What the 2027 HFC cut means for engineers

On 1 January 2027, the supply of HFC refrigerants in Great Britain takes its next step down. The quota that can be placed on the market falls from 31% to 24% of the 2015-19 baseline, a cut of about 23% compared with 2026.

That cut was always in the law. What changed this year is that a bigger one didn’t happen.

What Defra decided

In November 2025, Defra consulted on tightening the phasedown from 2027. Its preferred option would have taken the cut to 48%, and gone on to a 98.6% reduction by 2048, against 79% by 2030 under the current law.

In May, after 137 responses, it confirmed it won’t legislate this year to change the 2027 step. For 2027, the existing step applies. Defra says it’s still committed to reform beyond that, and will publish a summary of responses and next steps.

Under the current law, the next step comes in 2030, when the quota falls again from 24% to 21% of the baseline.

Northern Ireland follows the EU regulation, which goes further. It ends with a complete phase-out of HFCs by 2050.

What changes on the tools

Less quota means less high-GWP refrigerant to go round, and the work keeps moving to lower-GWP alternatives. R-32 is already common in split and VRF systems, and R-1234ze in chillers. In commercial refrigeration, blends such as R-454A, R-454C and R-455A are available, though high-GWP refrigerants are still being specified.

Many of these refrigerants are mildly flammable, which changes how you work: design to EN 378, DSEAR assessments, ventilation and leak detection, and tools rated for the job.

There are very few retrofit options below 1,000 GWP. Most of the change will come through new equipment, so expect more replacement and new-install work.

For engineers

Your F-gas certificate still matters, but it’s no longer the whole picture.

There’s no compulsory qualification for flammable refrigerants yet, only voluntary courses. That’s expected to change, as the government plans to include competence requirements for handling them in its Mandatory Technical Competence Framework. Engineers who get trained now are ahead of it.

Put the refrigerants and the kit on your CV, not just “F-gas Category I”. If you haven’t had the training yet, ask about it at interview. Our piece on what to check when an employer says “we’ll train you” covers how to get it in writing.

For employers

Training on newer refrigerants is now a hiring tool as well as a compliance one. It’s a real reason for a good engineer to join you, and to stay.

When you interview, ask which refrigerants and systems the candidate has actually commissioned or serviced. A certificate tells you they’re allowed to do the work, not that they’ve done it.

If you’re hiring for refrigeration, air conditioning or data centre cooling, talk to us.

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Sources: Defra, Amending the hydrofluorocarbon phasedown schedule (May 2026 update); Defra, F gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC phasedown (Nov 2025); GB F-gas Regulation, Annex 5; FETA, GB F-Gas Update (May 2026); ACR Journal, Navigating the GB HFC phase-down and the future of refrigerants (June 2026).