Vehicle air conditioning and gas safety
The gas used in your vehicle’s air conditioning system is regulated under Queensland law for your safety.
Allowing untrained persons to undertake work or use unapproved gases in your vehicle poses a significant safety risk, and can result in significant and expensive damage to your air conditioning system
Regassing safely
When having your air conditioning system repaired or regassed it is important that you:
- only use approved gases – check the manufacturer’s specifications
- ensure that a licensed person performs the work – ask to see their licence
- never undertake unlicensed work or attempt to retrofit a vehicle’s air conditioning system with unapproved gases.
Common problems
Consumers often report that unapproved gases, known as hydrocarbon refrigerants, have been used to re-gas their vehicle air conditioning. Cheap vehicle air conditioning services are typically advertised on social media and the work is often done by unlicensed persons for a cheap price.
Read more about the illegal use of hydrocarbon refrigerants.
What the law says
It is illegal in Queensland to use hydrocarbon refrigerants in an unapproved device, and it is illegal to install hydrocarbon refrigerants in devices that are not approved. Hydrocarbon refrigerants can only be used on approved devices prescribed by regulation.
The Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 requires that a person undertaking gas work with hydrocarbon refrigerant must hold a current gas work licence issued by the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate. The gas must only be used in a refrigeration system approved by an appropriate gas approval authority.
What to do if the wrong gas has been used
You can seek a refund from the person who did the work. For information and advice read about guarantees, warranties and refunds or contact the Office of Fair trading.
You can report all suspected illegal gas work to the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate on 13 74 68 or (07) 3330 4241.
Find out more
- Gas work licences and authorisation
- Gas devices and approvals
- Hydrocarbon refrigerant licences
- Gas safety