Our F-Gas (Category 1) 5-Day Course is designed for experienced refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump engineers who need an industry-recognised qualification to work safely and legally with fluorinated greenhouse gases.

Please note that this course is not suitable for complete beginners.

Successful candidates will demonstrate the knowledge and practical competence required to install, commission, service, maintain, leak-check, recover refrigerant from and decommission stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump systems.

The Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2015 (England and Wales) and The Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations (NI) 2015 means it is an offence for an individual to work with fluorinated greenhouse gases without holding one of the qualifications listed within the regulations.

F-Gas Category 1 Course Overview

This five-day course provides comprehensive theory and practical training for engineers working, or intending to work, within the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump sector.

The Category 1 qualification covers the full range of F-gas activities, making it suitable for experienced engineers who need to undertake installation, servicing, maintenance, refrigerant recovery, decommissioning and leakage checking.

Course content includes:

Fundamental principles of thermodynamics
Refrigerant properties and the refrigeration cycle
The environmental impact of refrigerants
Current F-gas legislation and environmental responsibilities
Checks required before putting equipment into operation
Checks following an extended period of non-use
Checks following maintenance or repair
Safe operation and system performance checks
Direct and indirect methods of leakage checking
Safe and environmentally responsible refrigerant handling
Refrigerant recovery, charging and evacuation
Installation, commissioning and maintenance of reciprocating, screw and scroll compressors
Installation, commissioning and maintenance of air-cooled and water-cooled condensers
Installation, commissioning and maintenance of air-cooled and water-cooled evaporators
Installation and servicing of thermostatic expansion valves and other system components
Constructing leak-tight refrigeration pipework
Brazing, pressure testing and system evacuation
Record-keeping, refrigerant labelling and good working practices
Safe recovery and decommissioning procedures

The course combines classroom learning with hands-on practical training. Candidates will complete both a written assessment and a practical skills assessment.

Please note that this qualification focuses on refrigeration-system components and the refrigerant circuit. It does not, by itself, cover every aspect of the complete installation of an air-conditioning or heat-pump system.

Course Pre-requisites

Evidence of qualifications or experience may be required in advance and should be emailed to CDC Group following the booking to info@cdc.org.uk

Prospective candidates should hold a recognised qualification or industry registration in refrigeration, heating and ventilation or another relevant sector. Examples include:

A recognised refrigeration qualification
A recognised heating and ventilation qualification
Gas Safe registration
OFTEC registration
HEATAS registration
An MCS qualification covering air-source or ground-source heat pumps

Applicants without one of the qualifications above may be considered if they have at least two years of auditable experience within the refrigeration, air-conditioning or wider HVACR sector.

If a candidate doesn’t meet the entry requirements, they must successfully complete our Basic F-Gas Refrigeration Training Course before taking this course.

Where admission is based on experience, applicants may be required to provide an employer’s letter confirming:

Their period of relevant employment
The refrigeration or air-conditioning systems on which they have worked
The type of work they have completed
That their experience was gained alongside an appropriately qualified engineer
That the work can be audited or otherwise verified

All candidates must have good practical knowledge of soldering and brazing methods before attending this course.

Candidates undertaking a relevant apprenticeship or qualification that specifically requires Category 1 F-gas certification may be exempt from the standard entry requirements, subject to an eligibility check.

Please contact CDC Group via email at info@cdc.org.uk before booking if you are unsure whether your qualifications or experience meet the entry requirements.

Why choose us?

State of the art, Indoor Training Facilities
Brand New Plumbing & Gas Training Centre at our HQ in Hemel Hempstead
Highly Experienced Gas Trainers and Assessors
Affordable & Last-minute Availability
Conveniently Located in Hemel Hempstead (off M1, M25 & A41 in South England)
Over 35,000 satisfied customers to date following our 7+ years of providing excellence in training
Flexible to suit your needs
5-star rating Reviews on Google & Trustpilot

Please note: You must have a good understanding of spoken and written English to be able to attend this course.

Accreditation

Following successful completion of the theory and practical assessments, candidates will be awarded the: LCL Level 3 Award in F-Gas: Install, Service, Maintain, Recovery, Decommission and Leakage Checking of Systems (Category I)

LCL Awards is recognised by DEFRA and UKAS as an approved certification body for qualifications covering stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases.

The Category 1 qualification enables individuals to demonstrate competence across the full range of applicable F-gas activities, including:

Installation and commissioning
Servicing and maintenance
Refrigerant recovery
Leakage checking
Decommissioning

Please note that individual qualification and company certification are separate requirements. Businesses and sole traders carrying out regulated F-gas work may also need to register with an approved F-gas company certification body.

CDC Group is a LCL Awards Approved Centre.

Funding

There isn’t any funding available for these programmes at this moment in time.

F-Gas Category 1 Course Additional Information

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