Refrigerant Handling Licences – Heavy Vehicle Sector

CMEIG recently sought clarification from the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) on whether there are any changes to refrigerant handling licencing requirements with the introduction of new refrigerants such as 1234YF given that the refrigerant being used in modern day mobile vehicles both light and heavy was covered under the RAC01 RHL administered to the stationary industry by the ARC on behalf of the Australian Government.

Readers will be aware that anyone working/handling a controlled substance (refrigerant) are required by law to hold a current refrigerant handling licence (RHL).

Regulations

Under the Ozone Protection & Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995 states:

Regulation 131 Refrigerant handling licences—qualified persons

1. A relevant authority may, on application, grant to a person a licence mentioned in column 1 of an item in Table 131, entitling the person to engage in the work described in column 2 of the item.Note 1: Regulation 121 also applies to an application.
   Note 2: A person is entitled to apply for any number of licences.
2. The relevant authority may grant the licence only if the authority is satisfied that the applicant:

(a) holds a registered qualification mentioned in column 3 of that item (a relevant qualification); or
(b)  holds a certificate (however described) granted by a registered training organisation (within the meaning of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011), certifying that:

(i)  the organisation recognises that the applicant has achieved learning outcomes and competencies that are equivalent to the learning outcomes and competencies that would satisfy the requirements of a relevant qualification; or
(ii)  the applicant has demonstrated to the organisation that the applicant has achieved learning outcomes and competencies that are equivalent to the learning outcomes and competencies that would satisfy the requirements of a relevant qualification;

Table 131 – Licences and entitlements

Full refrigeration and air conditioning licence

To handle a refrigerant for any work in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry, other than the automotive industry

Any of the following:

(a) MEM 30298 Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical Refrigeration and Air Conditioning);

(b) MEM 30205 Certificate III in Engineering Mechanical Trade (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning);

(c) UTE 30999 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Refrigeration and Air Conditioning;

(d) UEE 31307 Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Automotive air conditioning licence

To handle a refrigerant for any work on air conditioning equipment fitted to the cabin of a motor vehicle

Either:

(a) AUR 20799 Certificate II in Automotive (Mechanical Air Conditioning); or

(b) AUR 20705 Certificate II in Automotive Mechanical (Air Conditioning)

Interpretation

Rod Cumming, General Manager, Compliance and Training at the Australian Refrigeration Council advised that: 

The license scheme is not based on the refrigerant used in equipment, it is based on reducing avoidable emissions of ozone depleting substances and potent greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere and ultimately harming the environment.

This is achieved by only having appropriately qualified and trained personal handle these refrigerants in different sectors and resulting in differing levels of training.

The refrigerant type used in these situations is not chosen by the department, and nor should it be as this is left to the manufacturer of the equipment.

All controlled refrigerants are fundamentally handled the same leaving the Department Approved  AQF training packages identified in the regulations needed for the specific sector to meet the requirements of its handling license.

This the advent of new refrigerants do not, of themselves, affect automotive air conditioning licencing requirements.

CMEIG thank Rod and the Australian Refrigeration Council for their engagement and clarification.