F-Gas Certification: Who Needs It and How to Get It

‍‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‍SiteKiln gives you plain-English information, not legal advice or specialist environmental compliance advice. If you need advice specific to your situation, check with your certification body or DEFRA.

7.5.1 The short version

FGas certification is what makes it legal for you and your company to work on systems containing fluorinated greenhouse gases -- the refrigerants used in most air-con, fridges, some heat pumps and certain fire systems. Under the retained EU F-Gas Regulation in Great Britain, both the technician and the business usually need the right FGas certification if you install, service, leak-test, recover or decommission equipment with F-gases.

If you handle refrigerant without the right FGas certificates, you are working illegally, risking enforcement action, fines and invalid insurance.

7.5.2 Why it matters

These gases are potent greenhouse gases. The whole point of the F-Gas regime is to cut leaks, control who can handle them and phase down their use. From your side, it matters because:

• You cannot legally connect gauges, break into systems or recover refrigerant without the right personal certificate.
• Your firm cannot legally trade as an AC/refrigeration/FGas contractor for others without a company certificate (Refcom, etc.).
• If something leaks or goes wrong and the Environment Agency or HSE get involved, they will ask two questions straight away: "Who touched it?" and "Were they FGas certified at the time?".

7.5.3 Who needs FGas certification -- people and companies

Under the retained F-Gas Regulation (EU) 517/2014 as it applies in Great Britain, personnel training/certification is required for technicians who carry out:

• Installation of equipment containing F-gases.
• Leakage checking.
• Maintenance or servicing.
• Recovery of F-gases.
• Decommissioning of systems.

This applies to sectors including:

• Stationary refrigeration systems.
• Stationary air-conditioning and heat pump systems.
• Stationary fire protection systems using F-gas extinguishing agents.

On top of that, company certification is required for contractors (including sole traders) that carry out these activities on relevant equipment for other businesses. In practice that means:

• Your business must hold an FGas company certificate (e.g. Refcom, or FIA for some fire systems) if you service, install, maintain or decommission F-gas equipment for clients.
• End users who only work on their own kit may not need a company certificate, but their in-house technicians still need personal FGas handling qualifications.

7.5.4 The legal backdrop -- retained EU F-Gas rules

The current GB regime basically lifts the EU F-Gas Regulation (EU) 517/2014 into UK law as "retained EU law". Key points:

• The UK keeps the same main requirements: leak checks, recovery, use of certified people and companies, record-keeping and phase-down of HFCs.
• DEFRA and the Environment Agency run the UK quota system and enforcement -- you need UK quota/authorisations if you place bulk F-gas or pre-charged equipment on the UK market.
• New UK statutory instruments tweak and amend the retained F-Gas regime but leave the basic obligations in place.

From your point of view on site: the rules about needing certified people and companies did not go away after Brexit.

7.5.5 What FGas certification involves in practice

For technicians:

• You complete an approved FGas handling qualification (often Level 3 RQF or similar), covering safe handling, leak detection, recovery, charging and record-keeping.
• You are assessed on practical skills and knowledge of the F-Gas rules and environmental impact.
• You get a personal FGas certificate/ID that proves you are legally qualified to work on F-gas systems.

For companies:

• You demonstrate you employ enough certified personnel and have the correct tools and procedures to minimise emissions.
• You apply to a recognised company certification body (e.g. Refcom for AC/refrigeration, FIA for certain fire systems).
• Each legal entity (including sole traders) that works for others needs its own company certificate.

Once in place, you are expected to:

• Keep records of the F-gas you use/recover, leak checks, and equipment details.
• Stick to the leak-check and recovery requirements and comply with quota and labelling rules where they apply.

7.5.6 Quick FGas health check

You are on safer ground around refrigerants if you can honestly say:

Any technician who installs, services, leak-tests, recovers or decommissions F-gas systems for your business holds a current, recognised FGas handling certificate.

Your company holds a valid FGas company certificate (for AC/refrigeration/heat pump/fire work) if you work on equipment for clients, not just your own kit.

You understand which of your jobs actually involve F-gases (split AC, VRV, chiller, some heat pumps, some fire systems) and treat them as regulated work, not "just another bit of pipework".

You keep basic records on F-gas usage, leak checks and recovery so you can show compliance if the Environment Agency or a client asks.

If any of those are a "no", you are in "illegal work / enforcement risk" territory, not just "bit of missing paperwork".

7.5.7 What to do next

• Check that every technician who touches F-gas systems holds a current, recognised FGas handling certificate.
• If your business works on F-gas equipment for clients, confirm you hold a valid FGas company certificate (Refcom or equivalent).
• Keep records of F-gas usage, leak checks and recovery for every job -- the Environment Agency can ask for them.
• If you are moving into heat pump or AC work, budget for FGas certification as part of your setup costs.

7.5.8 Who to contact

• Environment Agency -- 03708 506 506 -- for F-gas enforcement, quotas and compliance queries (free)
• CITB -- 0344 994 4400, citb.co.uk -- for training information and grants (free)
• CSCS -- 0344 994 4777, cscs.uk.com -- for card queries related to building services trades (free)
• Your FGas certification body (e.g. Refcom) -- for company certification and renewal
• Local authority building control -- for building regulations queries on AC and heat pump installations

7.5.9 Sources and legislation

• Retained EU F-Gas Regulation (EU) 517/2014 -- certification requirements for personnel and companies, phase-down regime. legislation.gov.uk/eur/2014/517
• Environmental Protection Act 1990 -- framework for environmental enforcement. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/43
• Building Regulations 2010 -- technical standards for building services installations. legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214

7.5.10 Related guides on this site

• 7.14 MCS certification -- heat pumps
• 7.3 Gas Safe registration
• 7.4 NICEIC / NAPIT / Part P
• 7.11 Part P, Part L, Part F
• 7.15 TrustMark registration
• 6.1 Public liability insurance

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