The Centralny Osrodek Chlodnictwa - COCH (Refrigeration Research and Development Centre) realizes certification of personnel competence operating in the fields of refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pumps in accordance with the requirements of the Polish standard PN-EN 13313:2003 - COCH is a person certification body accredited by the Polskie Centrum Akredytacji PCA (Polish Centre of Accreditation) accreditation No. AC 056 (details of COCH accreditation you can find on PCA web site www.pca.gov.pl).

Recently PCA signed agreements with international organizations like:

• EA MLA (EA Multilateral Agreement)
• IAF MLA (IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement)
• ILAC MRA (ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement)

COCH as the accredited organization takes part in those agreements (for example COCH has sublicense agreement with PCA for using ILAC-MRA and IAF-MLA logo)

The certification procedure includes:

• Qualifications of candidates;
• Assessment of knowledge and practical skills (examination);
• Issuing a certificate;
• Supervision of certificate holders.

Competence categories:

• Category A: maintenance, operation;
• Category B: maintenance, operation, installation, starting, repair;
• Category C: design, construction, technical consulting, managing.

Certification of competences may be limited to partial ranges of operations comprised by a respective competence category, by the power range of the equipment and installations, and by refrigerant used in such equipment and installations. Limitations are based on compulsory law regulations and/or professional experience of the person applying for certification.