Knowledge base
Knowledge base for refrigeration and heat pump technicians
Laws, regulations and standards by country, step-by-step guides for common tasks and a glossary of the most common terms. Every article has sources with links to the official texts and the date it was last checked.
Type
Laws, regulations and standards
International · Laws and regulationsRefrigerant rules by country: laws, leak checks, certificates, HFC taxes and bansRefrigerant rules in 27 countries and regions side by side: law and authority, leak-check threshold, technician certificate, HFC tax and key GWP bans with dates.EU · Laws and regulationsThe F-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573: what it means for refrigeration and heat pumpsOverview of F-gas Regulation 2024/573: leak checks in tonnes CO2e, records, certification, service bans for GWP 2,500 and 750, product bans and the HFC phase-out.Sweden · Laws and regulationsSwedish refrigerant rules: Ordinance 2016:1128, notification and annual reportWhat applies in Sweden in addition to the EU F-gas Regulation: notification before installation, annual report by 31 March, supervision, fines, certification and changes under way.United Kingdom · Laws and regulationsUnited Kingdom: the F-gas rules after Brexit for refrigeration and heat pumpsWhat applies to refrigerants in the UK: Great Britain follows retained Regulation 517/2014, Northern Ireland the EU's 2024/573. Leak checks, certificates, service bans and quotas.Ireland · Laws and regulationsIreland refrigerant rules: S.I. 404/2022, EPA, certificates and pressure systemsWhat applies in Ireland on top of the EU F-gas Regulation: S.I. 404/2022, EPA enforcement and fixed payment notices, certification and the pressure system rules in S.I. 299/2007.USA · Laws and regulationsUSA: EPA Section 608, the AIM Act and the safety standards ASHRAE 15 and 34Refrigerant rules in the USA: Section 608 certification, leak repair from 50 and 15 lb, the AIM Act and Technology Transitions with the 2026 changes, ASHRAE 15/34 and UL 60335-2-40.Canada · Laws and regulationsCanada refrigerant rules: GWP limits, SOR/2016-137 and CSA B52Refrigerant rules in Canada: GWP limits by product type under SOR/2016-137, the federal halocarbon rules SOR/2022-110, provincial certificates such as Ontario’s and the CSA B52:23 code.Australia and New Zealand · Laws and regulationsAustralia and New Zealand: HFC phase-down, refrigerant handling licences and AS/NZS 5149Refrigerant rules in Australia and New Zealand: import quotas and the HFC phase-down to 2036, ARC licences and authorisations, the 2025 codes of practice and AS/NZS 5149.International · Laws and regulationsEN 378 and ISO 5149: safety classes, location classes and charge limitsThe safety standard for refrigerating systems and heat pumps: the four parts of EN 378, ISO 817 safety classes, location class, access category, charge limits, PS and the revision.International · Laws and regulationsSecondary cooling systems: rules for glycol, brine, CO2 and chilled waterIndirect cooling with glycol, brine, CO2 or chilled water: what EN 378, the EU F-gas Regulation, the Pressure Equipment Directive and Swiss law say about the secondary circuit.EU · Laws and regulationsPressure Equipment Directive PED 2014/68/EU: categories, modules and CE for refrigerationPED 2014/68/EU for refrigeration and heat pumps: PS, fluid groups 1 and 2, categories I–IV from PS·V and PS·DN, modules, notified body, CE marking, assemblies, EN 378-2.International · Laws and regulationsFlammable refrigerants (A2L and A3): charge limits, standards and ATEXHow propane, isobutane, R32 and other flammable refrigerants may be used: LFL, m1–m3 under EN 378, the room formula, IEC 60335-2-89 (13 × LFL), ATEX and safe servicing.Denmark · Laws and regulationsDenmark: refrigerant rules – HFC ban, HFC tax and KMO certificationWhat applies in Denmark in addition to the EU F-gas Regulation: national ban on HFC in new systems, a tax per kg of HFC, KMO certificates and the changes made in 2025–2026.Norway · Laws and regulationsNorway refrigerant rules: EEA, produktforskriften, HFC tax and certificationWhat applies in Norway: the EU F-gas rules via the EEA Agreement, produktforskriften chapter 6a, the 2026 HFC/PFC tax, refunds for destruction and certificates valid for five years.Finland · Laws and regulationsFinland refrigerant rules: Tukes qualifications, Decree 1063/2025 and supervisionWhat applies in Finland in addition to the EU F-gas Regulation: Environmental Protection Act, Decree 1063/2025, Tukes qualifications and registers, supervision, penalties, deadlines to 2029.Germany · Laws and regulationsGermany refrigerant rules: ChemKlimaschutzV 2026, certificates and leakage limitsWhat applies in Germany in addition to the EU F-gas Regulation: the new ChemKlimaschutzV from 17 April 2026, A1, B and C certificates, leakage limits, take-back, fines and pressure checks.Austria · Laws and regulationsAustria refrigerant rules: FTG 2009, certification, fines and pressure equipmentWhat applies in Austria on top of the EU F-gas Regulation: the Fluorierte Treibhausgase-Gesetz 2009, certification bodies, fines up to 38,000 euro and the DGÜW-V pressure checks.Spain · Laws and regulationsSpain: refrigerant rules, RD 115/2017, the F-gas tax and RD 552/2019What applies in Spain on top of the EU F-gas Regulation: RD 115/2017, regional certificates, empresas habilitadas, the tax of €0.015/kg per GWP unit and the new decree.France · Laws and regulationsFrance: refrigerant rules, attestation de capacité and fiche d'interventionWhat applies in France on top of the EU F-gas Regulation: company and technician attestations, the CERFA record, annual declaration, new categories from 2027 and the dropped HFC tax.Italy · Laws and regulationsItalian refrigerant rules: DPR 146/2018, the F-gas register and the Banca DatiWhat applies in Italy besides the EU F-gas Regulation: register at the Chambers of Commerce, reporting to the Banca Dati within 30 days, certification, penalties and status in 2026.Netherlands · Laws and regulationsNetherlands: refrigerant rules – F-gas Besluit, BRL 100, BRL 200 and STEKWhat applies in the Netherlands on top of the EU F-gas Regulation: the national Besluit and Regeling, BRL 200 personal certificates, BRL 100 company certificates and key dates 2025–2029.Hungary · Laws and regulationsHungary: refrigerant rules – climate gas act, NKVH certification and supervisory feeWhat applies in Hungary in addition to the EU F-gas Regulation: the 2025 climate gas act, the NKVH database, certificates for persons and companies, the supervisory fee and 2026 changes.Portugal · Laws and regulationsPortugal: refrigerant rules – Decreto-Lei 145/2017, APA certification and reportingWhat applies in Portugal in addition to the EU F-gas Regulation: Decreto-Lei 145/2017, certification of technicians and companies, annual reporting to APA and registration fees.Czechia · Laws and regulationsCzechia: refrigerant rules – Act 73/2012 Sb., certification and the 2026 amendmentWhat applies in Czechia in addition to the EU F-gas Regulation: Act 73/2012 Sb., the ban on disposable cylinders, certificates from designated bodies, ISPOP reporting and the 2026 amendment.Poland · Laws and regulationsPoland: refrigerant rules – the F-gas Act, the CRO register and UDT certificationWhat applies in Poland in addition to the EU F-gas Regulation: the 2015 F-gas Act, equipment records in the CRO register, UDT certificates, annual BDS reports and the expected new act.India · Laws and regulationsIndia: ODS Rules 2000, HCFC phase-out, Kigali (group 2) and the India Cooling Action PlanRefrigerant rules in India: ODS Rules 2000 with registration and licences, the HCFC ban in new equipment from 2025, the Kigali HFC freeze in 2028, ICAP and training of service technicians.Switzerland · Laws and regulationsSwitzerland refrigerant rules: ChemRRV Annex 2.10, refrigerant licence and reportingWhat applies in Switzerland: its own rules in ChemRRV Annex 2.10 instead of the EU F-gas Regulation, the Fachbewilligung, Wartungsheft, reporting duty and new bans from 2027.Türkiye · Laws and regulationsTurkey refrigerant rules: the 2024 F-gas regulation, certification and KigaliWhat applies in Turkey: its own 2024 F-gas regulation, leak checks and EKOMVET, MYK certificates for technicians, TSE certificates for firms, bans from 2027 and the Kigali HFC phase-down.Romania · Laws and regulationsRomania: refrigerant rules – Legea 120/2024, AGFR certificates and enforcementWhat applies in Romania in addition to the EU F-gas Regulation: Law 120/2024 on F-gases, enforcement by Garda Națională de Mediu, fines, AGFR certificates and the 2026 draft law.China · Laws and regulationsChina: ODS Regulations 2024, HFC quotas, Kigali (group 1), HCFC phase-out and GB standardsRefrigerant rules in China: ODS Regulations covering HFCs since 2024, annual MEE HFC quotas, the Kigali freeze in 2024 and −10 % by 2029, HCFC phase-out, filing for service firms, GB/T 9237.Japan · Laws and regulationsJapan: フロン排出抑制法, the Kigali HFC phase-down and the High Pressure Gas Safety ActRefrigerant rules in Japan: inspections and leak reports under フロン排出抑制法, disposal with certificates since 2020, HFC phase-down, GWP targets for units and 高圧ガス保安法.South Korea · Laws and regulationsSouth Korea: refrigerant rules in the Clean Air Conservation Act, HFC phase-down, KGSRefrigerant rules in South Korea: duties from 20 RT, annual leak checks, logbook and RIMS, registered recovery businesses, Kigali and the ozone act, pressure rules and KGS codes.Singapore · Laws and regulationsSingapore refrigerant rules: EPMA, NEA, GWP limits, registration and recoverySingapore's GWP limits under the EPMA and NEA rules for AC, fridges, chillers, commercial refrigeration and car AC, plus registration and records.Latin America · Laws and regulationsLatin America: HFC rules in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Argentina (Kigali group 1)HFC rules in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Argentina: Kigali group 1, national import quotas in CO2e, banned HFCs, importer licences and authorities.
Step-by-step guides
International · Step-by-step guideEN 13136: sizing relief valves and discharge lines in refrigerating systemsHow relief valves and discharge lines are sized to EN 13136: fire, compressor, heat source, Kdr and Kb, 3 % inlet loss, back pressure, CO2 and dry ice, and the successor EN ISO 24664.EU · Step-by-step guideLeak check of refrigeration systems: F-gas intervals and stepsLeak check step by step: intervals of 12, 6 or 3 months by tonnes CO2e, records, direct and indirect methods, EN 14624 detectors and the follow-up check after a repair.International · Step-by-step guideRefrigeration pressure test: strength and tightness test, step by stepStep-by-step pressure test for refrigerating systems: test pressure 1.1 or 1.43 × PS, nitrogen, danger zone, tightness test, safety and what goes in the test certificate.International · Step-by-step guideEvacuating a refrigerating system step by step: dehydration and standing vacuum testHow to evacuate a refrigerating system: the right equipment, a target of 500 microns (0.67 mbar), a standing test that tells moisture from leaks, triple evacuation with nitrogen and common mistakes.International · Step-by-step guideSuperheat and subcooling: how to measure and interpret them, including glideStep by step: measure superheat and subcooling correctly, use the dew point and bubble point for blends with glide (R407C, R448A, R449A), and interpret the values when troubleshooting.International · Step-by-step guideSwitching from HFC to CO2 (R744) or propane (R290) step by stepMoving a plant from HFC to CO2 or propane: why you cannot just refill, system choice, EN 378 charge limits, PED, ATEX, certificates and start-up.International · Step-by-step guideCO2 (R744) transcritical systems: a practical service guideHow to service transcritical CO2 systems safely: pressures, dry ice and the triple point, trapped liquid, recovery, charging, testing and the EU rules for certificate B.International · Step-by-step guideRefrigeration tool list: what technicians and CO2 installers needThe tools a refrigeration technician needs, from gauges and vacuum pump to leak detector and PPE, with the ratings and approvals to check for CO2 and for A2L and A3 refrigerants.
Troubleshooting
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About the knowledge base
The articles are written by CO2piping.com for technicians, designers and plant owners. Every statement about requirements, limits or dates refers to a source, first of all the official legal text or the publisher of the standard, and every article shows when it was last checked.
Rules change. When a law or standard is being revised, the article says so. Always check the text in force before you make decisions, and ask the competent authority if you are unsure.
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