Which F Gas category qualifications is required for a service engineer to legally charge 12kg of R404A into a refrigeration system?

To legally charge 12 kg of R404A into a refrigeration system, the appropriate qualification required is Category I. This category is designated for those who work with and service equipment that contains high volumes of refrigerants, such as 12 kg of R404A. Technicians holding a Category I qualification are trained specifically to handle, recover, and charge refrigerants in systems with significant quantities.

In contrast, other categories pertain to different levels of training and types of equipment. Category II is focused on systems with a charge of between 2.5 kg and 12 kg of refrigerant, often for split systems or packaged equipment. Category III is for low charge systems, typically under 2.5 kg, while Category IV applies to technicians working with refrigerants in a non-recovery and non-custom environment, primarily involving maintenance and minor servicing tasks. Each category defines specific competencies and limitations, but for handling 12 kg of R404A specifically, the qualification aligned with that task is Category I.