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Webinars on new QBCC licensing
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 […]
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Licensing – now and towards 2050
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 […]
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No lockdown for HVAC&R, says AIRAH
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 […]
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ARC adjusts services for COVID-19
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 […]
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HVAC&R Maintenance webinar
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 […]
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Advisory note on COVID-19 and HVAC
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 […]
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New certifier regulation finalised
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, […]
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AIRAH statement on COVID-19
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 […]
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NSW Net Zero Plan
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 […]
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$1.3bn coronavirus aid package for apprentices
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 […]
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Refrigeration 2020 suspended
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,” […]
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Study on spread of COVID-19 in air conditioned bus
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 […]
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IICA Technology Expo
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 […]
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National Energy Efficiency Conference deferred
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 […]
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Plants and IAQ: an ongoing debate
Late last year, doubts were cast over whether plants actually improve indoor air quality (IAQ) after new research was published in Nature’s Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. Ronald Wood PhD, BSc, from Innovative Plant Technology, has taken issue with the study in an article published in Ecolibrium. He says that a “literature review with […]
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LGBTQI+ inclusion in engineering
Aurecon, Pride in Diversity and Engineers Australia have jointly launched a new community in Sydney to promote LGBTQI+ inclusion in engineering. Interengineer will be an independent industry group designed to promote LGBTQI+ inclusion through networking and advocacy activities, says the media release. The group’s formation would allow for additional support and resources towards the engineering […]
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ECS Group organises BAS version 5.0 FIN trial
ECS Group is offering customers and industry associates a complimentary trial of the building automation systems (BAS) version of the FIN Framework 5.0 software. The free one-day event is called “Take FIN for a spin” and will be held at The Grand Hyatt Melbourne on March 20. ECS Group specialises in building automation and controls, […]
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Grosvenor appoints new COO
Grosvenor Engineering Group has announced the appointment of Graham Hindley to the role of Chief Operating Officer. Hindley is a qualified engineer, industrial relations and commerce professional. He spent 20 years in senior management roles in Sydney, Malaysia, China and Germany working for engineering and manufacturing companies. Managing Director at Grosvenor Engineering Group, Nicholas Lianos, […]
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ARBS 2020 postponed
ARBS Exhibitions Ltd has held an extraordinary board meeting where it was decided that the ARBS 2020 exhibition scheduled to be held from May 19–21 will be postponed due to the COVID-19 virus. “Circumstances relating to the virus have triggered the postponement,” says ARBS Events Organiser Sue Falcke. She cites a number of factors as […]
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NCPR assesses building product reliability
In the age of fake news, the building industry has encountered its fair share of falsehoods. There has been an increasing volume of misappropriate behaviour – be it in the filing of false evidence to support regulatory conformance or the use of inferior-quality materials. This consequently puts the profile of Australian buildings at risk. And […]