Sourcing rooftop packaged AC units from China

UK duty and refrigerant controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8415 covers air-conditioning machines with a motor-driven fan and elements that change temperature and humidity. The selected lines distinguish reversible heat-pump units from other units incorporating refrigeration, then separate HFC-pre-charged equipment. All carry 2% duty on goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or tariff suspension is recorded.

The tariff attaches fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls and a restriction on entry into free circulation concerning ozone-depleting substances. New equipment must not use ozone-depleting substances, except recycled halons for critical uses. Equipment placed on the Great Britain market must comply with the applicable F-gas product bans. Give the refrigerant details to your customs broker and confirm the declaration requirements before dispatch.

Treat the table as candidate classifications. Confirm the commodity code using the construction, reversal valve and refrigerant charge, rather than the supplier's description alone. See the wider air conditioners and heat pumps guide for other equipment within this heading.

Specify the rooftop unit and duct interface

Specify cooling capacity at the intended outdoor and indoor conditions, heating capacity where fitted, airflow and available external static pressure. Agree bottom or side duct connections, supply and return openings, roof curb dimensions, operating weight, lifting points and service access. State the electrical supply, compressor and fan models, filtration, fresh-air arrangement, controller and building control interface.

Record the refrigerant, global warming potential and charge for each model. For HFC-pre-charged imports into Great Britain, confirm with the Environment Agency the applicable annual thresholds for registration, quota authorisations and an F-gas declaration of conformity certifying quota coverage. Calculate the annual total across your imports before ordering.

Ask your compliance adviser to establish the applicable ecodesign requirements for the unit's capacity and functions. Ecodesign conformity needs a declaration supported by technical documentation. Obtain the model-specific performance and electrical safety reports, applicable CE or UKCA declaration and English installation instructions. The importer must ensure electrical equipment is accompanied by instructions in easily understandable English.

Agree access to filters, coils, controls and compressors after installation. Include spare control boards and sensors in the order specification. Check the lifting and packing drawings against the delivery route, unloading equipment and roof installation plan before the factory packs the unit.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: One HFC-pre-charged reversible rooftop packaged air conditioner, illustrative only under 8415 81 00 91, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 2% is £184. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,384, so it is £1,876.80. Import taxes total £2,060.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £184 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and documents: match the model, compressor, fans, refrigerant and charge to the approved specification, nameplate and test records. Check the declaration and English manuals refer to the delivered configuration.

Performance: witness cooling and, where fitted, heating operation. Check airflow against the agreed duct resistance, control responses, fan vibration, abnormal noise and condensate drainage. Review leak-test and electrical safety records.

Roof interface: measure the curb footprint and duct openings. Check panel seals, drain outlets, weather protection, lifting points and maintenance clearances against the approved drawings.

Arrival condition: inspect the base frame, coils, panels and service doors for transit damage before lifting. Photograph damage and check accessories and spares against the packing list. Use the quality inspection guide to plan inspection stages.

What goes wrong

A unit can fit the roof curb yet deliver too little air through the building's ducts. Capacity figures without the agreed test conditions can also mislead. Other problems to check for include reversed duct connections, substituted compressors, leaking joints, poor condensate drainage and control interfaces that do not communicate with the building system.

Missing service clearance can make filter changes or compressor replacement difficult after installation. Settle the curb drawing, performance evidence, refrigerant paperwork and spare-parts list before approving shipment. A quote check can identify omissions in the supplier's offer.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.