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Mid-tier maladies – new research offers vital insights
HVAC maintenance in Australia’s mid-tier is the focus for a trio of reports just released through the Better Ways To Work project. The result of extensive surveys and deep-dive interviews with workers and stakeholders, the new publications shine a light on key issues in the sector. The project was led by researchers at University of […]
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New explosive gas atmospheres standard on the way
Industry is preparing for a new edition of AS/NZS 60079.10.1:2009, Classification of areas – Explosive gas atmospheres, due to appear later this year. AS/NZS 60079.10.1:2009 is a modified version of the IEC 60079-10-1 standard, published in 2008. Since then there have been two updates to the IEC standard, in 2015 and 2020. The Standards Australia […]
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ESG in Real Estate Summit opens registrations, possibilities
The ESG in Real Estate Summit will be held at the Pullman Hyde Park Sydney over June 8–9 as in-person and hybrid event. Short for environmental social governance, ESG is the next step in corporate governance. Simply put, it represents an approach to evaluating the extent to which a corporation works on behalf of social […]
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Common ontology needed for big data
CEO of Buildings IOT, Brian Turner, has been announced as the keynote at AIRAH’s Big Data and Analytics Forum 2022 on Thursday, June 23, and will highlight the urgent need for industry to adopt a common standard for organising building data. There are many standards for naming data in the built environment. Although common naming […]
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The new insulation on the block
A report by researchers featured in Nano Letters has revealed a new type of lightweight foam could reduce energy costs by more than a third. Made from wood-based cellulose nanocrystals, the material is thermally insulating, can reflect sunlight and emits absorbed heat. The researchers connected the cellulose nanocrystals together with a silane bridge, before freezing and […]
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CO2 training shows an industry hungry for upskilling
Recent CO2 transcritical training carried out by CA Group with City Facilities Management (City FM) refrigeration mechanics at retail sites around the country has proved a success – and highlighted an appetite for upskilling in the trade. The training sessions took place at supermarkets supported by City FM in Victoria and South Australia, making use […]
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Applications open for small business ventilation program
The Victorian government is supporting public-facing small businesses to improve ventilation in areas accessible to customers, and thus reduce the spread of COVID-19. Applications are now open for the Small Business Ventilation Program, which provides $500 rebates and matched grants of up to $5,000 to support eligible small businesses’ investment in equipment, works and services […]
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Victoria eyes ban on non-compliant gas space heaters
Energy Safe Victoria is assessing whether to exercise its powers to restrict the supply and sale of open-flued gas space heaters (OFGSHs) that do not comply with the current AS/NZS 5263.1.3 standard. After a consultation in 2020–21 to decide on the best approach to phasing out of OFGSHs that may pose safety risks for households, […]
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Signs of Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Sydney CBD
NSW Health is advising those who have been in the Sydney CBD area in the past 10 days to be on the lookout for symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, and advising building owners to check their cooling towers. Five people who have developed the disease spent time in the area in the past three weeks. All […]
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Queensland calls for more trades to move to “paradise”
A multi-million dollar promotional blitz is under way in three states in an effort to lure more trades to Queensland to help with flood recovery efforts. The Tradies in Paradise campaign is being promoted across a range of targeted advertising platforms as well as to spectators at AFL games in South Australia, Western Australia and […]
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Deadline for new training package extended to 2023
The adoption deadline for the new electrotechnology training package UEE11, which includes various refrigeration and air conditioning qualifications, has been extended from October 5, 2022 until January 31, 2023. Within the HVAC&R industry, there is particular interest in the roll-out of the new Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration qualification UEE32220. Importantly, it includes […]
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New method for dissipating heat in electronic devices
A research team from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and University of California (UC) Berkeley has published a paper that explores a new cooling method for electronic devices. Electronic devices often generate high temperates, and these need to be cooled to prevent the device being compromised or damaged. Traditionally, exisiting cooling methods can have […]
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Understanding acoustics and mechanical services
AIRAH is hosting a Streamline webinar about acoustics and mechanical services. This “acoustics 101” webinar will offer a basic understanding of key terminology and corresponding calculations; the standards/guidelines that govern acoustics criteria; basics of mechanical noise; good design tips/tricks; and lessons learnt. Senior acoustic consultant from Resonate, Jake Werden, will present on the topic. His […]
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Tax incentives for small businesses to go digital
Netstripes is running a free Futurise Insights webinar on May 31 to look at utilising tax incentives for small business digital adoption. “The federal government has announced a range of tax incentives for small businesses with key measures aimed at digital adoption in operations and skill training staff,” says Netstripes. “But what does it mean […]
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AREA names Coen van de Sande as President
At its recent annual general assembly held in Athens, European contractors’ association AREA unanimously elected the Netherlands’ Coen van de Sande as President, replacing Marco Buoni from Italian Association ATF. Grzegorz Michalski from Poland was named Vice President. ‘’Legislation and standardisation became more and more an EU playing field in the last two decades,” says […]
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Conex Bänninger launches new website
Conex Bänninger has launched a new website to share its expertise in HVAC&R and plumbing fittings. “Conex Bänninger has a 110-year history of delivering innovative and highly versatile fittings for the plumbing, HVAC and refrigeration sectors globally,” says the company. “The new digital hub has utilised this knowledge and expertise to give customers access to […]
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AC company fined for unlicensed electrical testing
Following the prosecution of a Perth air conditioning company, the Western Australian government is warning manufacturers that testing of electrical equipment above a certain voltage must only be carried out by licensed electricians. Westbury Holdings, trading as Air Group Australia and CoolBreeze Air Conditioning, was fined $15,000 at Perth Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to […]
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Days of R404A are numbered
High-GWP refrigerants may soon be in short supply and rising in price as stockpiles dwindle, international pressures hit our shores, and the HFC phase-down quotas start to bite. And according to experts at AIRAH’s Refrigeration 2022 conference this week, that means it’s time for contractors to urgently switch away from R404A. When the HFC phase-down […]
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Romilly Madew moves to Engineers Australia
Engineers Australia has announced Romilly Madew AO as its new CEO, following the retirement of Dr Bronwyn Evans in May. Madew was appointed CEO of Infrastructure Australia in early 2019, and before that was CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia for 13 years. In acknowledgment of her contribution to Australia’s sustainable building movement, […]
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Green Building Day to celebrate all things Green Star
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is poised to hold its annual gathering and information-sharing event, Green Building Day. “Green Building Day is an annual event that celebrates all things Green Star and explores our strategy areas through real-life Green Star case study examples,” the GBCA explains. “Our in-person events will be held in […]