Brisbane rooms and split systems
Closed-in verandahs
Wikipedia's Queenslander article says many verandahs have been enclosed as bedrooms. A verandah turned bedroom behaves differently from the room beside it, so it needs sizing on its own.
Tall rooms
Rinnai says higher ceilings demand more from a system and a sun-facing room may need more cooling. High ceilings are a Queenslander trademark, so mention yours when you ask for a quote.
Apartments and townhouses
At the 2021 Census, 25.6% of occupied homes in the Brisbane council area were flats or apartments and 11.3% were townhouses, terraces or semi-detached. The Good Guys says body corporate approval is required before any work in a multi-storey apartment block.
Renting
The same Census counted 38.3% of Brisbane council area homes as rented. If that's you, get the landlord's okay in writing before anyone drills through a wall.
A busy drain
With summer dew points around 20 degrees, a Brisbane split pulls a lot of water out of the room. The drain needs a steady fall and somewhere sensible to empty, away from doorways, paths and the neighbour's side.
Sizing one Brisbane room
Rinnai's buyers guide is a fair starting point: rooms up to 20 square metres usually take 2.5 kW, and 20 to 40 square metres 3.5 kW. Mitsubishi Electric's heat load factors include ceiling height, orientation and windows, and any of them can push a room up a size.
Don't round up just to be safe. Rinnai says an oversized system short cycles and dehumidifies less effectively, which in Brisbane means a cold but clammy room. Our size calculator gives you a figure to take to the installer.
Where the outdoor unit goes
On a high-set house, the outdoor unit might sit on a ground pad under the house, a frame, or a wall bracket. The ACT Government's guide says it needs fresh air and easy maintenance access, and warns against enclosed courtyards and slat fencing around it.
Mind the neighbours on a narrow block. Queensland's default noise standard keeps air conditioner noise to 5 dB(A) above background from 7am to 10pm, and 3 dB(A) above background overnight, at the neighbour's place, unless the council has its own standard. Keep the unit away from their bedroom window.
The licences for a split in Queensland
A technician with the restricted RSS03 licence can install a single-head split under 18kW, but can't come back later for refrigerant service work. That needs a full RAC01 holder. On top of the ARC licence, Queensland needs a QBCC licence for the job at any value.
Running the cable between the indoor and outdoor units counts as electrical installation work, QBCC says, so it's beyond a restricted air conditioning electrical licence. Mitsubishi Electric says the unit needs a dedicated power supply, so expect a licensed electrician to check the switchboard.
What a Brisbane split quote should say
- The model and size in kW, worked out for this room.
- Where the indoor unit, outdoor unit and drain outlet will go.
- How the outdoor unit is mounted: pad, frame or bracket.
- Who does the wiring, and whether a dedicated circuit is part of the job.
- For an apartment, that the work waits for body corporate approval.
- The QBCC licence number and the RTA number starting with AU.
What we'd do
Where we'd start
We'd size each room on its own, especially a closed-in verandah, and resist the urge to go bigger. We'd agree where the drain water ends up before install day, and keep the outdoor unit clear of the neighbour's bedroom. Then we'd use a split specialist with a QBCC licence, someone who fits splits into Brisbane houses and units every week. If that sounds like your job, tell us the room and your postcode.
