ARCtick Licence key terms

A personal authorisation issued to an individual who has demonstrated the required competence, allowing that person to lawfully carry out specified work on refrigeration and air conditioning systems containing controlled refrigerants.

An authorisation granted to a business entity, rather than a person, permitting it to acquire, store and dispose of controlled refrigerants, provided the business meets equipment, record-keeping and staffing conditions.

Any substance scheduled under national ozone and greenhouse gas legislation whose release is restricted because of ozone-depleting or high global warming potential, including common hydrofluorocarbons and their blends.

A compound capable of destroying stratospheric ozone, such as chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, whose manufacture, import and handling are tightly restricted and phased down over time.

A manufactured gas, including hydrofluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride, that traps heat in the atmosphere and is subject to reporting, licensing and phased reduction obligations under national climate legislation.

A number expressing how much heat a gas traps over a set period compared with the same mass of carbon dioxide, used to compare refrigerants and calculate equivalent carbon dioxide emissions.

A relative score showing how strongly a substance destroys stratospheric ozone compared with a reference chlorofluorocarbon, used to rank refrigerants and justify restrictions on their use.

A common unit that converts the mass of a gas into the mass of carbon dioxide having the same warming effect, obtained by multiplying the charge mass by its global warming potential.

The international treaty that schedules the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances and has been amended to cover hydrofluorocarbons, shaping national licensing and training requirements for refrigerant workers.

An amendment to the Montreal Protocol that sets a global timetable for reducing hydrofluorocarbon production and consumption, driving national quota systems and low-GWP refrigerant uptake.

A scheduled reduction in the quantity of hydrofluorocarbons that may be imported or manufactured, expressed as a percentage of a baseline, which gradually pushes industry toward lower-impact alternatives.

A working fluid with a comparatively small global warming potential, such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons or certain hydrofluoroolefins, increasingly chosen to reduce environmental impact and compliance burden.

An unsaturated fluorinated compound with very low global warming potential that breaks down quickly in the atmosphere, often blended with other fluids and sometimes mildly flammable.

A refrigerant classed as having low flammability under a recognised safety standard, requiring specific charge limits, ventilation, ignition-source controls and technician training before it may be handled.

A mixture of refrigerants whose components boil at different temperatures, so it changes temperature during evaporation and condensation and must be charged as a liquid to preserve its composition.

The difference between the bubble and dew points of a zeotropic mixture at a given pressure, which must be allowed for when setting superheat, subcooling and leak-checking targets.

The tendency of a blended refrigerant to separate into its components when leaked or when vapour is drawn from a cylinder, meaning the remaining charge may no longer match the original specification.

The process of removing refrigerant from a system into an external container for reuse, recycling or destruction, rather than venting it to the atmosphere.

Cleaning recovered refrigerant on site by removing oil, moisture and particulates so it can be reused in the same equipment, without the full laboratory analysis that reclamation requires.

Reprocessing recovered refrigerant to a specified purity standard at a properly equipped facility, after which it is certified and may be returned to the market for general use.

A pressure vessel designed and marked for holding recovered refrigerant, fitted with a valve and often a float or weight limit, which must never be filled to more than its rated capacity.

Adding refrigerant to a system in liquid form, commonly required for zeotropic blends to avoid fractionation, and performed slowly into the liquid line to prevent damage to the compressor.

The amount by which the temperature of refrigerant vapour exceeds its saturation temperature at the same pressure, used as a key measure when setting a thermostatic expansion valve.

The amount by which liquid refrigerant is cooled below its saturation temperature at the same pressure, used to verify sufficient charge and correct condenser performance.

The routine use of pressure testing, electronic detectors, dyes or visual inspection to find refrigerant escaping from a system, which is a condition of holding a refrigerant handling licence.

The corrective work carried out to stop a confirmed refrigerant leak, required within set timeframes for larger systems and followed by verification testing before the system is recharged.

The permanent removal of refrigerant from equipment that is being retired, followed by documented recovery, safe dismantling and lawful disposal of the gas and the unit.

The obligation to maintain accurate written or electronic logs of refrigerant quantities purchased, recovered, used and disposed of, along with equipment service history and leak events.

Acquiring refrigerant in cylinders larger than the small quantity exempted for licensed individuals, which generally requires the buyer to operate under a current trading authorisation.

A reusable pressure container for storing or transporting refrigerant, colour-coded and labelled with the gas identity and hazards, which must be inspected, protected from heat and never overfilled.

A valve, rupture disc or fusible plug fitted to refrigerant containers and systems that opens automatically to prevent dangerous overpressure, for example during a fire.

The presence of moisture, acid, oil, air or mixed gases in refrigerant, which reduces performance, damages compressors and may make the gas unsuitable for recycling or reuse.

A sight glass element that changes colour according to the water content of the refrigerant circuit, giving a quick warning that dehydration or a filter drier change is needed.

A structured evaluation in which a candidate performs practical tasks and answers knowledge questions against industry standards, providing evidence needed to obtain or renew a licence.

A course delivered by a registered training organisation under an endorsed qualification framework, giving graduates a certificate that is accepted across states and territories.

A defined component of a national qualification describing the skills and knowledge a learner must demonstrate, such as safely handling refrigerants or locating and rectifying faults.

A process through which a candidate's existing work experience and informal training are assessed against unit requirements, potentially reducing the study needed before licensing.

A written document identifying hazards, risk controls and the sequence of steps for high-risk work such as brazing, pressure testing or handling flammable refrigerants, kept on site and reviewed as conditions change.

Items worn to reduce exposure to hazards, including cryogenic gloves, face shields, safety glasses and respiratory protection, selected according to the refrigerant and task being performed.

The danger that leaked refrigerant displaces oxygen in a confined space, creating an oxygen-deficient atmosphere that can cause unconsciousness without warning and requires gas monitoring before entry.

The risk of tissue injury from contact with liquid refrigerant or cold metal, since these fluids boil at very low temperatures and can freeze skin instantly, requiring gloves and eye protection.