Responsible Refrigeration
BARNEY RICHARDSON
Barney Richardson is the director of South African Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association ( SARACCA ) and sits on various other boards within the HVAC industry , including the South African Qualifications and Certifications Committee for Gas ( SAQCC ) Gas .
HIGHLIGHTS FOR NEW TRAINING ON THE SAFE HANDLING OF REFRIGERANTS
By Barney Richardson
Since the start of registrations with ACRICSA in the early 2000s a selected group of Unit Standards were used for training in the safe handling of refrigerants .
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The registration then became a legal requirement with the publication of the Pressure Equipment Regulations in 2009 . The Unit Standards have endured the passage of time , but with the changes and revisions to the refrigeration and air conditioning trades as well as new regulatory requirements , a change has become necessary . In particular the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the world-wide phase out of HCFC and HFC refrigerants has influenced the new formula for training .
SARACCA , in conjunction with ACRA , have revised and edited the training material to suit today ’ s needs .
Registration with SAQCC Gas has become even more important to ensure competence of those entrusted with installing , maintaining , and repairing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment .
The new training manual will be made available and distributed through recognised training providers . Each student will be given a book which he / she must keep safe for future training and reference . The book must be available for when the renewal top-up training comes around every three years . The cost of the books will be covered by the safe handling of refrigerants training course fee .
A student , new to the industry , and wishing to enrol for the safe handling of refrigerants course , must have at least two months experience at their employer . This student practitioner must have a basic knowledge of tools to be used and the trade specific tools of refrigeration such as how to read refrigeration pressure gauges . An understanding of the refrigeration cycle and how it works is also a necessity . The student must have some knowledge of safety and the use of safety and protection gear .
An already qualified artisan will have these basic skills assuming
RACA Journal I July 2021 that he / she has been in the refrigeration industry for some years or just recently passed a trade test . It is assumed that experience of refrigeration at various levels will have been achieved whether it be in air conditioning , commercial refrigeration or in specialist refrigeration such as carbon dioxide or ammonia .
The refined training in the safe handling of refrigerants covers , as a starting point , F-gas as the focus and includes the hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide refrigerants .
The specialist ammonia safe handling portion is currently being developed . This will include the knowledge modules , with the added safety and response procedures specific to ammonia .
The training scope cover knowledge modules with self-testing and assessment questionnaire – the theoretical knowledge covers health and safety as per the OHS Act and Pressure Equipment Regulations .
Identification and handling of refrigerants and lubricants – the procedures for recovery of refrigerant and pressure testing of a system and charging with refrigerant .
The practical modules will all be at the training provider ’ s school with full assessment of the tasks .
Practical application of the knowledge portion through hands-on recovery of a refrigerant ; the pressure testing with an inert gas like nitrogen , evacuation and charging must all be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the assessor . The installation of units and components , and basic maintenance and repair is also covered .
The workplace experience will cover items such as installation of a split air conditioning units , or installation of refrigeration components and piping . A logbook of this experience must be submitted before a certificate for the safe handling of refrigerants can be issued and application for registration is made . RACA
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