The gold standard scheme for operators in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector
What is the FGAS Premium?
F-Gas Premium is a voluntary scheme offering certification to contractors who wish to demonstrate they perform their work to a higher standard and in a more environmentally responsible manner than their competitors.
Members will have been audited to a strict criteria which evidences their work not just to a minimum standard, as required under the mandatory f-gas regulation requirements, but to a higher standard which evidences their approach to continuing professional development and evidencing competency in their field.
F-Gas Premium Membership gives your business access to major manufacturers’ partner programmes which may include enhanced warranties and financial benefits as well as bespoke manufacturer training courses for your engineers.
F-Gas Premium Suppliers likewise wish to demonstrate their commitment to the greater good of the industry sector by being audited on their sales processes and approach to training and improvements within the sector and the way the whole sector applies itself to continuing professional development.
Why do we need to conduct audits?
The F-Gas Premium schemes are voluntary standards in which members adhere to a voluntary code of conduct.
To enforce voluntary schemes it is necessary to audit the member to ensure the member always acts in accordance with the code of conduct. A voluntary scheme only has any credibility where effective auditing takes place and the scheme has sufficient benefits to membership so as to make membership desirable, and the loss of status disadvantageous to the business.
The F-Gas Premium scheme audit will ensure that:
- The contractor has an auditable trail of all refrigerant use, including recovery of refrigerant and how recovered refrigerant is treated.
- The contractor has an understanding of, and adheres to, the requirements of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) and can evidence their approach to compliance.
- The contractor has evidence of employing suitably qualified, competent people and that they have suitable on-going continuing professional development – this can be done with toolbox talks or externally with manufacturer product training courses.
- On-going training benefits the contractor by ensuring the knowledge of the engineers develops as the industry changes.
- The fees associated with Premium membership will often be covered by the manufacturer in full or in part – speak with your preferred supplier for more details.
- The contractor can evidence that any sub-contractors are suitably vetted and verified to be of a similar standard to that required to be an F-Gas Premium contractor.
The F-Gas Premium Supplier audit will ensure that:
- The business operates in an ethically responsible manner for the greater good of the sector by ensuring all sales of refrigerant, whether in a cylinder or a pre-charged split system, are only made to bona-fide f-gas registered businesses.
- They train internal sales staff to ensure a through understanding of the regulations with regard to restrictions placed upon them on sales and delivery of refrigerant or systems containing refrigerant.
- They have processes in place to verify the validity of their customers’ F-gas registration certification and that this is checked on a regular basis;
- Where they have qualified directly employed staff who may visit sites that they hold f-gas registration themselves and operate to the standards of an F-Gas Premium contractor themselves.
- Where they use sub-contractors for any site or warranty work that they have robust processes for checking the f-gas registration status of the sub-contractor, and that they check the sub-contractor operates to the standards of an F-Gas Premium contractor.
How do I join?
When applying you will provide information about your business including the names and qualifications of all refrigeration engineers employed – including those additional to the minimum statutory f-gas qualifications demonstrating that your staff have undertaken top-up training to continually develop their skills, knowledge and abilities.
You will then be contacted to arrange a suitable date and time for the audit to take place. The F-Gas Register will only use sector competent people to perform the audit – people from the sector who understand how we work and why it’s important to maintain enhanced standards.
The auditor is there to help you improve your practices where relevant – giving manufacturers and customers the confidence that as an F-Gas Premium member you work to a higher standard and consistently aim to improve.
What does it cost?
The costs are dependent on how many engineers you employ – because the audit process includes verifying your engineers’ details it takes slightly longer at our end to do the necessary checks.
In many cases the costs of the annual membership can be offset against your manufacturer partner programme benefits – speak to your preferred manufacturer to see how they can help you cover the costs!
Most Popular
Micro
1 Engineer
£290
per annum
Most Popular
Small
2 - 9 Engineers
£330
per annum
Most Popular
Medium
10 - 49 Engineers
£420
per annum
Most Popular
Large
>50 Engineers
£510
per annum
Most Popular
Supplier
£360
per annum
Apply to join the F-Gas Premium scheme here: F-Gas Premium application form Feb 2025.pdf
Apply to join the F-Gas Premium Supplier scheme here: Supplier application form Dec 2024.pdf
Scheme handbook can be found here for more details: F-Gas Premium and Premium Supplier schemes handbook TCs and Cs Dec 2024.pdf
