Will air conditioning be a legal requirement in Australia?

Air conditioning is an established fixture within many homes across New South Wales and throughout the country, but in recent times, we've seen more push for change to regulations in air conditioning installation and use. If you're wondering about the current or proposed air conditioning legislation in the state and nationwide, wonder no more - we've put together this helpful blog with all you need to know about the future of air-con. 

When a building, and the rooms within it, are prone to overheating, air conditioning unit installation is extremely important. The human body is roughly 37 degrees celsius. When this temperature rises above this - due to exercise or exposure to hot air or sunshine - the body will be unable to regulate itself if the air around it is also over that temperature, leading to major discomfort and longer-lasting issues, such as migraines or cramps.
 
Air conditioning units provide the best way of keeping the temperature regulated inside a building, working to keep everyone inside happy and healthy. But it is not just providing cool air that these systems specialize in. The air being pumped back into the room will be freshly cleared of insects and airborne pollen, acting as a filter for any irritating impurities that can cause allergies. It will also keep it free from any unpleasant odours that get caught in the room throughout the day, so they are great for offices or commercial settings where you will be in close proximity to lots of other people.
 
Similarly, if you think humans are the only thing that can overheat in a hot building, think again. Your electrical devices are all prone to breaking due to problems with temperature control, so by installing an air conditioning unit, you are ensuring that a building is bound to encounter fewer problems.
 

The legalities surrounding the requirement for an air conditioning unit might change with the dramatic environmental changes we are experiencing globally.
 
It is widely acknowledged that Australia is at large risk of environmental changes due to global warming. Alongside the addition of hurricanes, typhoons and other extreme weather conditions due to climate change, 2015 was one of the hottest years ever recorded, with temperatures peaking at 0.83 degrees above average. Furthermore, the recent outbreak of unstoppable bushfires has contributed to the mass extinction of animal species and even taken the lives of people.
 
With the climate only set to increase over time, we can assume that Australia will carry on being plagued by more intense sunlight, dry weather and droughts, with a gradual increase in the average temperature in the years to come.
 
As a result, laws might change regarding whether you should install an air conditioning unit in your home or commercial building. The heat within offices or rooms could become dangerous or stifling to anyone inside and breach human rights. Only by finding a way to make the internal temperature low can your employees or family continue with their days feeling comfortable.
 
As for the opposite, an unconditioned building will be hazardous, meaning that it becomes a legal requirement in order to keep us safe as a society. Companies could be fined for employees becoming sick or falling behind on work due to the general discomfort with their work conditions.
 
Hypothetically, the possibility of air conditioning being made a legal requirement might be reconsidered in the following decades, but as a temporary measure, we recommend installing one anyway to prepare for any new laws.

According to current NSW laws, homeowners do not need permission from their local council to install air conditioning if it's for their house, will not be attached to a wall facing a primary road, sits at least 450mm from a boundary, is ground-mounted or is attached to an external wall at no more than 1.8m above ground level. 

The rules differ for heritage-listed buildings. In these instances, units need to be ground-mounted. In the case of properties situated within heritage conservation areas, air conditioning units need to be in the backyard.

Homeowners need to ensure their air conditioning unit does not compromise a building's structural integrity or fire resistance level and doesn't emit noise over 5dB above the ambient background noise level. They also need to make sure air conditioning noise isn't heard in an occupiable room of a neighbouring home at night.

You might wonder - what's the deal with rental properties? There's currently no law in place dictating a landlord provide air conditioning. While Victora and Tasmania have stipulated heaters must be placed in living rooms - surely a welcome regulation for renters - air conditioning isn't subject to the same mandates. 

Landlords may, however, consider installing an air conditioner if their tenant requests it. If an air conditioner is installed in a rental property, it's the tenant who must take care of cleaning the filters, and any repairs that may have arisen because of their own error or neglect. Landlords are usually expected to organise a clean at the beginning of a tenancy period, and to organise repairs that arise through natural deterioration. 

It's probably not surprising that with changing weather conditions and hot, humid summers, there have been increasing calls to make air conditioning mandatory across rental properties throughout the country. 

While this might sound like a reasonable move, it has been met with opposition. The cost of air conditioning and the environmental consequences it brings have been labelled as reasons why it should remain an optional extra for private rentals and social housing. 

Air conditioning isn't just expensive to install, it also raises rental prices between $10 and $50 a week depending on the particular installation. This proposed regulation has been better received in states like Queensland, which experience more hot days throughout the year.

For cool comfort when you need it most, contact Coolman Air Conditioning. We've proudly delivered quality air conditioning servicing, sales, repairs and maintenance to residential and commercial clients throughout the Northern Rivers region for over 15 years. Our approachable, friendly and knowledgeable team is on hand to help every step of the way. Contact our team today on 0422 291 433.