RACA Journal October 2020 | Page 15

Events and Exhibitions SARACCA’S FIRST VIRTUAL NATIONAL JOINT-BRANCH MEETING By Benjamin Brits The South African Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (SARACCA) held their first national meeting through the digital platform Zoom on 6 August 2020. Forty members participated in the meeting with John Parry, SARACCA president opening the meeting and welcoming members and sharing a few words, whereafter, regional chairmen Dean Munsamy (KZN), Hennie Basson (WC) and Simon Mthethwa (GP), also offered greetings and welcomed fellow members. During the course of the dialogue, new members were welcomed as well as the re-accepted members. Various points were also brought forward through particular challenges the members were experiencing that included the impact of Covid-19 on business in terms of payment and contract delays, handling and the disposal of refrigerants which has become extremely costly, and delays in the trade-test accreditation of learners at the MERSETA level. As has been the order of events in the past, members were invited to rather engage in further e-mail correspondences about their business outlooks due to the practicality of the subject matter being discussed and handled in the particular ‘virtual forum’, as there were a significant amount of attendees who may wish to give their input. Members were also reminded about the assistance SARACCA offers to its members in good standing (paid up) in regards to external training for staff that includes any technical training, site installations, sheet work, gas installation, working at height, fall protection, and first aid. The list of qualifying training is available from SARACCA and is only available for students who complete and pass the training. SARACCA will pay 50% of these costs given all the prerequisites are in place. Notably, an opportunity was taken up by KZN chair Munsamy in acknowledgement of the upcoming holiday recognising women in both society and their various roles in the business environment that was greatly applauded by the members. Michael Young, was the guest speaker for the meeting and offered his research and suggestions for the management of air quality related to covid-19 through his presentation: ‘How Covid-19 may define how future HVAC systems are maintained’, that is based on the implementation of the ASHRAE guidelines related to the pandemic and subsequent recommended actions. All images by RACA Journal The order of events for the national meeting. Michael Young’s presentation included system configurations and details related to the spread of viruses in droplet and aerosol form. Young’s presentation included substantial details about how viruses are typically spread and how engineers and contractors can play a role in the elements in their control that include airflows and ventilation, maintenance of the RH percentage and filtration methods. He also discussed in detail UVC lamps and dead zones, various filter configurations and a portable HVAC device he was involved in developing for a hospital. Parry ended off the meeting with thanks to attending members and noted the next meeting will take place in October 2020 and asked members to start their considerations for the upcoming changes in chair and vice chair-positions. The virtual meeting and presentation was recorded and is available by request from SARACCA. RACA www.hvacronline.co.za RACA Journal I October 2020 13