FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
registration card, which is usually couriered
to the practitioner.
“All applications for registration must be
submitted through SARACCA, who verifies
the qualifications and competencies
of the applicant and then submits the
application to SAQCC Gas,” explains
Richardson.
The application form can be found at
www.saracca.co.za.
It should also be noted that the PER refers
to SANS 10147, which details the
skills needed for the different tasks
performed on refrigeration and air-
conditioning systems.
Table 1 shows the categories of
registration at various levels of experience
and competence.
SARACCA advised that as at 1
February 2018, the register had 2 371
active refrigeration practitioners and 1 045
registrations that had expired after the
validity period of three years.
The number of persons handling
refrigerant, while working on refrigeration
and air-conditioning systems of any form, is
estimated between 6 000 and
7 000. Without any formal database, the
number of persons could be as high as
12 000 or even more, when considering
the many that work on domestic
refrigerators, packaged air conditioners,
restaurant and bar fridges, bottle coolers,
car air conditioners, and transport
refrigeration units. CLA
Many training providers throughout the country offer courses in the safe handling of
refrigerants and it is important that industry stays up to date.
The authorised
practitioner card
issued by SAQCC
Gas on behalf of
the Department of
Labour looks like this.
The law requires all
persons who work on
pressurised circuits
to be registered
by SAQCC Gas as
competent to perform
the scope of work for
which registered.
Table 1: Registration categories and titles on registration cards
O The cardholder is authorised to handle refrigerant containers.
A The cardholder is aware of safety requirements and is authorised to operate a
refrigeration plant.
A The cardholder is authorised to install refrigeration components and
equipment.
A The cardholder is authorised to install and maintain refrigeration units using
hydrocarbon refrigerants (R600a and R290).
A The cardholder is authorised to install and maintain air-conditioning units up to
18kW cooling capacity.
A The cardholder is authorised as an air-conditioning and refrigeration
apprentice/learner.
B The cardholder is an authorised refrigeration artisan using synthetic refrigerants
and hydrocarbon refrigerant gas.
B The cardholder is authorised as a specialist carbon dioxide (R744) refrigeration
practitioner.
B The cardholder is authorised as a specialist ammonia (R717) refrigeration
practitioner.
B The cardholder is authorised as a specialist motor vehicle air-conditioning
practitioner.
B The cardholder is authorised as a specialist refrigerated transport practitioner.
B The cardholder is authorised as a specialist marine refrigeration practitioner on
all types of refrigerant.
C The cardholder is an authorised inspector of refrigeration installations.
C The cardholder is an authorised inspector of air-conditioning installations.
C The cardholder is an authorised designer of refrigeration and air-conditioning
installations.
COLD LINK AFRICA • May 2018
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
43