R448A after 2032: servicing rules and recovered gas
You may still top up R448A today, including with virgin gas. From 1 January 2032, stationary refrigeration equipment using R448A may only be serviced with reclaimed or recycled gas, because its GWP is above 750. Many R404A systems have been converted to R448A, so demand for reclaimed R448A continues after 2032; Gaia Cooling collects recovered R448A.
- GWP
- 1386
- Type
- HFC/HFO blend
- Destination
- Reuse after reclamation
Calculated under Annex VI of Regulation (EU) 2024/573 using the GWP values in Annexes I and II. Older sources and labels give 1387.
What applies to R448A
- 2025
The servicing ban on virgin refrigerant with a GWP of 2500 or more hits R404A and R507A. R448A is not covered and is a widely used conversion choice.
- 2027
The maximum amount of new HFCs allowed on the EU market roughly halves, from 42.9 to 21.7 million tonnes CO₂ equivalent per year. Gas recovered in the EU and then reclaimed or recycled sits outside the quota.
- 2030
New refrigeration equipment (other than chillers) containing F-gases with a GWP of 150 or more may no longer be placed on the market, unless safety requirements at the site make it necessary.
- 2032
Servicing stationary refrigeration equipment with virgin R448A is banned. Reclaimed and recycled R448A remains allowed, with no end date in the Regulation. Chillers, air conditioning and heat pumps are not covered by this ban.
R448A is mainly found in supermarkets, cold rooms and cold stores, for medium and low temperatures. It is widely used when converting R404A and R22 systems and in more recent HFC systems.
New systems usually use CO₂ (R744), smaller cabinets propane (R290) and industrial plants ammonia (R717). From 2030, new refrigeration equipment using R448A may no longer be placed on the market, unless safety requirements make it necessary.
Offering R448A
We collect recovered R448A from installers, wholesalers and equipment owners. Collection goes through a licensed carrier, we handle the paperwork and we look at the price lot by lot. The gas goes to a licensed reclamation plant and returns to the market for servicing existing systems, including after 2032.
Questions about R448A
Can I top up R448A after 2032?
Yes, but only with reclaimed or recycled R448A. From 1 January 2032, virgin R448A may no longer be used to service stationary refrigeration equipment. The Regulation sets no end date for reclaimed and recycled gas.
Is the GWP of R448A 1386 or 1387?
Under the current F-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573 it is 1386, because the Regulation uses newer values for the HFOs in the blend. Under the previous Regulation it was 1387. In practice the difference does not matter.
Does R448A fall under the quota?
The HFC part does. R448A is a blend of HFCs (R32, R125 and R134a) and HFOs (R1234yf and R1234ze). New R448A needs quota for the HFCs in the blend. Gas recovered in the EU and then reclaimed sits outside the quota.
What sets the price for recovered R448A?
That depends on gas type, purity, quantity and location. In a blend of five components, the composition can shift after a leak. So we look at each lot separately, and you know where you stand upfront.