The refrigerant must suit the equipment, its operating temperature and the regulations that apply. Do not select it by name or by one GWP figure alone.
In short: Regulation (EU) 2024/573 applies in the European Union. Since 1 January 2025, it has restricted placing self-contained refrigeration equipment other than chillers on the market when it contains fluorinated gases with a GWP of 150 or more. The regulation includes exceptions, including some based on safety requirements, while other equipment categories have separate limits and dates.
What does GWP mean?
GWP compares a gas's effect on global warming with the effect of carbon dioxide. A lower number means a lower climate impact if the gas is released. It does not tell you whether the refrigerant is flammable or toxic, what pressure it uses, or whether it is compatible with a particular unit.
Common refrigerant groups
| Refrigerant or group | What you should know |
|---|---|
| R-290, propane | Very low GWP, but highly flammable; used in factory-engineered small equipment |
| R-744, CO₂ | GWP of 1 and non-flammable, but operates at very high pressure |
| R-717, ammonia | GWP of 0 and efficient in industrial systems, but toxic and mildly flammable |
| Ultra-low-GWP HFO refrigerants | May meet a low GWP threshold, but require equipment designed for the specific refrigerant |
| R-448A and R-449A | Blends with a considerably higher GWP, used among other things when upgrading some existing installations; they are not a universal choice for new equipment |
The European Commission also publishes current information and examples of alternatives.
What do the rules mean when buying equipment?
- Establish whether the unit is self-contained or part of a split installation. Different entries in Annex IV apply to them.
- Check the refrigerant and its GWP in the data sheet for the exact model.
- Do not assume that every unit in one product family uses the same refrigerant.
- Ask who is authorised to install, leak-test and service the equipment.
- For existing equipment, do not change refrigerant without an assessment by the manufacturer and a suitably qualified technician.
Since 1 January 2025, restrictions have also applied to servicing refrigeration equipment with gases having a GWP of 2,500 or more, with specified exceptions for reclaimed and recycled gases. Further restrictions are being introduced in stages, so a purchase decision should account for service availability over the equipment's expected working life.
Important: This is a general explanation, not a compliance assessment for a particular installation. The current law and the documentation for the exact model are authoritative.
Related articles
- Monoblock or split system
- How a monoblock works
- How a split system works
- Choosing a refrigeration system
Confirm the refrigerant and service requirements in the current technical data sheet for the exact unit offered by Frostbox.
