Time’s up on F-Gas!

The deadline for registration of operatives under the F-Gas Regulation has passed. This means that operatives without the relevant qualifications cannot work on systems containing F-Gas refrigerants.

The Government estimates that there were still around 20,000 operatives without a full qualification (City and Guilds 2079 or the CITB J11-14) when the deadline for registration passed on July 4. This means that their employers will be committing an offence if any of them work on RAC equipment containing F gas refrigerants.

Don’t panic…
However, the RAC Group’s executive committee is advising companies not to panic. It urges them to register their operatives for their F gas training and to then apply for a full Company Certificate as soon as possible.

Contact the HVCA's registration scheme REFCOM for guidance.

Companies handling refrigerants are allowed to apply for a full Company Certificate on the basis of the majority of their personnel being qualified by the deadline date, as long as they were comfortable that the expected volume of qualifying work could be covered by these qualified personnel alone.

After July 4th 2011 operatives without a full qualification cannot work on refrigeration systems containing F Gas refrigerants, unless they are a trainee working under supervision of a qualified engineer.

Temporary measure
Refrigerant handlers who do not hold an F Gas qualification by July 4 can make use of the temporary training exemption in Reg 20(3) of the GB F gas Regulation (SI 261/2009). Trainees may undertake qualifying work, but only if (a) they are enrolled in a training course for the purpose of obtaining a qualification covering the relevant activity and (b) they carry out the activity under the supervision of a person holding a valid qualification covering this activity.

The HVCA will continue to ensure this standard is met by including in its membership inspection checklist a requirement to hold a company certificate, and that all operatives are competent to handle refrigerants by holding either City and Guilds 2079 or the CITB J11-14. 

Approved training providers can be found here.

For more information about City & Guilds 2079 or for J11 F Gas qualifications click here and for general advice and guidance on f gas-related training, contact Roger Brown on 020 7313 4931.