Page 25 - Climate Control News magazine Oct-Nov 2022

Residential Air Conditioning
Mechanical licensing deadline extended
The extended deadline is a huge relief for technicians.
THE NEW SOUTH Wales government has delayed implementation of its new mechanical services licence until March 2023.
The original deadline was 1 October, 2022, an impossible timeframe for technicians.
Proper consultation with industry only began in recent months with most technicians com- pletely unaware of the new licence.
The extended timeframe is a huge relief as the mechanical license is mandatory for technicians to do any work in NSW.
The department of fair trading sent an email advising technicians the licence was required to
undertake the testing and commissioning of a mechanical heating, cooling or ventilation system. Technicians can log on to the Service NSW
web site for information on how to apply for the licence.
The new licence was introduced in response to two tragic accidents at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in 2016.
Medical gases were incorrectly piped into one of the operating theatres, leading to two babies being administered nitrous oxide instead of oxygen. One of the babies died and one was left with severe brain damage.
Declaration to end environmental dumping
THE UNION OF African Associations of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Stakeholders (U-3ARC) has called for an end to the dumping of obsolete air conditioners in Africa.
Known as the Casablanca Declaration it was signed by members of U-3ARC at its general assembly in Casablanca last month.
U-3ARC said members strongly oppose the export by developed countries of “obsolete, unreliable and environmentally harmful equipment” to developing countries.
It revolves around the replacement of old air conditioners containing obsolete HCFC and HFC refrigerants,” the statement said.
Environmental dumping is defined as the export of technologies that cannot legally be sold in the country of export, due to failure to meet environmental standards, safety and energy effi- ciency, and the export of technologies that are unusable in the country of export because the refrigerants are no longer available, due to national regulations or phase-out and phase- down control schedules under the Montreal Protocol.
In a three-point plan, the declaration calls for an end to the dumping of inefficient used cool- ing appliances in Africa, which compete with new efficient equipment with low GWP refriger- ants, such as R32 and R290. It also calls for the introduction of the latest and best energy effi- cient technology.
ABOVE: Logo for the Union of African Association and Air Conditioning Stakeholders.
RIGHT: Air Conditioner on a building wall in Morocco, North Africa.
The plan also seeks improved service to reduce leakage and avoid future high cost of HCFCs and HFC refrigerants phased out under the Montreal Protocol.
Air conditioning units sold in many of Africa’s largest countries are low efficiency units, with almost half containing ozone-
depleting R22.
Established in 2020, the Union of
African Associations of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Stakeholders (U-3ARC) is made up of national
associations from across Africa.
It represents all 54 African nations covering 20,000 businesses
and nearly 200,000 employees. ✺
FIRST TRAINING CENTRE
Daikin has opened its first training centre in Nigeria to support the local workforce.
Developed in partnership with Lagos-based technical vocational training institution Etiwa Tech, the new centre is part of Daikin’s aim to build a cleaner environment in the African region by appointing new channel partners and establishing more training centres.
Daikin has developed a local strategy for the region with a focus on sustainability and driving awareness around healthy living environments.
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2022
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