STEK certificate: what is left?
The old STEK certificate, the standard for refrigeration technicians in the Netherlands before 2010, no longer exists. The F-gas personal certificate has replaced it, and all old STEK certificates have expired. The Stichting Emissiepreventie Koudetechniek (STEK) (Dutch foundation for refrigeration emission prevention) does still exist: as an exam body, and with its own company certificate that the ministry considers equivalent to BRL 100.
So if you search for “STEK certificate”, you now mean one of two things. You mean the personal certificate you get from STEK as an exam body, or the STEK company certificate that Kiwa and other bodies issue. The old, separate STEK diploma for technicians no longer exists.
In short: a technician needs an F-gas personal certificate, not a STEK certificate. A company needs BRL 100, or the STEK company certificate that has been declared equivalent to it.
What existed before, and what exists now?
STEK has played a role in refrigeration technology for more than thirty years. That role has changed. This table puts the two side by side.
| Before | Now | |
|---|---|---|
| Personal certificate for technicians | STEK certificate, the standard until 2010 | F-gas personal certificate, categories A1 to E (BRL 200) |
| Company certificate | STEK recognition | BRL 100, or the STEK company certificate declared equivalent |
| Role of STEK | Issuer of the recognition | Exam body, scheme manager of the STEK company certificate, STEK checker search tool |
| Legal basis | Dutch rules on leak-tightness of refrigeration installations | F-gassenverordening (EU) 2024/573 (EU F-gas Regulation) and the Dutch implementation |
STEK as exam body for the F-gas certificate
STEK is one of the recognised exam bodies for the personal certificate, alongside STE Examenbureau and Koninklijke PBNA. At STEK you can take exams for categories A1, A2, B, C, D and E. STEK also offers exams in basic knowledge of climate and refrigeration technology and brazing.
A technician who “takes their STEK” in practice obtains an F-gas personal certificate through STEK. That certificate is just as valid as one from PBNA or STE. It is listed in the Centraal Register Techniek (Central Technical Register) , like all others. If you have lost your STEK certificate, read requesting a duplicate.
The STEK company certificate and BRL 100
Alongside the exams, STEK has its own certification scheme for companies. According to Kiwa, the Ministerie van Klimaat en Groene Groei (Dutch Ministry of Climate and Green Growth) has confirmed that the STEK scheme is equivalent to BRL 100 version 3.0. A valid STEK company certificate from an accredited body then meets the legal obligation for the work it covers.
| BRL 100 | STEK company certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The statutory assessment guideline | A STEK scheme of its own, declared equivalent to BRL 100 v3.0 |
| Manager | Rijkswaterstaat, on behalf of the ministry | STEK |
| Scope | Sub-areas I, II and III | Module A (synthetic and flammable refrigerants), A Transport, B (CO2), C (ammonia) |
| Staff | Technicians with a BRL 200 certificate | Technicians with a BRL 200 certificate |
| Inspections | Periodic, at Kiwa at least every 24 months | Follow-up inspections at least every 24 months |
| Extra | Legal minimum | Extra requirements for craftsmanship, quality and business operations |
Kiwa reports that the new, stand-alone STEK scheme came into effect on 1 September 2026, at the same time as the new scope of BRL 100. Companies choose for themselves: BRL 100 alone, or the STEK certificate to stand out on quality.
Do you need a STEK certificate?
It is not compulsory. By law, your company must have BRL 100 or an equivalent scheme. Use this rule of thumb:
| Your situation | Advice |
|---|---|
| Technician without a certificate | Get an F-gas personal certificate in the right category, at STEK or another exam body |
| Company that only wants to meet the legal obligation | BRL 100 is enough |
| Company that serves tenders or large clients that ask for STEK | Consider the STEK company certificate |
| Client looking for an installer | Ask for BRL 100 or STEK and check it in the Centraal Register Techniek |
An installation company that maintains cold rooms for a supermarket chain may, for example, find that the buyer writes “STEK-approved” in the tender. That is often an old habit. Then ask whether BRL 100 is also enough, or choose the STEK scheme deliberately.
How do you get the STEK company certificate?
The process is very similar to BRL 100. Kiwa, one of the bodies that issues the STEK certificate, describes five steps:
| Step | What happens | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Application and intake | You discuss which modules you need | Clear scope |
| 2. Proposal and agreement | You receive a tailored quote | Signed agreement |
| 3. Admission assessment | The auditor checks procedures, staff and equipment | Provisional certificate |
| 4. First inspection | Within 6 months, the auditor observes real work | Definitive certificate |
| 5. Follow-up inspections | At least every 24 months | Certificate maintained |
Prices are not published. You receive them in the quote after the intake. If you already have BRL 100, ask how much extra work the STEK requirements mean for your company.
How do you check a STEK or BRL 100 company?
If you are a client, for example a facilities manager or a supermarket, check in three steps whether your installer is in order:
- Ask for the certificate number of the company and of the technician who is coming.
- Look both up in the Centraal Register Techniek. There you can also see which work the certificate covers.
- Check whether the scope fits. If the company works on your CO2 installation, CO2 (sub-area II or module B) must appear on the certificate.
For STEK-certified companies, STEK also has its own search tool, the STEK checker. Record your check, for example in your supplier assessment.
Common misunderstandings about the STEK certificate
- “My old STEK diploma is still valid.” No, those certificates have expired. You need an F-gas personal certificate.
- “STEK is the same as BRL 100.” Not entirely. The STEK company certificate is declared equivalent, but it is a scheme of its own with extra requirements.
- “A STEK exam is better than a PBNA exam.” The certificate is the same, regardless of the exam body.
- “You cannot check a STEK exam.” You can. Technicians with a personal certificate through STEK are listed in the CRT. For STEK companies, STEK also has the STEK checker.
For what a certificate and exam cost, read costs of BRL 100 and personal certificate. For how to choose a certification body, see choosing a certification body.