Recommended Books & Tools
Reference books, vacuum and leak-detection equipment, and recovery tools we recommend for HVAC and refrigeration technicians sitting City & Guilds 2079 / EU F-Gas Regulation 517/2014.
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Reference Books
Printed references that map directly onto the City & Guilds 2079 syllabus and EU F-Gas Regulation 517/2014 — the books every Cat-1 candidate keeps within arm's reach.
F-Gas Reference Manual 2nd Edition (Kelvin Kelly)
The closest-to-syllabus printed resource for City & Guilds 2079. Covers GWP and CO2-equivalent calculations, leak-check intervals, recovery procedures, brazing technique, and triple-evacuation in the order the practical assessment runs them.
Why we recommend it: Every Cat-1 candidate buys this. Pairs directly with our GWP / CO2-eq calculator and the SG2 Environment & Regulations and SG5 Refrigerant Handling topic pages — the same numbered articles of (EU) 517/2014 you'll be quoted from in the multiple-choice paper.
Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps (5th Ed., G.F. Hundy)
The Institute of Refrigeration's recommended technical textbook. Refrigeration cycle theory, refrigerant properties, oils, controls, and system design — the underlying physics behind everything the F-Gas exam tests.
Why we recommend it: If you want to actually understand the numbers our Superheat / Subcooling and System Performance calculators output (and not just punch them in), this is the book. SG1 Thermodynamics, SG6 Compressors, SG8 Evaporators all cite Hundy.
Test Equipment & Vacuum
Vacuum pumps, micron gauges, and electronic leak detectors used on the practical assessments and the legally mandated leak-check intervals.
NAVAC NP12DM 12 CFM 2-Stage Vacuum Pump
DC dual-stage 12 CFM pump capable of pulling below 5 microns. Brushless motor, oversized intake, and the dependability needed for repeat triple-evacuation cycles on commercial systems.
Why we recommend it: F-Gas regulators expect a deep evacuation (typically <500 micron, with 250-micron triple-evac for commercial work) before charging. This is the workhorse pump for the SG10 Pipework & Brazing practical and the kind of contamination-free vacuum the SG3 Pre-Op Checks topic walks through.
Mastercool 90066-B 6 CFM Single-Stage Vacuum Pump
Single-stage 6 CFM pump from the same product family every UK refrigeration college owns. Lighter, cheaper, and fine for split AC and most domestic heat-pump work.
Why we recommend it: The college / apprentice pick. If you'll be tested on a 90066 in the practical, train on a 90066. Pair it with the RAVG-1 below and you've got a credible evacuation rig for under £500.
Robinair RAVG-1 Digital Micron Vacuum Gauge
MEMS-Pirani sensor reading down to 10 microns with a backlit display. Reads through oil contamination far better than analogue gauges and survives dropping off the back of the van.
Why we recommend it: The only credible way to verify a system has actually been evacuated, not just pumped down. Pair with whichever pump you own — the SG3 Pre-Op Checks practical expects you to call out a number, not a needle.
Mastercool 56100 Blue Raptor Refrigerant Leak Detector
Corona-discharge sensor sensitive to CFC, HCFC, HFC and HFO refrigerants. Six-level visual + audible alarm, replaceable sensor, and the responsiveness needed for a methodical bubble-by-bubble walk-around.
Why we recommend it: The leak detector that satisfies the legally mandated check intervals under (EU) 517/2014 Article 4 — 12, 6, or 3 months by CO2-eq tonnage. Used hands-on in our SG4 Leak Detection topic and our CO2-eq calculator decides which interval applies.
Recovery & Hand Tools
Recovery machines, flaring tools, and brazing torches for the two pass/fail practical tasks on the C&G 2079 assessment.
Robinair RG6 Portable Refrigerant Recovery Machine
Twin-cylinder, oil-less recovery machine. Liquid and vapour recovery, push-button operation, and a thermal-overload-protected motor that handles the 30-plus-minute pulls big systems demand.
Why we recommend it: Recovery is one of two pass/fail practical assessments on the C&G 2079. The RG6 is the standard most centres train on — the same sequence (purge, recover, monitor pressure to vacuum) the SG5 Refrigerant Handling topic page walks you through.
Appion G5TWIN Twin Cylinder Recovery Unit
Industry-icon twin-cylinder recovery machine. Faster pull-down, oversized internal ports, and the build quality refrigeration techs swap stories about — "speed of Appion" is the gospel.
Why we recommend it: Pro alternative to the RG6 if you're going to be doing recovery for a living. Same SG5 Refrigerant Handling topic, faster cycle time, and resale value that holds for years.
Yellow Jacket 60278 Deluxe 45° Flaring Tool
Eccentric-cone flaring tool covering 1/8" to 3/4" OD copper. R-410A-rated 45° flares, ratcheting yoke, and the precision needed for a leak-free mechanical joint.
Why we recommend it: Mechanical-joint quality is on the SG10 Pipework & Brazing practical mark sheet. A bad flare is a leak; a leak is a fail. This is the tool most UK college rigs use, and the technique covered on the SG10 topic page.
Rothenberger Super-Fire 2 Brazing Torch
Up to 2,400°C with MAPP gas. Push-button piezo ignition, screw-on torch head, and a flame profile suited to silver-soldering refrigeration pipework.
Why we recommend it: Brazing is the second mandatory pass/fail practical on the C&G 2079. The Health & Safety topic also covers the hot-work permit and PPE requirements that come with running a torch on site — both shown on the H&S topic page.
Pair Them With Our App
370+ City & Guilds 2079 practice questions across 11 skill groups plus Health & Safety, 5 calculator categories (CO2-equivalent / leak rate / superheat & subcooling / system performance / charge limits), and a full F-Gas Regulation 517/2014 reference — built for the same exam these books and tools help you pass.
