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Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) is seeking help from HVAC&R technicians to better understand what happens to refrigerant from split system air conditioners when they are replaced. And it is paying for the data. RRA is a not-for-profit organisation that works with industry to recover, reclaim and destroy surplus and unwanted refrigerants. The organisation is offering […]
The Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) has published a guidance document for building services in areas with a coronavirus disease outbreak. The document is targeted at HVAC professionals and facility managers working in commercial and public buildings. It provides practical recommendations for preventing the spread of coronavirus through HVAC and […]
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has achieved gender equity following the election of Mikaila Ganado, M.AIRAH, to the national board of directors. Ganado joins Paul Jackson, F.AIRAH, and Ura Sarfejoo, M.AIRAH, who were re-elected to the board at AIRAH’s National Convention, which this year was held remotely due to the […]
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released a preview of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 Amendment 1, expected to be adopted by all states and territories from July 1, 2020. The NCC sets the minimum acceptable standards for all new construction work in Australia. Since 2005, it has included provisions in Section J for energy […]
ARBS has been rescheduled to be held from February 15–17, 2021. The event was originally planned for May 19-21, 2020, but had been postponed due to the coronavirus. The exhibition will remain in the same venue at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. According to ARBS Exhibition Organiser Sue Falcke, it will occupy the same […]
The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has identified four confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease involving individuals who have spent time in the Brunswick area in Melbourne, including Sydney Road. All cases have required treatment in hospital. All had symptoms commencing in February and March 2020. Particularly because of the current focus on […]
At the beginning of this year, a new licensing framework was introduced in Queensland. Workers will now require a Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence for mechanical services work. This includes not just air conditioning and refrigeration but also plumbing and medical gases. To help industry understand and transition to the new framework, the […]
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH), led by its Refrigeration Special Technical Group, has released a position statement on HVAC&R licensing in Australia, and is seeking input from industry stakeholders. Although there are well-established and successful licensing regimes in place – most notably the national ARCtick licence scheme – AIRAH CEO […]
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has written to federal, state and territory ministers and called on the government to clearly identify HVAC&R, building maintenance and support as essential services. As governments across Australia order non-essential services to shut down to stop the spread of COVID-19, AIRAH has signalled the need […]
In response to the coronavirus situation, the ARC has put in place measures to keep the RAC industry permit scheme operating on a “business as usual” basis, with only minimal changes. Face-to-face permit condition checks (audits) will be replaced by electronic checks via email. For lodging and assessing online renewals, however, it will be business […]
AIRAH is hosting a webinar about HVAC&R maintenance on Thursday, March 26. It will be the first in a series of webinars that highlight key changes to the newly updated DA19. The series will discuss: The key changes to DA19’s 2019 edition How to use the manual in everyday practice Why maintenance of HVAC&R systems […]
A.G. Coombs has published an advisory note that explores how COVID-19 may interact with HVAC systems and the steps that should be taken to reduce the spread of the virus. Although the note confirms that – according to the most recent information – COVID-19 is mainly spread through respiratory droplets, it also indicates that there […]
The NSW government has finalised the Building and Development Certifiers Regulation 2020. Published on the NSW legislation website, the regulation brings the Building and Development Certifiers Act 2018 into force. As part of the overhaul of the building and construction industry, both the act and regulation are intended to simplify the certification system in NSW, […]
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has suspended all scheduled events up until May 31, 2020, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH, says the Institute is closely monitoring developments regarding the coronavirus. “Unfortunately, as a result of COVID-19, AIRAH has had to make the decision to […]
The NSW government has released its Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020–2030. It is the foundation for NSW’s action on climate change and goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Under the plan, the NSW economy will see over $11.6bn of private investment and 2,400 new jobs. Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean says […]
The government has committed $1.3bn in wage subsidies to help small businesses retain apprentices displaced by the coronavirus downturn. As part of Australia’s COVID-19 response, the subsidies will support small businesses with funding of up to $21,000 ($7,000 per quarter) for every apprentice. The intention is to help small businesses get back on track after […]
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has suspended the Refrigeration 2020 Conference, scheduled for March 23–24 in Melbourne, due to concerns around the spread of COVID-19. “In this time of great upheaval for everyone, we ask for your patience as we work with attendees, speakers, sponsors and other stakeholders to reorganise,” […]
The coronavirus could be transmitted over a longer distance than previously thought, especially within an enclosed air conditioned environment, according to a study by a team of Chinese government epidemiologists. The research by the Hunan-based team throws into question the official guidelines from China’s health authorities on COVID-19 prevention to keep “a safe distance” of […]
The NSW Institute of Instrumentation, Control and Automation (IICA) is preparing its first Technology Expo of 2020 on April 29 at Doylonson, on the Central Coast. The IICA is a not-for-profit institute that aims to further the science and practice of measurement, instrumentation and control. It describes the Technology Expo as “a one-stop shop, featuring […]
The Energy Efficiency Council has postponed the National Energy Efficiency Conference 2020, scheduled to take place in Melbourne from May 26–27. Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) CEO Luke Menzel says the decision was made to minimise the potential for transmission of COVID-19, and to deliver the highest quality event possible. “We did not make this decision […]