PAST PRESIDENTS
SAIRAC has , without doubt , added great value to its members , industry , and South Africa .
GRANT K . LAIDLAW 2015 – 2018
South Africa ’ s economy was reasonably buoyant at the time of my taking office as the president of SAIRAC .
During this period , the Montreal Protocol and subsequent amendments began having an increased impact on government and placed increased pressure on industry to adopt cleaner , more energy-efficient practices .
It was clear at the time that SAIRAC needed to be involved and indeed lead the transformation with particular focus on natural refrigerants . In addition , SAIRAC needed to broaden its scope with increased involvement and liaison with industry , national and international organisations as well as governmental organisations .
To this end , particular focus was placed on The South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning , The South African Quality Council for Trades and Occupations , SARACCA , ECSA , The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH , ( GIZ ), Proklima , the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection and the Bavarian Environment Agency and SHECCO . the Western Cape region . The project is implemented in cooperation with Proklima – a programme of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit ( GIZ ) GmbH .
As part of this bilateral cooperation project , SAIRAC was identified as a key role player and as such was requested to nominate subject matter experts to participate in a twoweek session offered by GIZ Proklima .
GIZ Proklima would conduct training interventions for international RAC experts , to build their capacity with regards to the safe handling of natural refrigerants . The objective was to spread comprehensive knowledge about and develop capacities for the operation and maintenance of cooling technology using natural refrigerants . Focusing on the application of propane ( R290 ) and CO 2 ( R744 ) in commercial refrigeration systems . This would be of great benefit to SAIRAC , its members and industry bringing the latest knowledge , skills , and technologies into South Africa . At the time , SAIRAC developed good relationships with opportunities for future cooperation and ventures identified .
With SAIRAC having representation on the Department of Environmental Affairs : Chemicals Management National Ozone Units Committee , the stage was set for further involvement at national and international level .
The Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection together with the Bavarian Environment Agency had entered into a bilateral cooperation with the Western Cape Government , aimed at transforming the cooling sector towards climatefriendly refrigeration and air conditioning ( RAC ) in
SAIRAC had representation on the qualification development committee at the South African Quality Council for Trades and Occupations and played a pivotal role in the development of the new refrigeration and air conditioning occupations encompassing natural refrigerants . In addition to the current refrigeration mechanic qualification , development included a new ammonia , Carbon Dioxide , and air conditioning qualification . The existing qualification was revised to include natural refrigerants with particular focus on hydrocarbons .
14 SAIRAC 70TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE | 1951 - 2021