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FAQ's
The Secretery of State for the Environmnet, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department
of Environment have taken the decision to designate REFCOM as a mandatory F gas
company certification scheme that can issue stationary equipment qualification company
certificates (full certificates) and interim certificates in GB and Northern Ireland.
What do the Regulations seek to achieve?
Fluorinated gases have a high global warming effect if released into the atmosphere.
The objective of the Regulations is to contain, prevent and thereby reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol, so as to help combat climate change.
Why is a mandatory certification scheme required?
Commission Regulation 303/2008 of 2 April 2008 sets out the requirements for a company certification scheme for businesses working with stationary refrigeration air-conditioning and heat pump equipment containing or designed to contain fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gases) in accordance with Article 5.1 of EC Regulations 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases
(the EC F Gas Regulation).
How will it affect my business?
All businesses carrying out installation, maintenance or servicing of stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning (SRAC) and/or heat pump equipment containing
or designed to contain F gas refrigerants, be that as an in-house function or acting as contractors on behalf of other businesses must hold a certificate.
What is meant by installation?
Commission Regulation 303/2008 defines installation as follows:
“installation” means joining two or more pieces of equipment or circuits containing or designed to contain fluorinated greenhouse gas refrigerant, with a view to assembling a system in the location where it will be operated, including the action by which refrigerant conductors of a system are joined together to complete a refrigerant circuit irrespective of the need to charge the system after assembly.
What is meant by maintenance or servicing?
Commission Regulation 303/2008 defines maintenance or servicing as follows:
"maintenance or servicing" means all activities, excluding recovery and checks for leakage, that entail breaking into the circuits containing or designed to contain fluorinated greenhouse gases, in particular supplying the system with fluorinated greenhouse gases, removing one or more pieces of circuit or equipment, re-assembling two or more pieces of circuit or equipment, as well as repairing leakages.
Who is responsible for compliance?
In Great Britain, the person having control of the equipment containing the F gas refrigerant (the “operator”), typically a company, is likely to have responsibility. Also, any business employing personnel involved in refrigerant handling must ensure that they have the appropriate qualifications.
When do I need to apply?
The timetable specified in the Commission Regulation 303/2008 is as follows:
- An interim company certificate must be held from 4 July 2009.
- A full company certificate can be applied for from 4 July 2009 but must be held by 4 July 2011.
How much will it cost?
| Size of business
|
Interim Certification
(valid until July 2011) |
Full Certification
(valid for 3 years) |
| Micro (sole trader) |
£70.00 |
£140.00 |
| Small (2-9 engineers) |
£90.00 |
£180.00 |
| Medium (10-49 engineers) |
£150.00 |
£365.00 |
| Large (50+ engineers) |
£350.00 |
£800.00 |
All fees are subject to VAT.
What happens to the money?
REFCOM Certification Ltd will not make a profit. Any surplus arising will be used to reduce fees in later years to further support the scheme.
How do I make an application?
You can apply in the following ways:
- Online application (including payment) on the REFCOM website
- Postal application
What do I get when I join?
Businesses will be issued with either an interim or full certificate. Interim certificates will be valid until July 2011 and full certificates will be valid for 3 years.
Who will enforce these regulations?
Local Authorities will act as enforcing bodies.
What happens if I apply after the deadline date?
Details of any businesses applying after July 2009 will be passed to Defra and Local Authorities. It is likely that no action will be taken against business that apply within a reasonable period.
What are the scheme requirements?
Interim Certification
By 4 July 2009 businesses must hold at least an interim company certificate which will be valid until July 2011 and is non-renewable.
To apply for interim certification businesses will need to provide:
- information about the business
- a list of employed engineers holding an appropriate qualification (at least City and Guilds 2078 or Construction Industry Training Board Safe Handling of Refrigerants J01 or evidence of an in-house qualification) issued prior to 9 March 2009, in a sufficient number to cover the expected volume of activities.
Full Certification
By 4 July 2011 businesses must hold a stationary equipment qualification company certificate which will be valid for three years.
To apply for full certification businesses will need to provide:
- information about the business
- a list of employed engineers holding an appropriate stationary equipment qualification (City and Guilds 2079 or Construction Industry Training Board Safe Handling of Refrigerants J11-J14) in handling F-gases in sufficient number to cover the expected volume of activities
- proof that appropriate recovery systems and refrigerant handling procedures are in place and in use
What is an in-house qualification?
In-house qualification is defined in national regulations and means a qualification verified by a certificate of competence or other written confirmation issued by an employer to such of its employees who have successfully completed a course of training provided by that employer relating to the work in question.
A course of training provided by an employer must enable an employee who has been trained to carry out relevant work satisfactorily. An employer must keep a record of training, must provide a copy to an employee which shows the name of employee trained, course provided, dates provided and date of completion or other confirmation that course was completed.
What are the new categories of training in the F gas regulations?
For RAC personnel, the European Commission Regulation 303/2008 refers to four different levels of certification, which allow personnel to carry out different activities. These are now described. Note that Category I covers all activities whereas the other 3 categories are more restrictive:
Category I certificate holders may carry out all refrigerant handling activities for any size of RAC systems containing HFC refrigerants. This includes leakage checking, refrigerant recovery, installation, maintenance and servicing.
Category II certificate holders may carry out refrigerant recovery, installation, maintenance and servicing, in relation to RAC systems containing less than 3 kg of fluorinated greenhouse gases (or less than 6 kg for systems that are hermetically sealed). Category II certificate holders may also carry out leak checks on any plant provided that it does not entail breaking into the refrigeration circuit containing fluorinated greenhouse gases.
Category III certificate holders may carry out refrigerant recovery in relation to RAC systems containing less than 3 kg of fluorinated greenhouse gases (or less than 6 kg for systems that are hermetically sealed).
Category IV certificate holders may carry out leak checks on any plant provided that it does not entail breaking into the refrigeration circuit containing fluorinated greenhouse gases.
Are the new Safe Handling of Refrigerants qualifications readily available?
Following extensive consultation between DEFRA, ACRIB, SummitSkills and the two nominated awarding bodies City and Guilds and Construction Skills, the new qualifications have been rolled out across the UK.
Are there any exemptions from personnel qualifications?
There are exemptions for three categories of personnel:
- Trainees are exempt for up to 2 years, but they must work under the supervision of a person with the requisite qualification (including an interim certificate) and must be enrolled on a relevant training course.
- Personnel only undertaking brazing, soldering or welding on a piece of RAC equipment would be exempt if they hold a nationally recognised qualification to undertake such activities and if they are supervised by a person holding the requisite F gas certificate covering the relevant activity. A proposal for the appropriate qualification is included in the current consultation process, so that GB personnel can benefit from this derogation.
Personnel undertaking recovery of F gases from “waste equipment” under the WEEE Directive (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) EC 96/2002 with an F gas charge less than 3 kg, in premises covered by a suitable permit, are exempt provided that they are employed by the company holding the permit and have completed a training course on the minimum skills and knowledge corresponding to Category III that is verified by an attestation of competence issued by the permit holder.
Where do the Regulations apply?
The Secretery of State for the Environmnet, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department
of Environment have taken the decision to designate REFCOM as a mandatory F gas
company certification scheme that can issue stationary equipment qualification company
certificates (full certificates) and interim certificates in GB and Northern Ireland.
I have not received my F Gas Company Certificate, am I trading illegally?
If you have applied on-line or made a postal application for your F Gas Company certification but have not yet received your certificate, don't worry. Provided you've met the certification standards, your business details will appear in the public listing on Refcom's website with your registration number. Your business has complied with the FGG Regulations!
Certificates are being issued to each company, if you are not yet in receipt of your certificate one will follow shortly.
Why do I need to have taken my City and Guilds 2078 or CITB J01 prior to 9 March 2009?
9 March 2009 is the date that the GB F gas Regulations 2009 (SI 261) came into force. The EC Fgas Regulation and supporting Commission Regulation 303/2008 lay down requirements that any interim qualification needed to already have been gained by the date the Member State brings into force domestic legislation.
If you are affected by this clarification we recommend that you take one of the new qualifications CITB J11-J14 or City and Guilds 2079.
I am a Refcom F Gas Certificated business, can I use Refcom’s logo on my stationery and company vehicles?
Customer of businesses such as yours often find it reassuring to see visible proof of high professional standards. Logos can help you achieve this reassurance and Refcom F Gas Certification logos are now available for use on your company stationery and vehicles.
Artwork for reproduction on printed materials is free of charge, van stickers are just £10 per pair. To start displaying your F Gas Certification, contact us.
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