News refrigeration sector . Stakeholders feel the impact of this activity would come from the signal it sent to the market and the commitments that could be gained from private sector users , particularly in the commercial refrigeration sub-sector .
The training of a minimum of 400 ( Phase one ) service technicians against the newly developed national skills safe handling of refrigerants program with the Air Conditioning And Refrigeration Academy ( ACRA ), the appointed provider . The training intervention for good refrigeration management practices will be organised for service technicians in the formal and informal sectors in order to engage fully with stakeholders and properly communicate the availability of and implications for using alternatives refrigerants .
The aims of the project are :
• To up-skill technicians in the sector that are currently unaware of natural refrigerants .
• To create an awareness as to Ozone depletion , global warming and the necessity to embrace the use of natural refrigerants .
• To utilise the national training qualifications and curriculum to include natural refrigerant training , assessment and certification .
• To address issue of resistance to change regarding the implementation of natural refrigerants and to effect behavioural change .
• To educate / inform persons working in the air conditioning and refrigeration sectors around exposure to hazardous / flammable substances detrimental to themselves , the public and the environment .
• To educate persons from the informal and formal sectors working on natural domestic systems against the detrimental practice of reverting HC systems back to HFC 134a .
• To overcome the considerable resistance to change ( eg : R134a to R600a ).
• To assist persons in the informal sector breaking into the formal sector .
• To educate persons who are working in the informal and formal sectors as to the legalities around the OHS Act and Pressure Vessel Regulations .
• To improve the poor quality of workmanship due to nontrained personnel attending to repairs .
• To reduce the rate of refrigerant leakage .
• To address need for trained qualified and certified personnel in South Africa is a national requirement in the NSDS .
The total target of 2000 individuals from the informal and formal sector will receive training on the safe handling of refrigerants over the project timeline , phase two implementation will be in 2022 . Refrigerants being of particular focus owing to their role in the fight against global warming , ozone depletion and safety
1 . Molwantwa Maake training on refrigerant pipe work . 2 . Dakalo Ranngu training on refrigerant pipe work ( brazing ).
risk . The target group , as far as possible , will comprise equal opportunities for men and women .
The first phase of this project was completed mid-December 2021 and was contracted to the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Academy ( ACRA ) as their centres were already set up for an immediate execution of the training and could further meet the required timelines . 400 students were interviewed and selected from a pool of more than double that figure and gained the opportunity to partake in the week-long training programme covering a comprehensive framework that has been established as the standard on this subject matter . The same training and assessments will thus be delivered throughout the country by accredited training providers in phase two . The training program is also officially registered at the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations ( QCTO ).
The training framework covers a significant theory range and practical examination elements while the timelines have been determined through industry engagement . By successfully completing the training , the learner would be issued a competence certificate . The South African Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association ( SARACCA ) has been the originator of the new national training framework where the establishment of a national standard has been welcomed that can be applied throughout the country , rather than centre or regionally delivered . This step has been seen as a major milestone for the industry .
“ The criteria for these ‘ informal sector ’ applicants in this programme must be made clear up front . These are not just people off the street – the minimum requirement is that they have at least one year ’ s relevant industry experience . Relevant meaning that they have actually worked on air conditioning or refrigeration systems and have not only performed cleaning duties or limited servicing . This is established through an intensive interviewing process where most of the applicants being accepted are people , who have for example , found themselves in a position
www . hvacronline . co . za RACA Journal I January 2022 5