If you manage a commercial property with air conditioning, F-Gas compliance is about more than paperwork. The rules affect refrigerant handling, leak checks, record keeping and who can legally work on your equipment.
There is also an important 2026 development. In May, the Government confirmed that the existing HFC phase-down will continue as planned for 2027, while further changes are still being considered.
For facilities managers, property managers and business owners, the priority is to understand what is installed, maintain it correctly and consider future refrigerant requirements when equipment needs replacing.
What are the F-Gas regulations?
F-Gas rules control fluorinated greenhouse gases used in equipment such as stationary air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The current Great Britain regime developed from the EU F-Gas framework but now operates through UK legislation.
The rules aim to reduce emissions from refrigerants with high global warming potential. They cover:
- restrictions on F-Gases in new equipment
- the HFC market phase-down
- refrigerant leak checks
- refrigerant recovery
- record keeping
- engineer qualifications and company certification.
Importantly, the HFC phase-down does not automatically mean an existing HFC air conditioning system must be replaced. It primarily controls the quantity of HFCs placed on the Great Britain market.
What is changing in 2026?
The existing Great Britain regime is working towards a 79% reduction in HFCs placed on the market by 2030 against the relevant baseline.
The Government has also been considering a more ambitious phasedown. Its consultation proposed substantially reducing the quantity of HFCs that could be placed on the GB market in future. In May 2026, Defra confirmed that it would not legislate in 2026 to change the phasedown step applying from 2027.
These proposals are not current law, but they are relevant when planning major AC replacements.
R22, R404A and R410A: what is the difference?
These refrigerants are not subject to identical rules.
R22 is an HCFC, not an HFC covered by the HFC phasedown. Its restrictions come under the separate ozone-depleting substances regime. Businesses still operating very old R22 equipment should therefore treat it as a legacy system requiring careful forward planning.
R404A and R410A are HFC refrigerants covered by the F-Gas regime. Their different global warming potentials also affect the CO₂-equivalent classification used for leak-check requirements.
Do F-Gas rules mean you need to replace your AC?
No, not automatically.
An existing system does not simply become illegal because it contains an HFC refrigerant. The more useful question is whether continued operation remains sensible.
An older R410A system that has been reliable may continue to be maintained. But repeated refrigerant leaks, recurring faults or difficulty sourcing components can indicate that continued repair is becoming less practical.
Planned replacement also gives businesses more control. If equipment is already nearing the end of its useful life, an upgrade can be considered during planned refurbishment rather than after an unexpected breakdown.
When specifying new equipment, businesses should check current F-Gas restrictions. For example, new single-split systems containing less than 3kg of refrigerant cannot use F-Gases with a GWP of 750 or more, subject to specified exemptions.
When does a commercial AC need a leak check?
Relevant stationary AC equipment must be checked for leaks when it falls within the applicable CO₂-equivalent thresholds.
Under current Government guidance:
- 5 to less than 50 tonnes CO₂e: at least every 12 months
- 50 to less than 500 tonnes CO₂e: at least every six months
- 500 tonnes CO₂e or more: automatic leak detection is generally required, subject to the applicable rules.
For perspective, 5 tonnes CO₂e is approximately 2.4kg of R410A or 1.3kg of R404A.
If a leak is discovered, it must be repaired as soon as possible and the equipment checked again within one month to confirm the repair has worked.
Repeatedly adding refrigerant without addressing the cause is therefore not an appropriate long-term solution.
What records should businesses keep?
Where F-Gas record-keeping requirements apply, businesses need accurate information about their equipment and refrigerant, including relevant servicing, leak checks, repairs, refrigerant quantities and recovery.
For facilities managers, an equipment register can make this much easier. Keep the model, refrigerant type and charge, installation information, service history and leak-check records together.
This also helps identify recurring faults instead of treating every service visit as an isolated problem.
Who can legally work on F-Gas equipment?
Refrigerant-related work cannot simply be handed to any air-conditioning engineer. Current Government guidance requires appropriately qualified personnel for activities including installation, servicing, maintenance, leak checking, refrigerant recovery and decommissioning of relevant stationary equipment. Companies working on customers’ equipment must also hold appropriate certification.
When choosing an F-Gas qualified engineer in London, check both the engineer’s qualification and the company’s certification.
JP Air Conditioning states that it holds a company F-Gas certificate and has qualified engineers for installing, maintaining and servicing equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases. Its engineering requirements specify City & Guilds F-Gas Category 1 certification.
What should businesses do now?
A practical 2026 review can start with five checks:
- List your AC equipment – record refrigerant type, charge and system details.
- Check leak-check requirements – establish the relevant CO₂e threshold.
- Review service history – look for repeated leaks or declining reliability.
- Verify contractor credentials – use appropriately qualified and certified professionals.
- Plan ageing-system replacements – consider current and emerging refrigerant requirements before equipment fails.
For planned upgrades, JP Air Conditioning provides air-conditioning installation in London, alongside commercial air-conditioning services.
Keep compliance and replacement planning on the same agenda
F-Gas compliance in 2026 does not mean every older commercial AC system needs to be removed. It means understanding the equipment you operate, meeting the requirements that apply to it and making informed decisions as the regulations develop.
For existing systems, professional air-conditioning maintenance can help identify problems early and maintain appropriate servicing records.
JP Air Conditioning provides installation, maintenance, repairs and emergency call-outscallouts across London and the surrounding areas. With more than 15 years’ experience and F-Gas-qualified engineers, the company supports businesses with maintaining existing systems and planning new commercial AC installations. ToO contact call us on 02083331191.
