RACA Journal October 2023 | Page 31

Personality Profile Sponsored by :

BURKE GETS INTO HVAC ENGINEERING WITH HIS EYES WIDE OPEN

Written by Eamonn Ryan

Richard Burke of RPM Engineers has come to HVAC engineering relatively recently , but with a pedigree in the industry as the son of industry icon Pat Burke .

In a roundabout career path to HVAC he started out in optometry , transitioning into sales and marketing for the contact lens side of Bausch & Lomb . After eight years in that role , he felt corporate life had run its course for him and he sought out a new business opportunity as the co-owner of a painting and waterproofing contracting business , which was successfully operated for 14 years .

From managing clients and staff to navigating regulatory requirements , he gained a comprehensive understanding of business . He had an opportunity to sell the business - which he did - and took a sabbatical to recharge the batteries before accepting his father Pat ’ s offer to run RPM ’ s Cape Town office .

“ Actually , optometry is also highly regulated and has similar subjects to engineering - physics , chemistry and maths – providing a solid foundation to understand the scientific principles involved in HVAC engineering . I had also been witness to my father ' s dedication and expertise , with him having spent 60 years in the HVAC industry .”

The Cape Town office is an expansion of the group , which boasts a number of large national property clients , such as Redefine Properties , which required a local presence for its Western Cape portfolio .

“ The work is busy and constantly evolving , and while this office is small , I have the support of the rest of my Johannesburg-based colleagues . The current workload includes surveys , design work and managing quantities , which can be time-consuming . Energy efficiency is a significant concern for clients , and a high proportion of work involves retrofitting buildings for efficiency and ensuring compliance with fresh air regulations .”

Having been in an unregulated industry such as construction , which he found lacking in professionalism , Burke says he appreciates the high level of professionalism and meticulous attention to detail in HVAC .

“ It is this factor which makes for a big difference in the quality of work and the overall environment .” In terms of professionalism , he values the high level of expertise required . “ You can ’ t bluff your way as an HVAC technician or business – it ’ s dictated by standards and functionality . You need to have the knowledge and skills to ensure a

Richard Burke of RPM Engineers . functioning system .”

As a relatively new entrant to the industry , he understands the value of experience and knowledge , but also sees the need for fresh perspectives and the involvement of younger professionals . He advocates for the inclusion of younger individuals in SAIRAC industry meetings and encourages the industry to promote the changing of the guard to create a more dynamic and diverse workforce . “ Maybe we could create a more social atmosphere after the tech talks , to encourage more participation and networking . I would love to see more diversity and youth involvement , which has the power to make a difference and change the world .

“ Balancing work , family , and personal commitments can make it difficult for young professionals to dedicate time to industry events and leadership roles .”

While Burke has the relevant technical education and fundamentals , many aspects of HVAC have been learned by him through hands-on experience – such as doing drawings . “ If you understand the fundamentals , you can create the drawings . Sticking to specifications makes perfect sense to me . Retrofittings are the greatest challenge - it ' s like solving a jigsaw puzzle and fitting the pieces together . Sometimes it ' s easier to start from scratch , but often we have to adapt to existing systems , which can be more challenging ,” he says . RACA

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