F-Gas Training Requirements

Handling of F-Gases in the UK requires certification for individual and companies. Taking an F-Gas training course helps those who are in the air conditioning and refrigeration sector to meet the legal requirements needed. There are four types of fluorinated gas. These are nitrogen trifluoride, hydro-fluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and per-fluorocarbons.

Qualifications for handling mobile air conditioning systems

These are some of the qualifications as per the UK F-Gases regulations. To manage mobile air conditioning systems, you are required to have qualifications for retrieving refrigerants from mobile air conditioning systems. This is either in passenger vehicles with 8 or fewer seats or in good cars that weigh less than 3,500 kg. You also need relevant qualifications from any of the organizations listed below or from any organization that is recognized by the EU.

Qualifications for stationary fire protection systems

Are you interested in working on fire protection systems that have 5 or more tonnes of F gas? Then in the UK, there are various qualifications that you need to meet. They include:

Certification from the Fire Industry Association (FIA) F gas for individuals
Any other certification that is recognized by EU member states.

F-gas regulations course

As per the F-gas guidelines in the UK, any company operating in the sector should be registered with an authorized F-gas certification body. This is done per the specific category they want to focus their work on. Some of the F—gas registration bodies are Bureau Veritas, Refcom, and Quidos.

This course entails the following:

Basics of thermodynamics – this teaches learners how energy, work, temperature and heat work together to form a working relationship for various processes. In understanding thermodynamics, the course teaches in detail how the transfer of energy from one process to another can be affected by F-Gases.

The functionality of equipment after remaining unused for a long time. These are equipment in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector

Use of the equipment after repair or maintenance. In some cases, equipment tend to be slower or less efficient after repair. Maintenance on the other hand helps to ensure that equipment remain efficient in their operations

Ways of conducting checks before carrying out operations. This knowledge is important for all personnel in the sector, to ensure quality and safety

How to use the equipment during operation. This knowledge helps those with experience and also those who are starting out. Operating the equipment is crucial in the sector

Checking out for any leakage. This helps learners to have basic safety measures

Construction of a piping system that is leak-tight during the installation of refrigeration.

Installation of air-cooled and water-cooled evaporators, making them operational, and maintain them.

Installation of air-cooled and water-cooled condensers, making them operational, and maintain them.

Installation of thermostatic expansion valves, making them operational, and service them.

The course teaches you how to manage the refrigerant and system during:

Maintenance

The installing process

Servicing and retrieval which is carried out in line with the regulations

Additional requirements for any person hoping to work with F gas include:

Ability to carry out the installation of new systems

Ability to check for leaks

Know-how on the recovery of gases

You should know how to service and maintain systems

Experience working on refrigerated trailers made to be towed by trucks or trailers

Knowledge of decommissioning and disposing of old systems

Experience working on refrigerated trucks of more than 3.5 tonnes

F-GAS Training & Certification

In stationery equipment, there is equipment that has HFC refrigerants. To handle, recover, install, manufacture, service, supply, maintain or purchase this equipment, you need to have certification from the F-Gas Regulations Certification as per EU guidelines. This certification is legally mandatory for any engineer working in the UK.

Through this certification, air conditioning and refrigeration engineers can abide by legal qualifications that allow them to work with Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases. Regulations on handling F-Gas are managed by DEFRA for EU member states to reach the Kyoto protocol targets.

F-Gas Certification

The following factors enable a person to attain a City and Guilds 2079-11 Award in F-Gas and ODS regulations:

Time

You need to have an online course for 3 to 10 hours and this duration depends on you. You should also have a day’s practical training and assessment.

Area of practice

This accreditation is for those who work on the installation, repairing, and servicing of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems.

Requirements

Each of the four categories above has its own set of requirements.

5- Days F-Gas regulations course

This is a suitable course that helps one get into the handling of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. The 5-day course helps those who take it to meet the minimum legal standards to carry out their tasks on such equipment. This course is suitable for engineers and technicians in the air conditioning and refrigeration sector. All personnel working in this sector including apprentices and plant engineers that handle the recovery, disposal, and charging of refrigerants can take this course. The 5-day course is also suitable for beginners as it is comprehensive. Courses by F Gas Regulations are designed to suit anyone working in the industry to help them meet the required minimum legal requirements to work. Through this course, you receive training and experience in the air conditioning and refrigeration sector, working with professionals.

The legal requirements you meet from taking this course are as per the EC regulations. The course accreditation structures are set to assist the personnel working to install, repair, and service refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems. This is mainly because this personnel requires the following skills:

Skills for pipework and jointing
Techniques for safe handling refrigerant systems
Skills for checking intrusive and non-intrusive leak and performance
Skills for recovering refrigerants

In the first category of the 5-day course, learners go through the installation, servicing, recovery, maintenance, commissioning, and leak checking of every refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump system. This content is planned as per the F-Gas Regulation EC842/2006. The following are the outlined subjects for the course:

Testing pressure and discharge to BSEN378
Leak testing to EC1516/2007
Charging a blended refrigerator
Ensuring proper system performance through evaluation of performance. This is done using temperature, pressure, the rule of thumb, and refrigerant state
Compliance with pressure regulation
Fabricate and fit brazed and mechanical joints
Safe handling of refrigerant and correct disposal
Maintaining of F-Gas log books and records

Through this course, candidates can ascertain that systems are tight and use their energy well. The systems also need to meet the legal F-Gas requirements.

Course tutors

The course is offered by qualified tutors who also have plenty of experience in their line of training. The tutors are also very enthusiastic in their line of work, hospitable and knowledgeable. Learners benefit a lot from the tutors and this makes the learning process more enjoyable and interactive. The course entails short comprehensive theory content. Students enjoy learning in a conducive environment which makes it better.

F-Gas certification for individuals

Are you an individual working in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector? The one-day F-Gas certification course for individuals will help you get technician training through the F-Gas company accreditation program. The training offered in this course teaches you how to work well with F-Gases, reviews the European regulations for F-Gases safe handling and recovery. The course also tackles all F-Gas equipment and testing.

If you handle F-Gases as an individual or have a company that does that, this is a suitable course for better insights and training. Handling of F-Gases entails installation, commissioning, and maintaining of all fire systems.

What is included in this individual course?

Regulation 842/2006 and regulations by the commission
How to handle fire protection equipment that has F-Gases. This is a delicate topic and one needs to understand it best especially if you are a beginner
How to handle actuators and valves. This section also tackles how to prevent leakage and discharge
Reviewing the system records
Ways of recovering F-Gases
Environmental issues related to F-Gases. These gases are delicate and it is therefore important to consider the environmental aspect in handling F-Gases
Technical standards that regulate F-Gases. Any professional interested in this sector needs to meet the set standards
Skills and ways of moving pressurized containers
Checking visual and manual leaks in systems
You will also be taken through all necessary tools and equipment and how to safely handle them. The standard work ethics are also reviewed here
The course also offers skills in fire protection containers installation

What is the importance of this certification course?

As personnel in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, taking this F-Gas course will have the following benefits:

Compliance with F-Gases legal requirements

Understanding F-Gases and how they work in the fire system
Understanding the set legislation and how the regulations help to harmonize and bring safety in the handling of F-Gases
Detailed coverage and understanding on how to safely use F-Gases according to the current EU guidelines on F-Gases
Those who complete the course well get the required compliance certificate as per the current UK and EU.

Those taking this course are taken through comprehensive theory training on F-Gases and everything they need to know to ensure proper handling of all equipment and procedures.

Learners also practice the skills learned where applicable. This is a good way for them to put what they learn into practice. It is even more helpful for beginners.

Accreditation normally signifies that something is taken with seriousness. Handling F-Gases is a delicate thing and it cannot be left to anyone who wants to handle it. For this reason, the professionals that work on the equipment and procedures where F-Gases are involved need to be certified. This helps in boosting safety and ensuring efficient processes.

Why take the F Gas Certification?

This certification is suitable for refrigeration, air conditioning and gas engineers

The F Gas Certification is a legal must-have in the UK and Europe at large. Heat pump (RACHP), air conditioning, refrigeration engineers working with Fluorinated Gases are required to have this accreditation in accordance with the F Gas Regulations. The regulations aim at clearing out harmful F Gases to ensure that the environment has better gases that are not harmful.

Why you should consider taking the F Gas training with Viva

Viva currently runs the RACHP industry’s top F-Gases qualifications LCL Awards. This entails the Level 3 Viva courses which are the only higher level F Gas qualifications in the UK for F-Gas engineers. Worcester Bosch also approves the Viva F-Gas certification training, whereby Viva also trains the Worcester engineers and the learners get to use the modern high quality heat pump equipment for their practical assessment. This goes to show that the Viva accreditation is permitted and recognized. The Viva F-Gas courses are delivered by highly experienced tutors, most of who are technicians with great experience and knowledge in the sector. The course is comprehensive and well detailed, covering all that learners need to know as per the F-Gas guidelines in the UK.

The Viva F-Gas training is also offered in a good conducive environment meant to keep learners comfortable during the process.

Choosing the best F-Gas course for you

F-Gas Category courses

There are courses categories you can choose from based on the type of equipment you will be handling. The four different F-Gas categories are F-Gas installation, maintenance and recovery, and also covering leakage. The Viva courses entail a package for individuals and also package F Gas courses such as the first category where all the sector appliances and performed tasks requiring F–gas certification are covered. The Viva courses are suitable for practicing engineers and also those who are starting out in the industry.

F Gas qualifications for experienced engineers

Viva offers specialist training for practicing engineers who have already achieved categories 1 to 4 with validation in the last five years. The specialist training helps the engineers learn the uses and properties of flammable refrigerants as per the ACRIB guidelines. In support of the F-Gas qualifications, Viva also has the Oxy-fuel Brazing that tackles the particular tools one needs in installation and repairing of F-Gas related pipework.