There has been a lot of talk recently relating to F.Gas.

Just to confirm the requirements for the recovery etc of F.gas from vehicle A/C systems as described by the Environment Agency,

MAC qualification. (relating to Air Con in Passenger Compartments)

If you are an engineer that recovers F-gas from the Passenger Compartment of cars or light vans, you are required to hold either a City & Guilds or the Industry of Motor Industry qualification for the Safe Handling and Recovery of F-gas (HFC). This would also be required if you were a repairer or installer wishing to purchase gas.

If you are an engineer working on the passenger air con equipment on Lorry’s, Trains, Planes, Ships, Farm Equipment or Tanks etc, you are not required to have a qualification under the F-gas Regs (although the EA recommend it) but you are required to use recovery equipment under Article 3 (par 1&2) of the 2014 EC No 517 F-gas Regs. It is illegal to vent gas when recovery equipment can be used.

Businesses that maintain the passenger air con units on cars and light vans are not required to hold a Company F-gas Certificate.

These regulations have not changed since they were introduced in May 2006.

The new Refrigerated Trucks and Trailers, from 01/01/15.

Engineers that maintain, install, service, repair, decommission or recover gas from the Refrigeration Units on Trucks and Trailers over 3500 kg are required to hold the relevant certification for the activity they wish to perform. These are the same qualifications issued by City & Guilds or the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) for the Stationary Refrigeration and Air Conditioning sector. These are different qualifications to those issued for MAC Recovery.

This is not related to the Pass Air Con equipment and again, does not require a Company F-gas Certificate.

Additional F-gas Guidance is available on the following website. http://www.gluckmanconsulting.com/f-gas-information-sheets/

Enclosed above are two help sheets from the above pages.