HFC Phase-Down for Employers

Australia has been cutting its imports of HFC refrigerants since 2018. By 1 January 2036, imports fall to 15% of the baseline level, an 85% reduction. For refrigeration and air conditioning employers, that changes who you need to hire.

What the phase-down is

Started 1 January 2018.
Imports are capped by a shrinking annual quota over 18 years.
From 1 January 2036, the cap is 15% of baseline.
It covers bulk imports, not HFCs already inside pre-charged equipment like split systems.
Technicians can still buy HFCs to maintain existing equipment.

What it means in practice

The equipment doesn't disappear overnight. Existing systems keep running on HFCs for years. But new equipment increasingly uses lower global warming refrigerants, including hydrocarbons, CO2 and HFOs.

[Working theory, not established fact.] As HFC supply tightens, HFC refrigerants are likely to cost more over time, and more customers will choose newer systems. The technicians who can work safely on both are the ones businesses will compete for.

What to look for in a hire

The right ARCtick licence. Every technician handling refrigerant needs the correct class. Our post on ARCtick licence types explains each one.

Experience with flammable refrigerants. Hydrocarbon systems need different handling and safety practices. Ask what training they've done and what they've worked on.

CO2 experience for commercial refrigeration. Transcritical CO2 systems run at much higher pressures. Supermarket and cold storage techs with CO2 experience are a small pool.

Leak detection and recovery discipline. Under a tightening supply, recovering and reusing refrigerant properly matters more.

Questions to ask in the interview

Which refrigerants have you worked on in the last two years?
Have you worked on hydrocarbon or CO2 systems? What safety steps do you follow?
How do you handle recovery on a large system?

The hiring takeaway

The phase-down is slow, but the skills gap it creates is already here. A technician with natural refrigerant experience is worth paying above the band for, because they're the ones who'll still be the most useful in ten years.

HJ Recruitment places refrigeration mechanics and HVAC technicians with employers in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. See our HVAC and refrigeration recruitment, or talk to us.

Sources- Department of Agriculture - HFC phase-down fact sheet (PDF)