Canada Refrigerant Regulations
Understand Canada’s HFC consumption phase-down, federal product GWP limits, the Federal Halocarbon Regulations 2022, technician and leak-management duties, and the important division between national import/product rules and provincial or territorial HVAC/R requirements.
Four regulatory layers answer different refrigerant questions
Canada combines Montreal Protocol implementation, product GWP limits, federal-jurisdiction leak-management rules and provincial/territorial halocarbon controls.
ODSHAR HFC Phase-Down
The Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations reduce HFC consumption allowances from 90% to 60%, 30%, 20% and finally 15% of regulatory baseline.
Schedule 1.1 GWP Limits
ODSHAR also restricts manufacture and import of specified refrigeration products containing HFC refrigerants above category-specific GWP limits.
Federal Halocarbon Regulations 2022
FHR 2022 controls emissions, installation, service, leak testing, recovery and records for covered systems under federal jurisdiction.
Local Halocarbon Rules
Provincial and territorial laws complement federal rules with technician training, service, equipment labeling, leak and recovery obligations.
Selected Canadian HFC limits already in force by 2026
Schedule 1.1 of ODSHAR sets product-specific HFC GWP limits. These are not a single 700-GWP rule across all Canadian HVAC/R equipment.
| Product / Sector | HFC GWP Limit | Effective Date | How to Read It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stand-alone medium-temperature refrigeration — commercial / industrial | 1,400 | 1 Jan 2020 | Applies to covered self-contained systems designed to maintain ≥0°C. |
| Stand-alone low-temperature refrigeration — commercial / industrial | 1,500 | 1 Jan 2020 | Applies to covered self-contained systems below 0°C but not below −50°C. |
| Centralized refrigeration systems — commercial / industrial | 2,200 | 1 Jan 2020 | Covers defined centralized systems at ≥−50°C. |
| Condensing units — commercial / industrial | 2,200 | 1 Jan 2020 | Category-specific national product limit. |
| Residential stand-alone medium- / low-temperature refrigeration | 150 | 1 Jan 2025 | Tighter limit for covered residential stand-alone products. |
| Commercial / industrial chillers | 750 | 1 Jan 2025 | Applies to covered HFC chillers as defined in Schedule 1.1. |
| Mobile refrigeration systems | 2,200 | 1 Jan 2025 | Applies to covered commercial/industrial mobile refrigeration products. |
Canada’s Schedule 1.1 limits differ materially from the U.S. EPA Technology Transitions table. For example, Canada uses a 750-GWP chiller limit from 2025, but there is no identical nationwide 700-GWP rule for every residential comfort-air-conditioning system.
Canada’s supply/product law and service law operate at different levels
A manufacturer or importer may face ODSHAR nationally, while an owner or contractor may also face FHR 2022 if the system is under federal jurisdiction plus provincial/territorial rules.
Start with ODSHAR and Schedule 1.1
For new equipment, identify the product definition, HFC refrigerant GWP limit and effective date before manufacture or import.
- Identify whether the product falls within Schedule 1.1.
- Check the HFC refrigerant GWP against the product-specific limit.
- For bulk HFC manufacture/import/export, verify the required authorization, allowance or permit.
- Do not assume U.S. SNAP or EU F-gas status determines Canadian legality.
- Check electrical, mechanical, building and safety standards in the destination province or territory.
Start with jurisdiction and halocarbon-management rules
Existing systems are governed by service, emissions, leak, recovery and technician requirements that differ between federal and provincial/territorial jurisdiction.
- Determine whether the system is Crown-owned, a federal work/undertaking, or on federal/Indigenous lands for FHR 2022 scope.
- For large covered systems over 10 kg halocarbon, FHR 2022 requires a leak test at least once each calendar year and no more than 15 months apart.
- If a leak is detected under FHR 2022, repair, isolate/recover or recover the refrigerant as soon as practicable and no later than seven days.
- Use a certified person where federal rules require it.
- Check the province or territory for additional technician and halocarbon obligations.
ODSHAR is national and controls HFC supply plus products, but the Federal Halocarbon Regulations 2022 have a specific federal-jurisdiction scope. Most HVAC/R service businesses also need to understand provincial or territorial rules, which may incorporate or reference the national Code of Practice.
Key Canadian HFC milestones through 2036
The phase-down schedule is fixed in ODSHAR section 65.06, while product limits began on separate dates.
How Canadian rules affect five common refrigerants
Application category matters more than the refrigerant name alone. These are high-level positioning examples, not universal approvals.
Not subject to one blanket nationwide comfort-AC ban, but it exceeds the 750-GWP chiller product limit and remains exposed to the HFC supply phase-down.
Explore R410A →Numerically below the 750 chiller threshold, but equipment approval, flammability standards and the exact product definition still govern use.
Explore R32 →Lower than several current Canadian product thresholds but still requires suitable A2L equipment and compliance with provincial/territorial safety requirements.
Explore R454B →Not an HFC under ODSHAR Schedule 1.1 product limits, but hydrocarbon flammability and equipment safety rules remain decisive.
Explore R290 →A low-climate-impact alternative in suitable refrigeration systems; pressure and equipment design requirements remain application-specific.
Explore R744 →Leak testing, certified persons and records depend on jurisdiction and system size
FHR 2022 applies to covered systems under federal jurisdiction; provincial and territorial measures cover many other installations and can differ.
Certification is not one universal Canada-wide trade licence
Federal halocarbon certification is one layer. Provinces and territories also regulate technician training and refrigerant handling.
- FHR 2022 prohibits release of covered halocarbons except narrow stated circumstances.
- A leak test is required before charging covered federal-jurisdiction systems.
- Large federal systems over 10 kg require recurring leak tests and records.
- Provincial/territorial rules may prohibit recharging leaking systems and impose additional handling requirements.
Use the Canadian rule that matches the project
Start with product category and operating jurisdiction, then separate supply/product restrictions from service and safety rules.
Verify Canadian requirements with primary federal sources
Use the consolidated regulations plus the applicable province or territory before making a project decision.
Verify the current consolidated federal regulations and the exact provincial or territorial law applicable to the installation. Product restrictions, technician requirements and leak obligations can be governed by different authorities.
Planning refrigeration or air conditioning for Canada?
Screen candidate refrigerants, then verify ODSHAR product limits, HFC supply rules, federal-jurisdiction obligations and the destination province or territory before specifying equipment.