New F-gas certification A1/A2/B/C 2026

European F-gas legislation received a far-reaching update in 2024. Alongside the well-known Regulation (EU) 2024/573 — the successor to EU 517/2014 — there is a new implementing regulation that bears directly on something every technician has in their wallet or their file folder: the personal certificate. The old categories I, II, III and IV under BRL 200 are being replaced by a new scheme of six categories: A1, A2, B, C, D and E.

The deadline for switching over completely is 12 March 2029. That sounds like plenty of time, but for companies that already have technicians scheduled for a renewal assessment it is worth knowing exactly what changes, which category corresponds to which old category, and whether an existing certificate remains valid.

This article sets it all out — on the basis of published European legislation, the Dutch implementation through CIBV, IBKI, STE Examenbureau, PBNA, STEK and Bepect B.V., and the known scheduling of those certifying bodies.

Why a new category system?

The old categories I to IV date from Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2067 — the implementing act governing personal certification under the previous F-gas Regulation (EU 517/2014). That classification was functional but had a few drawbacks:

• Category I gave unlimited authorisation for all installation sizes, but said little about competence with specific refrigerants.
• Categories III and IV were rarely in circulation as standalone certificates in practice — many technicians went straight for category I or II.
• With the rise of low-GWP and natural refrigerants (R-32, R-454B, R-290, R-744) there was a need for a category dealing specifically with working safely with A2L and A3 volatile substances.

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2215 of 6 September 2024, published in the Official Journal of the EU, fully replaces EU 2015/2067 and introduces the A1/A2/B/C/D/E scheme. It takes effect on the date of entry into force and the new structure must be fully implemented by 12 March 2029.

What do A1, A2, B, C, D and E mean?

This is the most important correction relative to what you often come across online: B and C are not a regrouping of the old activity categories III and IV. The new scheme separates two things that previously ran together: authorisation for F-gases/hydrocarbons by charge size (A1/A2), and standalone certificates per alternative refrigerant type (B for CO₂, C for ammonia). The activity restrictions of the old categories III and IV live on in the new categories D and E.

Category A1 — Fully qualified (F-gases + hydrocarbons)

A1 is the most extensive category for F-gases and hydrocarbons. A technician holding A1 may carry out all operations on all stationary refrigeration installations, air conditioning systems and heat pumps containing F-gases or hydrocarbons — regardless of charge. A1 is the successor to the old category I.

Category A2 — Smaller installations (F-gases + hydrocarbons)

A2 covers installations with a refrigerant charge of up to a maximum of 3 kg (non-hermetic) or 6 kg (hermetically sealed, labelled as such). Comparable to the old category II.

Category B — CO₂ installations

B is a new, standalone certificate for all operations on installations with carbon dioxide (CO₂/R-744) as the refrigerant, regardless of the charge. There is no old-category equivalent — this certificate did not exist as a separate scheme under I/II/III/IV.

Category C — Ammonia installations

C is a new, standalone certificate for all operations on installations with ammonia (NH₃/R-717) as the refrigerant, regardless of the charge. Here too there was no separate old-category equivalent.

Category D — Recovery only

D covers only the recovery of refrigerant from installations up to 3 kg (or 6 kg hermetically sealed). This is the successor to the old category III.

Category E — Leak checks only

E covers only leak checking without opening the refrigerant circuit — with no kg limit. This is the successor to the old category IV.

| Old | New | Authorisation | |---|---|---| | Category I | A1 | All operations, F-gases/hydrocarbons, all installations | | Category II | A2 | All operations, F-gases/hydrocarbons, ≤ 3 kg / 6 kg hermetically sealed | | *(new, no old equivalent)* | B | All operations, CO₂ installations, regardless of charge | | *(new, no old equivalent)* | C | All operations, ammonia installations, regardless of charge | | Category III | D | Recovery only, ≤ 3 kg / 6 kg hermetically sealed | | Category IV | E | Leak checks only, no kg limit |

Does an existing BRL 200 certificate remain valid?

Partly — existing certificates retain their nominal period of validity, but with a hard cutoff. A technician who obtained category I in 2023 with a validity date of 2028 does not have to renew any earlier. The transitional arrangement in EU 2024/2215 provides that:

• All certificates issued before the transition under the old scheme (I/II/III/IV) remain valid until their own expiry date — but no later than 12 March 2029. On that date, any old-scheme certificate not yet converted expires automatically, even if its own validity date lies later (for example a long-running category I certificate).
• Since 29 March 2026, certifying bodies no longer issue any new certificates or renewals under the old scheme — only under the new A1/A2/B/C/D/E scheme.
• Renewal or new issue therefore always takes place under the new A1/A2/B/C scheme from that point on.

Practical consequence: if a technician renews their category II in 2027, they will get an A2 certificate back for it — not another category II. Administratively, A2 and category II are equivalent for Dutch work orders and audits. But a technician with a long-running category I certificate (say, valid until 2031) must still have switched to A1 before 12 March 2029, even without a natural renewal moment.

What changes in the substance of the exams?

The new examination places more emphasis on three areas that were underexposed in the old scheme:

1. A2L refrigerants

R-32 has for years been the most widely used refrigerant in single-split air conditioners. It is an A2L substance — mildly flammable. The examination for A1 and A2 now includes mandatory modules on installation requirements for A2L (ventilation requirements, minimum room size, pipework specifications, leak detection requirements). Technicians who have worked only with R-410A for years will have something to learn here.

2. Quantitative calculations

Where the old exam sometimes made do with qualitative understanding, the new scheme also demands arithmetic skills: calculating CO₂ equivalent on the basis of refrigerant type and charge, determining the correct leak-check frequency and keeping the installation logbook correctly. That ties in with the logbook obligation imposed by the F-gas Regulation.

3. Recovery as a core competence

For both A1 and A2, recovery has become a heavier component. Rightly so: under EU 2024/573, recycled and recovered refrigerant becomes strategically more important as high-GWP quotas are phased down further.

What should you as a company do right now?

The deadline is 12 March 2029, but waiting until 2028 is unwise. Exam scheduling at certifying bodies fills up months ahead in busy periods, and a technician who renews their category I in 2028 and can only sit an exam in April 2029 — after the transition — can technically end up with a gap in their authorisation.

Step 1: Draw up a certificate inventory

Set out per technician: which category do they hold, when does it expire, and for which work do they need that authorisation? On the technicians tab in Koldwerk, expiry dates are tracked automatically, including warnings at 90, 60, 30 and 7 days before expiry.

Step 2: Determine which new category your technician needs

For most installation companies the answer is simple: technicians with category I get A1; technicians with category II get A2. Check whether there are specific jobs for which A1 is strictly necessary — especially if you work on installations above 3 kg charge or on commercial systems.

Step 3: Plan renewals strategically

Renew as much as possible before 12 March 2029. Certifying bodies have only issued exams in the A1/A2/B/C/D/E classification since 29 March 2026 — a renewal under the old scheme is no longer possible since then.

Step 4: Arrange A2L refresher training

Even without a formal obligation, it is sensible to upskill technicians whose experience is mainly with R-410A on the A2L rules now. Many providers offer a one-day course that ties in with the revised exam.

Step 5: Update your records

As soon as a technician holds a certificate under the new scheme, make sure the old certificate number is updated — including the new category designation (A1 instead of I). At audits it matters that the category in your records matches what is stated on the certificate.

What about the company certificate?

The F-gas company certificate — mandatory for every installation company that works with F-gases, separate from the technicians' personal certificate — falls under a separate track. The transition of the personal certificate scheme affects the company certificate indirectly: a company must still be able to demonstrate that it employs at least two technicians holding a valid personal certificate. As soon as technicians move to the new scheme, your company records have to keep track of that.

STEK-recognised companies will also have to be able to demonstrate the new certificate types through the STEK annual report. Kiwa and STEK are working on harmonised audit criteria for the 2026–2029 period.

The timeline at a glance

| Moment | What happens | |---|---| | March 2024 | EU 2024/573 enters into force; framework for new implementing acts established | | September 2024 | EU 2024/2215 published: new personal certificate scheme A1/A2/B/C/D/E | | 29 March 2026 | Dutch certifying bodies (CIBV, IBKI, STE Examenbureau, PBNA, STEK, Bepect B.V.) stop issuing new certificates or renewals under the old scheme — only A1/A2/B/C/D/E from here on | | 2027–2028 | The bulk of renewals falls due — must already be on the new scheme from 29 March 2026 | | 12 March 2029 | Hard cutoff: all remaining old I/II/III/IV certificates expire, regardless of their own expiry date | | After March 2029 | Only A1/A2/B/C/D/E certificates remain valid |

What if you do nothing?

A technician with an expired category II who only sits their assessment after March 2029 will get an A2 certificate back. That is fine. The problem arises if the certificate expires without a renewal having been scheduled. The technician may then no longer sign off work orders for F-gas installations — and with that, every work order from that technician becomes invalid. At a BRL 100 annual inspection that is an immediate finding.

Koldwerk blocks sign-off automatically as soon as a certificate has expired. But even the best software will not help you if the renewal has not been scheduled in time. Make sure renewals are applied for at least 3 months before the expiry date.

Further reading

• BRL 200 F-gas personal certificate explained — the existing categories and periods of validity in detail.
• F-gas Regulation 2024/573: what's changing? — the wider EU context within which the new certification fits.
• F-gas quota 2027: prepare your business — how the quota cuts affect day-to-day practice.
• F-gas leak checks: how often are they mandatory? — the CO₂-eq thresholds and frequencies that go with A1/A2.
• Am I subject to the logbook obligation? — quickly check whether your installations fall under the logbook obligation.

Disclaimer: this article is based on published EU legislation (Regulation (EU) 2024/573 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2215) and publicly announced transition schedules of Dutch certifying bodies (CIBV, IBKI, STE Examenbureau, PBNA, STEK, Bepect B.V.). The precise exam content, scheduling and transitional requirements are set by those recognised certifying bodies. Consult your own certifying body for the current details and fees.