# FRIGAIR2018
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Registering for the event .
to keep up with international trends . “ If you don ’ t do your homework early enough , it will hit you as things happen very quickly ,” he said .
He showed a picture depicting the amount of CO 2 systems across the world , with South Africa boasting 102 known trans-critical CO 2 systems . Although there has been significant growth in this market , currently CO 2 installations still only represent 1 % of the retail market size in South Africa .
TRAINING MATTERS
Up next was Grant Laidlaw , SAIRAC president , who was kitted out in his formal traditional Scottish attire that we have witnessed before at so many industry events .
It was very important that SAIRAC , not only as a prominent industry body but also the owners of the FRIGAIR show , buy into the ATMO FRIGAIR networking event . They also helped to promote the event to their members and were on-board from the start , recognising the significance of having such an event co-located with FRIGAIR .
Laidlaw ’ s talk focused on the training curriculums in the local industry , specifically centring around the new refrigeration and air-conditioning qualifications that are currently being approved . “ We went through great pains to make sure that our qualifications are up to international standards ,” he said , explaining that there are now separate qualifications for natural refrigerants to improve the quality of skills and training . Previously , it was all one qualification , and split unit installers had to do the same training as someone wanting to work on an ammonia plant , for example . ( Read more about the new training modules and the changes in the in-depth article Laidlaw wrote in the RACA Journal April 2018 edition .)
Although the curriculum has now been brought up to standard , the next step now is to get the training up to scratch , he said . Training more installers and technicians on how to operate natural-refrigerant systems is crucial to widening their uptake in South Africa , he explained .
He also spoke on safe handling of refrigerant licences and the issues we as a country have with training and safe handling . “ For safe handling of refrigerants that are flammable and high pressure , the training providers , industry , and industry associations will have to get together to decide what constitutes a safe handling license ,” Laidlaw said .
Laidlaw said we still have a challenge with finding workplace providers for training artisans .
Alvaro De Oña ( left ) and Wynand Groenewald welcoming everyone to the event . John Ackermann of SARDA asking a question .
Making sure the word gets out there , from left : Andrew Williams ( shecco European editor ); Alvaro De Oña ( shecco head of media ); and Ilana Koegelenberg ( Cold Link Africa editor ).
Deep in conversation ; Margaret Molefe of the DEA also attended and asked the panel some questions .
12 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za COLD LINK AFRICA • July / August 2018