Starting in 2027, heating will be planned differently
Heat pumps are considered key to the energy transition. But starting in 2027, a system’s sustainability will depend on more than just its efficiency. Refrigerants are also taking center stage. New Swiss regulations are further restricting climate-impacting substances, thereby changing planning, consulting, and implementation.
Starting January 1, 2027, revised provisions of the Chemicals Risk Reduction Ordinance (ChemRRV) will take effect. It regulates the use of certain long-lived and atmospheric-stable refrigerants. This applies to both heat pumps and air conditioning systems.
The direction is clear: Refrigerants with high global warming potential are to be phased out of new systems. The decisive factors here are not only the substance itself, but also the system’s design, its capacity, the refrigerant charge, and the specific application.
Deadlines Play a Key Role
The new requirements do not take effect on the same day for all systems, nor do they come into force without a transition period. For certain marketing bans that take effect on January 1, 2027, the FOEN allows the transfer of these substances to third parties until June 30, 2027. In other cases, transitional provisions apply if a climate-friendly replacement is only newly available as state-of-the-art technology.
In such cases, the deadline for manufacturing and importation is six months. A one-year period remains for the provision and transfer to third parties. Especially for construction projects already in the planning stages, this distinction can be decisive for the selection, procurement, and schedule of a system.
Planning Requires New Questions
For project developers and property owners, it is no longer sufficient to simply compare performance, noise levels, and investment costs. The choice of refrigerant is becoming part of the long-term risk analysis. Anyone planning today must determine whether the intended system can be introduced, sold, and installed in compliance with future regulations.
Natural refrigerants are thus gaining even greater importance. Propane, CO₂, and ammonia have a significantly lower global warming potential than many fluorinated alternatives. However, they require an appropriate safety concept and careful planning of the location, fill volume, and installation.
Existing Systems Will Remain in Operation
The new regulation does not mandate the replacement of existing heat pumps. Systems that are already installed may, in principle, continue to be operated, maintained, and repaired. The stricter requirements primarily apply to new devices and systems being introduced to the market.
This presents an important opportunity for the real estate industry. Those who align renovations, replacement investments, or new construction with the new requirements early on can avoid planning errors. At the same time, this leads to more robust solutions with lower climate risk.
Practical Guidance
Suissetec has published a new fact sheet on this topic. It compiles deadlines, limit values, and exemptions for heat pumps and air conditioning and refrigeration systems and is intended to provide professionals with a concise decision-making guide.
The message to the industry is therefore this: 2027 is not a distant regulatory deadline. It is a planning window that is open right now. Those who take advantage of it will combine climate protection, investment security, and a heat pump strategy that will still be viable tomorrow.