Materials & Environmental
MV switchgear up to 24 kV must be F-gas-free (in force)
Voltage-stepped prohibition dates through 2032
Virgin SF6 banned for switchgear servicing
Regulation Overview
The EU F-gas Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2024/573, is the directly applicable EU law governing fluorinated greenhouse gases, including sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs). It replaces Regulation (EU) 517/2014 and tightens the Annex IV schedule of product and equipment bans.
For switchgear makers and their suppliers, the central obligation is the phase-out of F-gases in new electrical switchgear. The prohibitions apply by voltage class on fixed dates, and they govern placing new equipment on the market and putting it into operation, not the removal of equipment already in service.
The regulation also phases down HFCs used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pumps, and restricts the use of virgin SF6 for servicing. Compliance depends on substance-level data from every supplier, declared per component and voltage class.
Manufacturers of electrical switchgear, ring main units, and circuit breakers for the EU market
Component and sub-assembly suppliers feeding switchgear makers
Importers placing F-gas equipment on the EU market
Operators and project buyers putting new switchgear into operation
Manufacturers of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump equipment using HFCs
Producers and importers of F-gases subject to the HFC quota
Key Thresholds
EU tenders now require proof that switchgear is F-gas-free. A single component with an undeclared insulating gas can disqualify a bid or stall a grid project. Without automated supplier data collection and portals that gather declarations per voltage class, bid teams discover the gap only when a customer rejects the submission.
Four prohibition dates apply to four voltage bands, each with its own GWP condition. A product compliant for one class may be prohibited for another. Without BOM-level compliance intelligence linking each product to its voltage band and deadline, tracking which equipment is sellable, and when, becomes unmanageable.
Where no F-gas-free alternative or tender bid exists, a derogation may apply, but only with documented technical and procurement justification. Teams relying on email threads instead of a centralized compliance data backbone cannot reconstruct the evidence an authority or auditor later asks for.
From 2035, virgin SF6 can no longer service the installed base, and leak checks and equipment records apply across its lifetime. Specialized substance reporting solutions and continuous compliance monitoring are needed to keep SF6 records, reclamation evidence, and reporting current and inspection-ready.
Certivo In Action
Certivo in Action — F-gas Workflow
Features Tabs
Visibility Before the Deadline, Not After the Rejection
Certivo shows which products miss which voltage-band date before a tender does. A centralized compliance data backbone replaces scattered datasheets, so gaps surface early rather than at bid submission.
No Design Win Lost to a Missing Declaration
Certivo identifies components that cannot be declared F-gas-free in time, so switchgear makers can qualify alternatives before a deadline removes a product from the market.
From Voltage-by-Voltage Chasing to One Workflow
CORA collects and validates declarations automatically through AI-native compliance automation. Your team manages exceptions, not manual tracking across four dates and four voltage bands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which switchgear is banned from 2026 under the EU F-gas Regulation?
From 1 January 2026, new medium-voltage switchgear up to and including 24 kV may no longer use F-gases such as SF6 for insulation or switching. The rule applies to placing new equipment on the market and putting it into operation. It does not require removing switchgear already in service. Certivo maps each product to its voltage class and deadline.
Is recycled or reclaimed SF6 still allowed?
Yes. The regulation permits reclaimed or recycled SF6 for servicing the installed base. From 1 January 2035, newly produced (virgin) SF6 can no longer be used for maintenance or servicing of electrical switchgear, with limited exceptions. Certivo helps track SF6 records and reclamation evidence through specialized substance reporting solutions.
What are the exceptions to the F-gas switchgear bans?
Derogations may apply where no F-gas-free alternative is technically feasible, or where a tender receives no qualifying F-gas-free bid, subject to documented justification. The conditions are specific and time-limited. CORA helps assemble and maintain the supporting records a competent authority may request.
Does the F-gas Regulation require removing existing switchgear?
No. The prohibitions govern new equipment placed on the market or put into operation after each date. Equipment already in service may continue to operate, subject to servicing, leak-check, and recordkeeping rules. Certivo provides continuous compliance monitoring and audit readiness across both new and installed equipment.
How does Certivo help with F-gas supplier declarations?
CORA collects insulating-gas declarations through automated supplier data collection and portals, then uses AI document parsing and certificate validation to extract gas type, GWP, and voltage class. It validates each product against the Annex IV deadlines and builds tender-ready evidence, giving switchgear makers multi-tier supply chain transparency.