1. Mandatory Leak Checks

Leak checks must be carried out by a certified F-Gas engineer at the following intervals:

CO₂ Equivalent ChargeLeak-Check Frequency

5 to 50 tonnes CO₂eEvery 12 months (or 24 months with leak detection system)

50 to 500 tonnes CO₂eEvery 6 months (or 12 months with leak detection system)

Above 500 tonnes CO₂eEvery 3 months (or 6 months with leak detection system)

Most commercial AC systems fall into the first or second category

2. F-Gas Logbook (Mandatory Record Keeping)

You must keep an F-Gas register for each system, including:

Quantity of refrigerant

Any additions or removals

Leak check dates

Details of the engineer/company

Repairs and refrigerant recovery

This must be kept for 5 years.

3. Certified Engineers Only

Only F-Gas certified companies and engineers are legally allowed to:

Install

Maintain

Leak-test

Repair

Decommission any system containing F-Gas refrigerant.

4. Mandatory Repairs of Leaks

Any detected leak must be repaired without delay, and the system must be re-tested within 30 days

TM44 assessments must be carried out every 5 years by an accredited inspector.

Purpose of TM44 Assessment

The assessment will:

Evaluate system efficiency

Check operation and controls

Recommend improvements to reduce energy use

Check maintenance records

Ensure you're legally compliant

Penalties

Failure to have a valid TM44 certificate may result in:

Fines up to £300 per building, repeated until compliance

Further enforcement from Trading Standards

.