Stewardship award for ARCtick compliance

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) have introduced a new award to recognise ARCtick licensed businesses that are compliant at first audit.

The Environmental Stewardship Excellence Award has been created for Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RTA) holders whose businesses are found to be fully compliant when audited by ARC field officers.

ARC Chief Executive Officer Glenn Evans said the award recognised outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship through achieving 100% regulatory compliance with their RTA requirements.

‘When field officers conduct a permit condition check – commonly known as an audit – many RTAs are fully compliant, but not all, and this award recognises those who are,’ he said.

‘Field officers check equipment, staffing and paperwork, and not everyone is fully compliant at first, although almost all are after receiving follow-up support by the field officers.

‘It takes diligent effort to consistently meet all regulatory requirements, and those who do so are truly hands-on environmental heroes.’

RTAs who are fully compliant at first audit will receive a digital certificate from DCCEEW and ARC to demonstrate their environmental credentials to customers and clients in a society that is increasingly concerned with protecting the environment.

Media Contact:
Greg Shoemark
0412 577 526

gshoemark@arctick.org

Ban on high-GWP small AC equipment

The import and manufacture of small air conditioning equipment with high global warming potential refrigerant (GWP over 750) has been banned as of 1 July 2024. 

The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has welcomed the ban, which applies to air conditioning equipment designed to be used to cool or heat, or both, a stationary space primarily for human comfort if the equipment is:

• an outdoor unit for a single-head split system air conditioning system

• a portable air conditioner

• a window/wall air conditioner (a single unit designed to be fixed to a window or wall)

and the equipment:

• has a standard refrigerant charge of 2.6 kilogram or less, and 

• contains, or is designed to operate with, an HFC refrigerant that has a global warming potential (GWP) of more than 750.

ARC chief executive officer Glenn Evans said existing equipment in Australia would not be affected, and the ban would not apply to: 

• outdoor units for ducted systems

• indoor units of split systems when imported separately from the outdoor unit

• equipment for mobile applications such as motor vehicles, caravans, aircraft and boats

• systems for use in electrical enclosures and computer rooms

• air-to-water equipment, such as units for hydronic home heating systems, swimming pool heat pumps

• humidifiers or dehumidifiers.

Importers will be able to apply for an exemption to the ban in certain circumstances. Equipment imported or manufactured in Australia before 1 July 2024 may be sold after that date. 

Media Contact:

Greg Shoemark
0412 577 526
gshoemark@arctick.org