Quick answer
R-1234yf is a hydrofluoroolefin. In Regulation (EU) 2024/573 it appears in Section 1 of Annex II, listed as HFC-1234yf with the formula CF3CF = CH2 and a 100-year GWP of 0.501.
That is where the trap starts. Because it is listed in Annex II rather than Annex I, a separate set of thresholds applies to it, expressed in kilograms rather than tonnes of CO2 equivalent. A CO2-equivalent sum would give practically zero and lead you to the wrong conclusion that nothing needs checking.
| Situation | Value |
|---|---|
| GWP | 0.501 — value listed in Section 1 of Annex II |
| Servicing today | Allowed — Not caught by the servicing bans that apply today. |
| From 1 January 2032 | Allowed — Still allowed after that date. |
| Leak-check threshold | 1 kg (Section 1 of Annex II) |
The GWP, and where it comes from
R-1234yf is a pure substance and is listed directly in Section 1 of Annex II at 0.501.
Servicing: what you may charge, and until when
At 0.501, R-1234yf sits below the 2 500 threshold in Article 13(3) and 13(4). It may still be used to maintain and service refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment.
It clears the next line as well. The 750 threshold that takes effect on 1 January 2032 for stationary refrigeration other than chillers stays above its value.
Equipment: what may no longer be placed on the market
Here is the second trap. At 0.501, R-1234yf passes under every GWP threshold in Annex IV — no 150, 750 or 2 500 line reaches it. But Annex IV also contains rows written “any fluorinated greenhouse gas”, with no threshold. R-1234yf is a fluorinated greenhouse gas, and those rows do catch it:
| Annex IV point | Equipment | Limit | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7(c) | Chillers up to and including 12 kW | any fluorinated greenhouse gas | 1.1.2032 |
| 8(c) | The same equipment | any fluorinated greenhouse gas (750 where safety requires) | 1.1.2032 |
| 9(d) | Split systems up to and including 12 kW | any fluorinated greenhouse gas | 1.1.2035 |
The dates are distant — 2032 and 2035 — but they exist. A refrigerant with a near-zero GWP is not a permanent answer from the standpoint of Annex IV; the direction of policy is towards non-fluorinated refrigerants wherever safety allows.
Leak checks and the detection system
Article 5(1) sets what has to be checked and Article 5(6) how often. The duty falls on operators and on manufacturers of the equipment.
For gases in Section 1 of Annex II the thresholds are in kilograms, not tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
| Charge | Check at least | With a detection system |
|---|---|---|
| < 10 kg | 12 months | 24 months |
| 10 – 100 kg | 6 months | 12 months |
| ≥ 100 kg | 3 months | 6 months |
Worked example. A system holding 12 kg of R-1234yf falls straight into the kilogram band: between 10 and 100 kg, so checks at least every 6 months. The CO2 equivalent of the same charge is only 0.0060 tonnes — but that is not what decides it.
Article 6(1) makes a leakage detection system mandatory for the stationary equipment in Article 5(2), points (a) to (d), from 100 kg of Section 1 Annex II gases. The detector itself is checked at least once every 12 months under Article 6(3).
The kilogram thresholds, line by line
Article 5(1) says, literally, that the checking obligation applies to equipment containing 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent or more of Annex I gases or 1 kilogram or more of gases listed in Section 1 of Annex II that is not contained in foams.
One kilogram. Not 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, which at 0.501 would be nearly 10 000 kilograms.
The same structure repeats down the article:
- Article 5(6). The bands run on 10 kg and 100 kg, in parallel with the 50 and 500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent used for Annex I.
- Article 5(1), second subparagraph. The hermetically sealed exemption sits below 2 kg for Section 1 Annex II gases, against below 10 tonnes of CO2 equivalent for Annex I.
- Article 6(1). A detection system becomes mandatory from 100 kg, in parallel with 500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
In residential buildings the hermetically sealed exemption rises to below 3 kg of fluorinated greenhouse gases, on condition of the hermetically sealed label — and there the text no longer separates the annexes.
“GWP 0.5 × 12 kg = 0.006 tonnes, so below threshold, no checks.” That is wrong. At 12 kg of R-1234yf you are in the 10–100 kg band and you check at least every 6 months.
Label and record
The label. Article 12(1)(g) puts all fluorinated greenhouse gas containers under the labelling requirement, and Article 12(3) requires the designation, the quantity in weight and in CO2 equivalent, and the GWP. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2174 requires the text “contains fluorinated greenhouse gases” and points at the “GWP” column of the annexes.
The record. Where the equipment has to be checked under Article 5(1), Article 7(1) requires a record for each piece of equipment: quantity and type, quantities added with dates, quantity recovered, origin of any added gas, the identity of the undertaking and the person who did the work, and the dates and results of checks and repairs. Five years, held by the operator and in copy by the servicing undertaking.
Who may buy it. Article 11(6) allows the purchase only by certified persons or undertakings employing them, and the seller records the certificate number and the quantity under Article 7(3).
What the regulation does NOT tell you
Physical properties, safety class and flammability are not in the regulation. Take them from the product's safety data sheet (sections 2 and 9) and the manufacturer's documentation.
The regulation also does not say whether the gas suits a particular installation. Capacity, pressures, oil compatibility and component ratings are engineering questions answered by the equipment manufacturer's documentation.
Where the refrigerant is flammable, the certification side moves too: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2215 places hydrocarbons inside Certificates A1 and A2, CO2 in Certificate B and ammonia in Certificate C, and Article 10(5) of the F-gas Regulation requires training to cover safe handling of equipment containing flammable or toxic gases or operating under high pressure.
Checklist
- The GWP used is the binding columnNot the 20-year column, marked for information only.
- Charge recorded in kilogramsThresholds for Section 1 Annex II gases run on kilograms.
- Servicing status checked against Article 13And the next date, not only today's.
- Equipment purchases checked against Annex IVBy category and rated capacity.
- Check interval assignedArticle 5(6), with or without a detection system.
- Detector question answeredArticle 6(1).
- Label complete on the cylinderDesignation, weight, CO2 equivalent, GWP.
- Equipment record currentArticle 7(1), kept five years.
- Safety data sheet available where the work happensNot only in the office.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GWP of R-1234yf?
0.501, the value listed in Section 1 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2024/573. That is the binding column, not the 20-year one.
Can I still service with R-1234yf?
Yes. At 0.501 it is not caught by the servicing bans that apply today. It stays below the 750 limit that takes effect on 1 January 2032.
At what charge do leak checks start?
At 1 kilogram. For gases in Section 1 of Annex II, Article 5(1) uses a kilogram threshold rather than tonnes of CO2 equivalent — even where the GWP is very low.
Is R-1234yf banned as a substance?
No. The regulation does not ban substances as such. It restricts use for servicing above certain GWP thresholds (Article 13) and the placing on the market of certain equipment containing them (Annex IV). Those are different things with different dates.
Who may buy R-1234yf?
Under Article 11(6), only certified natural persons or undertakings employing such persons, for installing, maintaining, servicing or repairing the covered equipment. The seller records the certificate number and the quantity under Article 7(3).
What has to be on the cylinder?
Article 12(3): an indication that it contains fluorinated greenhouse gases, the accepted industry designation, the quantity in weight and in CO2 equivalent, and the GWP. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2174 adds the text “contains fluorinated greenhouse gases”.
Where do I find the safety class and the properties?
Not in the regulation. In the product's safety data sheet — section 2 for classification and label elements, section 9 for physical and chemical properties — and in the manufacturer's documentation.
Official sources
Annexes I, II, IV and VI and Articles 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13 were read directly in the Official Journal text through the EU Publications Office.
Currency of this page and limits of responsibility
This is a regulatory status page, not a technical data sheet. It carries no thermodynamic properties, safety classes or application recommendations. For those, use the product's safety data sheet and the manufacturer's documentation.
General information prepared by EgoLog from the regulation and official Commission material. It is not legal advice and it is not an engineering assessment.
Annex IV can be amended, and the Commission may authorise time-limited exemptions under Article 11(5). Confirm the current text before you rely on a date commercially.