Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases

Fluorinated greenhouse gases impact on climate change.  Climate change refers to significant change in the measures of climate, such as temperature, rainfall, or wind over a long period of time. Climate change is a natural phenomenon. However, the current phase of climate change being experienced is being accelerated by human activities that result in the emission of greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse gases are those gases which contribute to the greenhouse effect. There are six greenhouse gases as follows:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) 
• Methane (CH4)
• Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) 
• Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
• Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)  

Each of these gases is controlled by the global environmental agreement known as the Kyoto Protocol. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) are collectively known as fluorinated greenhouse gases and are further controlled by specific EU legislation.

The European response to the need to control fluorinated greenhouse gases is Regulation (EC) No. 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases, referred to as the F-gas Regulation. The main objective of this regulation is the containment and better management of fluorinated greenhouse gases, through leak checking, labelling of equipment and specific training and certification requirements for personnel and companies handling fluorinated greenhouse gases.

The main uses of fluorinated greenhouse gases are in stationary and mobile refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, fire protection, high voltage switch gear, semiconductor production as well as in foams, aerosols and metered dose inhalers. In many cases, HFCs have been used to replace ozone depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs in refrigeration and air conditioning systems and halons in fire protection systems.

In addition to the F-gas Regulation, there is a series of implementing European Regulations to address specific requirements as follows: 

• Leak checking – stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector 
• Leak checking – stationary fire protection systems
•  Certification of companies and personnel – stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector 
• Certification of companies and personnel – stationary fire protection systems and fire extinguishers 
• Certification of companies and personnel – high voltage switch gear 
• Certification of companies and personnel – f-gas based solvents
• Certification of companies and personnel – mobile air conditioning systems 
• Labelling – equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases
• Reporting formats – producers, importers and exporters

Learn more

Download a copy of the F-gas Regulation – Regulation 842/2006

Download guidance on Leak Checking

Read about the EU's action to control fluorinated greenhouse gases 

Read a summary of European legislation on F-gases

Visit the EPA’s climate change webpages

Visit the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government F-gas pages