Marco Buoni VicePresident, AREA

Air Conditioning & Refrigeration European contractors’ Association (www.area-eur.be)

Secretary General Italian Association of Refrigeration Technician, ATF

(www.associazioneATF.org)

Director Centro Studi Galileo (www.centrogalileo.it)

Effective and sustainable training

of RAC technicians

Victoria Falls, 21st March 2016

Main points of discussion

• New emerging technologies and alternatives

• Motivation for RAC technicians to join the

training. Regulatory and institutional framework;

linkages with certification system

• Roles of Agencies involved:

NOU/Industries/Association/Vocational Training

• Approaches for regional cooperation to achieve

effective training

-28%

-44%

„Business as Usual“

Without F-Gas

Regulation & MAC

With F-Gas

Regulation

842/06 & MAC

automotive

directive

Emissions of refrigerants present and future in EU

Similar or even tougher trends in

other regions

no refrigerant

represents the ideal

solution in all cases and

for every equipment –

each cooling application has to be looked at in its

own merits and a

professional choice must

be made taking into

account many more factors than simply GWP

Applications Refrigerant

Industrial Refrigeration HFO 1234ze (?)*

All kind of Industrial Ref. Ammonia

Cascade systems Carbon Dioxide + Ammonia

Secondary fluids Carbon Dioxide

Commercial Refrigeration HFO 1234ze*

Cabinets Hydrocarbons

Bottle coolers Hydrocarbons

Supermarkets Carbon Dioxide

Domestic Refrigeration

freezers Hydrocarbons

Air Conditioning R32

Heat Pumps Hot Water Carbon Dioxide Trans-critical

Large Chillers Ammonia

Small Monobloc Air Conditioning Hydrocarbons

Automotive HFO 1234yf

Some Applications of low GWP alternative refrigerants

From AREA guidance

on LOW GWP

refrigerants

*more applications for

HFOs and HFO blends will

probably be developed

with full commercialisation

of the refrigerants

Pros / Cons refrigerants

Every refrigerant has his own application

Contractors’ training with low GWP

refrigerants: mind the gap!

The use of HFCs is legislatively decreased

and consequently the use of natural

refrigerants is pushed, there will be a gap

between training offer and training needs

resulting in a shortage of trained contractors

The revision of the F-Gas Regulation include measures in favour of a decreased use

of HFCs in RACHP equipment. Such measures would, in turn, result in an increased

use of alternatives, namely low GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants, and in

particular the so-called “natural refrigerants” (CO2, hydrocarbons and ammonia). Mindful of the key role played by contractors in the safe, efficient and reliable

functioning of equipment working with natural refrigerants, AREA sought an overview

of the availability and level of training in the EU.

Solution could be starting from the F-Gas certification of personnel

adding modules for natural refrigerants

Recommendations of AREA: Minimum Requirements

for the specific refrigerant HC – NH3– CO2– HFO

COMPETENCE OF SERVICE TECHNICIANS

Assessment: P Practical T Thoretical HC NH3 CO2 HFO

BASIC THERMODYNAMICS AND PHYSICS T T T T

• Properties : temperature, pressure, density, thermal capacity..

• Differences between Low GWP refrigerants and HFCs

• ……

GOOD PRACTICE P P P P

• Identify typical application

• State and identify the commonly used refrigerants designation

• ……

HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS P P P P

• Safe system shutdown and isolation

• Extinguish a fire, First aid care treatment

• ……

REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS T T T T

• Knowledge of International and National Regulations standards

• Storage of the refrigerant

• …….

Main points of discussion

• New emerging technologies and alternatives

• Motivation for RAC technicians to join the

training. Regulatory and institutional framework;

linkages with certification system

• Roles of Agencies involved:

NOU/Industries/Association/Vocational Training

• Approaches for regional cooperation to achieve

effective training

Why creating

Training, Assessment, Certification

Training and Certification is an important tool and the only way to reach the

competence necessary to handle refrigerants and the systems

Legislation-driven:

• Environment 1. Reducing Refrigerant Emissions, GHG, ODS

2. Increasing energy efficiency (reducing CO2)

• Safety

Customer-driven:

• Wholesalers, distributors, big customers … require environmentally friendly and

energy efficient products

• Protects the interests of customer through providing services according to applicable standards

Certification of the personnel and of the companies

who handle air conditioning, refrigeration and

heat pumps equipment should be necessary To buy refrigerant

To install, repair, dismantling

Why creating

Training, Assessment, Certification (2) Training and Certification will also play an important role for the sustainability

of the associations, as it could be an important income stream both through

the training and the certifications organized by the association.

The associations’ role in certification could be also:

•to work alongside the government to set the rules, certification schemes and

regulations

•a third party policing the correct implementation of the regulation

•certification body who guarantees the high standard of the certification •certification body who issues the certification, renewing periodically

•the body who keeps the list, register and the records of certified technicians and

companies

Why creating

Training, Assessment, Certification (3)

It is recommended that only Competent and Certified

Technicians holding a certificate will be allowed to:

• install, maintain, repair, recover, dismantle RAC

systems containing refrigerants

• buy the refrigerant as a proved Certificate holder

NB. Informal Sector buys Refrigerant only if holding the

certification. This will stop the development of an informal

sector and in particular preventing the bad behavior

(accidents, emissions) which is most common in this sector.

Certification

is the best practical method to

verify the competence of personnel

handling refrigerants and to ensure

the correct installation, maintenance, repair and

dismantling of a refrigeration,

airconditioning and heat pump

systems.

FREE Blended learning for alternative refrigerants

in new equipment safety, efficiency, reliability and containment

e-learning

classroom

practice

e-library

Co-financed by

We are proud to have among our

stakeholders the European Commission

DG Clima & UNEP Ozone Action

REAL Alternatives

www.realalternatives.eu

Main points of discussion

• New emerging technologies and alternatives

• Motivation for RAC technicians to join the

training. Regulatory and institutional framework;

linkages with certification system

• Roles of Agencies involved:

NOU/Industries/Association/Vocational Training

• Approaches for regional cooperation to achieve

effective training

Training to Strength National

RAC associations • Connecting contractors

• Training

• Information – magazine - newsletter

• Connecting with the industry

• Speak with One voice

• (important driver at the moment) fast moving sector in

technology and in legislation: F-gas regulations, RES

directive, Refrigerants future

Training and

Informations

Keep the association

ALIVE!

Magazine Industria&Formazione

For RACHP technician

International Experts

Issued last year also with United Nations and

International Institute of Refrigeration

!also online!

AREA can help with Standards,

Legislations and Projects we already

implemented in EU (cronological order)

• EN13313

Refrigerating systems

and heat pumps.

Competence of

personnel

• Leonardo da Vinci EU

project

• CE 303 (new version)

• Real Alternatives EU

project

• This European Standard defines the

activities related to refrigerating circuits and the associated competence profiles and establishes procedures for assessing the

competence of persons who carry out these activities.

These standards,

legislations, projects are All

linked together (and with EN378)

Natural persons (personnel) carrying out certain tasks on certain types of equipment must be

certified or qualified.

Equipment

Stationary refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump and fire protection equipment

Refrigerated trucks (above 3.5 t) and trailers

Air conditioning equipment in road vehicles

Tasks

a) Installation, servicing, maintenance

b) Repair

c) Decommissioning

d) Leakage checking

e) Recovery

Who needs to be certified?

(1 - Personnel)

*some countries worldwide offer the certification of companies. It is likely that developing countries could

use a different method to ensure the compliance of the requirements described below, for example provided that the single service installer, as self-employed person, provides the compliance

Companies carrying out certain tasks on certain types of equipment for other parties must

be certified.

Equipment

Stationary refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump and fire protection equipment

Tasks

Installation, servicing, maintenance

Repair

Decommissioning

Companies should fulfils the following requirements

(a) employment of personnel certified in accordance with Article 5, for the activities

requiring certification, in a sufficient number to cover the expected volume of activities;

(b) proof that the necessary tools and procedures are available to the personnel engaged

in activities for which certification is required.

Who needs to be certified?

(2 - Companies)

Equipment and tools

Equipment and tools of the certified personnel to be supplied by his employer RC

Manifold x

Vacuum Gauge or Vacuum Meter x

Temperature meter x

Portable leak detector x

Refrigerant weight Scale x

Vacuum pump x

Recovery set x

Nitrogen pressure regulator x

Recycling cylinder x

Figure 4 Recovery cylinder, how to label it

Figure 5 Vacuum pump

Figure 6 Refrigerant recovery machine

Figure 7 Leak detector

Figure 8 Scale

Figure 9 Vacuum Gauge

Figure 10 Pressure Manifold

Figure 11 Temperature Meter

Who needs to be certified?

(2 - Companies) (2)

Technology and knowledge

Training, Assessment (1) In the past 3 years several projects has

been started on transfer of Technology and

knowledge, training and certification

• Rwanda (African Anglophone Countries)

around 15 technicians certified

• Benin (African Francophone and

Lusophone Countries) around 20

technicians has ben certified

• Eritrea around 20 technicians

• Tunisia

• Saudi Arabia 2 sessions

• Montenegro (Around 10 technicians

certified)

• Ukraine, Belarus, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

• Others …………..

Technology and knowledge

Training, Assessment (2)

Training and certification for Ghana on

natural refrigerants: Hydrocarbons HC

a delegation of technicians from Ghana

received theoretical and practical training on

the safe handling and design of equipment

with hydrocarbon refrigerants at the

headquarters of the Centro Studi Galileo,

Casale Monferrato, Italy. The training is in line

with the country’s efforts to phase out HCFCs

and establish a safe hydrocarbon and natural

refrigerant use culture

The Gambia (LVC)

Expected Outcome: Technical and financial support on replacement

refrigerants, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and

operational costs, is ensured.

Aim: To pilot a technology transfer mechanism through the establishment

and operation of the technical support mechanism, while introducing

innovative technologies to this sector.

The technology focus will be on energy efficiency improvements;

reduction of ODS leaks and reduction of contaminated refrigerants;

and introduction of two types of demonstration systems – one using

hydrocarbon refrigerant for retrofits and a second full-scale CO2

industrial or commercial unit with cascade – to be piloted in a

training environment.

Technology and knowledge

Training, Assessment (3)

Similar project in Tunisia

THANK YOU!

Email: buoni@centrogalileo.it

Marco Buoni VicePresident, AREA

Air Conditioning & Refrigeration European contractors’ Association

(www.area-eur.be)

Secretary General Italian Association of Refrigeration Technician, ATF (www.associazioneATF.org)