PAST PRESIDENTS
Past presidents
BARNEY RICHARDSON 1986 – 1988
With this Platinum mile stone in SAIRAC ’ s history it gives me pleasure to share in the celebration .
It is 33 years since I was President of the Institute and it amazes me how it has grown in stature in the refrigeration , ventilation , and air conditioning industry .
Congratulations to SAIRAC and all those who make the daily running so successful .
PIERS STEYNOR 1988 – 1990
At the onset to my term in office , even though both air conditioning and refrigeration had been through a fairly prosperous decade , there were concerns regarding the future and , in particular , the supply of suitable technicians .
The major issue at this time was the future selection of refrigerant . South Africa had recently committed to the Montreal Protocol on the reduction of CFCs , and there was worldwide uncertainty on choice of replacements . At a media briefing before the Frigair Conference , the question was posed : “ What refrigerant should contractors now use ?” and , of course , the answer wasn ’ t that simple .
Since then , concerns about global warming have added to the mix and , even now , there is no easy answer to that question . However , the worldwide cooperation of governments and suppliers of refrigeration and air conditioning was a remarkable success story . Depletion of stratospheric ozone has been substantially reduced , and , I believe , the predictions made in the late 1980s and early 1990s have been achieved . which took place as a stand-alone conference without a trade show . When looking at whether or not I believe SAIRAC fulfilled its mandate , I take the following into consideration . The original concept of our founders to be a scientific body was being superseded as a more practical connection between international information and local industry , with increasing concern regarding the failure of the national technical institutions to provide trained technicians . SAIRAC was being increasingly compelled to take this aspect of training into greater focus .
The future choice of refrigerants is ongoing . I think that ammonia will remain the refrigerant of choice in the large industrial field ; more use of carbon dioxide and propane in the commercial field and a range of alternatives in domestic , transport and commercial air conditioning .
The greatest highlight for me during my tenure would probably have to be a successful Frigair Conference ,
To the future leaders coming in , the advice I leave you with is – use local innovation .
6 SAIRAC 70TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE | 1951 - 2021