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Elements and Performance Criteria

Range Statement

This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below.

Safety and environmental requirements must include:	work health and safety (WHS) and occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements, including procedures for: working with refrigerants at boiling point given risk of frostbite working with system lubricants, including carcinogenic oils handling flammable refrigerants using personal protective equipment (PPE) identifying and using fire safety equipment environmental requirements, including procedures for preventing loss of refrigerant to the atmosphere.
Repairs and component replacement and adjustment requirements must include:	manufacturer specifications workplace procedures Australian automotive code of practice: Control of refrigerant gases during manufacture, installation, servicing or de-commissioning of motor vehicle air conditioners.
Post-repair testing must include:	validating the effectiveness of the repair action by checking the following: ambient temperature centre vent temperature condenser and suction line temperature manifold gauge pressure readings refrigerant leaks heater core and system water coolant leaks.
Australian Refrigeration Council accredited (ARCtick) service decal sticker information must include:	name of the service organisation name of technician Refrigerant Handling Licence Number vehicle registration number service date refrigerant type lubricant type.

Performance Evidence

Before competency can be determined, individuals must demonstrate they can perform the following according to the standard defined in the unitâ€™s elements and performance criteria, range of conditions and foundation skills:

diagnose and repair a fault in the air conditioning and heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems of two different vehicles or machinery, in which the work must involve removing, refitting or replacing two of the following:

expansion valve

Knowledge Evidence

Individuals must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

work health and safety (WHS) and occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements relating to diagnosing and repairing air conditioning and HVAC systems, including procedures for:

working with refrigerants at boiling point given risk of frostbite

working with system lubricants, including carcinogenic oils

handling flammable refrigerants

using personal protective equipment (PPE)

identifying and using fire safety equipment

environmental requirements, including procedures for preventing loss of refrigerant to the atmosphere

key requirements relevant to diagnosing and repairing air conditioning and HVAC systems detailed in the Australian automotive code of practice: Control of refrigerant gases during manufacture, installation, servicing or de-commissioning of motor vehicle air conditioners

air conditioning and HVAC system principles, including:

heat transfer principles, including convection, conduction and radiation

functions of the following air conditioning components:

functions of the following heating components:

radiator and heater hoses

single zone and multi-zone vehicle layouts

application, purpose and operation of air conditioning and HVAC systems and components, including:

high pressure and low pressure sides of air conditioning systems

compressors, including:

axial type, including variable capacity compressors

electromagnetic clutches

receiver-dryer, including filters and desiccants

expansion valves, including capillary tube

refrigerants, including R12, R134, R1234yf and hydrocarbon refrigerants

compressor oils

air conditioner and heating controls, including levers and ducting

air conditioner and heating electrical circuits and sensors, including:

high and low pressure switches

pressure relief valves

temperature sensors

climate control systems

diagnostic testing procedures for air conditioning and HVAC systems, including:

using diagnostic flow charts

using manifold gauges on systems with different refrigerants, including analysis of high and low pressure readings in conjunction with temperature probes

testing electrical systems, including procedures for:

accessing electrical terminals and using test probes without damaging connectors, fuse holders or wiring

resistance and voltage drop tests

open and short circuit tests

checking shorts to signal, power circuits and grounds

repair procedures for air conditioning and HVAC systems, including procedures for:

using manifold gauges to discharge, evacuate and charge system refrigerants

removing and replacing system components

post-repair testing procedures for air conditioning and HVAC systems, including procedures for checking for:

refrigerant leaks

heater core and system water coolant leaks

static and dynamic performance tests of air conditioning and HVAC systems, including checking:

ambient temperature

vent temperature

condenser and suction line temperature.