This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to recover refrigerant from stationary self-contained end of life decommissioned equipment. It applies to those engaged in the scrapping, recycling and/or disposal of stationary self-contained refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

It includes working safely and recovering non-flammable and flammable refrigerants from stationary self-contained end of life decommissioned refrigeration and air conditioning equipment into designated cylinders for disposal using relevant tools and equipment. It also includes applying the legal requirements to handle refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and to handle, store and dispose of refrigerants. It does not include the recovery of ammonia or carbon dioxide (CO²) refrigerants.

Refrigerants to be recovered may be flammable, non-flammable or a mixture of both and difficult to accurately identify. To prevent the possibility of ignition, the equipment and procedures used to recover the refrigerant should be those required for flammable refrigerants when the refrigerant has been identified as flammable or it is unknown.

To undertake this unit, the learner must have a Trainee Refrigerant Handling Licence as it includes work on refrigeration and air conditioning equipment that carries the risk of a fluorocarbon refrigerant being emitted.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit require a national Refrigerant Handling Licence as it includes work on refrigeration and air conditioning equipment that carries the risk of a fluorocarbon refrigerant being emitted while decanting the refrigerant or manufacturing, installing, commissioning, servicing, maintaining or decommissioning refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit may, in some jurisdictions, also require a licence or permit to practice in the workplace subject to regulations for undertaking refrigeration and air conditioning work. Practice in the workplace and during training is also subject to work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations.