Political

If you don't live in Queensland Australia:
You needn't worry about this page.
Remember that the synthetic refrigerant manufacturers and energy companies would rather you not know about this information, even though it's legal where you are.

If you do live in Queensland Australia, you may want to read on.

First and foremost, the political embargo (in QLD and some other jurisdictions around the world) on the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants is putting technicians at risk of harm.
Secondly, consumers are missing out in that they have to pay more for energy usage, especially with ever increasing power prices.

Politics is a can of worms.
Certain major parties have taken turns at leading things, and things are gradually getting worse.
I say vote the minors as first preference, and exit the matrix.

The issue existed while the Labor party were in power.
The Liberal / Nationals indicated they would help resolve this. They have since changed their stance.

I'm losing business and if I'm losing out, releasing this information for free means they will also be losing out.

Safety concerns resulting from political issues:
It is possible that there are people in Queensland charging systems with hydrocarbon refrigerant, and not placing the appropriate warning labels on the systems.
• There is a possible safety concern present to technicians who recover gas from a system in to a gas bottle. For example, a gas bottle may safely hold 18Kg of fluorocarbon refrigerant, but due to the densities (Kg/m3) may only safely hold 9Kg of hydrocarbon refrigerant. Unaware of the fact that the refrigerant gas being recovered is actually hydrocarbon (due to the lack of system labelling), the technician may attempt to recover more than the gas cylinder may safely hold, resulting in an explosion.
• Other safety concerns may arise from the lack of training and awareness in the safe use of hydrocarbon refrigerants. Stuff like volume densities and ventilation to ensure safety in the event of a gas leak (usually from the flare joins or within the outdoor unit)
• The reason for the legality issues is related to the safety concerns over the use of flammable refrigerant gases. The safety guidelines, based on the Australian Standards, are easy enough to adhere to.
• Ironically, R32 and HFO refrigerant gases are flammable, and even carry warning labels on the equipment.
• R32 makes 50% of the mixture of R410A (and a percentage of other fluorocarbon blends), which is otherwise regarded as a non-flammable refrigerant gas.
• Other “non-flammable” refrigerant gases are classed as such, because their ignition temperature and energy is higher than flammable refrigerants. When refrigerant oil is mixed with them and the system develops a gas leak, the mixture becomes flammable.

Getting official approval under the current system:
• State government approval is required before hydrocarbon refrigerant can be added to any system (unless it is on the list of pre-approved devices register).
• Such approval is expected to cost around $30K, as the system requires electrical safety approval from an organization such as SAA Approvals (for example) and the system and its installation area being assessed by an inspector authorised by the QLD hydrocarbon refrigerant licensing body (Department of Natural Resources Mines and Energy, now known as Resources Safety Health Queensland).
• There are only two inspectors. One is retired. The other (Lindsay Pelser) isn’t much help with giving information about the process and has previously mentioned interests in his own hydrocarbon refrigerant equipment company, which doesn’t appear to be actually selling anything. Lindsay also had a fall out with George Haydock from Pioneer Air, a Sydney based company that manufactures hydrocarbon air conditioners out of the box ready to go.
• Charging a system with hydrocarbon refrigerant without the above said approvals (like you can in other states of Australia) may attract fines of $50K upwards.
• I was advised by the hydrocarbon refrigerant licensing board (when they visited my house unexpectedly) that they couldn’t confirm or deny that they had financial interests / influences with the synthetic refrigerant industry.
• A quick search of the ACNC website for the word “refrigerant” in the charity name search bar reveals the following:
- Refrigerant Reclaim Australia Limited 75061197206
- Refrigerant Reclaim Australia Trust 12359831914
- Australian Refrigeration Council Ltd 69097952657
- The Australian Institute Of Refrigeration; Air Conditioning And Heating (Incorporated) 81004082928
- PEER Education Employment & Training Ltd 83414133153
• I was paid a visit from a couple of the inspectors from the hydrocarbon refrigerant licensing board, wanting to test my demonstration systems. I told them what was in the systems and I refused entry to them as their taking a gas sample would compromise the refrigerant gas blend. They left and I have heard nothing more from them since.
• One opinion I received was that this sort of activity may breach Section 45 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Debunking the response from QLD Parliament:
Petition: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/Petition-Details?id=3394
Response: https://apps.parliament.qld.gov.au/E-Petitions/Home/DownloadResponse/956ed1af-8f11-469d-b1e7-997527155f26
• The approach taken by the Queensland Government does not appear to be consistent with the safety standards of the rest of Australia, and appears to “add additional impost” not already covered by the Australian Standards. No further detail was given in their response.
• Other states regulate the use of hydrocarbon refrigerant, but in ways that are more accessible for competent technicians to comply with.
• Misuse of any product will likely result in injury of death. The injuries / deaths associated with the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants would have been associated with sheer stupidity, not general safe working practices.
• Of the 2800 models of refrigeration devices, none of them are comprised of air conditioners that are split system type or larger.
• Articles on the New South Wales shopping centre of concern in the example can be found by searching Google for “Marketfair Campbelltown hydrocarbon refrigerant”.
• Initial indications show improvements in energy efficiency, especially on the heating cycle, and can further be improved upon for cooling applications.
• VASA produced a document in support of debunking the petition to lift the ban on hydrocarbon refrigerants in QLD.

Readily legal in every other state:
Essentially, the hydrocarbon gas conversions are legal in every state of Australia (backed by Australian Standards), except for Queensland. The Queensland Government remain difficult to this day concerning the legality of the use of hydrocarbon refrigerant gases. They say it’s for safety reasons but don’t seem to cite any credible evidence.
A petition and Parliamentary enquiry was launched in 2020 and their response essentially was that they are in line with the rules of the rest of Australia, and no further information was given or is available.
• Engas, Hychill, and Oz-Chill are based in Australia, and produce hydrocarbon refrigerant gases.
• Pioneer Air and Polaris Air are based in Australia, and produce air conditioners endorsed for use with hydrocarbon gas.
Industry corruption - VASA automotive propaganda debunked:
• VASA produced a video in 1995 where they release a gas (presumably Acetylene) in to the cabin of a car and ignite is, causing it to explode. VASA claims that the explosion from hydrocarbon refrigerants. Hychill Minus 30 or Engas M30 is a suitable replacement for automotive refrigerant, and has a narrow air / fuel ignition range.
• M30 and Minus 30 products comprise of mostly Isobutane (flammable between 1.6% and 8.4%) and Propane (which leaks out first in the event of a gas leak, flammable between 2% - 10%). Too much gas in the air and the gas won’t ignite. • The joins are usually in the engine bay, not in the cabin.
• Acetylene is flammable between 2.4% and 83%.
• Opening and closing the car doors (as part of normal use) would see that any slow leaks of gas leaked in to the cabin would escape out in to the open air.
• A sudden and total loss of gas charge in to the car cabin would be noticeable, with the refrigerant giving off an odour comparable to BBQ gas. Hydrocarbon refrigerant and LPG producers are required by law to include an odorant which helps a person readily detect the presence of a gas leak.
• There have been a few incidents including damaged compressors and explosions. These would likely be the result of an incorrect gas charge, as I have tested Minus 30 in my van for the last 4 years without any problems.
• The correct gas charge is roughly 45% of the R134A charge weight. For example, a typical passenger car takes 600g of R134A to fully charge it. Give or take a few grams, Engas M30, and Hychill Minus 30 or Minus 30 EC, takes about 270g to fully charge it. An incorrect gas charge will result in poor performance and / or pose serious safety concerns. Those unaware of the difference will likely try and charge the system with 600g of hydrocarbon and cause an explosion.
• Hychill responds to Safety Alert: Introduction: https://hychill.com.au/info/response-to-safety-alert and PDF article: https://hychill.com.au/media/pages/info/response-to-safety-alert/7f1f431a86-1578467763/aaen-hychill-gm-responds.pdf