The leading news platform for Australia’s HVAC&R industry

National occupation licensing back on the table
Australia’s Productivity Commission is considering occupational licensing schemes that will improve the mobility of trades across the country, and is seeking feedback from the public.
News
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National occupation licensing back on the table
Australia’s Productivity Commission is considering occupational licensing schemes that will improve the mobility of trades across the country, and is seeking feedback from the public.
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Seeking peer reviewers for cooling tower guide
AIRAH, with support from the ARBS Foundation, is updating its design application manual on cooling towers – DA17 – and is seeking peer reviewers.
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ARC reports surge in online licence checks
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has reported a significant increase in consumer awareness of its ARCtick licensing scheme.
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AIRAH assessment scheme receives ministerial approval
The Queensland government has renewed AIRAH’s assessment scheme for professional engineers under the Professional Engineers Act 2002 for five years.
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NABERS releases new prediction tools
NABERS has announced the release of its new prediction tools, which factor in the upcoming 2025 benchmark.
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Changing of the guard at ABCB
Gary Rake has announced he is stepping down as CEO of the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) as of Friday, May 9.
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Australians give a green light to tackle the big challenges
AIRAH has prepared a document outlining the Institute’s policy priorities for the freshly re-elected federal government.
Events
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Webinar on NCC implementation in WA
The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety in Western Australia is running a free webinar on NCC 2022.
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Woolworths to host World Refrigeration Day events
Supermarket chain Woolworths has announced that it will mark World Refrigeration Day by holding events in six cities on Thursday, June 26.
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RMIT to host free retrofit panel session
RMIT will host a panel event called “Learning from Research and Policy: Delivering Affordable Retrofit” on Thursday, May 1 in Melbourne.
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DBI to host retrofit decarbonisation workshop in Perth
DBI has announced a free workshop on precinct retrofit and its opportunities for decarbonisation in Perth on Monday, April 28.
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ASHRAE calls for Winter Conference abstracts
ASHRAE is accepting abstract submissions for the 2026 Winter Conference to be held in Las Vegas, from January 31 to February 4, 2026.
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What we learnt at RefCon25
AIRAH’s 2025 Refrigeration Conference was billed as the hottest conference for the coolest industry, and it didn’t disappoint.
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AIRAH and Seeley host first event in IAQ series
AIRAH and Seeley International have hosted the first of a five-part series on indoor air quality at Hotel Grand Chancellor in Melbourne.
Regulations
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National occupation licensing back on the table
Australia’s Productivity Commission is considering occupational licensing schemes that will improve the mobility of trades across the country, and is seeking feedback from the public.
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ARC reports surge in online licence checks
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has reported a significant increase in consumer awareness of its ARCtick licensing scheme.
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AIRAH assessment scheme receives ministerial approval
The Queensland government has renewed AIRAH’s assessment scheme for professional engineers under the Professional Engineers Act 2002 for five years.
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Standards on indoor air measurement open for comment
Public comment is open on AS 16000.1 and AS 16000.34, which deal with sampling strategies for indoor air, and measurement methods for airborne particles.
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Webinar on NCC implementation in WA
The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety in Western Australia is running a free webinar on NCC 2022.
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Victoria consulting on new regulations for apartments
The Victorian government has released a RIS on the introduction of building reforms for new apartment buildings.
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Slow response to new filter standards
An important changeover of filter standards is underway in Australia, but industry has so far been slow to move.
Features
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Will Aussie HVAC&R be affected by the chaos of Donald Trump?
Donald Trump’s return to office has had a seismic effect on global markets and muddied the pathway to net zero emissions. Will the Australian HVAC&R industry feel the aftershocks?
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Demand response: cause for DRED?
Demand response programs for residential air conditioning have raised concerns, but are they as scary as they seem?
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Expert perspectives on the skills shortage
AIRAH’s recent Industry Night in Melbourne kicked off with a panel session to explore the skills shortage in our sector.
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Howzat for heat monitoring?!
Nick Johns-Wickberg discovers how a heat monitoring tool developed by the University of Sydney is playing an important role in local sport.
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The changing face of Aussie fridgies
With the Australian HVAC&R sector facing a trade skills shortage, Nick Johns-Wickberg looks at novel approaches to recruiting and retention.
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Maximising residential AC efficiency: lessons from the field
Madison Talarico uses a case study to highlight how HVAC technicians can help customers improve their energy efficiency.
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Why refrigeration set points matter
AIRAH board member Dr Michael Riese, M.AIRAH, responds to a push for commercial refrigeration set points to be raised by 3˚C.
Business
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Reliable Controls RC-RemoteAccess achieves BTL certification
RC-RemoteAccess software from Reliable Controls has achieved BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL) certification.
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Hussmann and Refra form partnership
Hussmann has partnered with Refra to provide exclusive supply of natural refrigeration systems in Australia.
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Simon Bradwell, M.AIRAH, appointed ARBS Foundation chair
The ARBS Foundation has announced the appointment of Dr Simon Bradwell, M.AIRAH, as its new chairman.
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Nidec announces new president
Alberto Casnati has been appointed the new president of Nidec Global Appliances, succeeding Guilherme Almeida.
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ARC recruiting technical and training GM
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) is hiring for the position of General Manager, Technical & Training, based in Box Hill, Melbourne.
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Rinnai announces 7-year warranty on selected air conditioners
From April 1, 2025, Rinnai air conditioners now come with an extended seven-year warranty on a selection of systems.
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Smardt introduces AeroPure AF chillers
Smardt has introduced the AeroPure AF Series of air-cooled chillers, which operate with oil-free, magnetically suspended compressors.