AIRAH has launched a revised Flammable Refrigerant Safety Guide in collaboration with Refrigerant Reclaim Australia and Refrigerants Australia, with support from the ARBS Foundation. The updated resource comes as flammable refrigerants are increasingly common in HVAC&R systems, while the workforce and wider industry lack awareness of related health and safety risks.
The Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide is a free resource that provides practical guidance on the safe handling, installation, servicing and management of flammable refrigerants. It builds on the original version published in 2013 and the update in 2018. AIRAH has also developed an online resource and a series of fact sheets to complement the guide.
AIRAH CEO Sami Zheng, Affil.AIRAH, said the transition to refrigerants with lower environmental impact is necessary for a net zero future. “It must be matched with rigorous standards, skilled practitioners, and a strong safety culture,” she says. “Progress and protection must go hand in hand.”
AIRAH Advocacy and Policy Manager Mark Vender said the guide gives technicians and business owners clear pathways to build the knowledge and skills needed to work safely with flammable refrigerants. “Safe refrigerant management across the entire lifecycle – from installation through to recovery and destruction – is essential,” he says. “Australian Standards like AS/NZS 5149 and AS/NZS 60335.2.40 contain the details, but they are not written in a style that is accessible for everyone. This resource helps bridge the gap, explaining where to find the necessary information.”
Refrigerant Reclaim Australia said industry collaboration is needed as the HVAC&R sector transitions to lower global warming potential refrigerants, many of which are flammable. “This shift requires shared responsibility, with industry working together to ensure that new products are handled safely, and that safeguards remain in place to protect both technicians and the environment,” says RRA General Manager Kylie Farrelley.
The guide update project is supported by the ARBS Foundation, an ARBS organisation dedicated to funding research and education initiatives that advance learning and understanding across Australia’s HVAC&R and building services industries.
