About the exam
City & Guilds 2079 F-Gas Exam structure
An independent cross-route study guide for the current City & Guilds 2079 Category I, III and IV qualifications, with official knowledge-test structures, live-practical boundaries and current GB-versus-NI regulation kept distinct.
Issuer and path
City & Guilds 2079 F-Gas and ODS Study Guide is administered through City & Guilds. Check official resources before booking, retesting, or relying on a stale requirement.
Regulation, Qualification Scope and Environment
0 scored + 0 pretest
Current 2079 pathways, category permissions, GB-versus-NI legal boundaries, climate impact, ODS controls and records. The 101-item allocation is for Pass Harbor practice, not an official test weighting.
Refrigeration Principles and Refrigerants
0 scored + 0 pretest
Units, heat and pressure, vapour-compression states and processes, and the behaviour of pure and blended refrigerants. The 100-item allocation is for Pass Harbor practice, not an official test weighting.
Systems, Components and Performance
0 scored + 0 pretest
Operating evidence, major components, controls, line components and the conditions that increase release risk. The 125-item allocation is for Pass Harbor practice, not an official test weighting.
Leak Prevention and Checking
0 scored + 0 pretest
Potential leak points, indirect and direct methods, GB schedule decisions, automatic detection, repair and records. The 75-item allocation is for Pass Harbor practice, not an official test weighting.
Installation and Commissioning Knowledge
0 scored + 0 pretest
Written preparation for joints, hot work, pressure testing, evacuation, charging and operational checks. The 100-item allocation is for Pass Harbor practice, not an official test weighting.
Recovery, Cylinders, Transport and Waste
0 scored + 0 pretest
Recovery sequence, minimised loss, cylinder controls, carriage, reuse decisions and lawful waste handling. The 75-item allocation is for Pass Harbor practice, not an official test weighting.
Integrated Written Application
0 scored + 0 pretest
Whole-job written decisions that combine category, territory, safety, technical evidence, records and handover. The 25-item allocation is for Pass Harbor practice, not an official test weighting.
Confirm the exact route with the approved centre
Ask the centre to confirm the qualification number, E-volve unit, practical unit, entry preparation, permitted arrangements and current assessment date before booking.
Official Outline Coverage Map
Coverage is mapped to official outline item counts so content depth can be checked without hard-coding a single exam.
| Topic | Official outline items | Your questions | Your flashcards | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current 2079 qualifications and category scope | 0 | 26 | 5 | Priority |
| Climate change, GWP and direct or indirect emissions | 0 | 25 | 5 | Priority |
| Ozone depletion, Montreal Protocol and ODS controls | 0 | 25 | 5 | Priority |
| Territory, responsibility, records and labels | 0 | 25 | 5 | Priority |
| Standard units and vapour-compression thermodynamics | 0 | 75 | 15 | Good |
| Refrigerant and blend properties | 0 | 25 | 5 | Good |
| Components, functions, condition and leakage risk | 0 | 125 | 25 | Good |
| Potential leak points and direct or indirect checks | 0 | 50 | 10 | Good |
| Current GB leak-checking compliance | 0 | 25 | 5 | Priority |
| Installation, pressure-test and hot-work safety | 0 | 50 | 10 | Good |
| Evacuation, charging and commissioning knowledge | 0 | 50 | 10 | Good |
| Refrigerant recovery sequence and minimised loss | 0 | 25 | 5 | Good |
| Cylinder, transport, recovered refrigerant and waste safety | 0 | 50 | 10 | Priority |
| Integrated category, legal, technical and record decisions | 0 | 25 | 5 | Good |
How to use this guide
Prepare from scope to safe handover
Start with category and territory, build the underpinning science, then use a controlled technical and record sequence while reserving hands-on competence for supervised practical preparation.
S — Select scope
Confirm qualification route, category permission, equipment, activity and whether circuit entry is involved.
C — Confirm territory and controls
Apply current GB or NI law, company requirements, refrigerant controls and records.
O — Observe hazards and evidence
Identify pressure, electrical, hot-work, refrigerant and environmental hazards, then collect multiple technical indicators.
P — Perform only authorised work
Use the correct safe sequence, suitable equipment and escalation point; written knowledge never substitutes for live competence.
E — Evidence and handover
Verify the result, account for refrigerant and waste, complete records and communicate remaining restrictions.
Route and law first
Fix category and territory before technique
The same technical action can be authorised, restricted or governed differently depending on category and work location.
Qualification and Legal Scope
Choose the current award route, category permission and territorial rule before deciding what work is authorised.
Choose a topic to open below
Climate, GWP and ODS
Connect refrigerant loss and energy use to climate impact while keeping ozone depletion scientifically distinct.
Choose a topic to open below
Whole-job check
Use SCOPE from authorisation to handover
Integrate legal scope, technical evidence, safe sequence, environmental control and records.
What to memorize cold
Integrated Written Service and Decommissioning Scenarios: core
Build a whole-job decision from category and territory through hazards, technical evidence, environmental control, records and handover.
Integrated Written Service and Decommissioning Scenarios: safe method
Use the sequence: scope, territory, hazards, isolate, diagnose, contain, perform only authorised work, verify, record, label, transfer and communicate.
Integrated Written Service and Decommissioning Scenarios: key fact 1
A technically plausible action is still wrong if the worker lacks the category, the territory uses a different rule or the record and waste chain are incomplete.
Integrated Written Service and Decommissioning Scenarios: key fact 2
Good handover states what was found, what was done, refrigerant movements, test evidence, remaining restrictions and the next responsible action.
Integrated Written Service and Decommissioning Scenarios: scope boundary
These are original written integration exercises, not City & Guilds practical assignments and not proof of workshop competence.
Best next move
Integrate legal scope, technical evidence, safe sequence, environmental control and records.
Current 2079 Pathways and Categories
Distinguish current 2079-11 Category I, 2079-13 Category III and 2079-14 Category IV from the no-longer-awarded 2079-12 Category II route.
Key rules
Rule 1
Distinguish current 2079-11 Category I, 2079-13 Category III and 2079-14 Category IV from the no-longer-awarded 2079-12 Category II route.
Exam cue: Start with the activity, system, charge threshold and whether the circuit will be opened; then match the required category and confirm that City & Guilds currently awards that route.
Rule 2
Category I is the broad current route; Category III is recovery-only within the current charge limits; Category IV is leak checking without opening the circuit.
Exam cue: Keep qualification category, work territory and practical authority visible throughout the decision.
Rule 3
The current handbook marks 2079-12 Category II as no longer awarded even though current GOV.UK guidance still defines Category II as a legal competence category.
Exam cue: Name the category, territory, hazard control and evidence needed before selecting an action.
Rule 4
Passing one route proves only that route's assessed scope; it does not create authority for work outside the category or remove other legal requirements.
Exam cue: Name the category, territory, hazard control and evidence needed before selecting an action.
Study it this way
Scope
Know what this topic controls
Distinguish current 2079-11 Category I, 2079-13 Category III and 2079-14 Category IV from the no-longer-awarded 2079-12 Category II route.
Method
Use a repeatable evidence sequence
Start with the activity, system, charge threshold and whether the circuit will be opened; then match the required category and confirm that City & Guilds currently awards that route.
Boundary
Stop at the legal and practical limit
Passing one route proves only that route's assessed scope; it does not create authority for work outside the category or remove other legal requirements. Do not rely on the qualification page's older four-pathway marketing copy when the current cards and May 2025 handbook show only three awardable routes.
Common traps
Do not rely on the qualification page's older four-pathway marketing copy when the current cards and May 2025 handbook show only three awardable routes.
Prevention: Check the current official source and stop when the task exceeds the qualification or practical boundary.
Do not treat historical handbook legislation wording as the complete current workplace rule.
Prevention: Check the current official source and stop when the task exceeds the qualification or practical boundary.
Memory anchors
Current 2079 Pathways and Categories: core
Distinguish current 2079-11 Category I, 2079-13 Category III and 2079-14 Category IV from the no-longer-awarded 2079-12 Category II route.
Current 2079 Pathways and Categories: safe method
Start with the activity, system, charge threshold and whether the circuit will be opened; then match the required category and confirm that City & Guilds currently awards that route.
Current 2079 Pathways and Categories: key fact 1
Category I is the broad current route; Category III is recovery-only within the current charge limits; Category IV is leak checking without opening the circuit.
Current 2079 Pathways and Categories: key fact 2
The current handbook marks 2079-12 Category II as no longer awarded even though current GOV.UK guidance still defines Category II as a legal competence category.
Current 2079 Pathways and Categories: scope boundary
Passing one route proves only that route's assessed scope; it does not create authority for work outside the category or remove other legal requirements.
Next best moves
Quick check-up
Use a short quiz to confirm the rule pattern is actually sticking.
Check-up Questions
Which current City & Guilds 2079 pathway permits all regulated RACHP activities within the certificate's scope?
What is the current status of City & Guilds 2079-12 Category II in the May 2025 qualification handbook?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Open another topic next
Official resources
Verify the details with the official sources
Use these links for eligibility, scheduling, handbook rules, and issuer updates. Our guide helps you study; official sources tell you what the testing partner currently requires.
City & Guilds F-Gas and ODS Regulations (2079)
Current qualification cards, last registration and certification dates, delivery regions and downloadable assessment documents.
City & Guilds 2079 qualification handbook v2.5
May 2025 handbook used for current route status, unit structure, assessment methods, practical outcomes and delivery rules.
City & Guilds 2079-101 test specification v2.1
Official Category I knowledge-test distribution: 40 questions across five outcome areas in 80 minutes.
City & Guilds 2079-301 test specification v2.1
Official Category III knowledge-test distribution: 12 questions across three outcome areas in 25 minutes.
City & Guilds 2079-401 test specification v2.1
Official Category IV knowledge-test distribution: 16 questions across five outcome areas in 35 minutes.
GOV.UK qualifications to work with F gas
Current public category permissions, charge limits, accredited organisations and the EU-recognition boundary.
GOV.UK F-gas guidance collection
Current Great Britain guidance for qualifications, company certification, leak checking, records, recovery, bans and controlled movements.
GOV.UK ODS service qualifications
Current Great Britain qualification guidance for work on equipment containing controlled HCFCs.
DAERA Northern Ireland F-gas and ODS guidance
Official Northern Ireland boundary, including the separate EU quota and ODS licensing systems and GB–NI movement rules.
FAQ
Common City & Guilds 2079 F-Gas questions
Which City & Guilds 2079 qualifications are currently available?
The current qualification cards and May 2025 handbook identify 2079-11 Category I, 2079-13 Category III and 2079-14 Category IV. The handbook explicitly marks 2079-12 Category II as no longer awarded.
Why does the City & Guilds page still mention four pathways?
The descriptive page copy retains the historical four-category explanation. The current qualification cards omit 2079-12 and the current handbook labels Category II no longer awarded, so this guide treats only I, III and IV as current City & Guilds routes.
What work does each category cover?
Current GOV.UK guidance describes Category I as covering all listed RACHP activities; Category III as recovery only from systems below 3 kg, or below 6 kg when hermetically sealed; and Category IV as leak checking without opening the refrigeration circuit. Other legal and company requirements still apply.
Are the three knowledge tests the same length?
No. Category I uses 2079-101 with 40 questions in 80 minutes and a 24-mark pass; Category III uses 2079-301 with 12 questions in 25 minutes and an 8-mark pass; Category IV uses 2079-401 with 16 questions in 35 minutes and a 10-mark pass. All are closed book and Pass/Fail.
What practical assessment accompanies each test?
Category I pairs 2079-101 with practical 2079-102, Category III pairs 2079-301 with 2079-302, and Category IV pairs 2079-401 with 2079-402. The handbook outcomes cover broad installation and recovery tasks for I, recovery for III, and leak checking and records for IV.
Can this study guide replace practical training?
No. It can prepare underpinning knowledge, hazards and sequence, but it cannot assess pipe fabrication, pressure testing, evacuation, charging, recovery, instrument handling or leak-check performance. Those skills require suitable equipment, supervision and live assessment.
Does the 601-question allocation reproduce a 2079 exam?
No. It is a cross-route Pass Harbor study allocation. The official tests are alternative route-specific assessments with different lengths and outcome distributions, and the practical components cannot be reproduced as static written questions.
Are the regulations named in the handbook still the full current law?
No. The handbook retains historical syllabus references including Regulations 842/2006 and 2037/2000. Candidates should recognise that syllabus context but use current GOV.UK, legislation and DAERA sources for workplace compliance.
Are Great Britain and Northern Ireland rules identical?
No. Great Britain operates separate F-gas quota and ODS licensing systems under its retained and domestic legislation. Northern Ireland remains within the EU F-gas and ODS systems. Thresholds, schedules, movement and licensing decisions must be checked for the work location.
Does an individual 2079 certificate satisfy every business requirement?
No. Individual qualification, company certification, competence for the actual equipment and task, refrigerant controls, waste duties, transport rules and employer procedures are separate checks.
Can a UK F-gas certificate be used for work in the EU?
Current GOV.UK guidance says a UK company or individual F-gas certificate is not valid for work in the EU; a qualification or certification recognised by an EU member state is required where applicable.
Who is the qualification designed for?
The handbook describes it as an experienced-worker qualification rather than entry level, approved for candidates aged 16–18 and 19+. Centres control entry, preparation, access arrangements and assessment delivery.