GovWire

Guidance: Qualifications to work with F gas

Environment Agency

November 2
13:44 2022

You must have your own qualifications to work on equipment containing F gas, even if you work for someone else.

It is against the law to work with F gas if you do not have the correct qualifications. You could receive a civil penalty for breaking the law. See the Environment Agency enforcement sanctions policy.

If you see someone working with F gas that doesnt have the right qualifications, report it to f-gassupport@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) systems qualifications

For RACHP systems you must have qualifications to:

  • install new systems
  • service and maintain systems
  • check for leaks
  • recover gases
  • decommission and dispose of old systems
  • work on refrigerated trucks over 3.5 tonnes
  • work on refrigerated trailers made to be towed by trucks or trailers

You need a:

  • category 1 certificate to carry out all activities
  • category 2 certificate to install, maintain, service and recover refrigerant from systems containing less than 3kg of F gas, or less than 6kg of F gas if hermetically sealed
  • category 3 certificate to recover refrigerant from systems that contain less than 3kg of F gas, or less than 6kg of F gas if hermetically sealed
  • category 4 certificate to check equipment for leaks if you do not break into the refrigeration circuit

You must have a qualification as an individual from one of these accredited organisations (or an equivalent qualification that a European Union (EU) member state recognises):

City and Guilds

1 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DD

Telephone: 0844 543 0033
Email: centresupport@cityandguilds.com
Company number: 05200334

Building Engineering Services Association (BESA)

Lincoln House
137-143 Hammersmith Road
London
W14 0QL

Telephone: 020 7313 4900
Email: enquiries@thebesa.com
Company number: 09796322

LCL Awards

Unit 2, 1 Rowdell Road
Northolt
Middlesex
UB5 5QR

Telephone: 020 8839 2439
Email: enquiries@lclawards.co.uk
Company number: 04615993

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) are no longer issuing new F gas qualifications or certification.

Stationary fire protection systems qualifications

To work on a fire protection system that contains F gas equivalent to 3kg or more you must have:

  • a Fire Industry Association (FIA) F gas certificate for individuals
  • an equivalent qualification that an EU member state recognises

Fire Industry Association

Tudor House
Kingsway Business Park
Oldfield Road
Hampton
Middlesex
TW12 2HD

Telephone: 020 3166 5002
Email: info@fia.uk.com
Company number: 05989140

Mobile air conditioning systems qualifications

You must have a qualification to recover refrigerant from mobile air conditioning systems in:

  • goods vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes
  • passenger vehicles with 8 seats or fewer

You must have a relevant qualification from one of these organisations (or an equivalent qualification that an EU member state recognises):

City and Guilds

1 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DD

Telephone: 020 7294 2800
Email: automotive@cityandguilds.com
Company number: 05200334

Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)

Fanshaws
Brickendon
Hertford
SG13 8PQ

Telephone: 01992 511521
Email: imiawarding@theimi.org.uk
IMI company number: 00225180
IMI Awards Limited company number: 06237350

Skills and Education Group Awards

Robins Wood House
Robins Wood Road
Nottingham
NG8 3NH

Telephone: 01158 541620
Email: customersupport@skillsedugroup.co.uk
Company number: 04117784

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) are no longer issuing new F gas qualifications or certification.

Electrical switchgear qualifications

You must have a qualification to carry out work on electrical switchgear that contains sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). This includes:

  • installing new systems
  • carrying out maintenance
  • recovering SF6
  • decommissioning and disposing of old systems

You must have a relevant qualification from one of these organisations (or an equivalent qualification that an EU member state recognises):

National Grid Electricity Distribution plc

Avonbank
Feeder Road
Bristol
BS2 0TB

Telephone: 0800 096 3080
Email: nged.engineeringpolicy@nationalgrid.co.uk

South Wales company number: 02366985
South West company number: 02366894
West Midlands company number: 03600574
East Midlands company number: 02366923

Northern Ireland Electricity plc

PO Box 2
120 Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 5HT

Telephone: 028 90 66 11 00
Email: leonard.taggart@nie.co.uk
Company number: NI026041

EA Technology Limited

Capenhurst Technology Park
Capenhurst
Chester
CH1 6ES

Telephone: 0151 339 4181
Email: sales@eatechnology.com
Company number: 02566313

Lucy Electric Ltd

Eagle Works
Walton Well Road
Oxford, UK
OX2 6EE

Telephone: 01865 311411
Email: info@wlucy.com
Company number: 01179461

National Grid Electricity Transmission plc

1-3 Strand
London
WC2N 5EH

Telephone: 01623 872611
Email: daniel.tingle@nationalgrid.com
Company number: 02366977

Recovering solvents qualifications

To recover s

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