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.
LEGALLY ISSUING A
CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY
By Barney Richardson
As has been repeated many times, this is a legal requirement because the
pressure equipment regulations are in the Occupational Health and Safety
(OHS) Act.
An extract from the Pressure Equipment Regulations,
regulation 17 states:
“An authorised person or an approved inspection authority shall issue
a Certificate of Conformity after completion of a gas installation,
modification, alteration or change of user or ownership.”
Ever since the regulations came into force in October 2009
(yes, 11 years ago), many practitioners are still not registered
and cannot legally issue a Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
as required and in compliance with the Pressure Equipment
Regulations.
SARACCA has made available books of fifty Certificates of
Conformity at a very reasonable price, R11.00 per certificate.
The cost of an e-CoC will now be R15.00 each.
SAQCC Gas has spent the last year or two developing an
electronic CoC system to cater for the four gas types covered
by the regulation for the safe handling of gases. The system
is in the testing phase and will soon be introduced to the gas
practitioners who are authorised to sign CoCs. An introductory
video is available on the SAQCC Gas website.
In the Category ‘A’ – the Authorised Refrigeration Gas
Practitioners – only two levels may sign a CoC for installation
and/or maintenance work.
The first of these are the ‘A2’ card holders who are
authorised to install and maintain domestic (R290 & R600a)
and light commercial refrigeration units. These are the
domestic refrigerators, small ice makers, self-contained bar
fridges and beverage coolers using hydrocarbon refrigerants,
and where specific training on such units has been completed
and assessed as competent.
The second category ‘A4’ practitioner is authorised to install
and maintain room air conditioning units up to 18kW cooling
capacity (60000 BTU/hr) and can sign a CoC for the work he
takes sole responsibility for. This is particularly for the split wall
type and small ducted air conditioning units popular in offices,
small shops and home installations.
The e-CoC system will restrict access to the certificate
forms to those who are authorised to issue an e-CoC.
Another practitioner falling under Category A is the plant
operator who is authorised to operate a refrigeration plant and
is aware of safety regulations and requirements but may not
sign a CoC. The registered practitioner who is authorised to
install refrigeration piping, components and equipment under
supervision also may not sign a CoC, this is the responsibility
of the person who is supervising and who is registered as a
Category ‘B’ practitioner.
Air conditioning or refrigeration apprentices or learners
who are in training cannot sign a CoC while in training.
Only once having passed the trade test and having
upgraded registration to Level 6 in Category ‘B’, can they
then sign a CoC.
The Category ‘B’ registered practitioners, who are artisans
who work on new installations and do repair and maintenance,
take the responsibility to issue an e-CoC for the work done
personally or work done under their supervision. Regardless
of the type of refrigerant, be it an F-gas, hydrocarbon,
carbon dioxide or ammonia, the CoC must be signed by the
responsible person who is registered for the type of refrigerant
gas – and has either done the work or been in the position of
supervising other practitioners. RACA
www.hvacronline.co.za RACA Journal I October 2020 41