Check F-gas certificates: BRL 200 and BRL 100 in the CRT
You check an F-gas certificate in the Centraal Register Techniek (CRT, Dutch central technical register). There you can see whether a fitter or a company is qualified. After a passed exam, the examination body registers the certificate in the CRT. IPLO (Dutch Living Environment Information Point) describes this registration as a legal requirement. Clients and inspectors therefore look in the register. Ondernemersplein (Dutch government business portal) explains which certificates exist.
Wondering which certificate belongs to which work? Read the personal certificate and BRL 100. Want to know why you cannot simply rely on a piece of paper? Read why a certificate cannot be bought.
In short: a certificate that is not in the CRT cannot be proven. Always check the register, not only the PDF that the fitter or company gives you.
What you want to know during a check
During a check, you want to know three things. Does the person or company have a valid certificate? For which category or which work does it apply? And has it not yet expired?
| Question | Where you see it |
|---|---|
| Does the fitter have a personal certificate? | In the CRT, when you search for the person |
| Which category is it? | In the result of the registration (indicative, not yet checked on the live site) |
| Is the company certified (BRL 100)? | In the CRT, when you search for the company |
| Is the certificate still valid? | Ask the fitter for the expiry date and compare it with the register |
Note: the registration shows what has been registered. Whether someone may still work depends on the validity and the rules that apply at that moment.
Steps to check a certificate
Go to the CRT
Open the Centraal Register Techniek . The CRT has three search services. As a client, you use Vind je Vakbedrijf (find a company) for companies and Check je Vakspecialist (check your specialist) for people. Auditors and inspectors use Check een Kwalificatie (check a qualification) .
Search for the person or the company
In Check een Kwalificatie, you first choose skilled persons or companies, and then the qualification type. For a person, enter the full surname. For a company, enter the company name. Small differences in the name can produce no result.
Check the category and validity
Look at which category is registered, as far as the register shows it. Compare that with the work you are having done. If the certificate says A2 but the work involves a larger installation, the category is too low.
Record the outcome
Keep a screenshot or a note with the date, name and category. That way you can show later that you did the check.
Example: an installer who is not in the register
Suppose you are the client for a renovation. The installer shows a PDF with “F-gases A2” and the logo of an examination body. You search for the name in the CRT and find nothing.
There are two possibilities. Either the registration has not been processed yet, or the certificate was never registered. In both cases, first ask the installer a question: which examination body held the exam, and when? If the answer does not match the register, do not hire that installer for refrigerant work.
You do not need to be a detective. The register exists for exactly this check.
What you see in the register
The register can show different situations. A few common ones:
- Person registered, company not. The fitter may have a personal certificate, but the company does not yet have BRL 100. The company may then not take on F-gas work for clients.
- Company registered, no fitter. The company is certified, but nobody who works there is personally qualified. Ask who will carry out the work.
- Category lower than the work. The work requires more than the certificate covers. This is a signal not to let the job go ahead.
- Expired certificate. If the validity has passed, recertification is needed. Ask about it.
Common mistakes when checking
- Only looking at the PDF. Anyone can make a PDF. The register is the source.
- Searching on the first name. The register asks for the full surname.
- Forgetting the company certificate. A fitter with a valid personal certificate also needs a company with BRL 100 for client work.
- Not saving what you saw. Keep the outcome, so you have evidence if someone asks later.
Further reading
If you lose the certificate, read requesting a duplicate. If you want to obtain the certificate yourself, read the step-by-step plan.
What if you find nothing in the register?
An empty search does not always mean that someone has no certificate. First check your search. Use the full surname or company name as it appears on the certificate, and try the company as well if you first searched for the person.
If the result stays empty, ask the fitter for an explanation. The CRT itself notes that a qualification may not yet have been added. You can then check with the certifying body or with the company. A serious fitter can explain this and show a copy of the exam certificate.
When in doubt, ask for the examination body and the exam date, and check these with that body. If it remains unclear, do not work together until it is resolved.
Checklist before you hire a fitter
Use this list when you hire a fitter or company for refrigerant work.
| Check | What you want to see | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Personal certificate | Registered, right category | CRT, by name |
| Company certificate | BRL 100 active for this work | CRT, by company name |
| Validity | Expiry date is still in the future | The certificate itself, and the CRT as far as it shows the date |
| Work you are having done | Category matches the refrigerant and the type of work | Comparison with the quote |
| Record keeping | Date, name and outcome are saved | Your own administration |
This list does not replace legal advice. It helps you do the check properly and keep a record of it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to check every time? It is sensible to check with every new job, and certainly when you work with a different fitter. Also check after a renewal or a change in the team.
May I simply accept the fitter’s PDF? You may read it, but the register is the source. A PDF can be altered or out of date.
Who is responsible if things go wrong? The fitter and the company both have their own obligations. As a client, you want to show that you did the check. That is why keeping the outcome matters.