Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Air Conditioning Fitter

🎯 Role Definition

An Air Conditioning Fitter (HVAC / Refrigeration Fitter) installs, commissions, services and maintains air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation systems across residential, commercial and light-industrial sites. The role requires hands-on mechanical and electrical skills, safe refrigerant handling, diagnostic fault-finding, commissioning to spec, customer-facing communication, and strict compliance with environmental and safety regulations. Ideal candidates are mechanically inclined, hold relevant trade qualifications or apprenticeships, and have up-to-date refrigerant handling certification (e.g., EPA 608, F-Gas or equivalent).

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

HVAC apprentice / refrigeration apprentice
Trade assistant or labourer on building services projects
Qualified electrician or mechanical fitter transitioning to HVAC

Advancement To:

Senior Air Conditioning Fitter / Lead HVAC Technician
Site Supervisor or Foreperson for mechanical services
Commissioning Engineer or Service Manager
HVAC Project Manager or Estimator
Specialist roles (Chiller Technician, VRF/VRV Specialist)

Lateral Moves:

Refrigeration Technician (cold rooms, commercial food)
Building Services Engineer or Maintenance Technician
Controls / BMS Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Install and commission split system, packaged rooftop, VRF/VRV, ducted and cassette air conditioning units to manufacturer specifications and project drawings, ensuring correct mechanical alignment and secure mounting.
Fabricate, route and fit refrigerant piping and copper tubing, including bending, flaring and brazing/soldering joints, insulation, supports and vibration isolation to industry standards.
Perform pressure testing, evacuation (vacuum) and safe refrigerant charging using scales and leak-free techniques; document refrigerant quantities and usage in compliance with environmental regulations.
Diagnose and repair faults in refrigeration and air conditioning systems using multimeters, clamp meters, manifold gauges, leakage detectors, and electronic diagnostic tools.
Wire and terminate electrical supplies, control circuits, thermostats, contactors, overloads and sensors up to specified voltages; interpret electrical schematics and ensure safe isolation procedures.
Commission systems: perform airflow tests, static and dynamic pressure measurements, temperature split checks, refrigerant superheat/subcooling verification, and full system performance verification against design parameters.
Service and maintain HVAC plant including chillers, air handling units (AHUs), condensers, evaporators, compressors, expansion devices, pumps and fans; perform planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and corrective maintenance.
Carry out refrigeration oil analysis, filter drier replacement, compressor and motor inspections, belt and coupling replacements, and bearing lubrication to maintain reliability and longevity.
Perform leak detection and repair using electronic detectors, fluorescence dyes, and pressure tests; advise on and implement permanent repairs and follow-up testing.
Install and commission building management systems (BMS) interfaces and control sequences; calibrate sensors and thermostats and test control logic with mechanical systems.
Read and interpret mechanical drawings, P&IDs, schematics, project specifications and installation manuals to ensure installations match design intent and code compliance.
Fabricate and install ductwork and sheet metal components for HVAC distribution, including sealing, insulation, and balancing of air systems to achieve design CFM and distribution performance.
Safely lift and position heavy plant and equipment on rooftops and plant rooms using slings, hoists and team-lift techniques; coordinate with rigging teams where required.
Respond to emergency breakdowns and service callouts, prioritising safety, rapid diagnosis, and short-term mitigation while scheduling permanent repairs.
Maintain accurate job reports, commissioning certificates, service logs and refrigerant transaction records for warranty, compliance and audit purposes.
Ensure all work complies with health, safety and environmental regulations (e.g., lockout/tagout, confined spaces, working at heights, asbestos awareness) and participate in site safety meetings and risk assessments.
Advise clients and site teams on energy-efficiency improvements, control upgrades, renovation and retrofit options to improve system performance and reduce operational costs.
Coordinate with other trades on site (electricians, plumbers, carpenters) and with project managers to maintain schedule, quality and handover timelines.
Order, receive and manage HVAC parts and consumables, checking quality, stock levels and supporting cost control on projects.
Provide on-the-job training and mentoring to apprentices and junior fitters, ensuring consistent workmanship and safe practices across the team.
Decommission and safely dispose of systems and refrigerants in accordance with environmental legislation and company policy during system replacements or upgrades.
Perform quality control inspections and functional testing prior to client handover; rectify punch-list items and obtain client sign-off for completed works.
Follow manufacturer-specific service procedures and update technical knowledge with product bulletins, firmware updates and new refrigerant handling guidance.
Liaise with clients proactively, explaining technical issues in plain language, providing estimated timelines and cost-effective repair or replacement options.

Secondary Functions

Assist with site planning, installation sequencing and material take-offs during pre-start and mobilisation phases.
Support continuous improvement initiatives by providing feedback on common failures, spare parts stocking and standard operating procedures.
Contribute to commissioning packs, method statements and test certificates; prepare documentation for building handover and client training sessions.
Participate in after-hours on-call rosters and emergency response rotations when required.
Help maintain and calibrate workshop and diagnostic tools; report defects and arrange repairs or replacements.
Support the sales/estimating team by providing time and material estimates for service jobs, upgrades and retrofit projects.
Carry out periodic safety audits, toolbox talks and compliance checks for refrigeration handling, working at heights and electrical safety.
Keep training records up-to-date and maintain required certificates for refrigerant handling, electrical competency and relevant safety qualifications.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient installation and commissioning of split systems, VRF/VRV, rooftop packaged units, ducted systems and chillers.
Refrigeration system fault diagnosis and repair (compressors, expansion devices, metering devices).
Refrigerant recovery, evacuation (vacuum), pressure testing and precise charging with scales.
Certified refrigerant-handling competency (EPA 608, F-Gas, ARC or regional equivalent) and knowledge of refrigerant regulations.
Brazing, soldering and copper pipework fabrication to industry best practice.
Electrical wiring and controls for HVAC (motor starters, contactors, overloads, thermostats, relays) and basic PLC/BMS interface work.
Use of HVAC diagnostic tools: manifold gauges, multimeters, clamp meters, vacuum pumps, recovery units, leak detectors and thermal imaging.
Reading and interpreting P&IDs, electrical schematics, installation drawings, and manufacturer service manuals.
Ductwork installation, air balancing and airflow measurement (anemometers, manometers).
Preventive maintenance and planned service procedures for commercial and residential HVAC plant.
Chiller and AHU troubleshooting, pump and fan maintenance, belt alignment and vibration awareness.
Safe use of lifting gear, fall-arrest equipment, confined space procedures and adherence to site PUWER/OSHA/AS/NZS requirements.
Computer literacy for digital reporting, service management software, and mobile job reporting systems.
Basic welding or mechanical fitting skills for structural plant support and mounting tasks.
Knowledge of energy-efficiency measures and ability to recommend system improvements.

Soft Skills

Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking to isolate faults quickly and implement effective repairs.
Clear verbal and written communication to explain technical issues to clients and produce accurate job reports.
Customer-focused attitude with professional presentation skills and the ability to manage client expectations.
Time management and organisational skills to manage multiple jobs, schedules and parts logistics.
Teamwork and the ability to mentor apprentices and junior technicians.
Attention to detail and pride in quality workmanship.
Flexibility and resilience to handle emergency callouts, varying work environments and physical demands.
Initiative and continuous learning mindset to keep up-to-date with new refrigerants, controls and product innovations.
Safety mindset with the ability to conduct risk assessments, follow method statements and enforce safe systems of work.
Commercial awareness for cost-effective repairs, parts usage and minimizing customer disruption.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma (or equivalent) with completed HVAC/refrigeration apprenticeship or trade certificate.

Preferred Education:

Certificate III/IV in Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Diploma in Mechanical/Electrical or equivalent trade qualification.
Additional technical training in controls, BMS or industrial refrigeration is desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Mechanical Engineering / Building Services
Electrical Engineering (trade level)
HVAC Technology / Building Services Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years for intermediate roles; 0–2 years for entry/apprentice roles; 5+ years for senior or specialist roles.

Preferred:

3–7+ years practical experience installing, commissioning and servicing commercial and residential HVAC systems, including experience with VRF/VRV systems, rooftop units and chillers.
Demonstrated track record of fault diagnosis, refrigerant management and compliance with relevant safety and environmental regulations.
Valid driver's license and ability to travel between sites; white card / site induction certifications as required by clients.