Whether you’re talking panel building, switchgear manufacturing or mechanical engineering, the standard method for preventing overheating inside enclosures and racks is to use a climate control solution. And, when it comes to enclosure cooling units, refrigerants are an exceptionally efficient means of transferring heat. Until recently, fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases, for short) have been used for this purpose, but they have a very high global warming potential and are therefore a major contributor to climate change.
The EU-wide F-Gas Regulation (EU 2024/573) aims to reduce emissions of F-gases both now and successively in the future, ultimately eradicating them altogether. As part of this process, the regulation envisages that fluorinated refrigerants will gradually disappear from the market. In fact, with additional, stricter regulations coming into force as early as next year, there are two things enclosure manufacturers should bear in mind:
- Since new bans are about to take effect, now is the time for a thorough examination of the requirements and principles of the F-Gas Regulation.
- There are already cooling solutions on the market that can also meet the future requirements of the F-Gas Regulation. Only companies that are familiar with these new technologies will be able to stay both competitive and compliant.
In this blog, we have summarised everything enclosure manufacturers really need to know about the F-Gas Regulation. You can explore this topic in more detail in our white paper on the F-Gas Regulation.
An overview of the F-Gas Regulation
The aim of the F-Gas Regulation is to gradually reduce emissions of environmentally harmful fluorinated greenhouse gases in Europe so that they are completely eradicated by 2032. Over the coming years, new regulations will be successively introduced to control the way F-gases are used and placed on the market, with the next set of rules already entering into force in January 2027.
Why are F-gases so harmful?
F-gases are synthetically manufactured industrial chemicals that contain the element fluorine. Since fluorine atoms create extremely strong bonds, F-gases exhibit ideal properties for a whole range of industrial applications. They are barely chemically reactive, extremely thermally resistant, exceptionally stable and resistant to degradation. At present, F-gases are used widely in refrigeration equipment, heat pumps and foams. The problem with these gases is that, when they are released into the atmosphere, they absorb infrared radiation and reflect it back to the Earth, in a similar way to CO2 and methane. That makes them a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. Due to their molecular structure and resistance to degradation, F-gases are some of the most powerful greenhouse gases known.
Global warming potential
The measure used to quantify the impact an F-gas has on the Earth’s climate is global warming potential (GWP). GWP indicates how much more or less a greenhouse gas contributes to global warming than carbon dioxide (CO₂). The following formula is used in calculations:
CO₂ equivalent = charge size (kg) x GWP of the greenhouse gas
For example, 1 kg of the greenhouse gas R-134a (a widely used refrigerant with a GWP of 1,430) has the same impact on the Earth’s climate as 1.43 metric tons of CO2. This enormous global warming potential explains why systematic reductions in F-gas emissions are a core element of Europe’s climate action strategy.
What does the F-Gas Regulation say?
The F-Gas Regulation covers several aspects of regulation related to fluorinated greenhouse gases and their use in equipment such as enclosure climate control systems. However, it does not advocate the decommissioning of existing, intact systems. Instead, it envisages implementing successive bans on the commissioning of new technologies that contain F-gases so as to gradually reduce (“phase down”) the available volumes of F-gases by 2050 (by 2032 in Europe). There are also new rules on leak checks and documentation obligations.
| Aspect | Regulation |
| Phase-down & phase-out | Gradual reduction in volumes of F-gases, leading to complete eradication by 2050 (by 2032 in Europe), with a stricter quota system, including for pre-filled equipment, starting from 10 metric tons of CO₂ equivalents. |
| Prohibitions on use | New prohibitions on use and placing on the market for equipment with a high GWP, differentiated according to category and application. |
| Leakages | New intervals for leak checks, compulsory leakage detection systems when certain threshold values are reached or exceeded, and extended documentation obligations. |
The impact of the F-Gas Regulation on enclosure manufacturing
The F-gases used in enclosure manufacturing are generally partially fluorinated hydrocarbons (HFCs). These HFCs are used as refrigerants in climate control units, where they provide a very efficient and reliable means of transferring heat. Some widely used refrigerants have a high GWP, and there is already a ban on placing these on the market. In 2027, this ban will be extended to even more refrigerants with a lower GWP.
| Year | Equipment type | GWP limit | Affected refrigerants |
| 2025-2026 | Stationary refrigeration equipment, air-conditioning units and heat pumps in all output classes | ≤ 2500 (mono-split < 3 kg: ≤ 750) | e.g. R-513A, R-134a (only for charge sizes of less than 3 kg) |
| 2027-2029 | Self-contained air-conditioning units and heat pumps ≤ 12 kW as well as chillers | ≤ 150 (safety exception ≤ 750)* | e.g. R-32, R-454B |
| 2030-2031 | Split air-conditioning equipment and split heat pumps up to 12 kW as well as chillers | ≤ 150 / first units: F-gas-free* | e.g. R-32, R-454B |
| From 2032 | All new refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump systems and chillers that are placed on the market | No F-gases permitted* | All fluorinated refrigerants |
* A GWP ≤ 750 is permitted if safety-relevant requirements mean there is no alternative.
Since 2025, there has been a ban on placing the previously widely used refrigerant R-134a (GWP: 1,430) on the market in mono-split devices with a refrigerant charge size of less than 3 kg because it breaches the permissible GWP limit of 750. A new phase in the regulation will take effect as early as 2027 and will prohibit the use of refrigerants with a GWP of 150 or higher in new equipment. This means enclosure manufacturers can no longer afford to delay switching to low-GWP solutions.
Is there a perfect alternative to established refrigerants?
There is no one universal, climate-friendly “ideal solution”. Instead, manufacturers need to weigh up which is the best alternative refrigerant to use based on the relevant thermodynamic and safety requirements. This analysis needs to be carried out for each product category on a case-by-case basis, factoring in considerations such as operating environment, temperature range, size and safety requirements.
It is particularly important to note that the overall climate footprint of a cooling unit is not just determined by the GWP of the refrigerant it uses. Energy efficiency plays a key role, too. For example, if using an alternative refrigerant dramatically increases a system’s energy consumption, the associated indirect emissions could far exceed the direct emissions saved. Using an F-gas alternative would then actually increase the overall climate footprint. When looking for genuinely climate-friendly alternatives, it is therefore crucial to examine all aspects and phases of the system’s lifecycle. One potentially ideal solution would be to combine speed-controlled devices with a free-cooling function and the use of a low-GWP refrigerant. However, safety aspects also need to be factored in.
Rittal enclosure climate control that complies with the F-Gas Regulation
Developing a future-proof and user-friendly cooling solution requires sound expertise when trying to strike a balance between environmental friendliness, energy efficiency and technical feasibility. Rittal sees itself as a dependable partner for panel building, switchgear manufacturing and mechanical engineering projects and therefore feels it has a duty to ensure all the enclosure climate control solutions it offers companies in these sectors are future-proof.
Future-proof refrigerants
For years, Rittal enclosure climate control solutions have used refrigerants that don’t just meet the 2025 requirements of the F-Gas Regulation, but actually exceed them. The refrigerants in question are R-410A, R-513A and R-1234yf. Amongst the most widely used Rittal cooling solutions are the units in the Blue e+ portfolio, which use R-1234yf.
This refrigerant has similar properties to the well-established refrigerant R-134a and exhibits a very low GWP of 0.5, which is why it has proved particularly popular in the automotive sector. In North America, 95 percent of air-conditioning systems installed in new vehicles already use this much more climate-friendly refrigerant. Thanks to their use of R-1234yf, enclosure climate control systems such as the Blue e+ units from Rittal are already geared towards long-term regulatory requirements and are utilising dependable alternatives to established refrigerants.
| Alternative refrigerant | GWP | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| R-513A | 631 | Lower GWP than R-134a, no flame propagation, good retrofit compatibility | Still contains fluorine, minor system adjustments required |
| R-1234yf | 0.5 | Similar properties to R-134a, future-proof | Mildly flammable, more expensive and warning label required |
| R-290 | 0.02 | High efficiency, low costs | Higher flammability, only limited charge sizes can be used in refrigeration equipment, explosion protection measures required |
| R-454C | 146 | GWP < 150, good retrofit compatibility | Mildly flammable, limited long-term experience and system adjustments required |
| R-744 | 1 | No flame propagation, very environmentally friendly, suitable for compact systems | Very high operating pressures, components more expensive and special know-how required, not suitable for enclosure or machine cooling |
User-friendly cooling solutions
Enclosure climate control solutions from Rittal don’t just offer users benefits in terms of the refrigerants used – they also make maintenance work easier. After all, the leak checks stipulated in the F-Gas Regulation are unnecessary when using Rittal systems because of the refrigerants they contain and the optimised charge size. For the same reasons, the leakage detection systems specified in the regulation are not compulsory either, when using Rittal units.
Summary
Due to its phased tightening of stipulations, the F-Gas Regulation is having a major impact on enclosure manufacturing. From as early as 2027, there will be many conventional refrigerants that can no longer be used in new equipment. That puts all the more responsibility on manufacturers. Rittal is taking this responsibility very seriously and already offers enclosure cooling solutions that will continue to satisfy all legal requirements in the future and help ensure that electrical systems can be run in a climate-friendly way.
If you would like to find out more, we recommend reading our new white paper on the F-Gas Regulation.
FAQs
1. What is the aim of the F-Gas Regulation and why does it affect enclosure manufacturing?
The F-Gas Regulation (EU 2024/573) aims to reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases in Europe to zero by 2032 in a phased process. The associated phased bans and GWP threshold values directly impact enclosure manufacturing because enclosure climate control systems commonly use partially fluorinated hydrocarbons as refrigerants. From 2027, it will no longer be possible to use many previously widespread refrigerants.
2. Why are F-gases particularly harmful to the climate?
F‑gases are persistent, synthetic compounds that absorb a great deal of infrared radiation and are therefore major contributors to the greenhouse effect. Their global warming potential is so high that even small quantities can have considerable consequences for the climate. For example, one kilogram of the refrigerant R‑134a has an equivalent effect to 1.43 metric tons of CO₂.
3. How will the regulation impact the selection of refrigerants from 2027 in practice?
From 2027, enclosure manufacturers will only be permitted to use refrigerants with a GWP of 150 or lower in new equipment, unless an exception can be justified on safety grounds. This will result in a lot of established refrigerants disappearing from the market, and manufacturers will need to switch to low-GWP solutions to ensure their cooling systems remain legally compliant.
4. Do the new regulations require pre-existing systems to be taken out of operation?
Pre-existing and operational systems can continue in operation. The regulation focuses on equipment that is being placed on the market for the first time and has a high GWP. However, previously installed systems that exceed certain threshold values are subject to extended obligations such as stricter leak checks and additional documentation requirements.
5. Which factors determine which alternative refrigerant is suitable?
There is no one universal, ideal alternative. The most suitable refrigerant in a particular case varies according to thermodynamic requirements, safety regulations, the installation environment and the desired temperature range. The overall energy efficiency of the system is also crucially important, as a low GWP is not an advantage if using that particular refrigerant significantly increases the system’s energy consumption.
6. Why is energy efficiency still important when the GWP is low?
The overall climate footprint of a cooling system is determined by a combination of direct and indirect emissions. Even a refrigerant with a very low GWP can ultimately result in a larger climate footprint if its use drives up energy consumption in the system. If indirect emissions increase to an extent that exceeds the savings in direct emissions, the solution ends up being less climate friendly.
7. Which refrigerants and cooling solutions is Rittal already using to ensure compliance with future regulations?
For many years, Rittal has been using refrigerants such as R‑410A, R‑513A and, in particular, R‑1234yf, which has a GWP of 0.5 and is therefore well below the stipulated threshold values. This means that many of its cooling units are exempt from the requirement for leak checks or leakage detection systems. The Blue e+ series is based on R‑1234yf and already satisfies long-term regulatory requirements.
Lars Platzhoff, Dipl.-Ing., Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing.
Executive Vice President Business Unit Cooling Solutions at Rittal
Lars Platzhoff has extensive international experience in the industry and assists with electrification and decarbonisation measures in data centre, power supply and automation applications.