The Automotive Air Conditioning Electrical and Cooling Technicians of Australasia (VASA) has extended the review period for the Australian Automotive Code of Practice: Control of refrigerant gases during manufacture, installation, servicing or de-commissioning of motor vehicle air conditioners.
The review was originally scheduled to end on December 8 but feedback can now be received up to December 31, 2025.
The aim of the Australian Automotive Air Conditioning Code of Practice is to minimise the emission of fluorocarbon refrigerants to the atmosphere from Australian automotive refrigerant-containing systems.
It covers vehicle fitting, servicing, repair, disassembly, reassembly, commissioning, decommissioning and refrigerant recovery.
Compliance is mandatory for anyone holding a Refrigerant Handling Licence or Refrigerant Trading Authorisation through the Australian Refrigeration Council.
Originally published in 1997 with a revision in 2008, the Code required a comprehensive update to reflect current standards, regulations, safety practices, contemporary refrigerants and associated technology.
The draft reflects these updates and addresses the challenges of the multi-refrigerant marketplace with the introduction of new refrigerants.
This Code relates to all automotive systems and sub-systems that make use of a refrigerant, including HVAC systems and systems used to assist in the thermal management of components and vehicle sub-systems such as battery systems in hybrid and electric vehicles.
It covers passenger cars (including hybrid and electric vehicles), forward control passenger vehicles, off-road passenger vehicles, registerable commercial vehicles and omnibuses, and vehicles at end of life.
The draft Code is downloadable at https://vasa.org.au/copreview2025/ and open for public and industry review until 5pm AEDT on Wednesday 31 December 2025.
VASA is updating the code with input and support from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).