How to become a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Draftsperson

Refrigeration and air conditioning draftspersons design and produce working drawings of mechanical systems for refrigeration and air conditioning systems within a building project so that they can be manufactured, constructed and installed.

Personal requirements for a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Draftsperson

Enjoy technical and design activities
Aptitude for problem-solving
Good communication skills
Able to work as part of a team
Willing to accept responsibility and supervise other people
Normal colour vision

Education & Training for a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Draftsperson

To become a refrigeration and air conditioning draftsperson you usually have to complete a VET qualification. Entry to these courses may require employment in a mechanical services drafting office. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information.

Duties & Tasks of a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Draftsperson

Refrigeration and air conditioning draftspersons:

Design and produce relevant working drawings
Liaise with equipment suppliers, site personnel and project managers
Coordinate with other service contractors involved in the project and production of accurate drawings
Site measuring
Attend site meetings.

Tasks

Recording causes of malfunctioning and action taken
Drilling holes, installing mounting brackets and cutting, bending and threading piping
Removing test gas and fluid using vacuum pumps, and filling with refrigerant
Filling systems with gas or fluid to check for leaks
Adjusting system controls and mechanisms and reassembling systems
Installing and repairing components such as compressors, motors, condensers, evaporators, switches and gauges, and copper lines for steam, gas, refrigerant, compressed air, oil and chilled water
Establishing job requirements from drawings and specifications, and laying out installation reference points
Checking and overhauling refrigeration systems, diagnosing faults and repairing and replacing defective components
Test-operating refrigeration systems, checking mechanisms and making adjustments
Bolting, soldering, riveting, welding and brazing pipes to connect equipment, and checking alignment and accuracy of fit

Working conditions for a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Draftsperson

Refrigeration and air conditioning draftspersons work predominantly in the computer-aided design (CAD) environment and often work closely with professional engineers and tradespeople.

Employment Opportunities for a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Draftsperson

Refrigeration and air conditioning draftspersons are employed mainly by mechanical contracting companies, government agencies and installation, service-maintenance and manufacturing firms. The growing awareness of energy efficiency has led to an increase in the demand for systems that maximise performance and energy efficiency but are easy to build and maintain.

Specializations

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Draftsperson

Average age
33 years
Future Growth
Stable
Gender Share
1% female
Average full-time
44 hours
Weekly Pay
$1,400
Skill level rating
Medium skill
Unemployment
Lower unemployment
Full-Time Share
89% Full-Time
Employment Size
28,500 workers
Employment by state
ACT: 1.7%
NSW: 33.6%
NT: 2.0%
QLD: 22.6%
SA: 8.0%
TAS: 1.4%
VIC: 18.3%
WA: 12.4%
Age brackets
15-19: 6.7%
20-24: 15.7%
25-34: 30.3%
35-44: 19.9%
45-54: 16.1%
55-59: 6%
60-64: 3.6%
65 and Over: 1.8%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 4.9%
Bachelor degree: 2.3%
Below Year 10: 0%
Certificate III/IV: 71.8%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 0.4%
Year 10 and below: 5.4%
Year 11: 3.2%
Year 12: 11.9%
Years 11 & 10: 6.8%