Confusion about refrigerant gases and licences

I am writing this letter in regards to confusion about refrigerant gases and licences.

When I first obtained my licence in the late 70s, we were issued a license by the Refrigeration Council.

I was trained by Bruce Rushton, head engineer of Kirby Bros Refrigeration.

My licence stated commercial refrigerant and air conditioning and associated electrical work.

This is the lifetime licence and cannot be cancelled by anyone or even the state government.

State government only invented their licence in 1981 and at this time anyone asked for a licence received a licence.

The more licences issued, the more revenue received.

Then as a bid to get more people fitting air conditioners, electricians and plumbers could pay $1500 and receive a licence but if you don’t know what causes refrigeration, you don’t know what affects refrigeration.

So therefore, a large number of units fitted are inefficient.

We can only buy energy efficient units but then we get them fitted inefficient.

In 1981, the federal government signed the Montreal Protocol, to phase out all ozone and poisonous gases controlled by ARC licences.

There are approximately 50 gases in this category and after 30 years, only a handful of gases have been phased out.

Some of the gases are so poisonous, that with a simple modification are responsible for millions of people’s deaths.

Then there is hydrocarbon gas.

These gases have been used in European countries for the past 80 years and also in Australia for many years.

Hydrocarbon gases are half the cost to buy, and when used are about 25 per cent cheaper to run, and do not destroy the ozone.

These are the gases I have used for 35 years.

So what gas do you think we should be using?

Since the state government have control, if you are a qualified refrigeration mechanic, you are not allowed to work on a metered switch board. If you are a qualified electrician or plumber and have paid for an air conditioning licence, you are not qualified to do gasing work.

What a joke.

Ken Spittles, Narrabri