IMI Level 3 Award in Automotive Air Conditioning Servicing and Maintenance (EC842-2006) (VRQ)

This qualification is available in England and Northern Ireland only.

Additional content has been added to unit AC1 to include refrigerant R1234yf. New online test questions have been added to the online exam AC1r to cover properties of refrigerant R1234yf, service methods and equipment requirements.  

New EU F-Gas legislation (517/2014) replaces the 2006 regulation and comes into force from January 2015.

F-Gas Regulation Guidance http://www.gluckmanconsulting.com/f-gas-information-sheets

Guidance for users, producers and traders http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-f-gas-regulation-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders

Important note: training and certification in the 2014 F-Gas Regulation are based largely on the existing requirements in the 2006 Regulation. Existing qualifications remain valid.

Who is it suitable for?

The qualification is suitable for:

• technicians who wish to expand their breadth of knowledge in the routine servicing and maintenance of mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems.
• competent MAC technicians who have already completed a previous qualification* – or 'in-house' training (carried out before 4 July 2010).

* Including the L3 Award in Automotive Refrigerant Handling (EC842-2006) Completion of the IMI Awards' Automotive Refrigerant Handling qualification means technicians will already have achieved the Refrigerant Handling unit (AC1) and therefore two credits towards this qualification.

About

This qualification offers automotive technicians the opportunity to develop new skills and enhance existing ones. It also incorporates Unit AC1 (K/600/3391) Refrigerant Handling (EC842-2006). This unit is approved by Defra for MAC technicians (working with cars and car derived vans) who handle F-gas.

From 4 July 2010 all MAC technicians must have achieved, as a minimum requirement, a Defra-approved refrigerant handling meeting the EU F-gas regulations (Commission Regulation EC 842/2006 and the Annex to Commission Regulation EC 307/2008). This is a legal requirement for all technicians working on MAC systems (cars and car derived vans).

Progression

On completion of this qualification, technicians will hold a valid certificate (attestation) to legally recover F-gas (see above).

Assessment

This qualification is assessed via:

• practical assessment 
• tests

Want to know more?

For all enquiries relating to the F Gas and ODS Regulations contact the Environment Agency: f-gassupport@environment-agency.gov.uk

National Customer Contact Centre tel no. 03708 506506