F-Gas Category I study guide
F-Gas Category I · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The F-Gas Category I exam is the highest of the four F-Gas qualification categories in the UK, and is the one required for engineers who work on systems containing 5 tonnes CO2e or more of fluorinated greenhouse gases - including installation, commissioning, servicing, leak checking, recovery and decommissioning. It is aimed at refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump engineers who already hold a Category II level of competence or equivalent experience, and who need the legal certification required to work unsupervised on larger systems. The F-Gas Category I study guide has 6 sections and about 1,899 words.
01F-Gas and ODS Regulations: Legal Duties and Environmental Obligations
Candidates must know that fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are controlled by separate but overlapping regimes. F-gases - HFCs and, where still relevant, HFC blends - are managed under the F-Gas Regulation, which sets containment, leak-checking, record-keeping, recovery and training/certification duties.
347 words, about 2 min02Refrigerant Identification, Properties and Environmental Impact
Identify refrigerants by number, by family and by their environmental characteristics. Know the ASHRAE numbering: R-134a is an HFC, R-410A is an HFC blend (R-32/R-125, near-azeotropic), R-407C is a zeotropic HFC blend with temperature glide, R-22 is an HCFC, R-12 is a CFC, and R-744 is carbon dioxide.
293 words, about 1 min03Installation, Commissioning and Record Keeping
Before charging, confirm the system is leak-tight and correctly evacuated. Pressure testing uses dry nitrogen (OFN), never the refrigerant itself, and never oxygen.
323 words, about 2 min04Service, Maintenance and Leak Detection
You must know the methods and when each is appropriate. Electronic leak detectors suit general tracing; fluorescent dye assists finding persistent, hidden leaks; soap solution confirms a suspected leak point; pressure testing with OFN proves integrity after a repair.
314 words, about 2 min05Recovery, Recycling, Reclaim and Disposal
Recovery: removing refrigerant from a system into a container, without processing it. The refrigerant may then be recycled, reclaimed or destroyed.
324 words, about 2 min06Safety, Handling and Cylinder Management
Refrigerants displace oxygen in confined spaces, causing asphyxiation; they can cause cold burns and frostbite on skin and eyes; decomposition products from contact with flames or hot surfaces are toxic. A2L refrigerants are mildly flammable and require ignition-source control and appropriate ventilation.
298 words, about 1 min