RGE reform 2026: what changes for your air conditioning or heat pump installer

The RGE label reform came into force with the publication of the decree of 23 June 2026 in the Official Journal of 26 June 2026. For individuals planning to have a reversible air conditioning unit or a heat pump installed, this is not just another piece of legislation: it materially changes who can work on your home, how sites are inspected, and what you risk if your RGE file is poorly put together. Here is the Proclimo guide to understanding the reform, verifying that your installer is properly qualified in 2026, and avoiding the traps that cost a lot.

Why the RGE label matters so much

The acronym RGE — "Reconnu Garant de l'Environnement" (Recognised Environmental Guarantee) is not just a marketing badge. It is a mandatory qualification for individuals to access the main public grants for works:

• MaPrimeRénov' (ANAH) for insulation, heat pumps, heating,
• CEE "Coup de Pouce" bonus (in particular sheet BAR-TH-171 air-air HP, BAR-TH-172 geothermal),
• Eco-PTZ (zero-interest loan),
• Regional and local grants that are conditional on a qualified installer.

In practical terms: a quote signed with a non-RGE company means an invoice paid entirely out of your pocket and no way to claim the grants — i.e. depending on the case, €2,000 to €8,000 lost on a heat pump project. Hence the vital importance of the qualification, and therefore of the reform that aims to make it more reliable.

📊 2025 reminder: the DGCCRF (French consumer fraud authority) and ANAH had identified more than 4,200 companies with "doubtful" or "misappropriated" RGE certificates out of the 62,000 qualified companies in France. The reform of 23 June 2026 explicitly aims to take back control.

What the 23 June 2026 decree says

The decree published in the OJ of 26 June 2026 overhauls the scheme created in 2015. Three structural measures to remember:

1. A new access route via VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience)

From 2027, an experienced craftsperson will be able to obtain the RGE qualification without standard theoretical training, on the basis of three audited compliant sites. The experience required depends on the diploma:

Diploma level	Years of experience required
No diploma	7 years
CAP / BEP	4 years
BTS / DUT	2 years
Engineering degree	1 year

The stated objective is to widen the pool of qualified installers, while the HP/AC sector is going through a documented labour shortage and registrations on heat pump installer training have dropped by 40% between 2024 and 2025.

2. Tighter controls on worksites

Audits move from two random checks to:

• a systematic documentary audit before the first qualification and at every renewal,
• a worksite visit on at least 30% of files,
• a systematic 4-year claims analysis (statement transmitted by the ten-year insurer),
• additional audits in the event of a major gap or five minor gaps.

This is the measure that really changes life for customers: fake RGEs will find it much harder to slip through the net.

3. Graduated and automatic sanctions

Here too, the dial is tightened:

• Suspension of the RGE label for up to 24 months in the event of a breach,
• Mandatory withdrawal after two consecutive non-compliant audits,
• Publication of sanctioned companies on the france-renov.gouv.fr website ("name and shame" effect).

The concrete consequences for your project

For an individual having a reversible air conditioning unit or a heat pump installed, the reform translates into four visible changes:

1. More genuinely qualified installers: the VAE route and the expansion of certification bodies (Qualit'EnR, Qualibat, AFNOR) should bring the average lead time from 6 to 9 months down to 3 to 4 months in tight zones such as Île-de-France. Good news for everyone struggling to find an available refrigeration technician — a topic we already covered in our article on the 2026 refrigeration technician shortage.
2. More frequent site checks: be ready to see an independent auditor visiting your neighbour's site — that is a good sign, it means the qualification is serious.
3. Zero tolerance on fake RGEs: if an installer offers you a quote without a visible RGE SIREN number, walk away.
4. Faster sanctions: dubious companies will be removed from the label more quickly, limiting abusive cold-calling.

QualiPAC, QualiClim, RGE refrigerants: which qualification for which project?

This is the point that individuals understand the least. An RGE qualification is not universal: it depends on the technical scope of the project. For an air conditioning or heat pump project, you need to combine two qualifications:

• QualiPAC (run by Qualit'EnR): essential to install an air-to-air, air-to-water or geothermal heat pump (heating and/or air conditioning).
• QualiClim or RGE Refrigerants (run by Qualibat or AFNOR Certification): essential to handle refrigerants (R32, R290, R410A…) during commissioning, servicing or repairing an air conditioning system.

An installer may well hold QualiPAC without holding QualiClim (rare but possible) — in which case they will have to call on a sub-contractor for the refrigerant part, which complicates commissioning. Proclimo holds both qualifications, guaranteeing simplicity and single-point responsibility on your project.

How to check in 5 minutes that an installer is truly RGE in 2026

Here is the check-list to systematically run through before signing a quote:

1. Official directory: go to france-renov.gouv.fr/annuaire-rge, type the company name or its SIRET number. Check that the qualification is "valid" (not "suspended" or "withdrawn").
2. Scope of the certificate: does the qualification explicitly mention your type of works (HP, AC, refrigerants)? Is the expiry date consistent?
3. Insurance certificate: request an up-to-date ten-year insurance certificate and professional liability insurance explicitly mentioning "air conditioning installation" or "heat pump".
4. Compliant quote: the quote must show the SIREN number, the RGE mention and the MaPrimeRénov' / CEE / eco-PTZ eligibility. Without these, your grant will be refused.
5. No commercial pressure: a serious RGE professional never cold-calls uninvited, never offers a "free assessment" with immediate signing, and never asks for a deposit of more than 30% before works start.

And what about grants, what changes?

The 2026 RGE reform ties in with the MaPrimeRénov' reform of 29 June 2026, which comes into force on 1 September 2026. The two texts complement each other:

• From 1 September 2026, several single-action ("monogeste") works are excluded from MaPrimeRénov': roof insulation, windows, domestic hot water heat pumps, wood/biomass equipment. Air-to-air, air-to-water and geothermal heat pumps remain eligible via the "parcours accompagné" (supported pathway) or via the CEE scheme.
• The 5.5% VAT on air-to-air HPs, long awaited, will be formalised by a decree expected in September 2026 under the PNACC-3 (National Climate Change Adaptation Plan). Our article on the reduced 5.5% VAT on reversible air conditioning will be updated upon publication.
• The CEE bonus is conditional on an ADEME approval for HPs, with a list published on 1 July 2026 and applicable on 1 September 2026 (sheets BAR-TH-171 and BAR-TH-172). Details are in our article on the Coup de Pouce approved HP bonus.

The 2026 calendar to remember

Date	Milestone
26 June 2026	Publication of the 2026 RGE decree in the OJ
1 July 2026	ADEME-approved HP list published
1 September 2026	MaPrimeRénov' reform enters into force (single-action works excluded)
September 2026	5.5% VAT decree on air-to-air HP expected
1 September 2026	CEE sheets BAR-TH-171 and BAR-TH-172 applicable
1 January 2027	Opening of the RGE via VAE route

Frequently asked questions

My installer has been RGE since 2022: do they have to requalify? No, their qualification remains valid until expiry. But they will be subject to the new reinforced audits at renewal, and to the 4-year claims analysis.

Can I use a non-RGE craftsperson if I give up the grants? Yes, nothing forbids it — but it is almost always a bad idea. Without RGE you lose €2,000 to €8,000 in grants, you lose the guarantee of technical competence (audit), and you take a risk in the event of a claim (insurer reluctant to cover a non-compliant site). The "low price" of non-RGE actually costs more.

Is the RGE qualification paid? For you, no. For the company, yes: between €800 and €2,500 per qualification and per year, depending on the certification body. It is an investment that filters out unserious operators.

How to tell a "real" RGE from a "fake"? Three clues: the SIREN number appears on the quote, the certificate is downloadable in PDF from the official directory, and the company can provide an up-to-date insurance certificate. A real RGE is never afraid to show their papers.

Can an "insulation" RGE install my air conditioning? No. Each qualification has a strict scope (insulation, HP, windows, refrigerants…). An "insulation" RGE that sells you a HP commits misappropriation of qualification: your grants will be refused, and the company risks having the label withdrawn after inspection.

Does the reform affect Proclimo? Yes, like all qualified installers. Proclimo is qualified QualiPAC and QualiClim / Refrigerants, and is already supporting the transition: internal audit, up-to-date QUALIBAT files, complete insurance documentation. Our customers have nothing extra to do — everything is transparent.

Take action with Proclimo

Proclimo is an RGE QualiPAC + QualiClim installer in Île-de-France, supporting individuals, businesses and co-owners in all their reversible air conditioning and heat pump projects:

• RGE audit and advice: free check of your grant eligibility, technical scoping, financing plan.
• Reversible air conditioning installation: quote within 48 h, installation by RGE-certified refrigeration technicians, ten-year guarantee, complete grant file.
• RGE-compatible maintenance contract: annual follow-up, refrigerant leak check, OPERAT and DPE updates.
• 7/7 emergency repair: intervention within 24 to 96 h in Île-de-France, with an RGE refrigeration technician every time.
• MaPrimeRénov' & CEE support: full grant file assembly, documentary audit, RGE compliance follow-up.

Contact Proclimo for a free assessment and an RGE quote — or book your intervention online so you don't get caught out by the next heatwave.

Sources: Decree of 23 June 2026 — Selectra · RGE via VAE — MonImmeuble / CAPEB · RGE label eased — Infodiag · Becoming RGE in 2026 — HéBob · June 2026 renovation regulation watch — Kelvin° · Official RGE directory.