GSNL UK February 2024

Air Con Gas

Get certified or risk a hefty fine!

Nobody likes to read another “do this or run the risk of…” story, but this will affect most garages and workshops who service or repair air conditioning units.

What does that mean to you? There are a significant number of garages that have not received formal air conditioning training. It is advisable that the relevant technician in the workshop is trained and holds the F-gas certificate. Please note, the certificate is applicable to the individual and not the business. Your local authority can check to ascertain if your garage has the applicable paperwork. When you work with R134A, skills are not enough, these must be reinforced with the right certification. F-Gas training and certification ensures you stay qualified and able to work. R134a is being phased out globally due to its high global warming potential. Why do you need to know? More and more vehicles now have air conditioning and climate control as standard, with this viewed as an important comfort system by vehicle owners. Your garage already sees a variety of vehicle makes and models that roll into your workshop. No doubt you have the experience and equipment to work on air con systems of all ages. Did you know… Already this year there has been a high-profile case brought before the courts on behalf of the UK Environment Agency. An online wholesaler was fined £37,500 for selling air con gas, without ensuring that their customers held certification to manage refrigerants.

We must keep records of: • Our customer’s certificate number

• Quantities of F gases our customer purchase • We must keep these records for at least 5 years and show them to the regulator when asked.

Our responsibilities… We can only sell R134A gas to customers that: • Hold relevant certificates and qualifications • Employ people that hold the relevant certificates and qualifications. When receiving your order for air con gas, if you haven’t already provided it, our advisors will request your certificate number. We will have to ask you for this information at every purchase of gas.

For more information, scan the QR code or follow the link bellow: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ qualifications-required-to-work-on- equipment-containing-f-gas .

Please note: all responsible suppliers will have to undertake these actions.

No matter who supplies your technical training, get certified or you could risk a hefty fine.

Page 18 | Garage Support | 2024 Issue 1