RACA Journal September 2023 | Page 3

RACA Journal : ISSN 1812-772X

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RACA Journal Publication www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za eamonn @ interactmedia . co . za

THE WILD RIDE OF BECOMING AN HVAC TECHNICIAN

Pat Burke , outgoing RPM CEO , has become a regular contributor to RACA Journal , and I find his articles so amusing – when his quips can get past the politically-correct police , that is – that I ’ ve decided to try take his lead and write light articles about the early days of appies . Apologies to female apprentices , but I cannot bring myself to refer to either a male or female as ‘ they ’, especially when the goal is to be light .

Embarking on the journey of becoming an HVAC technician through an apprenticeship in South Africa is no walk in the park . It ' s a rollercoaster ride filled with challenges and unexpected adventures that only the brave and determined can conquer .

Picture this : a young apprentice enters the workshop , eager to kickstart his training . But before he can even begin , he ' s confronted with the bewildering array of tools . From wrenches of all shapes and sizes to mysterious sensors and connected devices and gadgets with incomprehensible names , it ' s a whole new world of confusion . Our intrepid apprentice is left scratching his head and pulling his hair out , wondering how to differentiate a flange from a valve . But fear not ! With time and plenty of accidental tool mishaps , he ' ll soon become the master of the toolbox .

As if the intricacies of HVAC systems weren ' t enough , apprentices also face the challenge of decoding the HVAC engineer ' s secret language . Technical jargon , abbreviations , and acronyms fly around the workshop like confetti . The apprentice ( much like an editor ) finds himself nodding along to conversations , trying desperately to look intelligent and pretending to understand words like BTU , DX , HEPA and MERV , while secretly googling their meanings later . But hey , who needs plain English when you can communicate through a unique blend of technical terms and facial expressions ? When I queried some language recently with an engineer , I was bluntly told “ engineers can write how they like .”

Ah , then the majestic art of ductwork installation . Apprentices quickly learn that working with ducts is like taming a whirling Dervish ( google it ). It twists , turns , and never seems to fit where it should . The apprentice ' s attempts to wrangle unruly ducts often lead to comical scenes reminiscent of a slapstick comedy . From accidentally knocking over ladders to getting tangled in coils of ductwork , every day is an adventure in ductwork disaster .

Apprentices in HVAC training often find themselves confronting heights that would make even the bravest soul tremble . Climbing ladders , scaling rooftops , and navigating cramped crawlspaces to the plantroom become routine activities - but not without a few embarrassing moments along the way . Tripping on rungs , getting stuck halfway up , or inadvertently causing a cascade of tools down the ladder — each ascent is a chance for the apprentice to perfect their not-so-graceful climb .

The apprentice enters business premises armed with confidence and a shiny new thermostat . Little do they know that deciphering the mysteries of thermostats , never mind Dials of Destiny , is a task worthy of Indiana Jones . The battle to figure out which wire goes where , why the temperature won ' t budge , and why the thermostat stubbornly refuses to communicate becomes a source of both frustration and laughter . Solving the great thermostat mystery becomes a badge of honour for the apprentice .

In an age when every tool is becoming a digital device connected or not to a building ’ s BMS , many of these challenges may soon vanish as every technician and appie becomes increasingly an IT expert . The modern appie may well in the future spend far more time in front of laptops , mobile phones and readers , as analogue tools vanish from the tool bag . For more on this , read the feature in this month ’ s Cold Link Africa on tooling and instrumentation .

Becoming an HVAC technician through an apprenticeship in South Africa is no ordinary journey . It ' s a comedy of errors , a series of laughter-filled mishaps , and an adventure that tests the limits of resilience and resourcefulness . From tool troubles to ductwork disasters and everything in between , apprentices learn to embrace the challenges with humour and determination . Let ’ s hope the digital age doesn ’ t change that too much .

So , to all the young HVAC apprentices out there , keep your spirits high , your tools close and your powder dry , and remember that the most amusing experiences often make the best stories of success . And remember to submit your stories to eamonn @ interactmedia . co . za . RACA

Eamonn

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