Restrictions on import and manufacture of small air conditioning equipment start 1 July 2024
24 June 2024
From 1 July 2024, restrictions on the import and manufacture of certain small air conditioning equipment will come into force.
The Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations
1995 have been amended to implement restrictions on the manufacture and
import of certain small air conditioning equipment.
From 1 July 2024, restrictions on the import and manufacture of the
following equipment will come into force:
Restrictions on the import and manufacture of outdoor units for a
multi-head split air conditioning system will come into force from 1
July 2025.
The restrictions will apply to air conditioning equipment that:
-
is designed to cool or heat, or both, a stationary space for
human comfort
-
has a standard refrigerant charge of 2.6 kilogram or less (per
the compliance plate or manual)
-
contains, or is designed to operate with, an HFC refrigerant
that has a global warming potential (GWP) of more than 750.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s
website
provides lists of GWPs of the more commonly used refrigerants.
Refrigerants commonly used for this type of equipment that will no
longer be allowed to be imported include R-410A (GWP of 2,088) and
R-134A (GWP of 1,430). Refrigerants used for this type of equipment that
can continue to be imported include R-32 (GWP of 675) and R-290 (GWP
less than 5).
The restrictions will not apply to:
-
outdoor units for ducted systems
-
equipment designed for use in mobile applications such as motor
vehicles, caravans, aircraft and boats
-
equipment designed for use in electrical enclosures and computer
rooms
-
air-to-water equipment, such as units for hydronic home heating
systems.
An equipment licence may be granted under certain limited circumstances,
enabling equipment to be imported under licence where:
-
the equipment is essential for medical, veterinary, defence,
industrial or public safety, or scientific purposes, and no
practical and effective alternative exists
-
the equipment is incidental to the main import, and it is
impractical to remove or retrofit the equipment (for example,
equipment incorporated into a large boat or drilling rig)
-
exceptional circumstances exist.
Existing equipment in Australia will not be affected. Equipment imported
or manufactured in Australia before 1 July 2024 may be sold after that
date.
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