Page 6 - Climate Control News July 2019

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O’SHEA MAKES HONOUR’S LIST
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association president (RACCA), Kevin O'Shea, was recognised for his service to industry in the Queen's Birthday 2019 honours list last month.
O'Shea has been appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the refrigeration and airconditioning industry.
He described his service to industry as a privilege.
"The refrigeration and air conditioning industry is a great industry and I am very happy to have spent my whole working life, from a 15 year-old apprentice to now working in this trade,” he said.
More than 1,000 outstanding Australians were recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List this year.
RACCA president, Kevin O’Shea.
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LEFT: RAC work requires specialist skills.
BELOW LEFT: ARC CEO, Glenn Evans, said the move defies logic.
Plumbers bid to take over RAC in Victoria
DESPITE CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCES IN THE NATURE OF THE WORK AND UNDERLYING TRAINING, MECHANICAL SERVICES PLUMBERS ARE MAKING AN AUDACIOUS BID FOR REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING (RAC) WORK IN VICTORIA.
THE VICTORIAN GOV- ERNMENT is currently considering a proposal for mechanical services plumbers to install and service multi-head air conditioning systems.
Australian Refrigera- tion Council CEO, Glenn Evans, said the move defies logic and, if approved, is destined to re-
sult in systemic failures.
Evans said one practical example is for
welding pipe. “Mechanical services plumbers typically use only 3 to 5 per cent silver solder, whereas RAC applications, which are much high- er pressure, require 15 to 45 per cent silver solder,” he said. “This is typical of the differences be- tween the more general mechanical services work and the specialist nature of RAC work.”
Evans said ARC will be working to high-
light the folly of such a move. “The Victorian Government has recently undertaken some valuable work to simplify licensing for RAC work, so it is more consistent with how the in- dustry operates, is more economically sensi- ble and better aligned with appropriate train- ing,” he said. “This current move will, in part, undermine that good work.”
The proposal is part of a review by the the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). Under the current system work on multi-head split systems can only be undertaken by Certificate III-qualified technicians.
If the proposal is approved this work would be performed by holders of a Certificate II in Split Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Sys- tems. Despite repeated attempts to get more details, the Victorian government was unavail- able for comment.
Panasonic joins 2019 awards program
PANASONIC AIR CONDITIONING has come on board as a sponsor for the 2019 HVACR Leadership Awards.
Panasonic Air Conditioning joins ABB, Dai- kin, Kirby, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air Con- ditioners Australia and Toshiba as sponsors of this year’s awards program.
Panasonic Australia product marketing man- ager, air conditioning, Jack Tey, said the compa- ny will sponsor the Leader in Energy Savings and Sustainability Award.
Tey said this particular award category was important to Panasonic Air Conditioning be- cause it has strong synergies for the business.
He said Panasonic Air Conditioning’s vision is to continue to expand its environmental efforts
toward a sustainable society while providing a better life for customers, in line with its corpo- rate philosophy “A Better Life, A Better World.” Tey said the winner of this category will have an opportunity to demonstrate qualities that show a commitment towards protecting the environment by offering energy-efficient solutions that encour- age a sustainable use of resources.
“As well as the award category, Panasonic Air Conditioning was impressed by the over- all program because its important to recog- nise excellence,” he said.
“Panasonic has been marketing air condi- tioners for over 60 years, and is focused on continually innovating with each new prod- uct release. We’d like to recognise fellow in- novators who support a sustainable global en- vironment.”
Tey said Panasonic Air Conditioning has adopted R32 refrigerant in a large portion of its product line- up.
“It is an excellent heat transfer medium which leads to greater energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. R32 refrigerant also has a lower global warming potential than the previ- ously used R410A,” he said.
To nominate for an award go to www.climate- controlnews.com.au/awards
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