Why refrigerant choice matters now
The refrigerant inside a heat pump determines its climate impact if it leaks, its safety requirements, its maximum flow temperature and, increasingly, whether it can be sold in the EU at all. Regulation (EU) 2024/573 — the revised F-gas Regulation, in force since 11 March 2024 — sets a firm timetable for removing fluorinated refrigerants from small heat pumps. Distributors and installers buying stock today need to know which products will still be legal to place on the market in a few years.
R32 in brief
R32 (difluoromethane) is a single-component HFC with a GWP of 675. It replaced R410A in most residential heat pumps and air conditioners during the 2010s because it needs about 20 % less charge and has roughly one third of R410A's GWP. It is classed A2L (mildly flammable) under ISO 817, operates at high pressure and delivers good efficiency at flow temperatures up to about 60–65 °C.
Its weakness is regulatory: a GWP of 675 is far above the threshold of 150 that the new F-gas rules apply to small heat pumps, so new R32 monoblocks and small air-to-water splits can no longer be placed on the EU market from 2027.
R290 in brief
R290 is refrigerant-grade propane, a natural hydrocarbon with a GWP of about 3 (0.02 under the latest IPCC method) and no ozone depletion potential. Its thermodynamic properties suit heating well: a critical temperature of 96.7 °C allows flow temperatures of 70–75 °C without a second stage, so R290 units can serve radiator retrofits and heat hot water to 60 °C without an electric heater.
The trade-off is that propane is classed A3 (highly flammable). Manufacturers therefore keep the charge low — typically 0.5–2 kg in residential monoblocks — use spark-free electrical components and design the outdoor unit so that any leak disperses safely. Because the entire circuit sits outdoors in a monoblock, no refrigerant enters the building.
The EU F-gas timeline for heat pumps
- 1 January 2025: single-split air-to-air units with less than 3 kg of charge may no longer contain F-gases with a GWP of 750 or more.
- 1 January 2027: monoblock and other self-contained heat pumps and air conditioners up to 50 kW, and split air-to-water heat pumps up to 12 kW, may not contain F-gases with a GWP of 150 or more.
- 1 January 2029: split air-to-air units up to 12 kW — GWP 150 or more banned; splits above 12 kW — GWP 750 or more banned.
- 1 January 2030: self-contained units above 50 kW — GWP 150 or more banned.
- 1 January 2032: monoblock heat pumps and air conditioners up to 12 kW may not contain any F-gas.
- 1 January 2033: splits above 12 kW — GWP 150 or more banned.
- 1 January 2035: split units up to 12 kW may not contain any F-gas.
- 2050: the EU quota for placing HFCs on the market reaches zero.
Each ban carries a safety exemption: where site safety rules do not allow a refrigerant below GWP 150, a limit of 750 applies. Equipment already placed on the market before a deadline can still be installed, sold on and serviced. Meanwhile the HFC quota falls sharply from 2025 and again from 2027, which is already raising the price and tightening the supply of R32 and other HFCs for servicing.
Safety and installation differences
R32 splits require F-gas-certified technicians to braze lines and charge the system, and the indoor unit's refrigerant charge must respect room-size limits under EN 378 and IEC 60335-2-40. R290 monoblocks avoid indoor refrigerant entirely, but siting rules apply outdoors: minimum distances from windows, doors, drains and ignition sources, no installation in pits or unventilated recesses, and the clearances stated by the manufacturer. Servicing an R290 circuit needs hydrocarbon-rated recovery equipment and trained staff — the revised regulation extends training and certification requirements to natural refrigerants.
What buyers and distributors should do
- For EU markets: specify R290 monoblocks for new residential projects; from 2027 R32 monoblocks up to 50 kW can no longer be placed on the market.
- For non-EU markets in the Middle East, Africa and the CIS: R32 remains legal and cost-effective, but many buyers already prefer R290 for its higher flow temperature and long-term service supply.
- Plan stock around the date of placing on the market, not the installation date.
- Ask for refrigerant charge, safety class and IEC 60335-2-40 compliance on every datasheet.
- Train installers on both A2L and A3 handling and keep the required leak-detection and recovery tools available.
Verdict
R32 is a mature, efficient refrigerant that will keep serving many export markets, but its GWP of 675 makes it a short-horizon choice for EU-bound heat pumps. R290 combines near-zero GWP with high-temperature capability, and its safety requirements are well understood in modern monoblock design. For a product range that must sell across Europe, MENA and the CIS, offering both — R290 for the EU and high-temperature applications, R32 where cost and local service infrastructure favour it — is the pragmatic route.
Frequently asked questions
Is R32 banned in the EU?
Not yet, and not entirely. From 1 January 2027 new monoblock heat pumps up to 50 kW and split air-to-water heat pumps up to 12 kW may no longer contain refrigerants with a GWP of 150 or more, which excludes R32 (GWP 675). Existing R32 systems can continue to be used and serviced.
What is the GWP of R290 compared with R32?
R290 (propane) has a GWP of about 3, or 0.02 under the latest IPCC assessment. R32 has a GWP of 675 and R410A about 2,088, so R290 leaks have a negligible climate impact by comparison.
Is a propane heat pump safe?
Yes, when it is designed to IEC 60335-2-40 and installed with the manufacturer's clearances. Residential monoblocks contain only 0.5–2 kg of propane, use spark-free components and keep the whole refrigerant circuit outdoors.
Can an R290 heat pump reach 70 °C flow temperature?
Yes. Propane's critical temperature of 96.7 °C lets single-stage R290 units deliver 70–75 °C, which is enough for radiator retrofits and Legionella cycles without an electric heater.
