With compulsory registration on its way, it’s time to look at what schemes are currently available and what’s to come
JUST in case it’s slipped your mind, from June this year, it will be a legal requirement in the UK for anyone working on systems containing ozone depleting refrigerants (CFCs and HCFCs such as R22) to be qualified. Fines will be introduced for employers who employ unqualified staff and the individual staff who work on systems containing refrigerants they are not qualified to handle. The qualifications proposed by the UK Government to satisfy this requirement are:

• C&G 2078 Refrigerant Handling Certificate

• CITB Refrigerant Handling Card

Both qualifications offer an assessment of the candidate’s theoretical and practical knowledge. The assessment is conducted as an interview with the assessor and a practical exercise. Candidates must satisfy performance and knowledge criteria. The qualifications usually involve attendance at a one- or two-day training course. The C&G assessment leads to a certificate which is valid for life. The CITB issues a photo-card which must be renewed every three years.

There is likely to be an introductory period of six months for existing workers to get qualified and special arrangements will be put in place for students and apprentices.

Confirmation of the final details of the UK Regulation are still awaited.

Future legal requirements

The European F-Gas Regulation, to be introduced in 2007, will lead to an additional legal requirement for anyone working on systems containing global warming gases (HFCs and HFC blends, such as R134a, R410A, R407C) to hold a qualification. The qualification has not yet been specified but as a minimum it is likely to be at least a C&G 2078 or CITB Handling card.

Waste transfer

Special requirements have been introduced for those carrying and removing waste refrigerant from systems.

Under the majority of circumstances the contractor will need to obtain a premises code from the Environment Agency. This enables the service engineer to recover refrigerant from systems and transport it back to a refrigerant wholesaler or distributor for recovery or destruction.

ACRIB Register

ACRIB’s voluntary register of approved refrigerant handlers has been in place for over ten years. Those joining the scheme are issued with a registration photo-card which is valid for three years, and can be renewed, without the need for reassessment provided the holder has a current qualification (C&G2078 or previously issued CITB card).



Engineering Services SkillCard

The SkillCard is a health and safety scheme and is a requirement for those who need to gain access to sites run by the companies who are members of the major contractors group (MCG). Individual Skillcards can list other qualifications held such as refrigerant handling assessments.



REFCOM Registration

REFCOM is a scheme for companies independently assessed as being competent to handle refrigerants. Members are subject to regular inspection to ensure that good practice is maintained. Those employees of REFCOM registered companies who handle refrigerants must also be members of ACRIB.