CAR AIR CONDITIONING RECHARGE: HOW TO OBTAIN AN F-GAS CERTIFICATE (WORKSHOP GUIDE)

Obligations, F-GAS Register, and Course 307/2008 explained simply

If you recharge car air conditioning systems in your workshop or work on A/C systems with a charging station, you're in the world of F-GAS . In this guide, we'll look step by step at what the regulations say , who is required to have the so-called " F-GAS license, " and how to obtain it without getting bogged down in bureaucracy, registration, and courses.

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WHY IS AN F-GAS LICENSE NEEDED FOR CAR AIR CONDITIONING CHARGING?

Those who work on car air conditioners are not just “putting the gas”: they are handling fluorinated greenhouse gases , i.e. substances with a much higher environmental impact than CO₂.

For this reason, between European regulations (such as EC Regulation 307/2008 and Regulation (EU) 517/2014 ) and Italian decrees (such as Presidential Decrees 43/2012 and Presidential Decrees 146/2018 ), it has been made mandatory :

• register the workshop in the national F-GAS register ,
• ensure that employees obtain a specific training certificate (the famous “F-GAS license”).

In practice: if you have an air conditioning recharging station in your workshop and you recover or recharge refrigerant, you are obliged to deal with the F-GAS issue.

WHAT ARE F-GASES AND WHICH REFRIGERANTS ARE FOUND IN CARS?

Fluorinated gases (F-GAS) are artificial gases used as refrigerants, electrical insulators, aerosol propellants, etc. In our sector, we are mainly interested in those used in car air conditioning :

• HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) – e.g. R134a , for years the standard gas in car air conditioning.
• New generation HFOs – e.g. R1234yf , with much lower environmental impact.

The environmental impact of these gases is measured by the GWP (Global Warming Potential) parameter:

• R134a → GWP ≈ 1430 (very polluting compared to CO₂).
• R1234yf → GWP ≈ 4 (much “greener” according to EU regulations).

For this reason today all new cars must use low GWP refrigerants such as R1234yf , and those who handle them must be trained and registered .

WHO IS OBLIGED: WORKSHOP OR INDIVIDUAL TECHNICIAN?

The legislation distinguishes between:

👨🔧 Natural persons (auto repairers, mechanics, workers)

Anyone who physically recovers gas from vehicle air conditioning systems (and therefore uses an A/C station) must:

• be registered in the F-GAS Register as a natural person ;
• have attended a training course recognized for EC Regulation 307/2008 ;
• have a nominal certificate (the F-GAS certificate) issued by an certification body .

The certificate is personal : every employee who works on the air conditioning station must have it, it is not enough for "the boss" to have it.

🏬 Business (workshop, body shop, service center)

The workshop that carries out gas recovery and recharging activities on vehicles must:

• be registered in the F-GAS Register in the companies section;
• indicate the activity relating to the recovery of certain fluorinated gases from the air conditioning systems of motor vehicles – Reg. 307/2008 .

For this category, today, registration in the Register is required, not a complex certification as for "fixed" cold companies (cells, heat pumps, etc.).

HOW TO GET AN F-GAS LICENSE: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Let's now see in concrete terms what a workshop that wants to comply with the regulations for car air conditioning recharging must do.

1️⃣ Registration in the F-GAS Register as a natural person

1. Go to the official website: www.fgas.it .
2. Click on “Telematic desk for people and businesses” .
3. Check your PC compatibility with the “Check Compatibility” function.
4. Log in with a smart card / digital signature (CNS, token, etc.).
5. Select “New practice” → “Person registration” .
6. Fill in your personal details (tax code, residence, etc.).
7. Under Activities , select the option relating to Regulation 307/2008 (gas recovery from vehicles).
8. Attach the required documents (signed form, ID, and power of attorney if you are acting on behalf of third parties).
9. Pay the administrative fees and stamp duty according to the instructions of the competent Chamber of Commerce and attach the receipts.
10. Digitally sign the application and submit it electronically.

Within a few days you will be able to download your registration certificate and registration number.

2️⃣ Registration in the F-GAS Register as a business (workshop)

The procedure is similar:

1. From the same online desk , choose “Business registration” .
2. Fill in the workshop details (company name, headquarters, VAT number, legal representative).
3. It indicates the activity related to the recovery of gas from the air conditioning systems of motor vehicles .
4. Attach the required documents (company registration, legal representative document, receipts for fees and stamp duty payments).
5. Digitally sign and send.

Once successful, the workshop is registered in the F-GAS Register and can authorize its employees to attend the course.

3️⃣ Choose the F-GAS Reg. 307/2008 course (“Enable Climate”)

The next step is to enroll your technicians in a training course recognized for EC Regulation 307/2008 . These courses are organized by:

• accredited certification bodies;
• training bodies specialized in the automotive sector;
• often also from manufacturers of climate stations and equipment.

At the end of the course, if all the requirements are met, the organization issues the certificate of qualification for the recovery of fluorinated gases from motor vehicles (the F-GAS license for auto repairers).

4️⃣ Receive and keep the certificate

The certificate is personal and, pursuant to Regulation 307/2008, does not expire . However, it must:

• stored in the workshop and kept available in case of checks;
• possibly uploaded into internal systems (management, customer database, etc.);
• communicated to suppliers for the purchase of gas and charging stations (who must verify the authorization).

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HOW IS THE F-GAS 307/2008 COURSE FOR AUTO REPAIRERS STRUCTURED?

For auto repairers, the regulations are clear: the F-GAS license doesn't require a complex theoretical/practical exam like the one for industrial refrigeration. It's sufficient:

• attend a recognized training course ;
• cover the minimum contents required by Reg. 307/2008;
• obtain the qualification certificate .

Typically the course covers:

• operating principles of A/C systems in vehicles;
• properties and environmental impact of fluorinated gases (R134a, R1234yf, etc.);
• safety in the handling of gas and cylinders;
• correct refrigerant recovery and recharging procedures;
• leak checks and management of recovered refrigerant.

Upon completion, the certification body issues your F-GAS certificate for car air conditioning .

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF THOSE WHO CHARGE THE CLIMATE WITHOUT A LICENSE?

Working on A/C systems without being compliant with the F-GAS Register and with the certificate means exposing yourself to:

• administrative sanctions for the company and for the individual;
• possible disputes in the event of checks by ARPA, Guardia di Finanza, Chamber of Commerce;
• problems with suppliers and insurance companies (in case of damage or accidents).

The legislator's logic is clear: anyone who handles gases with a high environmental impact must be trained, registered and traceable .

A PRACTICAL CHECKLIST TO COMPLY WITH YOUR REGULATIONS

For those who recharge their car air conditioning , here is a quick list to keep in the workshop:

• ✅ I checked whether the workshop uses an A/C charging station with gas recovery.
• ✅ I have registered the workshop in the F-GAS Register (business section).
• ✅ I have registered the employees in the F-GAS Register (natural persons section).
• ✅ I have identified an certification body that provides the F-GAS Reg. 307/2008 course.
• ✅ All staff using the climate station have their own personal certificate .
• ✅ I keep certificates and registry records in the workshop, ready in case of inspections.

Once you've completed these steps, you can manage your car air conditioning recharge with peace of mind, knowing you're compliant with F-GAS and environmental regulations.