Guidance

Qualifications to service equipment containing ozone-depleting substances

You must have individual qualifications to work with hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) – a type of ozone-depleting substance (ODS).

• From: Environment Agency and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 16 October 2019
• Last updated: 14 November 2022
  Show all updates

  1. 14 November 2022

     Updated the list of qualifications needed to work on equipment containing HCFCs. CITB qualifications are no longer valid. Different qualifications are needed to work on refrigeration systems and fire protection systems and extinguishers.

  2. 30 April 2021

     Removed section about applying to the Irish Environmental Protection Agency for a certificate as the deadline has now passed.

  3. 15 March 2021

     Added details about how to apply for an ODS certificate to work in Ireland.

  4. 16 October 2019

     First published.

You must have qualifications to:

• check for leaks of HCFCs
• recover HCFCs
• maintain or service equipment that contains HCFCs

Refrigeration equipment

You must have one of the following qualifications to work on refrigeration equipment:

• City and Guilds Certificate in Handling Refrigerants Scheme 2078
• 2079-11 City and Guilds Level 2 Award in F Gas and ODS Regulations: Category I
• 2079-12 City and Guilds Level 2 Award in F Gas and ODS Regulations: Category II

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) are no longer issuing new HCFC qualifications or certification. Any CITB qualifications you have for working with HCFCs are no longer valid.

Fire protection systems and extinguishers

You must have Fire Industry Competence Certificate Course Class 1 F3 to work on fire protection systems and extinguishers.