C&G 2079-11 F-Gas Category I exam-day guide
C&G 2079-11 F-Gas Category I · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring current photo identification (passport or photocard driving licence are the usual choices). Confirm with the provider which forms of ID it accepts and whether the name must match the booking exactly, as centres can refuse entry without valid ID.
Safety footwear and eye protection
Bring your own safety boots and safety glasses or goggles. Workshop rules usually require them for every practical task, including brazing, pressure testing and refrigerant handling. Confirm with the provider whether boots, glasses, gloves and coveralls are supplied or must be brought.
Overalls and hand protection
Loose-fitting overalls and suitable gloves protect against frostbite from liquid refrigerant, brazing sparks and oil. Confirm with the provider whether leather brazing gloves and cryogenic-rated gloves are provided or whether you must supply them.
Confirmation of booking and arrival details
Re-check the assessment date, start time, site address, parking, site access and signing-in procedure. Confirm with the provider if any of these are unclear, and note a contact number in case of delay.
Equipment list from the centre
Ask the provider in advance what is supplied: brazing set, pressure regulators, manifold gauges, vacuum pump and gauge, recovery machine, recovery cylinders, leak detector, charging scales and hand tools are normally centre equipment. Knowing this stops you turning up with prohibited or unnecessary items.
Copy of the assessment plan and unit outcomes
Read the practical task list before the day so you know the sequence of activities you will be asked to demonstrate, such as pipework fabrication, pressure testing, evacuation, charging, recovery, leak testing and record keeping.
Refreshed knowledge of record keeping and labelling
Be ready to explain and complete refrigerant records: what is logged, who keeps it, how long it is retained, and how equipment and cylinders are labelled. Assessment often checks paperwork as well as practical skill.
Revision of key procedures and numbers
Reread pressure testing with oxygen-free nitrogen, evacuation and dehydration, recovery cylinder filling limits, and safe charging methods. Know the reasons behind each step, because the assessor may ask you to explain as well as perform.
Notebook and pen
Useful for recording readings and making notes during practical tasks. Confirm with the provider whether notes are allowed in the assessment area or whether all recording must be on centre paperwork.
Refreshments, medication and personal needs
Practical assessments are long and physical. Bring water and any medication you may need, and tell the provider in advance about any medical condition, injury or additional support need that affects safe participation.
Travel and time buffer
Plan to arrive with time to spare. Brazing and pressure testing cannot be rushed, and lateness may mean you are not assessed. Check traffic, parking and public transport in advance.
Plan the day
Confirm the booking, site access, ID requirements and what PPE and tools the centre supplies. Re-read the assessment plan and list the practical tasks you will perform, then spend revision time on the areas you are least confident in: pressure testing, evacuation, charging, recovery and refrigerant records.
Walk through each procedure mentally in the correct order, including the safety checks before and after: risk assessment, isolation, checking cylinder types and connections, purging hoses, weighing in and out, and leaving the work area safe and tidy. Practise explaining why each step is done.
Pack your bag with ID, PPE, overalls and any personal items. Confirm your travel plan and set an alarm. Keep revision light and focused on key safety points and record-keeping rather than trying to learn new material. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat properly and arrive early enough to sign in, store your belongings and read any site safety information. Put on your PPE before entering the workshop. Listen carefully to the assessor's briefing and ask about anything you genuinely do not understand before work starts.
Carry out and verbalise your risk assessment, check the equipment and work area, and confirm the task sequence with the assessor. Work steadily rather than fast, keep your bench organised, and record readings as you take them.
Follow the procedure in order: fabricate and assemble as required, pressure test with oxygen-free nitrogen, evacuate, charge by the correct method, leak test, recover refrigerant and complete the records. Handle refrigerant safely, avoid venting, and keep cylinders upright, secured and within filling limits.
Read each question fully before answering, watch for negative wording such as 'not' or 'except', and flag questions you want to revisit. Answer every question, as there is usually no penalty for a reasoned attempt.
Tidy the work area, return tools and cylinders, and make sure your paperwork is complete and legible. Ask the assessor or centre staff about results, feedback and the resit process if you are unsure what happens next.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID. The centre can refuse to assess you if identification is missing or does not match the booking, so confirm the accepted forms with the provider before the day.
Follow all site safety rules, including wearing the required PPE at all times in the workshop, obeying fire and emergency procedures, and using equipment only as instructed.
Work only on equipment you have been authorised to touch. Isolate and make safe before starting, do not vent refrigerant to atmosphere, and never leave brazing or pressure-testing operations unattended.
Treat the assessment as a real job. The assessor observes your working practices as well as your results, so communicate clearly, keep the area tidy and complete the paperwork accurately.
You may ask the assessor to clarify instructions or repeat the brief, but the assessor cannot give you answers or guide your technique. If something is genuinely ambiguous, ask before you begin the task.
Mobile phones and other personal devices should be switched off and stored away during assessment unless the provider says otherwise. Confirm the centre's policy on devices, notes and recording.
Breaks and timings vary between centres and assessment sessions. Confirm with the provider in advance how breaks are handled and whether the assessment can be paused.
Results, pass criteria and resit arrangements are set by the awarding organisation and the centre. Confirm with the provider how and when you will receive your result and what the appeals or resit process involves.