Fugitive emissions

Fugitive emissions are unintended releases of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere that do not come from combustion. They result from leaks, seepage or equipment failures rather than a controlled burning process, and they form part of Scope 1 emissions under the GHG Protocol when they come from sources owned or controlled by the organisation.

Main sources

• Refrigeration and air conditioning: leaks of fluorinated gases (HFCs) from air conditioning systems, cold storage and industrial refrigeration equipment.
• Fire suppression systems: accidental discharges or testing of systems using gases such as SF6.
• Natural gas and LPG: leaks from pipelines, valves, fittings and storage tanks.
• Industrial processes: leaks from compressors, mechanical seals and process equipment in sectors such as petrochemicals or water treatment.
• Electrical equipment: SF6 leaks, a gas with a very high global warming potential, from switchgear and transformers.

Why they are hard to measure

Unlike combustion emissions, which are calculated from fuel consumption and a known emission factor, fugitive emissions depend on irregular leaks that are difficult to observe directly. They are typically estimated using mass balance calculations, the difference between gas charged and gas recovered in refrigeration equipment, or standard emission factors applied to equipment capacity.

Why they matter in an emissions inventory

Many of the gases involved, such as HFCs or SF6, have a global warming potential (GWP) hundreds or thousands of times higher than CO2. This means relatively small leaks by volume can represent a significant share of a company's Scope 1 carbon footprint, particularly in sectors with intensive refrigeration use such as food, cold-chain logistics or retail.

How to reduce them

• Carry out preventive maintenance and regular leak detection on refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.
• Replace high-GWP refrigerants with lower-impact alternatives where technically feasible.
• Keep a log of gas top-ups per unit to calculate mass balance accurately.
• Train maintenance staff in good practices for handling refrigerant gases.

At Manglai we help you identify and calculate fugitive emissions within your Scope 1 inventory, with the traceability an auditable report requires. Discover how Manglai can help you.