Welcome to the Australian Refrigeration Council’s Help Centre. Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about managing your licensing and authorisations with us. Whether you’re looking to renew your licence, understand the requirements for different types of authorisations, or update your business details, we’ve got you covered. Navigate through the information provided or visit our website for more details. If you need further assistance, our dedicated team is just a phone call away at 1300 88 44 83.
A Risk Management Plan (RMP) must identify potential risks which could result in the emission of refrigerant to the atmosphere and outline measures to minimise the possibility of those risks occurring.
Your RMP must reflect risks and measures relevant to what occurs with your refrigerant both on and off the job. This applies whether your business is conducted from a vehicle or building, or whether you are a sole trader or employ 100 technicians.
It is important that RTA applicants understand what is required in an RMP as insufficient RMPs are one of the main reasons RTA application assessments are not approved.
A sample RMP covering the broadest risk assessment is available on the ARC website – click here
Only the risks that are valid for your business should be included in your RMP, and the format and medium of the RMP is at the RTA’s discretion.
NO. Importers of equipment containing fluorocarbon-based refrigerants require an import licence issued by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). Further details can be found here
The Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Management Regulations 1995 provide that persons or businesses that acquire, store or dispose of refrigerants must hold a current Refrigerant Trading Authorisation issued by ARC on behalf of the Australian Government.
Businesses that acquire refrigerant (other than halon) for use in the manufacture of RAC must hold a current Refrigerant and Air-conditioning Equipment Manufacturing Trading Authorisation (RAEMTA).
Since the amendments to the regulations, a new class of authorisation has been made available for businesses that have no need to purchase refrigerant. The Restricted Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RRTA) allows the holder to acquire, possess and dispose of refrigerant provided that the refrigerant is only acquired by being recovered from equipment at the end of its useful life and it is only disposed of by being provided to the operator of a refrigerant destruction facility.
All three types of Refrigerant Trading Authorisation can be obtained by submitting a Refrigerant Trading Authorisation application via the ARC website, http://www.arctick.org
Any person who handles refrigerant or works on RAC equipment using a refrigerant regulated under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995 must hold a refrigerant handling licence. Handling a refrigerant means doing anything with the refrigerant, or a component of RAC equipment, that carries the risk of its emission, including:
The refrigerant handling licence and refrigerant trading authorisation cover all fluorocarbon refrigerants: chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons. Examples of these include R12, R22, R134A, R410A and R404A.
Fluorocarbon refrigerants are harmful to the environment if emitted to the atmosphere. Under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995, persons handling refrigerant must hold a current Refrigerant Handling Licence. This licence is issued by ARC on behalf of the Australian government and can be obtained by completing the online licence application form on this website.
Because lower-GSP refrigerants are becoming increasingly widely used, and Green Scheme Accreditation assures your customers that you can handle them effectively and safely.
Government OH&S departments in New South Wales, Victoria or Western Australia accept Green Scheme as proof of OH&S competence. Other states are likely to follow.
Yes, Green Scheme Accreditation is your assurance that a technician has all the skills required for an ARCtick licence, plus additional training to handle the lower-GWP refrigerants.
All licence fees are GST exempt. The Goods and Services Tax does not apply.
