Detailed guide: Certification for companies working on equipment containing F gas

Your company must be certified to handle fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gases) regulated by the EU if it services the following types of equipment for other businesses:

• stationary refrigeration systems that contain F gas
• stationary air conditioning and heat pump systems that contain F gas
• stationary fire protection systems that contain F gas

Servicing includes installing, repairing, maintaining and decommissioning.

Your employees must also be qualified as individuals if they handle F gas. Find out how to get qualified to work with F gas as an individual.

Sole traders must be qualified as individuals and certified as companies.

Certificates issued in other EU member states are valid in the UK.

Exception for companies servicing their own equipment

Your company doesn’t have to be certified if it only services its own equipment.

For example, a supermarket doesn’t have to be certified if it employs someone to service its refrigeration systems. However, a company that has a contract to service the supermarket’s refrigeration systems must be certified.

Your employees still have to be qualified as individuals if they handle F gas, even if your company doesn’t have to be certified.

Refrigeration and stationary air conditioning certification

Your company must be certified by one of these organisations if it services refrigeration or stationary air conditioning and heat pump systems for other businesses:

Refcom Certification Ltd

F-Gas Register (Quidos)

Bureau Veritas UK Ltd

You must renew your company’s certification every 3 years.

Fire protection certification

Your company must be certified by the Fire Industry Association if you work on fire protection systems.

Fire Industry Association

You must renew your company’s certification every 5 years.

Requirements for certified companies

If your company is certified you must be able to demonstrate that you:

• employ sufficient trained staff to carry out your work
• have procedures in place for the safe handling of F gases and to minimise emissions

You can meet the first requirement by recording the certificate numbers of any F gas qualifications received by your employees.

You can meet the second requirement by developing a written procedure for handling F gases, including the equipment used.

You may be audited by the body that certified you to check you meet these requirements.