A business installing, maintaining or servicing stationary air conditioning equipment containing regulated F-gases generally needs the relevant company certification, while the individuals carrying out regulated work need appropriate qualifications. Ask for both the company certificate details and the engineer's qualification evidence where applicable. Certification is a legal competence requirement for refrigerant work, not proof that a quote is good value or that every aspect of building, electrical or planning work is covered.
Company and individual requirements differ
The company certification requirement applies to organisations undertaking specified work on stationary equipment. Separate qualification rules apply to individuals performing activities such as installation, servicing, maintenance, leak checking or recovery.
A sole trader may need to satisfy both roles. A salesperson's assurance that an engineer is qualified is not the same as identifying the certified legal entity responsible for the installation.
What to request before work starts
Ask for the full trading name, company certificate number, issuing body and expiry or validity details. Ask who will carry out the refrigerant work and what qualification they hold.
Check that the named business on the certificate matches the business on the quote and invoice. If a subcontractor will handle the refrigerant circuit, the contractual and certification responsibilities should be clear.
- Company F-gas certificate details.
- Relevant individual qualification details.
- Exact refrigerant and factory charge.
- Commissioning and refrigerant records to be handed over.
- Responsibility for future leak checks where legally required.
Why correct commissioning matters
Split-system installation is more than connecting pipes. Good practice includes suitable pressure testing, evacuation, leak checks, charge adjustment where required and recording operating data in accordance with the equipment instructions and legal duties.
Poor refrigerant work can reduce performance, increase energy use and cause emissions or equipment damage. Keep the commissioning sheet, model and serial numbers and warranty documents.
What certification does not prove
F-gas credentials do not by themselves confirm electrical competence, planning compliance, structural suitability, acoustic design or fair pricing. Those matters need their own evidence and, where appropriate, qualified trades or professional advice.
Likewise, a directory entry should not be described as independent vetting unless the directory actually performs and documents that broader assessment. Consumers should compare scope, insurance, references, warranty and complaint arrangements separately.
Frequently asked questions
Does every air conditioner contain F-gas?
No. Refrigerant type varies, and some appliances may use substances outside the relevant fluorinated-gas regime. Check the product data and current rules rather than assuming.
Is an individual engineer's card enough?
Not always. Regulated stationary equipment work can require company certification as well as an appropriately qualified individual.
Can an electrician install the refrigerant pipework?
Only if that person also holds the qualifications required for the regulated F-gas tasks and the company certification position is satisfied.
Should I receive a commissioning certificate?
Ask for a commissioning record containing the installed models, refrigerant information, test results and installer details, plus any manufacturer warranty paperwork.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local AC Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.