Fluorinated gases in compressed air drying: the EU authorizes their use due to lack of alternatives

Key data

If your company uses compressed air drying equipment in its production processes and that equipment operates with fluorinated greenhouse gases, you have good news: you are not in regulatory breach. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1975, published on 9 September 2026, grants an express exemption to Regulation (EU) 2024/573, the European standard that regulates and restricts the use of F-gases.

The reason is technical and straightforward: the European Commission recognizes that no technically or economically viable alternatives exist for these specific applications at this time. This is not a permanent window, but a temporary authorization while the technology market does not offer real substitutes.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) 2024/573 is the European framework standard that regulates fluorinated greenhouse gases, with the objective of progressively reducing their use in industry. However, the standard itself provides an exemption mechanism for cases where prohibition or restriction is not technically applicable.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1975 activates precisely that mechanism for a specific category: equipment used to dry compressed air. Below are the key elements of what it establishes:

• Authorization of use: Continued use of F-gases is permitted in certain compressed air drying equipment.
• Justification: Absence of technically or economically viable alternatives for these specific applications.
• Compliance condition: Companies must properly document that their use is covered by this exemption.
• Temporary nature: The exemption is subject to future review when technological alternatives emerge in the market.
• Regulatory framework: The measure is part of the European policy for progressive reduction of F-gases, but recognizes the real technical limitations of the current market.

This exemption does not repeal or modify Regulation (EU) 2024/573: it simply creates an exception applicable to this specific type of equipment while no viable substitutes exist.

Economic and operational impact

For affected companies, the immediate impact is positive: they avoid having to replace equipment or refrigerants urgently, which in industrial facilities can represent very significant investments. The exemption eliminates the risk of regulatory breach associated with the use of F-gases in this specific application.

However, there are operational implications that should not be ignored:

• Mandatory documentation: The use of F-gases must be properly documented as use covered by the exemption in Regulation 2026/1975. Without this documentation, the company could face problems in inspections or audits.
• Technology monitoring: The exemption is not indefinite. When the market offers viable alternatives, the Commission will review and potentially revoke the authorization. Companies must monitor the evolution of the alternative refrigerant market.
• Investment planning: Although there is no immediate obligation to change equipment, it is prudent to incorporate into medium-term planning the possible transition to F-gas-free technologies.
• Sectors with greater exposure: Manufacturing, automotive and food are the sectors with the greatest dependence on dry compressed air, and therefore those that benefit most from this exemption.

Who does it affect?

This regulation directly affects two groups of companies:

• Manufacturers of compressed air drying equipment that incorporate fluorinated gases in their products. They can continue manufacturing and marketing these equipment without breaching Regulation (EU) 2024/573.
• Industrial users of compressed air drying equipment that use F-gases in their production processes. They can continue operating their current installations without the need for immediate replacement.

By industrial sectors, the most affected are:

• Industrial manufacturing: Production lines requiring dry compressed air for pneumatic tools, painting, assembly or quality control.
• Automotive: Manufacturing plants and industrial workshops with compressed air systems for painting and assembly.
• Food industry: Packaging processes, pneumatic transport and quality control requiring moisture-free compressed air.
• Any industrial sector with compressed air systems that include F-gas-based refrigeration dryers.

Practical example

An automotive component manufacturing plant has a centralized compressed air system with several refrigeration dryers that use fluorinated gases as refrigerant. Under Regulation (EU) 2024/573, the use of these F-gases could be considered a breach.

With the entry into force of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1975 on 8 September 2026, this plant is expressly covered by the exemption: it can continue operating its current dryers without breaching European regulations, given that no technically or economically viable alternatives exist to replace that equipment at this time.

What this plant must do immediately is update its internal documentation to reflect that the use of F-gases in its compressed air dryers is authorized under Regulation 2026/1975, and establish a monitoring process to detect when the market offers alternatives that could lead the Commission to review this exemption.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if your equipment is affected: Review whether your company has compressed air drying equipment that uses fluorinated greenhouse gases as refrigerant. If so, this exemption applies directly to you.
2. Update regulatory compliance documentation: Formally record that the use of F-gases in your compressed air dryers is covered by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1975, with express reference to the exemption granted under Regulation (EU) 2024/573.
3. Communicate with your procurement and maintenance team: Inform those responsible for maintenance and procurement that they can continue acquiring and using F-gases for this equipment without risk of breach, but must document each use.
4. Establish a technology monitoring system: The exemption is temporary. Designate a responsible party or process to monitor the emergence of technically or economically viable alternatives in the refrigerant market for compressed air drying.
5. Incorporate the transition into strategic planning: Although there is no immediate deadline, include in your investment roadmap the possible future replacement of this equipment when alternative technology is available and the exemption is reviewed.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601975