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Business
THEFT : YET ANOTHER
CHALLENGE TO CONTEND WITH
By Patrick Burke ( FSAIRAC ), RPM Consulting Engineers
The high copper and aluminium content found in all HVAC equipment makes yet another moving target for our criminal element .
All images supplied by RPM Consulting Engineers
With local scrap dealers purchasing the materials
( perceived to be legitimate ), a lucrative market has emerged for these valuable commodities . This has forced the owners of the equipment to introduce , wherever possible , more effective measures to curb the plunder of their assets throughout their various property portfolios .
When viewing this unacceptable state of affairs , one can ’ t help but assume that a large degree of technical expertise and know-how must surely be involved , thus pointing a finger
Original Security measures proved inadequate directly at individuals with the necessary skills , technical know-how and unimpeded access to the site plantroom areas .
In order to get away with this type of theft under the very noses of their colleagues ( and other staff ), it is quite possible that the subterfuge is carried out under the guise of contracting staff undertaking service and repairs to the equipment in question .
In any event , theft of this nature will continue unabated as long as there is a market for the stolen materials . Anything resembling copper , brass , aluminium and more is removed with impunity . Electrical cable , wiring , control panels etc are stripped out for the copper content . In many cases the condenser and evaporator coils are removed , indicating that this is not a ‘ one man ’ operation ( given the weight of the coils ). In extreme cases , even the compressors , fan motors , pumps and so on are stripped out and removed from site .
Finding a solution to the problem is not easy . Securing plantrooms and free-standing equipment is an expensive exercise . While insuring the equipment provides a degree of financial integrity , it in no way compensates fully for the loss ,
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All electrical controls and control wiring stolen
RACA Journal I February 2025
Valuable compressors removed www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za