F-gas delay divides opinion

UK: The UK government’s decision to delay the GB F-gas phase down continues to divide opinion. 

Last week’s announcement by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that the phase down proposals needed “further work” to give industry clarity ahead of 2027, has been met with both relief and concern.

Graeme Fox, director of The F-Gas Register said that the delay gave business the time to prepare for the more rapid phase down and phase out by allowing companies to address competencies and skills issues.

“We have long been arguing that we cannot safely make the full transition without first addressing the competencies and skills issues which have been identified and I think this is a sensible move by government which allows time to adjust and prepare,” Fox said on the F-Gas Register website.  

Chris Newman, net zero design manager at Mitsubishi Electric, also backed the delay, saying: “The company believes that a stable and considered approach is essential to maintaining investment confidence, supporting commercial market readiness, and enabling continued progress towards the UK’s decarbonisation goals without unnecessary disruption.”

However, Newman observed that the delay also extends uncertainty around the long-term direction of UK F-gas policy.

“We believe DEFRA should continue working closely with industry leaders to provide a clear, practical and achievable long-term roadmap as soon as possible,” he said. 

Kevin Morrissey, director of technical at the Building Engineering Services Association, said that the decision to stick with the existing HFC phase down steps “brings some much-needed clarity” for the sector, but noted that, with another quota reduction next year, contractors would continue to feel pressure on skills and refrigerant strategy.

DEFRA has insisted that it remains committed to introducing ambitious reform to the HFC phase down, and intends to publish an outline of next steps later this year. This has prompted others to note that any revised phase down timetable will, in consequence, have to be steeper, due to the reducing timeframes.

Kevin Mullis, head of product engineering at Clade Engineering Systems, claimed: “Those who are applauding the delay will be saying the exact same things they are now in 12 months time. 

“There is no lack of training available in F-gas replacements (and hasn’t been for a decade or more),” he said on LinkedIn, “but there is a lack of onus to take it up in the sectors it hasn’t already been whilst the F-gas phase down timetable remains up in the air.” 

Mullis insisted that there was also no lack of appropriate non F-gas equipment and warned of end-users ending up with F-gas equipment that is unserviceable before the end of its useful life.

Recently announced steep increases in the price of R410A (and R407C) appear to be one of the consequences of the UK’s divergence from the European F-gas regulation post Brexit. Unlike the new European F-gas regulations, the old regulation (517/2014), which Great Britain is still working to, lacks a definite timeline for a ban on R410A in new equipment above 7kW. As a result, R410A equipment is still being sold, increasing demand for a dwindling commodity. 

Related stories:

DEFRA delays GB F-gas phase down – 16 May 2026
UK: The UK government has announced a delay to its proposed F-gas phase down steps from 1 January 2027, admitting that it requires “further work” following its recent consultation with industry. Read more…