Our Policy

This policy outlines ACHV’s position on the resale of F-gas or any products containing F-Gas (e.g. refrigerant gas, pre-charged air conditioning/refrigeration systems, heat pumps and any other products containing F-gas)

ACHV reserves the right to refuse the sale or release of any items containing F-gas where the required certification, qualification evidence, installer details or written assurances have not been checked and recorded.

ACHV will complete reasonable compliance checks before releasing relevant goods. If the required evidence is missing, unclear, expired or does not match the intended use, we reserve the right to refuse the sale.

What ACHV Does Not Do

ACHV is a distributor. ACHV does not install, service, maintain, repair, leak test, decommission or recover refrigerant under this policy.
ACHV will carry out reasonable compliance checks in relations to F-gas, however, ultimately customers are responsible for ensuring that any F-gas work is carried out by properly certified and qualified engineers and technicians.

Requirements for Engineers and Technicians

Before buying F-gas or relevant products from ACHV, customers will need to show that they, or the people they employ, hold the correct certificates and qualifications.

For refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump work, ACHV should check the customer’s company F-gas certificate where required.
ACHV should also request evidence of relevant individual technician qualifications where the customer will install, service, maintain, repair, leak test, recover or decommission equipment containing F-gas.
Where appropriate, acceptable evidence may include an original company F-gas certificate or an ACRIB Skillcard.
If the customer is buying only for mobile air-conditioning work, ACHV should check the relevant MAC certificate before supply.

F-Gas in Cylinders

If ACHV sells F-gas in cylinders, ACHV must check the customer’s right to buy the gas before supply.

If the gas will be used for installation, servicing, maintenance or repair, ACHV must check the customer and relevant employees hold the required certification/qualification evidence.
ACHV must record the customer certificate number and the quantity of F-gas purchased.
These records must be kept for at least 5 years and made available to regulators if requested.
A person without qualifications may collect, transport or deliver F-gas, but the buyer/user must still have the correct evidence for the intended use.
For MAC-only customers, supply should be limited to appropriate MAC refrigerants unless the Compliance Lead confirms otherwise.

F-Gas in Equipment

ACHV may sell equipment containing F-gas where the required checks are complete.
For non-hermetically sealed equipment, ACHV must obtain written details of the qualified technician who will install the equipment before supply.
Non-hermetically sealed equipment includes split type air conditioners and similar products.
This additional installer-detail requirement does not apply to hermetically sealed equipment.
Hermetically sealed equipment is equipment where the F-gas section is permanently sealed and has a tested leak rate of less than 3g per year, for example portable air conditioning units or monobloc air source heat pumps.

Letter of Assurance

ACHV may request a Letter of Assurance where certification/qualification evidence is not the correct route, or where F-gas is being bought for another permitted purpose.

In the Letter of Assurance, the customer should confirm that:

They are permitted to buy or collect the F-gas.
They will not intentionally release F-gas into the atmosphere unless technically necessary.
They will take appropriate steps to prevent F-gas leaks.
They understand and will comply with the relevant F-gas rules for their intended use.

ACHV Process

Step	What ACHV checks	Action
1	Is the product F-gas, MAC refrigerant, or equipment containing F-gas?	If unsure, hold the order and check product information.
2	What is the customer using it for?	Classify as RACHP, MAC, other permitted use, hermetically sealed equipment, or non-hermetically sealed equipment.
3	Does the customer have the right evidence?	Check certificate, qualification, ACRIB Skillcard, MAC certificate, installer details or Letter of Assurance as applicable.
4	Has the evidence been recorded?	Record certificate number, quantities purchased where relevant, date checked and checker name.
5	Can the order be released?	Release only when checks are complete. If not, hold and escalate.

Record Keeping

ACHV must keep clear records of the checks completed before supply. Records should be stored in the customer account or ACHV internal filing.

Customer certificate number and copy where available.
Certification body and expiry date, where relevant.
Technician qualification, ACRIB Skillcard or MAC certificate details, where relevant.
Installer details for non-hermetically sealed equipment.
Letter of Assurance, where used.
Quantity of F-gas purchased, where cylinder sales apply.
Date checked, person checking and order reference.
ACHV will capture expiration dates of certification and add review dates to ensure ongoing compliance.

When ACHV Must Hold or Refuse Supply

The customer cannot provide the required evidence.
The certificate or qualification appears expired, unclear or does not match the customer.
The customer will not confirm the intended use.
The product type is unclear and ACHV cannot confirm whether F-gas checks apply.
The order involves importing, exporting, Northern Ireland/EU supply, or any activity outside normal UK distribution without specialist review.

Legal Compliance

It is against the law to buy F-gas or sell F-gas to a person who does not have the correct qualifications or certificates where those are required. Failure to comply may result in civil penalties.

If ACHV suspects unlawful activity relating to F-gas, ACHV should consider reporting the matter to the relevant regulator using current GOV.UK contact details, including f-gassupport@environment-agency.gov.uk where applicable.

Review

Policy owner: Managing Director.
Review frequency: annually, or sooner if F-gas rules change.
Review if ACHV starts selling refrigerant cylinders directly, imports pre-charged equipment, exports, supplies Northern Ireland/EU, or any other relevant changes in operation.

Source Documents

GOV.UK guidance: Selling F gas in cylinders or equipment. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/selling-f-gas-or-equipment
REFCOM guide: Delivery of F gases – a practical guide for distributors. https://www.refcom.org.uk/guidance/delivery-of-f-gases
GOV.UK guidance on company certification and individual qualifications for F-gas work.

For any further information please contact us:

Telephone: 01932 544326
Email: info@achv.uk