Page 56
International producer of building materials Saint-Gobain has chosen the winners of its 15th Multi Comfort Students Contest. More than 2,200 students from 199 universities entered the contest, mainly from the fields of architecture and engineering. The final, held in Milan, saw 60 competing teams from 34 countries present their projects to an international panel of […]
The extensive suite of Design Application (DA) manuals published by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) is receiving some important updates. To keep up with changes in the sector, AIRAH and its network of expert members periodically update the DA manuals and publish new editions. The latest of these is DA15 […]
Control and automation specialist Controlstore has launched Tosibox, a new connectivity solution that offers improved security in today’s Internet of Things (IoT) environment. “Tosibox has taken connectivity and made it simple,” the company says. “Secure connectivity is essential for remote access, remote maintenance, continuous monitoring, and real-time data collection and data logging for your IT […]
Earlier this year, a bill passed in Victoria that should see professional registration of engineers become mandatory in that state. Queensland already has this requirement. Now it appears that New South Wales will go down the same path. The NSW government has released a discussion paper that responds to recommendations of Shergold and Weir’s Building […]
A new report from the Energy Efficiency Council has highlighted the vital role that improvements that energy efficiency can play around the world, and especially in Australia. The World’s First Fuel is an attempt to distil world’s best practice around energy efficiency into recommendations that can inform Australia’s energy debate. The title comes from the […]
The final countdown to the first ever World Refrigeration Day is on, and ASHRAE and UNEP OzoneAction have added to the festivities by announcing a special webinar. Titled “Refrigerants for Life: How Refrigerants Affect Modern Life”, the webinar will run from 9–10.30 EDT on Wednesday, June 26. Industry experts will talk about the latest science, […]
Sydney-based Polaris Technologies has re-launched a popular R22 retrofit option for HVAC systems. The Polaris “Intelligent Series” allows you to upgrade only the outdoor unit. Existing pipework and the indoor unit remain. Polaris Technologies director Tony Power, Affil.AIRAH, says that these systems are well proven in Australia. “A patented Australian technology based around the sophisticated […]
The CRC for Low Carbon Living and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage have co-funded a home makeover show with a difference. Renovate or Rebuild has two teams competing to convince a Sydney-based family that they have the best solution to creating a healthier, more spacious and energy efficient home for the owners. Team Renovate, headed […]
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is running a webinar on June 25 to explain how to use Calculating Cool, an online tool for rating HVAC sytems. Calculating Cool is a free online rating tool to benchmark performance against best practice to help improve the design, installation and operation of HVAC systems. It provides quantitative […]
As reported last year, Queensland is updating its licensing framework for mechanical services work, including air conditioning and refrigeration. It is now looking for feedback on the proposed licence classes and transitional arrangements. Perhaps the biggest change for air conditioning and refrigeration is the introduction of the occupational licence class, with a minimum Certificate III […]
According to industry legend, when the NABERS initiative was first released as a system for measuring and comparing the environmental performance of Australian buildings and tenancies, it had a less memorable name. The final acronym was coined as a cheeky (and catchier) reference to the popular soap opera. Since then, the initiative has brought about huge […]
The History Channel is running a new series called Aussie Inventions That Changed The World, and it includes an episode dedicated to refrigeration. “Historically, Australia has punched well above its weight on the world stage of timely innovations, scientific breakthroughs, and cleverly designed new technologies,” say the creators. “Throughout its history this continent has produced […]
Round 2 of City of Sydney’s grants for building owners, managers and tenants in their council area opens June 19. In the first round of funding, held earlier this year, 15 buildings were recommended for funding. Over the life of the program, funding more than 150 buildings have received funding for energy audits, water assessments, and […]
In the past six months, engagement officers from the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) have visited regional and remote locations to perform permit holder and education visits. Visits were made to Darwin and surrounding areas (81 visits); to Toowoomba and surrounding areas in Queensland (71 visits); to Coffs Harbour and surrounding areas in New South Wales […]
Fire containment expert Trafalgar recently obtained Australian Made certification for a number of its products. The green and gold stamp has been awarded to the patented Fyrebox Slab-Mounted, a fire-stopping device that eliminates many compliance issues commonly seen in multi-residential constructions. The Fyrebox Cast-In and Fyrebox Maxi from the Firebox family have also received Australian […]
The Victorian government is currently considering a proposal for mechanical services plumbers to install and service multi-head air conditioning systems. Last year, the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP) reviewed and revised regulations on plumbing work. Following the review, a series of projects were established to further examine different aspects of the regulations. […]
CIBSE is hosting a number of events in June and July taking place around Australia and dedicated to a variety of subjects. In Western Australia there are events dedicated to hydronic system control and to emerging engineers. New South Wales is playing host to seminars on biophilia for engineers and a networking event. In South […]
Australian WorldSkills Refrigeration and Air Conditioning champion Patrick Brennan has travelled to Kazan with a select group of fellow Skillaroos to compete in the Russian national WorldSkills tournament. The trip was organised as preparation for the upcoming International WorldSkills tournament, to be held in Kazan in August. WorldSkills Russia, now in its seventh year, was […]
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has set up a special webpage listing activities taking place for World Refrigeration Day. The inaugural World Refrigeration Day is on June 26. It aims to raise awareness of the HVAC&R sector and the vital role it plays in modern life and society. “Refrigeration, air conditioning, […]
TAFE Queensland has opened a new high-tech training hub at its Ashmore campus. The fit-out, which cost $1.5 million, boasts state-of-the-art equipment and will benefit more than 1,200 electrical and air conditioning and refrigeration students. The hub has eight coldrooms, including two with freezer room options. There is a practical workshop area, a hybrid practical […]