F-Gas changes put chiller and heat pump replacement on the agenda for building owners

Corporate news, Vienna, 10 November 2026 – The revised EU F-Gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573 is changing the long-term framework for chillers, commercial heat pumps and the refrigerants they use. Daikin Central Europe advises facility owners to plan the replacement of ageing R-410A chillers and heat pumps before operational necessity dictates the timing.

Owners of ageing R-410A equipment should assess replacement now. While existing systems can still operate and be serviced, F-Gas restrictions are changing which new chillers and heat pumps can be placed on the European market, with further restrictions from 1 January 2027. Planning before 2027 keeps more replacement options open, including R-32 alternatives available today.

Which F-Gas changes are most relevant to owners of R-410A units?

Here are the key elements of the F-Gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573 and what they may mean for the future cost and availability of R-410A refrigerant:

• The EU quota for placing hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) refrigerants on the EU market is scheduled to fall by about half in 2027, with further reductions until it reaches zero from 2050.
• Existing R-410A chillers and heat pumps can continue to operate and be serviced under current EU rules, as servicing restrictions introduced in 2026 apply to refrigerants with a GWP of 2,500 or more. R-410A has a GWP of 2.088, so it falls below this threshold.
• However, the shrinking HFC quota may affect the future cost and availability of R-410A refrigerant.

A chiller or heat pump is a long-term investment in a building’s technical infrastructure. Its replacement therefore involves much more than simply choosing a refrigerant. Waiting until ageing equipment fails can leave considerably less time to analyse actual demand, compare different technologies, establish the project budget and schedule installation around building operations.

Replacement options using R-32, R-454C or R-290 refrigerants

Solutions operating on R-32, R-454C and R-290 refrigerants provide different replacement pathways for R-410A units, depending on system capacity, application, required water temperature and site-specific safety requirements. The following provides an overview of their characteristics and considerations for replacement projects:

• R-32 (GWP 675), classified as A2L, is widely used and, depending on the existing installation, may allow replacement with fewer installation modifications and site constraints than solutions using A3 refrigerants such as R-290. From 1 January 2027, certain new R-32 air-to-water heat pump units will be subject to placing-on-the-market restrictions under the F-Gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573, depending on the equipment type and capacity.
• R-454C (GWP 148), classified as A2L, is Daikin’s recommended replacement solution for high-temperature applications and R-32 heat pumps in capacity ranges (≤50 kW) affected by F-Gas restrictions.
• R-290 (propane, GWP 0.02), classified as A3, is another option for projects where the safety requirements associated with its flammability classification can be accommodated.

Support, maintenance and repair of existing systems

Existing systems can continue to be operated and serviced in accordance with the applicable F-Gas Regulation requirements, while Daikin aims to provide spare parts and technical support throughout the operational life of the system. The placing-on-the-market restrictions for certain new equipment do not constitute a general ban on the operation of existing systems.

From reactive replacement to asset planning

For facility owners evaluating the replacement of a single chiller or heat pump, or managing a broader replacement programme, Daikin recommends beginning with an assessment of the existing installation and actual building demand. Daikin’s Chiller & Heat Pump Replacement Advisor can be used to compare replacement scenarios based on energy-efficiency, refrigerant and financial parameters.

Access Daikin’s Chiller & Heat Pump Replacement Advisor: https://daikin.formstack.com/forms/chiller_hp_replacement_advisor