F-gases exam at PBNA

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F-gases exams

If you work with fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) as refrigerants, you are required to take an F-gases exam. The F-gases decree states that you are required to be able to demonstrate that you have obtained an F-gases certificate and can handle F-gases responsibly in the following activities:

Installing, maintaining, repairing and dismantling installations
In leak detection and repair
When you fill or drain refrigerants
If you perform inspections of installations with refrigerants

So you will soon be required to take an F-gases exam if you work on refrigeration systems, air conditioners, heat pumps, firefighting equipment, high-voltage switches and refrigeration mechanisms in the automotive industry. Such as refrigerated transport and air conditioners.

Different exams F-gases

So because F-gases occur in many different installations, and the work performed on them varies, there are different F-gas certificates. It is of course important that you take an F-gases exam that matches your daily work.

Several examination institutes are involved in conducting F-gases exams for personal certification. PBNA complies with the BRL 200, the Dutch assessment guideline that defines what has to be fulfilled in order to issue personal F-gas certificates. This means that PBNA is one of the designated examination institutes for F-gases exams.

If you work on stationary refrigeration equipment, you can take your F-gases exam at BPNA.
Some examples of installations that require you to have an F-gases certificate that you get at PBNA:

large cooling systems: cold rooms and cooling systems for data centers
cooling in the process industry: for example, for machinery and equipment
commercial refrigeration: chillers for hotels, institutions or for in the retail industry
cooling systems for homes and utilities: think air conditioning systems and heat pumps

Subscribe directly to the F-gases category 1 exam

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Subscribe directly to the F-gases category 2 exam

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Difference exams F-gases category 1 and category 2

There are two types of exams F-gases for stationary refrigeration: F-gases 1 and F-gases 2

F-gases 1 exam

Theory & practical exam.
Separate exam for theory and practice.
With F-gases category 1, you may perform all work related to installation, maintenance, repair, and recovery of refrigerants.
It is permitted to recover refrigerants from all types and sizes of equipment.
You may perform leak detections while opening the refrigerant circuit.

Exam Registration

F-gases 2 exam

Theory & practical exam.
Separate exam for theory and practice.
F-gases category 2 allows you to perform limited work, such as leak detection without opening the circuit, and recovery of refrigerants from small systems.
It is only allowed to recover refrigerants from small stationary equipment and mobile units containing less than 3 kg of refrigerants, or less than 6 kg for hermetically sealed systems.
You may perform leak detections but not open the refrigerant circuit while doing so.

Exam Registration

Current schedule

Would you like to know if there is currently space available at your preferred exam date and location? Then click on the link below for the current schedule:

Exam Planning

Current schedule for resits

Have you unexpectedly failed and need to retake exam parts?
This is often possible at short notice. Click on the link below to see when your preferred location still has room:

Scheduling retakes

Why take the F-gases exam at PBNA

✓ PBNA is a recognized examination company for F-gas examinations

PBNA is an examination agency recognized by the Department of Public Works for conducting F-gases exams and issuing personal certificates in accordance with the BRL 200. The BRL 200 is the Dutch assessment guideline that establishes the requirements that exam candidates must meet to obtain the F-gases certificate for persons.

✓ Taking the exam at your training site

PBNA cooperates with several training institutions. If you follow a training at one of the following training institutes, the exam will take place at your training location. For you as an exam candidate, this is extra convenient because you can then take your exam with the setups you have also practiced with.

- TechTec in Almere
- Installation work Roermond
- Installation work Amsterdam
- Installation work Didam
- Installation work Emmen
- ROVC Technical education in Ede

You can also book your exam at PBNA if you have taken F-gases training at another training institute.

✓ Separate theory and practical examination

The F-Gas exams consist of a practical and a theoretical part. You can take the theory exam at PBNA at a location and time of your choice. That way, on the day of the practical exam, you only have to focus on the practical part. Plus, you can easily schedule a retake if you don't pass in one sitting.

Obtain STEK certification from PBNA

An F-gas certificate is regularly confused with a STEK certificate. Before 2010, the STEK certificate was the standard in the Netherlands for companies that worked with refrigeration technologies, including air conditioning systems. Since 2010, the STEK certificate has been replaced by the F-gases certificate.

About the STEK certificate