The tick identifies a business or individual as being licensed by the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), under the national refrigeration and air conditioning licence scheme. This scheme operates under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989, and regulates the handling, trade and disposal of refrigerants which are ozone depleting and synthetic greenhouse gasses.
Depending on the licence held, the person may be qualified to install, service and repair fridges, freezers and air conditioners.
Without an appropriate licence, they may be operating illegally, so always ask to see their licence and check what services they can do before they begin their work.
ARC is an acronym for the Australian Refrigeration Council, a peak industry body appointed in 2005 by the Minister for Environment and Heritage to administer the national refrigeration and air conditioning permit scheme.
ARC is responsible for granting Refrigerant Trading Authorisations and Refrigerant Handling Licences, approved under the regulations to businesses and individuals who acquire, posses, handle or dispose of ozone depleting substances (ODS) or synthetic greenhouse gases (SGG) as they apply to air conditioning and refrigeration.
These refrigerants are commonly known as fluorocarbon refrigerants. The ARC website is located at www.arctick.org
