Mark Vender
Articles by Mark Vender | Page 59
Does R134a alternative hold promise for Australia?
US refrigerant manufacturer Koura has launched R456A, an alternative to R134a for automotive aftermarket applications. R456A has a global warming potential of 626 – about half that of R134a. According to Koura, trials have shown R456A to be compatible with existing R134a automotive air conditioning systems while maintaining “high-quality, efficient performance”. The development comes as […]
Art meets engineering in ice-inspired performance
One of the highlights of this year’s Sydney Festival puts climate change centrestage with the help of a block of ice weighing almost three tonnes – and close collaboration between artists, engineers and crane operators. The performance, titled Thaw, is performed over 10 hours in one day, and sees a lone woman on a huge […]
New training on the way for smoke control features
A new project is under way to develop training materials for assessing and reporting on smoke control features of mechanical services systems. Release 3.0 of the UEE electrotechnology training package includes a unit to cover the installation and maintenance of smoke control equipment, including fire dampers, smoke dampers, smoke and heat vents, and mechanical services […]
RectorSeal opens new Australian warehouse
RectorSeal Australia has announced the opening of a new warehouse tailored for Australian customers. Located in Brendale, Queensland, the warehouse will function as the company’s Australian head office. According to the company, the location offers additional warehouse space to help expand RectorSeal’s current product offering to customers, and the warehouse will be fully staffed “to […]
Draft guidance on reducing GHG emissions
The Victorian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has released a new draft guideline for managing greenhouse gas emissions. Under Victoria’s Environment Protection Act 2017, which came into effect on July 1, 2021, people conducting activities that pose risks of harm to human health or the environment from pollution and waste must understand those risks and take […]
Global survey on women in HVAC&R
The international Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) and UNEP OzonAction have launched the first global survey on women in HVAC&R. “In recent years, the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps sector has been paying increasing attention to the importance of gender mainstreaming and providing equal opportunities for both women and men,” says IIR Director General Didier […]
Steps to improve fire safety in NSW
The NSW government has released a report that provides recommendations on how to improve fire safety in new and existing buildings. The project was commissioned by the Office of the Building Commissioner to draw upon specialist industry expertise to identify practical measures the NSW government could take to help improve fire safety in class 2 […]
Fixing Australia’s billion-dollar defect problem
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released a series of best-practice model guidance publications in response to the Building Confidence Report. At the request of building ministers, the ABCB prepared model guidance in response to the recommendations of the Building Confidence Report (BCR), which examined the effectiveness of compliance and enforcement systems for the […]
NSW proposes increase to BASIX standards
The NSW government is proposing increases to BASIX thermal performance and energy standards, beginning in late 2022. The government says the work is being done “to build more comfortable homes, cut energy costs and contribute to the state’s target of net zero homes by 2050”. This aligns with the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings, the […]
Penrith Council shares strategies for urban heat
Penrith Council in Sydney has developed an issues paper to advocate for changes to be made to the state planning system. The aim is to ensure that all new developments across Western Sydney are designed to be adaptive to urban heat in both current and future climates. The council began developing the issues paper after […]
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