What F-Gas certification is
F-Gas stands for fluorinated greenhouse gas — the refrigerants used inside commercial fridges, cold rooms and air conditioning systems. F-Gas certification proves that an engineer has passed assessed training and is legally permitted to handle these refrigerants without releasing them into the atmosphere.
The gases involved — HFCs and HCFCs — are potent greenhouse gases with global warming potential thousands of times greater than CO₂. Releasing them during a repair or recharge is illegal under UK F-Gas Regulations. Only a certified engineer can legally recover, recycle, reclaim or recharge these refrigerants.
This is not voluntary. It is a legal requirement that applies to every contractor who works on commercial refrigeration or air conditioning equipment in the UK. If your engineer is not certified, your business is exposed — both to the cost of non-compliant work and to potential regulatory liability.
What F-Gas certification covers
F-Gas certification is not a single blanket certificate — it covers specific categories of work. The main categories relevant to commercial refrigeration and AC are:
Removing refrigerant from a system safely, without releasing it to atmosphere, before a repair or decommission.
Processing recovered refrigerant so it can be reused or returned to the supply chain rather than disposed of.
Adding refrigerant to a system after a repair or leak fix. Must be carried out by a certified engineer using calibrated equipment.
F-Gas regulations require regular leak checks on systems above certain charge thresholds. Only a certified engineer can certify these checks.
Any new refrigeration or AC installation involving refrigerant handling must be carried out by a certified engineer.
Certified engineers must maintain refrigerant logs for systems above certain charge thresholds. These records are a legal requirement.
F-Gas leak check requirements
One of the most frequently misunderstood obligations for London food businesses is the mandatory leak check schedule. If your cold room or refrigeration system contains more than a threshold quantity of F-gas refrigerant, you are legally required to have it checked at regular intervals.
| System charge (CO₂ equivalent) | Required check frequency | Automatic leak detection required? |
|---|---|---|
| 5–50 tonnes CO₂e | Every 12 months | No |
| 50–500 tonnes CO₂e | Every 6 months | No — but halves check frequency if fitted |
| 500+ tonnes CO₂e | Every 3 months | Yes — mandatory |
Most single cold rooms in London restaurants fall into the first bracket — annual checks. Larger operations with multiple cold rooms or blast chillers may fall into the six-month category. If you are unsure which bracket applies to your equipment, our engineers can assess this as part of a maintenance visit.
Keep your leak check records. If your system develops a significant leak and you cannot produce evidence of regular checks, you may face enforcement action from the Environment Agency. Bear Building Services provides a maintenance sheet and report after every visit — keep them on file.
What REFCOM registration means
REFCOM is the UK's leading F-Gas company registration scheme for refrigeration and air conditioning contractors. Where individual F-Gas certification applies to engineers, REFCOM registration applies to the company as a whole — it confirms that the business employs F-Gas certified engineers and operates in compliance with UK F-Gas Regulations.
REFCOM registration is not mandatory, but it is the clearest external signal that a contractor takes compliance seriously. Any REFCOM-registered company has been assessed and approved — their certification status is verified, not self-declared.
Bear Building Services credentials
Our engineers hold F-Gas certification covering commercial refrigeration and air conditioning. Bear Building Services is REFCOM registered — you can verify our registration at refcom.org.uk. All refrigerant work is carried out in full compliance with UK F-Gas Regulations, with a maintenance sheet and report issued after every visit.
How to verify your contractor's certification
Do not take a contractor's word for it. F-Gas certification is verifiable — here is how to check before you let anyone work on your equipment.
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Ask for the certificate or registration number
A legitimate F-Gas certified engineer or company can produce their certificate or REFCOM registration number without hesitation. If they cannot, that is your answer.
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Check REFCOM at refcom.org.uk
REFCOM maintains a public register of certified companies. Search by company name to confirm registration status. This is the quickest verification for a commercial contractor.
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Check Qualitek for individual engineers
Qualitek is an approved certification body for F-Gas. Individual engineer certificates can be verified through their register if the contractor provides the certificate number.
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Ask to see the refrigerant log
For ongoing service work, ask to see the refrigerant log for your system. Certified contractors are required to maintain this. No log is a significant red flag.
Why this matters for your business
Using an uncertified contractor to work on your refrigeration or AC equipment is not just a compliance issue — it creates practical problems that fall on you as the business operator.
- Insurance risk: if your equipment was serviced by an uncertified contractor, your insurer may dispute a claim following a breakdown or refrigerant release
- Regulatory liability: the Environment Agency can issue fines for F-Gas violations — and the operator of the premises, not just the contractor, can be held responsible
- Food safety: an incorrectly recharged system may hold temperature unreliably — putting stock and food safety compliance at risk
- No written record: without a certified engineer, you have no compliant service record — which creates problems at food hygiene inspections and insurance renewals
The simplest protection is to use an F-Gas certified, REFCOM registered contractor for all refrigeration and AC work — and to ask for written confirmation of certification before any work begins.
Frequently asked questions
What is F-Gas certification?
F-Gas certification is a UK legal requirement for engineers who handle fluorinated refrigerants in commercial refrigeration and air conditioning systems. It proves the engineer has passed assessed training and is permitted to recover, recharge and handle refrigerants without releasing them to atmosphere.
Is F-Gas certification a legal requirement?
Yes. Under UK F-Gas Regulations, it is illegal for an uncertified person to handle fluorinated refrigerants. Any contractor who installs, services, repairs or decommissions equipment containing F-gas refrigerants must hold the appropriate certification.
What does F-Gas certification cover?
Recovery, recycling, reclamation and recharge of fluorinated refrigerants. Certified engineers can also carry out mandatory F-Gas leak checks, installation involving refrigerant handling, and must maintain refrigerant logs for systems above certain charge thresholds.
How do I check if a contractor is F-Gas certified?
Ask for their certificate or REFCOM registration number and verify at refcom.org.uk. Bear Building Services is REFCOM registered — our registration can be verified directly on the REFCOM website.
What is REFCOM?
REFCOM is the UK's leading F-Gas company registration scheme for refrigeration and air conditioning contractors. Registration confirms that a company employs F-Gas certified engineers and operates in compliance with UK F-Gas Regulations. Bear Building Services is REFCOM registered.
Do I need F-Gas leak checks on my cold room?
Yes, if your system contains refrigerant above the minimum threshold — which most commercial cold rooms do. Most London restaurant cold rooms require annual leak checks. Only an F-Gas certified engineer can carry out and certify these checks.
Need a certified engineer in London?
Our engineers hold F-Gas certification for commercial refrigeration and AC. All refrigerant work is fully compliant with UK F-Gas Regulations.