Aircon installation is a serious task. You’re not just mounting a unit and flipping a switch – there’s the mechanical side to the installation, the electrical side and the handling of refrigerants too.
Three separate skills, three separate licenses. Your air conditioning installer should have the following:
- Mechanical installation license: QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission) Mechanical Services – Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
- Electrical license: Electrical Contractor License (for a business) and an Electrical Work license for an individual.
- Refrigerant handling: Refrigerant handling license through the ARCTick licensing program (Australian Refrigeration Council)
We’re going to dive deeper into those licenses below. We also want to touch on the Cert II course for aircon installation. If a business is rolling out a Cert II qualified aircon installer without any licenses, they’re falling short of the legal requirements for the job.
More on that below.
Queensland Aircon Install Licences Explained
Let’s take a close look at the licenses an air conditioning installer needs in Queensland:
QBCC Mechanical Services – Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
This license means a technician is a qualified refrigeration mechanic. It covers the mechanical installation of ducted and split system air conditioning systems. There’s a lot of technical knowledge required, from laying pipework to brazing joints and pressure testing lines. With the QBCC Mechanical Services Licence, you know your tech is tried and tested in doing all of them.
Furthermore, if the person installing your aircon does not have this licence, they are not legally allowed to complete the mechanical parts of the job.
Electrical Licence
Any electrical work in Queensland legally requires a licensed electrician. You can get away with minor things like changing a light bulb, but not a major task like air conditioning installation.
An air conditioner draws a lot of current and requires a connection to mains power, the correct wiring and sometimes even switchboard upgrades. Only a licensed electrician is able to carry out this kind of work. If it isn’t done correctly, you’re opening your home up to fire hazard risks, blown circuits or damage to your unit.
ARCtick Refrigerant Handling Licence (Australian Refrigeration Council)
Installing an air conditioner involves connecting refrigerant lines and handling refrigerant. This needs to be done by a licensed professional, and the license is known as the ARCtick license. This covers everything from pressure testing and leak detection to refrigerant charging and evacuation. If these aren’t done correctly and you end up with a refrigerant leak, it’s harmful to the environment and you’re going to wear some extra costs too.
If your installer isn’t ARCtick certified and something goes wrong, you have little room for comeback.
The Simple Rule
A legal air conditioning installation in Queensland requires:
- QBCC Mechanical Services Licence
- Electrical Licence
- ARCtick Refrigerant Handling Licence
If one of these is missing, the installation is incomplete, non-compliant, and a risk to the homeowner.
What Is a Cert II Qualification and Why It’s Not Enough
A Cert II in air conditioning is an entry-level vocational qualification that combines theory with hands-on training. It gives someone the basic knowledge from which they can then go on and get their correct certifications for air conditioning installation.
A Cert II doesn’t give a technician the license to legally install air conditioners. It’s a minimum requirement for someone to work under a refrigeration mechanic and assist them with mounting it on the wall, running pipes and installing brackets.
is often marketed as a qualification to install air conditioners. It is not. It is the minimum requirement for someone to work under a refrigeration mechanic. It does not allow a person to legally contract, commission, test, or certify an installation.
They cannot legally:
- Perform refrigerant charging
- Pressure test the lines
- Commission the system
- Certify the installation
- Provide QBCC documentation
Budget installers take a chance on homeowners not knowing the difference between a properly licensed installer and somebody with their Cert II. If you’re unsure, ask to see their QBCC Mechanical Services Licence. Without that, they cannot legally install your air conditioner.
The Importance of Qualified Aircon Installers
Why should you choose an installer with the proper licenses? Here are four compelling reasons:
Warranty: The manufacturer’s warranty can be voided if the unit wasn’t installed by a licensed refrigeration mechanic.
Insurance: If there’s an issue with your air con unit that causes damage to your home, insurance providers can refuse to pay your claim if the electrical work was done by an unlicensed operator.
Refrigerant leaks: These are common in sub-par installations. Leaks reduce the effectiveness of your unit, while also being harmful to the environment.
Drainage issues: These can cause water damage and mould, which can in turn lead to health risks.
Voltora Industries: Qualified Aircon Installation
We’ve got a team of technicians here who are all qualified electricians and licensed refrigeration mechanics with the QBCC. They hold ARCtick certification for refrigerant handling, and can complete every part of an aircon installation legally and correctly – it’s something they do hundreds of times a year.
You can rest assured that we don’t subcontract our work out either. You deal with a single team that’s licensed, trained and accountable for the work they do on your property. You will receive all the formal documentation, such as commissioning reports and warranty compliance, to back this up.
Your air conditioner is protected, and so is your property and anybody in it.
If this sounds good, get in touch today. Let’s get your air conditioner installed safely and legally.
Lets get started
