Australian Refrigeration Council CEO Glenn Evans explains why summer is such an important time of the year for those in the business of refrigeration and air conditioning.
For contractors and technicians summer is the season when their most important business tool is their ARCTick licence.
Summer is only weeks away so it’s time for technicians to complete their ARCTick licence checklist.
The ARC has been administering the refrigeration and air conditioning licence scheme on behalf of the Australian Government since 2005.
The ARC provides licences and authorisations for the handling and trade of fluorocarbon refrigerant, which is about 89 per cent of the total refrigeration/air con market in Australia.*
If leaked or emitted into the atmosphere, the fluorocarbon refrigerant contained in most air conditioners and refrigerators can be extremely harmful to the environment. In particular, it can damage the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.
Licensing the handling of fluorocarbon refrigerant means that only technicians qualified to work with systems holding these types of gases are legally able to do so - reducing the risk of refrigerant emissions. As well as being a legal obligation, holding an ARCTick licence is good for business.
Beyond the environmental benefits of the licence scheme, there are other significant benefits that are a direct result of holding an ARCTick licence.
Holding a licence tells your customers that you are professional and qualified to do the job.
When a licensed person works on a system, there is less chance of sub-par servicing, which means the system will run more efficiently, saving the consumer money in the long run.
The ARCTick licence is about the environment, it’s about energy efficiency and a professional RAC industry.
ARC has put together the ARCTick licence checklist to ensure you put your business in prime position this summer.
ARCTick licence checklist
1. Is your licence current or up for renewal soon?
Make sure to re-apply before expiry to ensure you don’t have to apply ‘as new’ and provide your details and proof of qualifications again. Remember no authorisation and no licence means no gas.
Check your authorisation/licence status by visiting the ARC website www.arctick.org and going to the online services section - ‘change of details’. Or contact ARC on 1300 88 44 83.
2. Make sure your business is following the legal requirements of its authorisation:
Updated refrigerant records (quarterly – bought, sold, recovered)
Updated Air Con equipment list and maintenance records
Ensure you have a current risk management plan for handling/storage of refrigerant
Ensure your refrigerant cylinder leak test and test date records are current
Notify the ARC of any changes to staff who hold a Refrigerant Handling licence
Make sure to display your authorisation number on all air conditioning services advertising (including stationery, print ads etc.)
Visit the ARC website www.arctick.org and go to the audit section to check up on your legal obligations as an authorisation holder.
*Cold Hard Facts 2 - A study of the refrigeration and air conditioning industry in Australia, Expert Group, 2013.