Refrigeration Courses
BESA Accredited Refrigeration Courses
Ensure you and your engineers are compliant and provide a service to the highest of standards.
Our range of refrigeration courses provide cost-effective, high-quality training and impartial assessments for operatives working on refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps.
All About The Refrigeration Courses
We offer a range of BESA accredited courses relating to F-Gas regulation requirements which are delivered in our Approved Training Centres throughout the country.
- Category 1 - leakage, recovery, install, maintain, service (FG Cat 1)
- Category 2 - leak check, install, service, maintain <3 kg of fluorinated greenhouse gases or hermetically sealed equipment, which is labelled accordingly and contains less than 6 kg of fluorinated greenhouse gases (FG Cat 2)
- Category 3- recovery of refrigerant (FG Cat 3)
- Category 4 - leakage checking (FG Cat 4)
For further information and how to book, please expand on the courses below.
WHO IS IT FOR?
This course is designed for operatives who wish to carry out the installation, servicing, maintenance, removal/recharging and leak testing of refrigerants safely within systems to the standard required by EC Regulation 517/2014, known as the ‘F Gas’ Regulation.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The course consists of both theory and practical activities and delegates will be assessed across both.
The theory and practical exercises include:
- health and safety
- building a leak-tight piping system (welding/brazing/soldering)
- leak testing both direct and indirect methods
- evacuation/dehydration
- checking cylinder weights/capacity
- installation of major system components
- charging refrigerant
- draining F Gas contaminated oil
- system tests
- refrigerant recovery and handling
- basic thermodynamics
- use of logs to determine actions and record significant data
- environmental impact
- legislation and regulations
- refrigeration theory
- refrigeration practices
ON SUCCESSFUL ASSESSMENT YOU WILL:
Be able to safely carry out the installation, servicing and maintenance, removal/recharging and leak checking of refrigerants to the standard required by EC Regulation 517/2014 Cat 1 or Cat 2 (F Gas Regulation.)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You must have recognised qualifications with refrigeration content from the following trades:
- refrigeration
- air conditioning
COURSE DURATION
Course duration varies by training centre. Use our find a training centre search to locate the nearest one to you.
FINAL ASSESSMENT
Multiple choice question paper and practical assessment
CERTIFICATION
Accredited by BESA
HOW TO BOOK
WHO IS IT FOR?
This course is designed for operatives who wish to carry out the installation, servicing, maintenance, removal/recharging and leak testing of refrigerants safely within systems to the standard required by EC Regulation 517/2014, known as the ‘F Gas’ Regulation. As a Category II course this is restricted to systems with less than 3 kilograms of fluorinated greenhouse gases, or, if hermetically sealed systems which are labelled as such are concerned, containing less than 6 kilograms only.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The course consists of both theory and practical activities and delegates will be assessed across both.
The theory and practical exercises include:
- health and safety
- building a leak-tight piping system (welding/brazing/soldering)
- leak testing both direct and indirect methods
- evacuation/dehydration
- checking cylinder weights/capacity
- installation of major system components
- charging refrigerant
- draining F Gas contaminated oil
- system tests
- refrigerant recovery and handling
- basic thermodynamics
- use of logs to determine actions and record significant data
- environmental impact
- legislation and regulations
- refrigeration theory
- refrigeration practices
ON SUCCESSFUL ASSESSMENT DELEGATES WILL:
Be able to safely carry out the installation, servicing and maintenance, removal/recharging and leak checking of refrigerants to the standard required by EC Regulation 517/2014 Cat 1 or Cat 2 (F Gas Regulation.)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Operatives with relevant allied trade experience, such as:
- plumbing
- heating and ventilating
- gas
- electrical
large scale refrigeration/air conditioning (e.g. experienced ammonia plant operator)
COURSE DURATION
Course duration varies by training centre. Use our find a training centre search to locate the nearest one to you.
FINAL ASSESSMENT
Multiple choice question paper and practical assessment
CERTIFICATION
Accredited by BESA
BECOME A BESA ACCREDITED TRAINING CENTRE
WHO IS IT FOR?
This course is designed for operatives who wish to carry out the recovery of refrigerant from appliances and systems containing less than 3 kilograms of fluorinated greenhouse gases, or, if hermetically sealed systems which are labelled as such are concerned, containing less than 6 kilograms of fluorinated greenhouse gas charge.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The course consists of both theory and practical activities and delegates will be assessed across both.
The theory and practical exercises include:
- health and safety
- checking cylinder weights/capacity
- refrigerant recovery and handling
- environmental impact
- legislation and regulations
ON SUCCESSFUL ASSESSMENT DELEGATES WILL:
Be able to safely carry out the recovery of refrigerant to the standard required by EC Regulation 517/2014 CAT 3 (F Gas Regulation.)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Category 3 applicants are regarded as new entrants to the industry. As such, they are without a relevant related qualification and/or experience, entering employment for the first time or changing career direction.
COURSE DURATION
Course duration varies by training centre. Use our find a training centre search to locate the nearest one to you.
FINAL ASSESSMENT
Multiple choice question paper and practical assessment
CERTIFICATION
Accredited by BESA
WHO IS IT FOR?
This is designed for operatives who wish to carry out leak checking of systems without breaking into the system.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The course consists of both theory and practical activities and delegates will be assessed across both.
The theory and practical exercises include:
- health and safety
- checks for leakage – indirect and some direct methods without system break in
- basic ISO standard units
- environmental impact of refrigerants and corresponding environmental regulations
ON SUCCESSFUL ASSESSMENT DELEGATES WILL:
Be able to safely carry out leak checks without breaking into the system, to the standard required by EC Regulation 517/2014 Cat 4 (F-Gas Regulation)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
No entry requirements. Category 4 applicants are regarded as new entrants to the industry and as such, are without a relevant related qualification and/or experience, entering employment for the first time or changing career direction.
COURSE DURATION
Course duration varies by training centre. Use our find a training centre search to locate the nearest one to you.
FINAL ASSESSMENT
Multiple choice question paper and practical assessment
CERTIFICATION
Accredited by BESA
Interested in taking a Refrigeration Course?
If you are interested in taking one of our Refrigeration Courses, please complete the short online form below.
Additional Training And Assessments
To compliment the F-Gas categories, BESA Academy offers a range of additional training and assessment courses for Refrigeration Operatives with industry experience.
- Pipework and Brazing - Industrial and Commercial
- Anhydrous Ammonia
- Safe Isolation of Electricity and Refrigeration Controls
Click and expand the courses below for further information.
The ideal course to compliment the F-Gas range of categories for Operatives installing/maintaining pipework and brazing in either the commercial or industrial environment.
WHO IS IT FOR?
For existing experienced refrigeration engineers to show safe brazing techniques to produce quality leak free jointing of pipework.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Commercial – for Operatives working on systems below 10kW input power on pipework up to 7/8” OD
Industrial – for Operatives working on systems above 10kW input power on pipework up to 1 5/8”OD
The assessment consists of both theory and practical tests to include:
- health & safety
- selection and preparation of materials
- preparation of suitable equipment
- lighting and shut down procedure
- brazing techniques and process
- joint inspection
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Operatives must have recognised refrigeration qualification from the refrigeration or air conditioning sector or a recognised qualification and experience from an allied trade.
COURSE DURATION
Course duration varies by training centre. Use our find a training centre search to locate the nearest one to you.
CERTIFICATION
Following successful assessment outcome, Operatives will receive a BESA Academy certificate of achievement and Operative card.
HOW TO BOOK
For further information on course duration and availability, please contact your nearest training centre via our find a training centre search.
WHO IS IT FOR?
For those individuals who are experienced refrigeration engineers already holding formal qualification and evidence of experience from within the refrigeration sector.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB) has identified the need for training in the handling of all flammable refrigerants in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector. This is due to the more widespread use of low flammable refrigerants that have now been introduced to the market in a number of applications – primarily in air conditioning and heat pump equipment, but it is anticipated that this will escalate to a wider range of equipment, driven by the F-Gas Regulation phase down and forthcoming bans on certain more widely used refrigerants, which will eventually be replaced by these flammable substances.
Employers advise that they wish to ensure that the training of operatives is up to date and includes the important health and safety considerations in using flammable refrigerants and all relevant safety standard guidance. The ACRIB Education group, comprising of employers, trade bodies, professional institutes and training/assessment organisations have developed a training specification for experienced refrigeration engineers covering this subject.
The course consists of a formal training presentation with participant inter-action and group exercises
Topics covered include:
- Understand the different classes of flammability as recognised by legislation and safety standards.
- Understand the legislative and organisational procedures for installation, servicing, maintaining and decommissioning of flammable refrigerants.
- Understand the differences between different refrigerant classes and their associated systems.
- Understand the procedures for planning and preparing for work on refrigeration systems.
- Be able to plan and prepare for work on refrigeration systems.
- Understand the specific requirements for installing and testing refrigeration systems.
- Understand service and maintenance procedures.
- Be able to service and maintain refrigeration systems.
- Understand the decommissioning procedures for refrigeration systems.
Following completion of the training presentation, including practical exercises and demonstration as applicable, knowledge and understanding is confirmed by successful completion of a multiple choice question paper at the end of the course. Involvement and interaction during the course will also be taken into account as a measure of knowledge and understanding.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
It is a pre-requisite for any individual applying to undertake the Flammable Refrigerant course to hold current F-Gas qualification. (BESA Academy F-Gas Cat I or II, City & Guilds 2079 Cat 1 or 2, CITB J11 or J12)
COURSE DURATION
This is a one day course (7 hours) with assessment test (1 hour). Individuals are required to attend for the full duration of the training and assessment process.
CERTIFICATION
Following successful assessment outcome, Operatives will receive a BESA Academy Certificate of Assessment and Operative card.
HOW TO BOOK
For further information on course duration and availability, please contact your nearest training centre via our find a training centre search.
There are 3 BESA accredited courses for experienced operatives in this specialised discipline.
- Ammonia Awareness
- Safe Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia
- Decanting Ammonia
WHO IS IT FOR?
For existing experienced refrigeration engineers to work safely with ammonia whilst removing or re-charging systems.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The assessment consists of both theory and practical tests to include:
- Legislation and regulations
- establishing a safe system of work
- communication and liaison with the site responsible person(s)
- health and safety
- removal of refrigerant (pump down)
- breaking into refrigeration systems
- system leak pressure testing
- evacuation/dehydration of system
- re-pressurisation and re-commissioning of systems
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Operatives must have recognised refrigeration qualification from the refrigeration or air conditioning sector or a recognised qualification and experience from an allied trade.
COURSE DURATION
Course duration varies by training centre. Use our find a training centre search to locate the nearest one to you.
CERTIFICATION
Following successful assessment outcome, Operatives will receive a BESA certificate of achievement and Operative card.
HOW TO BOOK
For further information on course duration and availability, please contact your nearest training centre via our find a training centre search.
Safe Isolation is a pre-requisite to any of the BESA Electric Scheme categories. The main purpose of Safe Isolation is for existing engineers to ensure that before they undertake any work on systems, they test for the absence of electricity.
Refrigeration Controls is more specific to the electrical operation of a refrigeration system and the maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair of the electrical components associated with the system.
WHO IS IT FOR?
For existing experienced refrigeration engineers to identify safe working practices on refrigeration systems.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The assessment consists of both theory and practical tests to include:
Safe Isolation
- health and safety
- safe isolation of electrical circuits from a fused spur or electrical isolator
- awareness of electrical bonding
- basic electrical concepts to include the use of a multi-range meter to measure voltage, current and resistance values
Refrigeration Controls
- the electrical connection of a refrigeration system
- identify, trace and repair electrical faults
- replacement and exchange of electrical components to include a selection from thermostats, heaters, contactors, pressure switches, timers, fans and relays
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Operatives must have recognised refrigeration qualification from the refrigeration or air conditioning sector or a recognised qualification and experience from an allied trade.
COURSE DURATION
Course duration varies by training centre. Use our find a training centre search to locate the nearest one to you.
CERTIFICATION
Following successful assessment outcome, Operatives will receive a BESA certificate of achievement and Operative card.
HOW TO BOOK
For further information on course duration and availability, please contact your nearest training centre via our find a training centre search.
Have a question about our short courses?
If you would prefer to talk through your options with someone before booking on a course, our Skills Advisory Service is available to support you and answer any questions you may have.
How To Book A Course
All of our accredited training courses are delivered in our approved centres across the country.
Use the find a training centre search to find the nearest centre to you and then register your interest by completing our short online form.
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