingency planning.

Which refrigerants and systems are most exposed?

Systems using high-GWP refrigerants are likely to face the greatest pressure.
Refrigerants such as R404A and R507 are among those most exposed because of their high global warming potential. These gases have been widely used in industrial refrigeration and low-temperature applications, but they are becoming harder to justify as regulations, cost pressures and environmental expectations evolve.

Large-volume refrigeration systems can be particularly vulnerable. If a system contains a high-GWP refrigerant, even a single leak can create significant compliance, cost and continuity issues. Recharging the system may become more expensive, more restricted or, in some cases, no longer viable depending on the refrigerant and application.

This makes it important for operators to identify which refrigerants are currently in use across their estate. A refrigerant audit can help establish which systems are highest risk, which assets may need retrofitting or replacing, and where temporary cooling may be needed to maintain continuity during transition.

The operational risks of delaying action

F-gas compliance is often viewed as a regulatory issue, but for many businesses the bigger risk is operational disruption.
Cooling systems are often business critical. They support production, storage, process control, product quality, comfort cooling, data centre resilience and safe working conditions. When those systems rely on refrigerants that are becoming more restricted, any maintenance issues can quickly become a wider operational problem.

Delaying action can increase exposure in several areas:

A refrigerant leak may be harder and more expensive to resolve if the system uses a high-GWP gas.
Servicing and refilling restrictions may limit the options available to maintenance teams.
Ageing equipment may become less cost-effective to keep operational.
Rising refrigerant prices can put additional pressure on operating budgets.
There may be reputational risks if avoidable refrigerant emissions occur.

For sectors where downtime carries significant financial or safety consequences, these risks need to be addressed before they become urgent. A proactive plan allows businesses to assess their cooling estate, understand their exposure and choose the most appropriate route forward.

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How different sectors may be affected

The impact of F-gas changes will vary by sector, but any organisation that depends on reliable cooling should be reviewing its exposure.

Pharmaceutical

In pharmaceutical environments, precise temperature control is essential for storage, production and quality assurance. Any disruption to cooling performance can have serious implications for product integrity and compliance.

Food and beverage

Food and beverage businesses face similar challenges across cold storage, process cooling and distribution. Refrigeration reliability is central to product quality, safety and operational efficiency.

Manufacturing

Manufacturers rely on cooling for process stability, equipment performance and productivity. If cooling infrastructure is disrupted, production output and operational continuity can be affected.

Data centres

Data centres require resilient cooling to protect uptime, manage heat loads and support critical infrastructure. As cooling demand grows, operators need solutions that balance reliability, efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Contractors and facilities teams also need to consider the implications for specification, maintenance and project delivery. As high-GWP refrigerants become less viable, selecting appropriate cooling equipment and planning compliant alternatives will become increasingly important.

Practical steps to prepare for the F-gas transition

A planned approach can help businesses reduce risk and make better decisions about cooling assets.

Step 1: Understand the current position

Operators should identify what cooling and refrigeration equipment is in use, which refrigerants those systems contain, and whether any assets rely on high-GWP gases. This should include fixed systems, temporary equipment and any standby or contingency cooling arrangements.

Step 2: Assess the criticality of each system

Equipment supports essential processes, regulated environments, cold storage or high-value operations should be prioritised. These are the systems where failure, restricted servicing or refrigerant availability issues could create the greatest disruption.

Step 3: Plan the most suitable transition route

Operators can begin to plan the most suitable transition route. In some cases, existing equipment may be suitable for retrofit with a lower-GWP refrigerant. In others, replacement with newer equipment may provide better long-term performance, efficiency and compliance.

Temporary cooling can also play an important role, helping to maintain continuity during planned works, emergency repairs, seasonal demand or phased asset upgrades.

Step 4: Build contingency planning into the strategy

If a business-critical system fails, waiting until that moment to source temporary cooling can increase downtime. A pre-planned response helps ensure the right equipment, capacity and connection strategy can be deployed quickly when needed.

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The role of low-GWP and natural refrigerant solutions

Lower-GWP refrigerants and natural refrigerant technologies are becoming increasingly important as businesses look for more sustainable cooling strategies.

CO2-based cooling, for example, offers a natural refrigerant option with very low global warming potential. For some applications, this can provide a more future-ready route than continuing to rely on high-GWP gases that may face increasing cost and supply pressures.

However, there is no single solution that applies to every site. The right approach depends on the application, temperature requirement, cooling load, site constraints, existing infrastructure, safety considerations and commercial priorities.

That’s why early assessment is important. By reviewing equipment condition, refrigerant type, system performance and operational risk, businesses can identify whether retrofit, replacement, temporary cooling or a hybrid approach is most appropriate.

How Aggreko supports lower-GWP cooling strategies

Aggreko works with businesses to help manage the transition to more sustainable, compliant and resilient cooling solutions.

Our temperature control specialists support customers across sectors including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, construction, chemicals, food and beverage and data centres. We work closely with operational teams to understand site requirements, identify potential risks and develop cooling strategies that support continuity as well as compliance.

Aggreko has also invested in adapting its fleet to support the move towards lower-GWP refrigerants. This includes retrofitting selected chillers with lower-GWP alternatives and introducing natural refrigerant solutions using CO2. These developments help customers access efficient, reliable cooling equipment while reducing reliance on higher-impact refrigerants.

For businesses facing changing F-gas requirements, this flexibility is vital. Hire solutions can support planned maintenance, system upgrades, emergency response, seasonal cooling demand and long-term transition projects without requiring customers to commit capital to permanent equipment before the right strategy is clear.

Download the F-gas phase-down whitepaper

F-gas regulations are reshaping how businesses think about cooling equipment, refrigerant choice and long-term temperature control strategy.

For operators using high-GWP refrigerants, act before compliance, cost or availability pressures create operational disruption. By auditing current assets, identifying refrigerants most at risk and planning a phased transition, businesses can reduce uncertainty and protect continuity.

Aggreko’s F-gas phase-down whitepaper provides a deeper look at the changing regulatory landscape, refrigerants most exposed, sector implications and practical routes towards lower-GWP cooling.

Download the whitepaper to understand how changing F-gas regulations could affect your cooling systems and how Aggreko can support a smooth, resilient transition.

Need to review your cooling strategy? Speak to Aggreko’s temperature control specialists about temporary cooling, lower-GWP refrigerant options, contingency planning and compliant system transition.

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FAQ : F-gas

F-gas : Keeping data centres cool

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F-gas phase down: Navigating regulations for a sustainable future

Preparing your cooling systems for changing refrigerant regulations

Why F-gas regulations matter for cooling system operators

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How different sectors may be affected

Pharmaceutical

Food and beverage

Manufacturing

Data centres

Practical steps to prepare for the F-gas transition

Step 1: Understand the current position

Step 2: Assess the criticality of each system

Step 3: Plan the most suitable transition route

Step 4: Build contingency planning into the strategy

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The role of low-GWP and natural refrigerant solutions

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Useful resources

FAQ : F-gas

F-gas : Keeping data centres cool

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Tell us what you need

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Why F-gas regulations matter for cooling system operators

Practical steps to prepare for the F-gas transition

Step 1: Understand the current position

Step 2: Assess the criticality of each system

Step 3: Plan the most suitable transition route

Step 4: Build contingency planning into the strategy

The role of low-GWP and natural refrigerant solutions

Useful resources

FAQ : F-gas

F-gas : Keeping data centres cool

Tell us what you need