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A refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) contractors roundtable held in Adelaide recently highlighted a number of key issues currently facing the industry. The meeting followed on from a similar event in Sydney. The Chair of the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) Michael Bennett says the sessions are a great opportunity to connect with the broader industry […]
Building services software developer ACADS-BSG has found new ownership. The 38-year-old tech firm is now in the hands of Peter Glodic. Founded in 1981, ACADS-BSG is a building services software developer that provides building professionals with technological tools to design and check building services such as air conditioning for both new and existing buildings. More […]
NABERS’ 2018–2019 annual report shows that it continues to gain momentum as a force for sustainable transformation of Australia’s built environment. The report provides updates on the many initiatives under the NABERS banner, with positive news all round. One of the highlights has been the uptake of the scheme in shopping centres around the country. […]
The NSW government has released draft regulations to introduce registration for building and development certifiers. The move comes one month after Victoria passed legislation for compulsory registration of engineers, and follows the recommendations of the Building Confidence implementation plan. Engineers Australia has criticised what it perceives as the excessively narrow focus of the regulation. “The […]
After considerable deliberation from the judging panel, the finalists of the AIRAH Awards 2019 have been selected. The high standard of nominations presented the judges with the difficult task of selecting the best of the best – the finalists – for the AIRAH Awards 2019. “The projects and individuals selected as finalists for the AIRAH […]
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is undertaking an out-of-cycle amendment for the 2019 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC). It will be known as NCC 2019 Amendment 1 and is now open for public consultation. The amendment will include: Enhanced fire safety measures for early childhood centres in high-rise buildings. A defined term […]
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has announced two keynotes for the 2019 Building Physics Forum: Honorary Consul Kim Lovegrove MSE RML FAIB and Duane Jonlin from the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections in the US. The Building Physics Forum is being held in Melbourne at the Bayview Eden Melbourne […]
Daikin has introduced a new generation of air-cooled scroll chillers with R32 refrigerant to the Australian market. The new EWAT-B units offer a path away from R410A in the chiller market. In Australia, where the HFC phase-down is well under way, R32 has already become the de facto replacement for R410A in the split-system market […]
As the industry works towards delivering a safer and higher quality built environment, Standards Australia has highlighted AS/NZS ISO 45001: 2018 as an ideal tool for improving occupational health and safety. The standard ISO Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use was adopted by Standards Australia as AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 […]
A new report from the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has called for a bold new vision to transform the buildings and construction sector from a major cause of the climate emergency into a major solution. Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront shows that buildings are responsible for 39 per cent of global carbon emissions. Reducing the […]
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Office has released an online survey regarding the inclusion of mandatory requirements in the National Construction code (NCC) for the development of Performance Solutions. Performance Solutions are one method that can be used to show compliance with the requirements of the NCC. They can be developed for areas such […]
CIBSE ANZ held the Young Engineers Awards on Thursday, September 12. Nine students and young engineer finalists flew to Melbourne from around Australia and New Zealand for the winning announcement in each of the award categories. The event was held at Melbourne Museum, and guests were given a special presentation by Peter Mathieson, F.AIRAH, Technical […]
The NSW Institute of Instrumentation, Control and Automation (IICA) is preparing its final Tech Expo of the year, on October 30 at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. The IICA is a not-for-profit institute that aims to further the science and practice of measurement, instrumentation and control. The organisation rotates the venues for its events, and this time […]
ARBS 2020, slated for May 19–21 in Melbourne next year, is already on track to equal the exhibitor attendance for Sydney in 2018. Due to the response from exhibitors, the allocated exhibition floor area has been extended by 1,500m2 to 18,000m2, a new record for Melbourne. Organisers say the unprecedented demand for space has come […]
The NSW government is urging primary producers to put their best ideas forward to cut costs and reduce on-farm energy use, and is offering up to $2.25 million in grants. “In the midst of the worst drought on record, it’s more important than ever that farmers are efficient, and get the best bang for their […]
The 2020 South Pacific Passive House Conference is slated for May 28–31 in Sydney next year. Co-hosted by the Australian Passive House Association (APHA) and the Passive House Institute of New Zealand (PHINZ), the event will take place at the Roundhouse at the University of New South Wales’ (UNSW) campus in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. “We […]
The International Solar Energy Society (ISES) is hosting a free webinar on how to use facades to generate solar energy. The webinar is part of the International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling (IEA SHC) program Solar Academy 2019 series. It will look at the work of Task 56: Building-integrated solar envelope systems (BISES) for […]
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have designed a new system that could help keep roofs cool by radiating heat into outer space, without consuming electricity. The system consists of a polymer/aluminium film installed inside a box at the bottom of a specially designed solar shelter. The film cools its surroundings by absorbing heat from […]
The Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association (AMCA) has held its Annual Training Achievement Awards in Melbourne. The awards recognise apprentices and trainees who have achieved excellence in the early stages of their career with AMCA member companies. The awards were hosted by former Olympian, Nicole Livingstone. She introduced the individual winners in three categories: […]
ASHRAE is calling for papers for the Fourth International Conference on Efficient Building Design. The conference is being held on October 1–2, 2020, at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. The focus of the fourth ASHRAE Beirut Conference is on novel building technologies that enhance environmental quality in buildings. The conference will present advanced research on […]