The leading news platform for Australia’s HVAC&R industry
AIRAH announces first round of speakers for HVAC26
AIRAH has announced the first 17 presenters for the 2026 HVAC Innovation Conference (HVAC26), taking place in Sydney from March 16–17, 2026.
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News
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ARC unveils streamlined reporting tool
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has launched a new “report a breach” form on the ARCtick website.
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Aiming high for cooling tower efficiency
AIRAH, with support of the ARBS Foundation, has published an updated version of DA17: Cooling Towers.
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RAC teaching team recognised at RMIT Awards
Two refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) instructors have been recognised at RMIT’s 2025 Awards for Excellence ceremony.
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Changing of the guard for AIRAH advertising
After nearly a decade with the Institute, AIRAH Advertising Executive John McGrath will retire at the end of 2025.
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Researchers develop new cooling fabric for clothing
A new textile innovation co-developed by University of South Australia (UniSA) scientists could keep wearers cooler and drier in extreme heat.
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UNEP report highlights critical dual role for HVAC&R in a warming world
The second edition of UNEP’s Global Cooling Watch Report places the HVAC&R industry at the junction of climate mitigation and adaptation and warns that we cannot “air condition our way out of the heat crisis”.
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Prefabricated and modular construction handbook open for comment
Standards Australia has released a handbook for prefabricated and modular construction and is calling for public comment.
Events
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2025 AIRAH National Awards: Rising Stars of the HVAC&R Industry
AIRAH’s Rising Stars brings together three award streams that recognise emerging leaders and high-performing students who are contributing to the future of Australia’s HVAC&R industry. While awarded separately, these categories collectively highlight the next generation of industry talent.
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2025 AIRAH National Awards: Women’s Working Group – Airmaster wins Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion
Airmaster’s Women’s Working Group has been recognised with the Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion award at the 2025 AIRAH National Awards.
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2025 AIRAH National Awards: Inderpal Saund, Beijer Ref Academy, wins Excellence in Training
Inderpal Saund has been recognised for his leadership in natural refrigeration technology and his commitment to industry-wide training through his role as head instructor at the Beijer Ref Academy in Sydney.
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2025 AIRAH National Awards: Louvreclad wins Excellence in Innovation – Best New Product
Louvreclad has been recognised for its Aerion Series of vertical performance louvres, an Australian-engineered product that sets a new benchmark in aerodynamic and weather performance for architectural façades.
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2025 AIRAH National Awards: Woolworths Group wins both Excellence in Refrigeration and Excellence in Innovation
Woolworths Group has been recognised for its Woolworths Doolandella HVAC&R integrated T-CO₂ system, taking out two national awards for the same project.
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2025 AIRAH National Awards: A.G. Coombs wins Excellence in HVAC – Best Retrofit Project
A.G. Coombs has been recognised for its work on the 540 Wickham St. project, delivering a complex HVAC retrofit that supports the building’s transition towards net zero.
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2025 AIRAH National Awards: Ellis Air wins Excellence in HVAC – Best New Project
Ellis Air was recognised for its Queens Wharf chilled water ring main and heat recovery system.
Regulations
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NABERS Energy update – have your say
NABERS is seeking feedback on a proposed NABERS Energy update for 2030 that will affect how energy efficiency in buildings is measured.
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Built environment leaders bring sustainable thinking to Parliament House
AIRAH’s Nick Johns-Wickberg shares his experience of attending last week’s ASBEC council meeting in Canberra.
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NCC 2025 slated for publication in early 2026
Commonwealth, state and territory building ministers met yesterday to agree on the timing of future updates to the National Construction Code – including NCC 2025.
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GBCA launches updated Green Star tool
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released its Green Star Buildings v1.1 rating tool, which strengthens action on carbon, nature and circular economy while simplifying delivery for project teams.
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CBD Program roadmap offers clear pathway to reducing emissions
The Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has released a policy roadmap describing how the Commercial Buildings Disclosure (CBD) Program will be expanded over the next decade to deliver major reductions in emissions.
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Update coming for Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide
A project is underway to revise the Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide, a vital reference to educate and safeguard workers and end-users.
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Queensland introduces digital licenses
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has announced that it will start introducing digital licences, developed in partnership with the Queensland government as part of Queensland’s Digital Licence app.
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Features
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Built environment leaders bring sustainable thinking to Parliament House
AIRAH’s Nick Johns-Wickberg shares his experience of attending last week’s ASBEC council meeting in Canberra.
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The importance of vapour barriers in refrigeration
Bob Jackson, M.AIRAH, explains the importance of hermetically sealing the outer skin of cold rooms to create a vapour barrier.
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The living machine: How HVAC systems mimic the human body
In the cover feature for the October–November 2025 issue of HVAC&R News, Gary Raman, Affil.AIRAH, argues that the human body is the most advanced HVAC system on the planet.
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Building diversity in HVAC&R: Q&A with Ree McCaig
We speak with Ree (Maria) McCaig – owner of McCaig Air Conditioning in Bendigo – about the challenges of running a business, the rewards of training apprentices, and strategies for attracting more women to HVAC&R.
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Springing towards a more sustainable future
AIRAH CEO Sami Zheng, Affil.AIRAH, reflects on the steps Australia can take to become healthier, more sustainable, and more resilient over the next five years.
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How Australia’s 2035 emissions target will affect HVAC&R
The federal government has released its 2035 emissions target, which it says is “ambitious, achievable, and in Australia’s national interests”.
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Radical refrigeration
Dave Peall, M.AIRAH, discusses his work on the “radical” idea of using water as a direct expansion refrigerant.
Business
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Daikin opens new Australian manufacturing facility
Daikin has unveiled a new $28.6 million dollar factory adjacent to its existing facility.
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Refrigerant Handling Codes of Practice now available digitally
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has announced that the 2025 editions of the stationary Australia and New Zealand Refrigerant Handling Codes of Practice are now fully digital.
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Registrations open for ARBS 2026
Registration has opened for ARBS 2026, which will take place in Melbourne from May 5–7.
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Fujitsu General extends partnership with Essendon FC
Fujitsu General Australia will continue its 12-year association with the Essendon Football Club, taking on the role of co-major partner within the EFC network.
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Panasonic releases splittable R32 ducted system
Panasonic Australia has launched its new R32 Inverter NX Series Splittable Ducted Air Conditioning System.
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CAREL to host HVAC&R software webinar
CAREL’s upcoming webinar will introduce STone Virtual Loop, a digital tool that allows developers to test and validate HVAC&R software in a virtual environment.
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Daikin releases new 18 and 20kW R32 inverter ducted systems
Daikin Australia has introduced its new 18 & 20kW R32 Premium Inverter Ducted Systems (FDYA180AV1 & FDYA200AV1.