Refcom, the register of companies competent to handle refrigerants, has enhancing its long-standing voluntary scheme and re-branding it with the more appropriate name Refcom Elite.
Membership of Refcom Elite will demonstrate a commitment to 'best practice in refrigerant handling', giving members a useful point-of-difference when competing for work including the installation, commissioning, servicing, maintenance, leak checking and decommissioning of any kind of stationary refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pump equipment.

Refcom established its voluntary registration scheme in 1994 and was appointed by Defra as a certification body for mandatory F-Gas company certification in June 2009. The mandatory scheme has registered more than 4,000 businesses in its first year but demand for membership of the voluntary scheme remains strong.

'The Refcom voluntary scheme requires higher standards than those stipulated by the 'light touch' F-Gas regulations and the best businesses in our industry welcome this as a way of demonstrating to clients and potential clients their commitment to best practice,' insisted Refcom's chief executive, Bruce Kirton.

The qualifying criteria for Refcom Elite are almost identical to those of the previous voluntary scheme, but membership benefits have been enhanced. These include:

re-alignment of the audit regime to three-yearly cycles for HVCA members and non-members;

a fee structure banded according to business size;

the introduction of annual, random desk-top inspections;

retention of ACRIB membership or RAC (Blue/Gold) occupational Engineering Services SKILLcard;

a publicly accessible website listing of Elite members, and Refcom Elite certificates and van stickers.

More information about qualifying criteria, benefits and registration costs can be found at www.refcom.org.uk, where application requests can be made online.