{"id":"F2024L00944","name":"Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management (Refrigerant Handling Licences—Qualifications and Standards) Determination 2024","slug":"ozone-protection-and-synthetic-greenhouse-gas-management-refrigerant-handling-licences-qualification","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":105311,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2024L00944-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n This instrument is the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management (Refrigerant Handling Licences—Qualifications and Standards) Determination 2024.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n This instrument is made under subregulations 131(3) and 135(5) of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 4 Definitions\n\n In this instrument:\n\n> Regulations means the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Refrigerant handling licences—qualifications","content":"#### 5 Refrigerant handling licences—qualifications\n\n For the purposes of subregulation 131(3) of the Regulations, a qualification mentioned in column 2 of an item in the following table is determined for the licence mentioned in column 1 of the item.\n\n```html\n

Refrigerant handling licences—qualifications

Item

Column 1

Licences

Column 2

Qualifications

1

Full refrigeration and air conditioning licence

(a) MEM30298 Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical Refrigeration and Air Conditioning);

(b) MEM30205 Certificate III in Engineering Mechanical Trade (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning);

(c) MEM31319 Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning;

(d) MEM31322 Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning;

(e) UTE30999 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Refrigeration and Air Conditioning;

(f) UEE31307 Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning;

(g) UEE32211 Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration;

(h) UEE32220 Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

2

Automotive air conditioning licence

(a) AUR20799 Certificate II in Automotive (Mechanical Air Conditioning);

(b) AUR20705 Certificate II in Automotive Mechanical (Air Conditioning);

(c) AUR20212 Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology;

(d) AUR20216 Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology;

(e) AUR20218 Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology;

(f) AUR20220 Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning;

(g) AUR32721 Certificate III in Automotive Electric Vehicle Technology, and completion of the unit AURETU104 Diagnose and repair air conditioning and HVAC components (whether as part of, or in addition to, the qualification);

(h) One of the following qualifications, and completion of the units AURETU103 Service air conditioning and HVAC systems and AURETU104 Diagnose and repair air conditioning and HVAC components (whether as part of, or in addition to, the qualification):

(i) AUR32120 Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair Technology;

(ii) AUR20420 Certificate II in Automotive Electrical Technology;

(iii) AUR21416 Certificate II in Automotive Cooling System Technology;

(iv) AUR30320 Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology;

(v) AUR30420 Certificate III in Agricultural Technology;

(vi) AUR30620 Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology;

(vii) AUR31120 Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology;

(viii) AUR31220 Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology;

(ix) AUR31420 Certificate III in Automotive Diesel Fuel Technology;

(x) AUR31520 Certificate III in Automotive Diesel Engine Technology

3

Restricted heat pump installation and decommissioning licence

(a) MEM20105 Certificate II in Engineering—Production;

(b) 40488SA Certificate II in Split Systems Air Conditioning;

(c) UEE20107 Certificate II in Air Conditioning Split Systems;

(d) UEE20111 Certificate II in Split Air Conditioning and Heat Pump System;

(e) UEE20120 Certificate II in Split Air Conditioning and Heat Pump System

4

Restricted domestic refrigeration and air conditioning appliances licence

(a) MEM20105 Certificate II in Engineering—Production;

(b) UTE 20599 Certificate II in Electrotechnology Servicing (Appliances—Refrigeration);

(c) UTE20504 Certificate II in Electrotechnology Servicing (Appliances—Refrigeration);

(d) UEE21807 Certificate II in Appliance Servicing—Refrigerants;

(e) UEE21810 Certificate II in Appliances Servicing—Refrigerants;

(f) UEE30507 Certificate III in Appliance Servicing;

(g) UEE32111 Certificate III in Appliance Servicing;

(h) UEE32120 Certificate III in Appliance Servicing

\n```","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Licence conditions—standards","content":"#### 6 Licence conditions—standards\n\n (1) For the purposes of subregulation 135(5) of the Regulations, a standard set out in an item of the table in this section applies in relation to work carried out under a licence granted under Subdivision 6A.2.2 (Refrigerant handling licences) of the Regulations.\n (2) A reference to a standard in item 1 to 22 of the table in this section is a reference to that standard:\n (a) as published by Standards Australia; and\n (b) as in force when the item commenced.\n\n```html\n

Licence conditions—standards

Item

Standards

Title of Standards

1

AS 1210‑2010

Pressure vessels

2

AS 2030.1‑2009

Gas cylinders, Part 1: General requirements

3

AS 2030.2‑2021

The verification, filling, inspection, testing and maintenance of cylinders for the storage and transport of compressed gases, Part 2: Cylinders for dissolved acetylene

4

AS 3864.1‑2012

Medical refrigeration equipment — For the storage of blood and blood products, Part 1: Manufacturing requirements

5

AS 3864.2‑2012

Medical refrigeration equipment — For the storage of blood and blood products, Part 2: User‑related requirements for care, maintenance, performance verification and calibration

6

AS 4041‑2006

Pressure piping

7

AS 4211.1‑1996

Gas recovery or combined recovery and recycling equipment, Part 1: Fluorocarbon refrigerants from automotive air conditioning systems

8

AS 4211.3‑1996

Gas recovery or combined recovery and recycling equipment, Part 3: Fluorocarbon refrigerants from commercial/domestic refrigeration and air conditioning systems

9

AS 4332‑2004

The storage and handling of gases in cylinders

10

AS 4484:2016

Gas cylinders for industrial, scientific, medical and refrigerant use – Labelling and colour coding

11

AS 5144.4:2021

Industrial trucks — Safety requirements and verification, Part 4: Driverless industrial trucks and their systems (ISO 3691 4:2020, MOD)

12

AS/NZS ISO 17672:2023

Brazing – Filler metals

13

AS/NZS ISO 24373:2023

Welding consumables – Solid wires and rods for fusion welding of copper and copper alloys – Classification

14

AS 1571:2020

Copper – Seamless tubes for air conditioning and refrigeration

15

AS/NZS ISO 5151:2023

Non-ducted air conditioners and heat pumps - Testing and rating for performance

16

AS/NZS 3823.1.2:2012

Performance of electrical appliances – Air conditioners and heat pumps, Part 1.2: Ducted air conditioners and air to air heat pumps – Testing and rating for performance (ISO 13253:2011, MOD)

17

AS/NZS 5149.1:2016

Refrigerating systems and heat pumps—Safety and environmental requirements, Part 1: Definitions, classification and selection criteria (ISO 5149‑1:2014, MOD)

18

AS/NZS 5149.2:2016

Refrigerating systems and heat pumps—Safety and environmental requirements, Part 2: Design, construction, testing, marking and documentation (ISO 5149‑2:2014, MOD)

19

AS/NZS 5149.3:2016

Refrigerating systems and heat pumps—Safety and environmental requirements, Part 3: Installation site (ISO 5149‑3:2014, MOD)

20

AS/NZS 5149.4:2016

Refrigerating systems and heat pumps—Safety and environmental requirements, Part 4: Operation, maintenance, repair and recovery (ISO 5149‑4:2014, MOD)

21

AS/NZS 60335.2.40:2019

Household and similar electrical appliances — Safety, Part 2.40: Particular requirements for electrical heat pumps, air‑conditioners and dehumidifiers

22

AS/NZS ISO 817:2016

Refrigerants—Designation and safety classification

23

Australia and New Zealand Refrigerant Handling Code of Practice, Part 1—Self-contained low charge systems, 2025 edition, published by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating, as in force on the day this item commences

24

Australia and New Zealand Refrigerant Handling Code of Practice, Part 2—Systems other than self‑contained low charge systems, 2025 edition, published by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating, as in force on the day this item commences

25

The Australian Automotive Code of Practice for the Control of Refrigerant Gases during Manufacture, Installation, Servicing or Decommissioning of Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners, published by the Commonwealth of Australia, as in force on 1 August 2024

\n```","sortOrder":4}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument remains tightly focused on its original purpose: specifying qualifications for refrigerant handling licences and the technical standards that apply to licensed work. It does not expand beyond the regulatory framework established by the parent Regulations."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive tabular data with 4 licence categories and 25 technical standards","Nested qualification requirements in Item 2 (automotive licence) with multiple pathways and unit completion requirements","Cross-references to external standards documents (AS/NZS standards) that are not reproduced in the instrument","Version-specific qualification codes (e.g., MEM30298 vs MEM30205 vs MEM31319) requiring careful tracking of superseded qualifications","Incorporation by reference of 22 Australian Standards and 3 industry codes of practice, creating external compliance obligations","Temporal locking mechanism in section 6(2) – standards are frozen at their version when the item commenced"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets out the rules for who can legally handle refrigerants in Australia, and what technical standards they must follow.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Qualifications:** It lists exactly which TAFE certificates and trade qualifications you need to get a licence to work with refrigerants. There are four types of licences:\n - **Full refrigeration and air conditioning licence** – for tradies who install and service big commercial systems (needs a Certificate III in refrigeration)\n - **Automotive air conditioning licence** – for mechanics working on car aircon (needs specific automotive certificates, with extra units for electric vehicles)\n - **Restricted heat pump installation licence** – for installing split-system air conditioners (needs a Certificate II)\n - **Restricted domestic refrigeration licence** – for servicing fridges and domestic appliances (needs a Certificate II or III in appliance servicing)\n\n- **Technical standards:** It also lists 25 Australian Standards that licence holders must follow when doing their work. These cover everything from how to safely store gas cylinders, to pressure vessel rules, to the proper way to recover and recycle refrigerant gases.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Anyone applying for or holding a refrigerant handling licence\n- TAFEs and training organisations (who must teach the right courses)\n- Employers in the HVAC, refrigeration and automotive industries\n\n**Why it matters:**\nRefrigerants are potent greenhouse gases and some damage the ozone layer. This law ensures only properly trained people handle these substances, and that they follow strict safety and environmental standards. It stops cowboys from venting harmful gases into the atmosphere."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination updates and specifies the list of acceptable vocational qualifications and the specific technical standards that apply as licence conditions. That is a continuation of the Regulations' existing mechanism (subregs 131(3) and 135(5)) for determining qualifications and standards. It does not, on its face, broaden the types of activities captured by the licensing regime; rather it defines which credentials and which published standards satisfy existing regulatory requirements. The main substantive changes are an updated, version‑specific list (including 2025 editions of AIRAH Codes and the Automotive Code as in force on 1 August 2024), which is an updating exercise rather than an expansion beyond the Regulations' original scope."},"complexity_factors":["4 distinct licence categories specified (s 5 table).","Approximately 38 named qualifications and multiple unit‑completion conditions across the licence categories (s 5 table — many Certificate II/III entries and unit requirements).","25 numbered standards and 2 Codes of Practice listed as licence conditions (s 6 table, items 1–25 plus items 23–25 referencing AIRAH Codes and the Automotive Code).","Cross‑references to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995 (subregs 131(3) and 135(5) and Subdivision 6A.2.2) (s 3, s 5, s 6).","References to external publications (Standards Australia and industry Codes) including specific editions, and a version‑locking rule ('as in force when the item commenced') (s 6(2)(a)–(b)).","Conditional qualification requirements (some qualifications accepted only if particular units are completed; e.g. s 5 item 2(g) and 2(h)).","Mixture of different document types (national standards, ISO‑based modified standards, and industry Codes of Practice) which raises implementation and access complexity (s 6 table).","Administrative complexity for regulators: verifying listed qualifications, unit completions and compliance with specified standard editions."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanical change)\n\n- This Determination lists the exact vocational qualifications and technical standards that are taken to satisfy the legal requirements for refrigerant‑handling licences under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995 (the Regulations). (See s 5 and s 6.)\n- It ties four types of licences to named Certificate II/III qualifications (or equivalent unit completions) and makes a table of 25 Australian / Australia‑New Zealand standards and two industry Codes of Practice into licence conditions.\n\nWho it affects\n\n- Individual technicians and tradespeople who want to be licensed to handle refrigerants (full refrigeration & air conditioning, automotive air conditioning, restricted heat‑pump installation/decommissioning, and restricted domestic refrigeration/air conditioning). (See s 5 table.)\n- Employers and businesses that supply refrigeration, air‑conditioning and automotive air‑conditioning services (they must ensure staff hold the listed qualifications and comply with the listed standards). \n- Registered training organisations and apprenticeship programmes (their qualifications are the ones listed). \n- Regulators and licensing officers who assess licence applications and monitor compliance (they apply the named qualifications/standards when issuing or enforcing licences).\n\nWhy it matters (what legal effect kicks in)\n\n- Holding one of the listed qualifications (or specified unit completions) is treated by law as satisfying the qualification requirement for the relevant refrigerant‑handling licence (s 5). That determines who may lawfully perform refrigerant work under those licences.\n- Work carried out under those licences must comply with the listed Standards Australia / AS/NZS standards and specified industry Codes of Practice, as they were in force when the items commenced (s 6(1)–(2) and the s 6 table). Compliance with those standards is a licence condition.\n\nStated policy purpose and practical testing of effects\n\n- The Determination’s stated effect (implicit in its structure) is to ensure refrigerant‑handling is limited to workers with specified training and that licensed work meets technical safety and environmental standards. That links legal permission to perform refrigerant work with concrete, named qualifications and recognised technical standards (s 5; s 6).\n\nPractical consequences, costs and trade‑offs\n\n- Compliance cost: Individuals without the listed qualifications will need to obtain them (or the named units) to qualify for a licence. Employers may need to upskill staff or recruit certified personnel (s 5). Training, assessment and downtime impose direct costs.\n- Barrier‑to‑entry / competition effects: By specifying particular Certificate II/III qualifications (and certain unit completions), the Determination narrows the set of acceptable credentials. That can raise entry costs for small independent operators who do not already hold those qualifications and may favour providers who can more easily afford training or existing qualified staff (s 5 table).\n- Standards compliance cost: Licence holders must carry out licensed work to the listed AS / AS/NZS standards and the two Codes of Practice (s 6 and s 6 table). Meeting those technical standards can require investment in equipment, procedures, testing and record‑keeping. Those are ongoing costs to businesses performing the work.\n- Regulatory clarity vs. lock‑in: The instrument names specific standard editions and says the references are to the versions \"as in force when the item commenced\" (s 6(2)(b)). This provides certainty about which edition applies, but it also freezes a version; future updates to a standard are not automatically captured unless the Determination is changed. That is a trade‑off between stability for compliance and the need to update to reflect technical progress.\n- Administrative and enforcement workload: Licensing authorities must check qualifications against the named list and ensure work complies with the listed standards; that shifts verification activity to regulators (s 5–6).\n- Access to standards: Many listed standards and codes are published documents (Standards Australia, AIRAH). If those are paywalled, there is an incidental compliance friction — licence‑holders must obtain access to know and apply the standards (s 6 table entries).\n\nWho pays and who decides\n\n- Who pays: individual applicants (for training, assessment and certification), employers (for staff training, equipment upgrades, compliance processes), and potentially consumers (if costs are passed on). \n- Who decides: the Determination (made under subregulations 131(3) and 135(5) of the Regulations) fixes the acceptable qualifications and standards; licensing authorities apply those rules when issuing or conditioning licences (see s 3, s 5 and s 6).\n\nBehavioural changes the instrument pushes\n\n- Prospective refrigerant handlers will seek the listed qualifications or specified units to obtain licences (s 5). \n- Licensed businesses will adopt or document compliance with the listed AS / AS/NZS standards and the specified Codes of Practice when performing licensed activities (s 6).\n- Parties without listed credentials will be pushed to subcontract to licensed holders or stop offering refrigerant work if they cannot meet qualification/standards requirements.\n\nKey sections to consult when applying the instrument\n\n- Section 5: the table of licence types and the specific qualifications that are treated as meeting the qualification requirement for each licence. \n- Section 6(1)–(2) and the s 6 table: the list of Standards Australia and industry Codes of Practice that apply as licence conditions and the rule that each standard reference is to the edition \"as in force when the item commenced.\"\n\nBottom line\n\nThis Determination converts named vocational qualifications and named technical standards into legal benchmarks for refrigerant‑handling licences. It creates clear, version‑specific rules about who is qualified and which technical standards must be met, with predictable compliance and training costs for individuals and firms and a corresponding enforcement task for regulators (see s 5 and s 6)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a new determination that prescribes the qualifications and standards required for refrigerant handling licences; it does not directly repeal or amend any other legislative instrument."},"complexity_factors":["Straightforward list of qualifications and standards","No complex legal tests or discretions","Clear tables making information easy to locate","Applies existing regulatory framework without introducing new policy"],"plain_english_summary":"This determination defines the formal qualifications required for Australian refrigerant-handling licences and specifies the Australian and joint Australia–New Zealand standards and industry codes that must be followed when working with refrigerants. \n\nIt affects anyone applying for or holding a refrigerant licence—confirming which training qualifications are acceptable and imposing mandatory technical and safety standards; compliance is required to retain the authority to handle refrigerants."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ozone-protection-and-synthetic-greenhouse-gas-management-refrigerant-handling-licences-qualification","history":"/api/acts/ozone-protection-and-synthetic-greenhouse-gas-management-refrigerant-handling-licences-qualification/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ozone-protection-and-synthetic-greenhouse-gas-management-refrigerant-handling-licences-qualification/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ozone-protection-and-synthetic-greenhouse-gas-management-refrigerant-handling-licences-qualification/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ozone-protection-and-synthetic-greenhouse-gas-management-refrigerant-handling-licences-qualification/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ozone-protection-and-synthetic-greenhouse-gas-management-refrigerant-handling-licences-qualification/documents"}}