The Regulation (EU) 2024/573 of the European Parliament and of the Council, adopted on 7 February 2024, introduces a new framework for controlling fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases).

It repeals Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 and amends Directive (EU) 2019/1937, with the main goal of accelerating the reduction of F-gas emissions in line with the EU's climate-neutrality objectives by 2050.

Mandatory Leakage Detection Systems

A key requirement is the installation and regular verification of leakage detection systems in all applications using fluorinated gases or hydrocarbon refrigerants above certain charge thresholds.

Operators and owners of such systems are obliged to:

• Install a leakage detection system capable of detecting gas emissions and issuing an alert automatically to the operator or servicing company;
• Ensure the proper functioning of the system is checked at least every three years by a qualified enterprise or certified personnel;
• Record installation and inspection results in the official database maintained by the competent authority;
• Maintain documentation proving compliance with both environmental and safety (Ex) requirements.

These obligations apply to:

• Systems containing ≥ 150 g of F-gas, and
• ≥ 1 kg when installed in residential environments (household or multi-dwelling buildings).

From Climate Regulation to Explosion Protection

While this regulation primarily addresses environmental sustainability, it also directly impacts the field of explosion protection (Ex) — especially where hydrocarbon-based refrigerants such as R290 (propane) or R600a (isobutane) are used as low-GWP alternatives.

These substances are flammable, which means all equipment, components, and servicing activities must comply with the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU and the IEC 60079 series of standards.

Separation of Ex Compliance Engineering: Household vs Industrial Facilities

The application of Ex compliance engineering depends strongly on the installation environment and intended use of the equipment.

Household and Small Commercial Installations

• Typically involve small refrigerant charges (≤ 1 kg).
• The main focus lies on safe appliance design (intrinsically safe construction, tested by the manufacturer) under EN 60335-2-40 / EN 378.
• End-users and installers must still follow ventilation, spacing, and ignition-source-free installation rules, but site-specific hazardous area classification (HAC) is generally not required (although the wording of HAC is there in EN 378).
• However, when such systems are installed in confined or poorly ventilated spaces, an Ex risk assessment becomes mandatory — particularly in apartment basements, plant rooms, or rooftop enclosures.

Industrial and Commercial Facilities

• Involve larger refrigerant charges (> 150 g up to several kilograms).
• Require formal Hazardous Area Classification (IEC 60079-10-1 / API RP 505) and full Ex design coordination across mechanical, electrical, and control disciplines.
• Leak detection systems must be certified for use in explosive atmospheres and integrated into the plant's safety-instrumented system (SIS).
• Periodic inspection and maintenance must be performed by competent Ex personnel under IEC 60079-17 / IEC 60079-19.
• Documentation must demonstrate compliance both with F-gas Regulation 2024/573 and the ATEX workplace directive 1999/92/EC.

This separation ensures proportional safety measures:

while household users rely on product conformity and good installation practice, industrial operators must maintain a comprehensive Ex compliance management system covering design, inspection, and record-keeping.

New Challenges — and Opportunities — for the Industry

Regulation (EU) 2024/573 sets new expectations for all stakeholders:

• Designers must integrate environmentally compliant yet explosion-safe leak detection and alarm systems.
• Installers must verify that detectors, cables, and enclosures are suitable for the defined Ex zones.
• Operators must coordinate environmental reporting with explosion-protection documentation and ensure competence of their service providers.
• Authorities and service companies must align inspection, calibration, and database-reporting duties under both legal regimes.

Conclusion

The transition toward low-GWP refrigerants like propane represents both a sustainability milestone and a renewed safety challenge.

To succeed, companies must bridge the gap between environmental compliance and explosion protection discipline — ensuring that the "green" solution remains also safe and Ex-compliant.

The listed values are from the hungarian version of the same.

At ExProfessional.com we continuously track legislative developments and provide guidance to help operators, designers, and inspectors implement integrated compliance strategies — where climate responsibility and explosion safety meet.

Keep up the good work!

Arpad
veress@exprofessional.com