NSW Fair Trading sent Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) technicians an information pack on new state licensing arrangements introduced 1 March, 2023.
Prior to the introduction of the mechanical services & medical gas licence there was a lot of confusion about who should or shouldn’t apply for the licence.
The licence is part of amendments to the Home Building Act 1989.
Amendments were made to the bill in response to two tragic accidents at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in 2016.
Medical gases were incorrectly piped in one of the operating theatres, leading to two babies being administered nitrous oxide instead of oxygen. One of the babies died and one was left with severe brain damage.
The licensing information pack states that “there is some overlap in work permitted under an air conditioning and refrigeration class licence and a mechanical services and medical gas licence.”
To provide clarity flow charts are provided in the pack which estimates waiting time for the new licence to be up to 10 to 12 weeks.