F-gas technician as a sole trader: are both BRL 200 and BRL 100 needed?

As a sole trader (zzp’er) who installs or maintains air conditioners, refrigeration systems or heat pumps, you need two certificates. The first is the personal certificate (BRL 200) for you as a technician. The second is the company certificate (BRL 100) for your sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak), because you work for clients. Ondernemersplein (Dutch government business portal) states that both apply to sole traders, and IPLO (Dutch environmental information point) describes the requirements for the technician.

What you need exactly depends on the work. Read the personal certificate for the categories and BRL 100 for the requirements for your company.

In short: as a sole trader, you need both certificates. The personal certificate says you may do the work, and the company certificate says your business may take on the work.

Why sole traders often need two certificates

Many sole traders think the personal certificate is enough, because they do the work themselves. That is not right. The sole proprietorship is a business, and the business works for third parties. That is why the company certificate is also needed.

The reverse also applies. A company with its own refrigeration installation, which does not work on it for other parties, generally does not need BRL 100. But as soon as you, as a sole trader, work on the refrigerant circuit for a client, you are the business working for third parties.

What do you need, by situation

Situation	Personal certificate	Company certificate (BRL 100)
Sole trader who installs split air conditioners for private customers	Yes, category A2 or A1 depending on the work	Yes
Sole trader who maintains heat pumps for businesses	Yes	Yes
Sole trader who only does leak checks without opening the circuit	Yes, category E may be relevant	Yes, if the work is for third parties
Sole trader who only manages a refrigeration installation of their own	Yes	No, because you do not work for third parties

The last row is an exception. If you have your own installation and do not work on it for others, the BRL 100 obligation does not apply. Do check that your work really falls under “for third parties”.

Example: a sole trader with heat pumps

Suppose Mehmet is a sole trader. He installs and maintains split heat pumps with R32 for private clients. He needs category A2 for himself, because he works with a limited quantity of refrigerant.

He must also have his sole proprietorship certified with BRL 100. Only when both are in place may he take on client work. He has the company certificate applied for at a certification body, and for that he must show, among other things, that he has good equipment and that his work instructions are in order.

So his sequence is: first the exam, then registration in the CRT, then the company certificate. The step-by-step guide shows this step by step.

What does the client check?

A client who hires a sole trader can check whether that person holds the right certificates. The CRT is the place for that. Search on your name as a person and on the name of your sole proprietorship as a business. Make sure both results match the work you accept.

A client who does not check runs a risk if something goes wrong or if an inspection takes place. So make it clear yourself: show your certificates on your quote or in your email.

What does it cost as a sole trader?

You pay for the exam for the personal certificate, and for the application, assessment and periodic inspections for the company certificate. For a sole proprietorship that is relatively heavy, because you bear the costs alone. A worked example for a small business is on costs.

Also count the time you spend on preparation and inspections. For a sole trader, that is often the largest item. See course or training for preparation.

Common mistakes as a sole trader

Only obtaining the personal certificate. Without BRL 100, you may not work for clients.
Thinking that a hired-in job is different. If you work for a third party, the same rule applies.
Not matching the category to the work. A category that is too low means you may not do certain work.
Not showing your certificates. A client who does not see them may not check, and that is your risk.

What if you also work for a permanent employer?

If you work as an employee for an installation company, you need a personal certificate as an employee, and your employer holds the company certificate. If you work as a sole trader on assignment for another installation company, the official sources do not set out whether that company is enough. For now, assume your sole proprietorship also needs BRL 100 itself. If in doubt, ask a certification body or the ILT in writing which certificate applies to your job.

Checklist for your first job as a sole trader

Your personal certificate is in the CRT, and the category fits the job.
Your sole proprietorship has a valid BRL 100 certificate, or you have received written confirmation that the job falls under your client’s certificate.
Your equipment and work instructions are in order, as the certification body requires.
Your quote states that you are certified, so the client knows what to expect.
You have your certificates at hand to show on request.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need BRL 100 if I only do leak checks? That depends on whether the work is for third parties. Leak checks at clients’ sites are work for third parties. Leak checks on your own installation are not.

Can I work for another company with a personal certificate? The personal certificate gives you authority. If you work as an employee, your employer holds the company certificate. If you work as a sole trader for another company, read the section above on what is and is not settled.

What if my BRL 100 expires? Then your sole proprietorship may not take on F-gas work for clients until the certificate is valid again. So schedule the periodic inspections in advance.