Responsible Refrigeration
BARNEY RICHARDSON
By 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 .
CLARIFYING WRONG IMPRESSIONS
There is often the mistaken impression that SARACCA is the authority providing the registration certification for authorised refrigerant gas practitioners .
The fact is that South African Qualification and Certification Committee ( SAQCC Gas ) is the registering authority on a mandate from the Department of Employment and Labour . This mandate is provided to SAQCC Gas and to the four associations that make up the certification committee .
SARACCA has the responsibility to request applications from prospective practitioners . SARACCA has then to verify the validity and accuracy of each application from the refrigeration perspective .
Pressure equipment regulations , in particular regulation 2 , states that the regulations shall apply to the design , manufacture , operation , repair , modification , maintenance , inspection and testing of pressure equipment with a design pressure equal to or greater than 50kPa , in terms of the relevant health and safety standard in the Regulations under section 44 of the Occupation Health and Safety Act .
In the definitions of the pressure equipment regulations ,
an ‘ authorised person ’ means an authorised refrigerant gas practitioner ( in this case ), who is registered as competent within the scope of work for which an organisation , SAQCC Gas , approved by the chief inspector has registered that person as ; a . SAQCC ( CP ) competent person for in-service inspection . b . SAQCC ( IPE ) inspector of pressurised equipment . c .
SAQCC ( Gas ) registered gas practitioner in the applicable field . d . SAQCC ( Fire ) registered fire technician .
SAQCC Gas has regular meetings with the chief inspector and the office of the directorate responsible for electrical and mechanical services . This consultation facilitates keeping up-to-date with requirements and follow-up on issues of noncompliance and concern .
It appears that many people in the industry ; from practitioners , contractors and end users , are still not fully aware of the Occupational Health and Safety Act legislation and the responsibilities and obligations detailed by the pressure equipment regulations . The implications of not complying with the pressure equipment regulations and registration requirements has consequences to the user and the installer should there be a followup by the now Department of Employment and Labour inspectors .
There is the added complication of not being able to issue a valid Certificate of Conformity which is clearly specified in Regulation 17 .
Regulation number 17 states that NO person shall :
• Handle , store or distribute any gas in any manner , which includes the filling of a container , other than in accordance with the relevant health and safety standard incorporated into these Regulations under section 44 of the Act ;
• Install or remove an appliance , pressure equipment or system for gas in any manner other than in accordance with the relevant safety standard incorporated into these Regulations under section 44 of the Act ;
• Install or remove a gas appliance , or a gas system or a gas reticulation system , unless such person is an authorised person ; or
• Use pressure equipment or systems for gas in any manner other than in accordance with the relevant safety standard incorporated into these Regulations under section 44 of the Act .
From the above it can be seen that SAQCC Gas is the registering authority , with SARACCA providing an administrative back-up function . RACA
www . hvacronline . co . za RACA Journal I May 2021 41