New Air Conditioning Requirements

Update on European regulations relating to repair/maintenance of MAC (Mobile Air Conditioning) systems

DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) specified that from 4 July 2007 all individuals who handle air conditioning refrigerant need to have been trained and certificated to meet European regulations. The minimum requirements for technicians working on MAC systems are:

• From July 2007 all individuals who handle air conditioning refrigerant gases needed to have been trained and certificated. Minimum requirement for a MAC Technician is refrigerant handling ‘in-house’ training. Those who achieved an ‘in-house’ refrigerant handling qualification can work on MAC systems until July 2010 without further training and certification.
  
• After July 2010: all MAC technicians must have achieved, as a minimum requirement, a refrigerant handling qualification which meets EC Regulation 307-2008.

In April 2008, DEFRA sent out draft documents which outlined the minimum requirements a MAC technician needs to be competent at handling refrigerant. This draft document is currently being finalised. In accordance with these requirements IMI Awards has amended the VRQ (see below).  Air Conditioning ATA has also been amended.

A subsequent EC Regulation (EC/307/2008) expands on the qualification requirements, resulting in IMI Awards certificates and ATA ID Cards carrying the words ‘meets the minimum requirements of Regulation (EC) 307/2008’. This will show employers and regulatory bodies that the holder has achieved a recognisable qualification.

Qualifications which will meet EC Regulations:

• IMIAL Level 3 Award in Refrigerant Handling (one unit):
  - AC1r: Refrigerant Handling
  
  
• IMIAL Level 3 Certificate in Automotive Air Conditioning and Climate Control (three units):
  - AC1r:  Refrigerant Handling
  - AC2r:  Mobile Air Conditioning Principles
  - AC3r:  Advanced Diagnostics for Mobile Air Conditioning and Climate Control Systems
  
  
• Air Conditioning ATA
  - Refrigerant Handler
  - AC Service Technician
  - AC Diagnostic Technician