F-Gas Registration & Certification (UK): How to Get Qualified
What F-Gas certification air conditioning installers need in Great Britain, how to get it, the categories, company registration and why it's legally required to handle refrigerant.
Last updated 26 July 2026
Every split and multi-split air-conditioning system contains fluorinated refrigerant, and handling it is regulated. To install and service air conditioning legally in Great Britain you need two things: the personal F-Gas qualification, and F-Gas company registration. Here's what each involves.
The personal qualification
Engineers must hold an approved F-Gas qualification for the work they do. The most common for air-con installers is Category I(typically achieved via City & Guilds 2079), which permits all refrigerant activities — leak checking, recovery, installation and maintenance — on equipment of any charge. Lower categories restrict either the activity or the system size.
Company registration
Individual certification isn't enough on its own: the business must also hold F-Gas company certification with an approved certification body. This confirms the company has the qualified people, procedures and equipment to handle refrigerant safely.
Your ongoing obligations
Certification comes with record-keeping. For each system you must log the refrigerant type and charge, calculate CO₂e, and carry out leak checks at the required intervals — keeping a defensible logbook. Getting this wrong risks penalties and invalidates the compliance trail. See our leak-check intervals guide for the thresholds, and note that F-Gas software can keep the register and scheduling automatically as part of the job.
Why it matters commercially
Beyond being a legal requirement, holding current F-Gas certification is what lets you quote and win work — customers, letting agents and commercial clients expect it, and it's a baseline for tender and warranty requirements. Pair it with the trade competence in our how to become an installer guide.
This guide is general information for UK installers, not legal or regulatory advice. Always check the current regulations and manufacturer instructions for your specific job.
Frequently asked questions
What is F-Gas certification?
F-Gas certification proves you're qualified to handle fluorinated refrigerants safely and legally. In Great Britain, anyone installing, servicing or decommissioning air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment containing F-Gas must hold the relevant qualification, and the business must be registered with an approved certification body.
Which F-Gas category do I need for air conditioning?
For full installation and service work on air-conditioning systems you need Category I, which allows any activity (leak checking, recovery, installation, maintenance) on equipment of any charge size. Categories II–IV are more limited — for example by charge size or activity — so most air-con installers hold Category I.
Does my company need to be F-Gas registered too?
Yes. As well as individual engineers being certified, the company must hold F-Gas company certification with an approved body to carry out work involving refrigerant. Both the personal qualification and the company registration are legal requirements.
How do I get F-Gas certified?
Take an approved F-Gas course and assessment (commonly City & Guilds 2079 for Category I) through an accredited training centre, then register your company with an approved certification body. Keep your certificate and company registration current, and maintain records for every system you work on.
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