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The NSW government is preparing to implement a new licensing system for mechanical services in October 2022. The changes were prompted by the need for medical gases licensing, but also include provisions that impact mechanical services workers across refrigeration, air conditioning and plumbing. The Building Amendment (Mechanical Services and Medical Gas Work) Bill 2020 amends […]
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the winners of the Cooling Solutions Challenge prize competition. The initiative offered a total of US$195,000 (AU$290,000), for climate-friendly cooling innovations to protect people against extreme heat. Solutions were sought to help first responders, individuals, households, or displaced populations keep cool during extreme heat events, which […]
Representatives from Victorian and federal governments were present for the unveiling of two new technologies from Rinnai Australia that are designed with future energy in mind. The first is a continuous flow hot water system developed by Rinnai Japan for the domestic market, which uses 100 per cent hydrogen combustion technology. Rinnai plans to start […]
Ron Conry, L.AIRAH, has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the HVAC&R industry, in particular the development of the high-speed and oil-free centrifugal compressor. A refrigeration technician by trade, Conry started in the industry in the 1960s. He worked for around 25 years with traditional HVAC&R equipment, before […]
The world’s first commercial sand-based thermal energy storage system has been developed to back up a heating network in Finland. Technology company Polar Night Energy and utility organisation Vatajankoski joined forces to create the system, which is adjacent to a power plant. It has 100kW heating power and 8MWh capacity, and can heat the sand […]
Cundall Senior Mechanical Engineer Alex Shan was awarded the CIBSE ANZ Jack Pirie Award – Young Engineer of the Year 2022 during the official ceremony at NSW Parliament House on July 7. The award recognises an engineer with less than seven years of professional experience who has demonstrated technical excellence, exceptional professionalism, and a positive […]
AIRAH has launched the second edition of its Salary Survey to benchmark industry wages and forecast trends in employment. The survey will run until the end of August and is for all those who work in the HVAC&R sector. The first edition of AIRAH’s HVAC&R Salary Survey was conducted in 2019. With data from almost […]
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has developed a range of resources to help workers get their tax returns right – including a guide specifically for trades. From car and travel expenses to tools and protective gear, the tax time guide has been created to help work out what they can and can’t claim. An ATO […]
Cundall has announced the appointment of two new partners within its global leadership team, among several other promotions. The appointment of Rob Turner in Manchester and Alejandro (Alex) Saez in Singapore brings the number of partners in the business to 44. At the same time, David Collins will become a director within Cundall Australia, and […]
Aurecon has appointed Vanessa Visman as Principal – Asset Management and Performance. In the role she will establish and lead an Operations Performance and Assurance team designed to help organisations operate new and existing assets at peak performance. Aurecon says Visman, who joins from Hatch, is a globally recognised operational readiness specialist with a proven […]
As the European Union considers ambitious new targets for phasing down HFC refrigerants, industry is divided about the path forward. Some groups have cautioned regulators against moving too fast, but others believe the stricter phase-down is both achievable and desirable. What’s on the table? In April this year, the European Commission proposed two new regulations […]
AIRAH’s Big Data STG has released a new podcast focusing on the role of data ontologies and the need for a common naming system for building data. The release follows on from the Big Data and Analytics Forum held last week in Sydney and online. There, keynote speaker Brian Turner from Buildings IOT highlighted the […]
Lubricant brand Castrol and immersion cooling systems organisation Submer have signed an agreement aiming to accelerate the adoption of immersion cooling as a pathway to more efficient and sustainable data centre operations. The companies plan to develop a new generation of immersion cooling fluids and collaborate on developing the global supply and standards. Immersion cooling is […]
To celebrate World Refrigeration Day, world-leading chefs have launched a campaign to remind people that cooling enables nutritional diets, helps reduce the number of undernourished, and can lower greenhouse gas emissions. The chefs are part of the Chefs4thePlanet network, which is joining with United Nations Environment Programme OzonAction and Global Food Cold Chain Council in […]
As Australia’s engineering skills shortage intensifies, Engineers Australia has released a new study revealing the reasons women aren’t entering the profession – and what can be done to change that. Findings from the Women in Engineering Report indicate the biggest reason girls don’t choose to study engineering is a lack of awareness of what engineering […]
Beijer Ref and Superior Training Centre have joined forces to offer what they say is the only nationally accredited CO2 course currently being run in Australia, on state-of-the-art equipment in a custom-built facility. “This is an important step forward in the upskilling of technicians in CO2 systems technology,” says Superior Training Centre head trainer Antonis […]
Multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Cundall has named Carole O’Neil as its new Managing Partner. O’Neil will lead the practice as it embraces a new strategy and the next stage in its development, including a clear focus on people and culture. Having been with Cundall for 15 years, O’Neil takes over from Tomás Neeson, who will now […]
After a successful pilot program, Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) has officially announced the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for electrical licence holders. At its most simple, most licence holders, including electricians and restricted electrical licence (REL) holders, must now complete a day of CPD training, before their licence can be renewed. CPD can be completed […]
Melbourne-based company Fortex has announced a partnership with COBOD International to bring the BOD2 3D construction printing technology to Australia. The company hopes it will be the start of a 3D-printing revolution. “Fortex is proud to be laying the foundation for a new construction paradigm in Australia with COBOD 3D printers,” says Fortex CEO David […]
Software company simPRO has announced a philanthropic partnership with MATES in Construction, a suicide awareness, prevention and support program serving Australia’s and New Zealand’s construction industry. According to MATES in Construction, Australia’s construction industry is losing one worker per week to suicide. Construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than a […]