Automotive AC and thermal management under review

The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) establishes nationally consistent standards for managing the import, manufacture, export, use, and disposal of industrial chemicals.

Automotive Air Conditioning, Electrical and Cooling Technicians of Australasia (VASA) president Brett Meads says ten IChEMS standards are being reviewed, and those most relevant to air conditioning and refrigeration are for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) and hydrochlorofluoroolefins (HCFOs).

“These are obviously chemicals with considerable relevance to automotive air-conditioning, refrigeration and thermal management, and the IChEMS review will influence how they are managed in Australia into the future,” he says.

The IChEMS standards will be enforced on a state-by-state basis. Changes to the standards could cover major decisions such as prohibiting new cars entering the market charged with R134a after January 1, 2028. This will force car manufacturers to adopt R1234yf, which will require workshops to be suitably equipped to handle both refrigerants properly.”

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“The best outcomes occur when technicians, workshop owners, suppliers, trainers and other industry stakeholders contribute their knowledge and experience,” says Meads.

Feature image courtesy of VariousPhotography from Pixabay.

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