HVACR News August-September 2023

LEADING: OVERRATED?

In my line of work I hear a lot about leaders. Companies mostly, leading the pack with their products and services (or so the media releases say). But governments get in on the act too. From education to decarbonisation, every state and territory government is keen to be a leader. And Australia, last I heard, wants to be a clean energy superpower. Cue your best muscle pose and … flex!

To me, a lot of this comes across as vain posturing. Surely the important thing is that we all get there. And what's so great about leading, anyway? The frontrunner breaks the wind and hits the bumps, while others roll on merrily behind. The leading edge versus the bleeding edge.

This is not only on my mind because of the media releases coming across my desk, but because of the cover story this issue, on one of the most hotly debated topics in our industry: refrigerant transition.

Under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, we have a global plan to phase down high- GWP refrigerants and prevent up to 0.5°C

of global warming by 2100. But over the past year or so, there has been talk of a more ambitious plan, especially in Europe. They are looking at a faster schedule, and bans on some of the “next gen” refrigerants due to environmental concerns.

But should Australia take this approach – should we lead the way? Opinions are divided. Some argue that we would be better off biding our time, remembering our position as a technology taker, our ability as  a “fast follower”.

Personally, I think there are some issues where it is important to step forward, even if there are risks involved. But you'll find different perspectives in our feature story on page 10.

Finally, some sad news. Since our last issue, we received word that industry veteran and long-time educator Graham Boyle passed away. You’ll find a tribute to him on page 14.

The messages that flooded in reflected how I felt: that we have lost a huge figure in our industry, and an extremely generous human being. I count myself lucky to have been in regular contact with Graham as part of editing this magazine, and will miss his wisdom, guidance and humour.

@AIRAHnews Mark Vender Editor mark.vender@airah.org.au

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE

The ARBS Industry Awards represent the highest honour in the HVAC&R and Building Services industry. Categories recognise excellence and achievements in individual performance, projects, products, services and education. Entry is free and the nomination process is simple.

Photo by Rob Wingate on Unsplash.

The APAC Advantage

Commercial Ducted Air Conditioning Solutions for Australian Conditions

APAC is Australia’s supplier of choice for industrial and commercial air conditioning, due to our innovative approach to heating and cooling. Our extensive industry experience means we can develop a solution for any sized commercial or industrial application, from high rise building and warehouse applications to retail and shopping centre heating and cooling.

With many years of design and manufacture under our belt, we understand the harsh operating environments and unique conditions our customers need to service. APAC not only manufactures products to suit these difficult specifications, but create the equipment with long lasting robustness and high quality design from the bottom up. What’s more, our extensive range offers many benefits that puts APAC ahead of the pack:

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Unmatched list of factory fitted options to make the product suitable for almost all applications.

• Low installation cost

A perfect match to pre-existing APAC product footprints without costly modifications.

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Best in class efficiency throughout the product range for lower power bills.

• Low noise

Speed controlled fans that slow down during lower ambient temperatures for less noise.

1 Si-20 is slim, silent

The Sauermann group has released the latest generation of its Si-20 mini pump, the slimmest yet, boasting a cross-section of 27mm x 27mm.

“The Si-20 sets a new record for its slim casing design, allowing it to easily fit inside any type of air conditioning unit or lineset cover,” Sauermann says. “Offering bestin-class performance and sound levels for a mini pump of its size, this model delivers unmatched reliability.”

The patented piston pump technology, which Sauermann says offers a high degree of energy efficiency, is designed to remove condensates from air conditioning units of up to 20kW.

Sauermann says the Si-20 is compatible with all market-standard air conditioning units.

The mini-pump fits inside line-set covers and fixes to cooling tubes.

The Si-20 operates at 19dBA, which the firm says is a record power-to-noise ratio. Go to www.sauermanngroup.com ■

2 Transcend the traditional

Toshiba has developed a new domestic air conditioning system that it says not only supports its global reputation for engineering distinction, but also offers visual appeal with customisation possibilities.

According to Toshiba, its new Haori system’s technical excellence and class performance is underpinned by high efficiency for both heating and cooling, quiet operation, and great air quality.

“Haori transcends traditional AC concepts to become an alluring and truly elegant part of the furnishings,” says Toshiba.  According to Toshiba, homeowners can even change the look of their system with their own cover, because the Haori has a textile surface that they can customise to match their other room fabrics such as sofas, carpets or curtains.

“The beauty of the Haori is its ability to blend in and become part of the wall or stand out; interior designers and home - owners can let style be their guide,” the company says.   Go to toshiba-aircon.com.au ■

3 New VRV from Daikin

Daikin Australia has launched the latest addition to its flagship VRV range, the VRV H Series (RXYQ-BYM).

Now in its sixth generation, the VRV H Series has been created with enhancements in design, capacity, installation convenience, reliability, comfort, and energy efficiency.

According to Daikin, the new system can accommodate both single- and multi-module configurations, with the design minimising the overall space required for mechanical equipment and the number of electrical and piping connections.

Single modules start at 8HP (6kW) and now come in three chassis sizes, thanks to the introduction of an XL chassis with 22 and 24HP (67.0kW) capacity.

“Taking energy savings to the next level is our VRT Smart II Control,” says Daikin. “This state-of-the-art system regulates the air volume of the indoor unit and adjusts the refrigerant temperature of the compressor along with outdoor unit fan speed in response to the indoor heat load.”

Go to www.daikin.com.au ■

4 Clever Temperzone

Temperzone has released its Clever MT series high-quality air handling units.

“These all-aluminium units are lightweight, highly corrosion-resistant, and meticulously crafted, with superior design elements to deliver exceptional performance,” Temperzone says.

“Temperzone’s Clever MT standardised range of air handling units offers high-quality features while giving you the certainty to aid quick and easy HVAC system design and the flexibility to rely on shorter lead times and optimum savings.

“The Clever MT series reflects our commitment to providing comprehensive solutions that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of various industries and applications. The MT series offers pre - engineered standardised options that allow you to configure your unit to suit your requirements.

“The MT series has been thoughtfully designed, focusing on easy access and installation to provide a seamless service experience.”

Go to www.temperzone.com/clevermt-au ■

5 Testo’s digital manifold

Testo has launched a new digital manifold, designed to detect and highlight system anomalies through long-term measurements and smart diagnosis.

“For long-term measurements, error analysis is often time-consuming, and yet anomalies frequently remain undetected,” says Testo.

“This is exactly what is different with new testo 570s. The Smart App takes over the analysis and reliably finds the anomalies from large amounts of data. This not only ensures that nothing is overlooked, but also saves a considerable amount of time. In addition, the extremely large data memory guarantees maximum data security.” The manifold has been designed to offer new advantages for standard measurements. The hybrid system of rechargeable battery and standard battery enables what the company describes as a “world first” runtime of 360 hours.

Testo says reliable results can be obtained for systems operating at low pressure.

Go to www.testo.com/en-AU ■

6 Automatic refill

Automatic Heating has launched the Duraflex Smart Refill, which is designed and manufactured in Australia.

“This innovative product boasts advanced features that offer enhanced efficiency and reliability, making it the perfect choice for high-hazard applications,” Automatic Heating says.

“The new Duraflex Smart Refill is a fail-safe and fully approved backflow-prevention solution that feeds water into process systems containing unpotable water. The advanced design integrates with BMS systems, allowing water used, system pressure and pump failure to be monitored.

“It complies with the Australian AS3500 National Plumbing and Drainage code, which forbids the direct connection of mains potable water supply to any process system that may contain hazardous chemicals or toxic substances.”

Featuring early detection of water loss, the Duraflex Smart Refill continually monitors the system and displays the average amount of water added per day on the LCD panel.

Go to automaticheating.com ■

7 Tanks for the help, Dwyer

Dwyer Instruments has announced an innovation in the Omega HANI (high accuracy, non-invasive) temperature sensing line of products: HANI temperature sensors for metal tank applications. Unlike invasive models, HANI tank sensors mount to the outside of a metal tank and read the temperature.

“The HANI tank sensor never comes into contact with the process media inside the tank,” says Dwyer. “There is no risk of build-up, sensor wear or breakage from agitators, mixers, or corrosive abrasive liquids. And Omega’s innovative design makes sensor installation easy – no drilling, no cutting and no downtime.”

Dwyer says the HANI is accurate and fast, thanks to Omega’s patent-pending Hybrid Temperature Sensing platform, which uses multiple sensors and a proprietary algorithm to achieve the same accuracy and fast response times as state-of-the-art invasive sensors.

Go to www.dwyer-inst.com.au ■

8 As cold as ice

“IceCOLD is a revolutionary energy efficiency solution suitable for all HVAC and refrigeration,” says the product’s exclusive Australia and New Zealand distributor, Cole Supplies.

“IceCOLD is a scientifically engineered synthetic catalyst containing no harmful chemicals, designed to combat oil fouling, thus improving coil heat transfer and delivering cold air

faster,” Cole Supplies says. “It has been proven to increase the efficiency of HVAC compressors by on average 15–20 per cent.”

Cole Supplies says a feature of the tech is a reduction in maintenance costs and extension of equipment life.

A one-time install, Cole Supplies says, lasts the lifetime of the compressor.

Go to www.greentechhvacsolution.com.au ■

9 Wilo’s smart pump

Wilo has developed a new smart pump, the Stratos MAXO, which it says sets new standards in connectivity to building management systems.

“Thanks to analogue and digital interfaces, planners and operators can easily and flexibly integrate the pump into different applications such as heating, air conditioning, ventilation or drinking water systems,” the company says.

“Using its Bluetooth interface, the circulator pump can be connected directly to mobile end devices and thus be set and commissioned even in difficult-to-reach environments.

“A special highlight of the Wilo-Stratos MAXO is its intuitive operation. Users can easily operate the green button –the central control element on the front of the housing –with just one hand. The application-guided settings wizard is intuitive to understand and offers numerous control functions for flexible adaptation to almost all applications.”

Go to www.wilo.com ■

INFECTION PREVENTION

US engineering body ASHRAE has published its airborne infection risk mitigation standard for buildings.

ASHRAE Standard 241 Control of Infectious Aerosols establishes minimum requirements to reduce the risk of disease transmission by exposure to infectious aerosols in new buildings, existing buildings, and major renovations. The standard has been developed to reduce exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes COVID-19), inluenza viruses and other pathogens that cause major personal and economic damage every year. Standard 241 provides requirements for many aspects of air system design, installation, operation, and maintenance.

Important aspects of the standard include: Infection Risk Management Mode (IRMM); requirements for equivalent clean airflow rate; requirements for use of filtration and air cleaning technology; and planning and commissioning.

Standard 241 provides assessment and planning requirements culminating in the development of a building readiness plan. It also describes procedures for commissioning systems to determine their installed performance.

“Standard 241 represents a significant step forward in prioritising indoor air quality,” says ASHRAE President Farooq Mehboob. ■

FRANCE

KUDOS FOR THE COOLEST

Léana Khaled Payan, a refrigeration engineer with Axima Refrigeration in France, has been named as the winner of the first European Women in Cooling Video Competition.

Organised by European contractors group AREA and World Refrigeration Day, the competition was designed to highlight women exhibiting best practice and innovative thinking in their work.

The organisers asked that entrants provide a video of no more than 10 minutes and to speak in their local language. The aim of using their own language was to promote inclusiveness and provide a lasting resource that could be used to encourage more women into the sector.

Payan’s entry was one of 12 finalists. There were three from Spain, two from France, two from Turkey, and one each from Ireland, Poland, Italy, Norway, and Slovakia. All the entries can be viewed on AREA’s YouTube channel.

An after-sales service technician with Axima Refrigeration for the past five years, Payan received her prize – €1,000 (AUD$1,638)  – at the 20th European RACHP Conference in Milan. ■

TERMITES SHOW THE WAY

The sophisticated temperature control used by termites in their mounds could inspire better building design. New research from Lund University published in Frontiers in Materials journal reveals that buildings inspired by the termite structures could achieve the same effect as traditional HVAC, but with greater energy efficiency and without its CO2 footprint.

Termite mounds have a clever ventilation system that enables air circulation throughout the structure, which helps to maintain and regulate temperature and humidity.

“The study focuses on the interior of termite mounds, which consist of thousands of interconnected channels, tunnels and air chambers, and how these capture wind energy in order to ‘breathe’, or exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the surroundings,” says article author and Lund University Senior Lecturer David Andréen, who describes termite mounds as engineering masterpieces.

“We have explored how these systems work,” he says, “and how similar structures could be integrated in the walls of buildings to drive the flow of air, heat and moisture in a new way.” ■

THAILAND

LICENCE TO CHILL

The United Nations Refrigerant Driving Licence (RDL) scheme was launched at the 45th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, held recently in Bangkok.

The RDL is a comprehensive refrigerant management qualification program that seeks to help developing nations achieve higher competence standards in safe refrigerant handling through training and accreditation.

It has been jointly developed by UNEP OzonAction and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).

The RDL sets minimum competencies and skills for the refrigeration and air conditioning servicing sector, creating an industry and association-endorsed international qualification program that is available to industry and governments alike.

According to the bodies involved, the RDL will be an important tool for benchmarking of essential competencies and skills required for the proper and safe handling of refrigerants. In turn this will support the completion of the HCFC phase - out, and ensure a smooth start of the HFC phase-down in Article 5 countries in line with the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol. ■

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Phone:1300 280 625

The Montreal Protocol, adopted back in 1987, regulated the production and use of ozone depleting substances. For the HVAC&R industry, that meant a move away from CFC and HCFC refrigerants to alternatives such as HFCs.

But HFCs also have their drawbacks – specifically, they exacerbate global warming. And so, in 2016, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol laid out a plan for the world to move away from HCFs refrigerants with high global warming potential. At last count, 151 countries have signed up, including Australia.

Our HFC phase-down started in 2018, and laid out a plan for reducing HFC use right through until 2036. The Australian government, with industry support, moved quickly and strongly – a 25 per cent reduction in baseline that was more than 30 per cent below the minimum requirements under the international agreement.

But recently, Europe has proposed a new roadmap, with a faster phase-down. The Europeans are also considering bans on the use of HFOs –the low-GWP refrigerants that in many cases were supposed to replace HFCs – because of concerns around their environmental impacts.

So, where does that leave Australia?

WHERE TO NOW?

AUSTRALIA NOW

Refrigerants Australia Executive Director Greg Picker says there is a long history of transition in the industry.

“We have shifted away from CFCs and HCFCs and are getting set for another period of marked change as we move away from high-GWP hydrofluorocarbons,” he says.

“That said, we have gotten comfortable – probably too comfortable – with the suite of gases we currently use. This will need to change quickly.”

The most likely place he sees an impact is in the use of R404A in refrigeration. With a “very high GWP – nearly 4,000”, there are replacements that can be used in the same equipment with the same safety classification.

These have been approved by manufacturers, Picker says, and he believes this market will shift strongly here over the next 18 months, with other sectors following after that.

University of Melbourne Associate Dean of Environment and Sustainability at the School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Science, Associate Professor Robyn Schofield says the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol means the production and use of HFCs is being phased down.

But Australia’s current implementation of the phase down is unlikely to achieve the desired result.

“Air conditioning is a major growth sector for greenhouse gases, with quotas only on refrigerant recharging, not on pre-charged equipment such as fridges, heat pumps and EVs,” Associate Professor Schofield says. “And while HFOs don’t have GWP, they are considered forever chemicals and as such present other environmental concerns.”

CA Group Services Director Ian Tuena, AM.AIRAH, is direct. “We’re going backwards,” he says. And he puts that down largely to a lack of education and understanding of natural refrigerants and how to handle them.

“If you look at the Cold Hard Facts 2022 report, the refrigerant bank is climbing, not declining. And we can’t move to natural refrigerants because, of the approximately 33,988 qualified mechanics we have in the country, there may be just 1,000 who could work on one of the refrigerants of the future.

“That number drops to about 200 who could work on two of those refrigerants – ammonia and hydrocarbon – and drops to about five who could competently work on all three. So, the bulk of [the 33,988] have grown up

The HVAC&R industry has a roadmap to phase down HFCs and move to more environmentally friendly alternatives. But Europe is considering a new course that has people talking. Louise Belfield reports.

on a diet of synthetic refrigerants [and] they’ve never been exposed or educated in the others.

“We simply don’t have the people who have the skillset to work on the transition or the new refrigerants.”

Scantec Refrigeration Managing Director Stefan Jensen, F.AIRAH, also does not believe Australia has progressed very far since the government introduced the CO2e -based HFC import quota that took effect in January 2018.

FOLLOWING EUROPE’S LEAD

As well as proposing a more ambitious phase-down timetable, Europe is also a considering a ban on PFAS, which would include some HFO and HFC refrigerants. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has characterised many thousands of chemicals as PFAS or “forever chemicals”, Jensen says. “With very few exceptions, most of the so-called fourth- generation refrigerants (HFOs or HFO/HFC blends) are within the basket of chemicals that ECHA have labelled as belonging to the PFAS category.”

In late March or early April 2023, the EU Commission voted overwhelmingly in favour of a ban on these substances, Jensen points out. There are two additional votes that the ECHA proposal must pass for it to become law. Member states would also need to adopt the regulations, and at this stage many countries have not made their positions clear. But almost all synthetic refrigerants could eventually be banned in new equipment within the EU.

Australia has its own PFAS issues in relation to the runoff of fire extinguishing materials from airfields causing soil contamination on the properties of adjacent landholders, Jensen says. There is an ongoing class action in relation to this matter.

“Nevertheless, the PFAS issues in relation to chemical refrigerants does not yet appear to have caught the attention of [Australia’s] politicians and regulators, but it should,” he adds. “At the April 2023 IIR/IIF conference in North Macedonia, several speakers documented PFAS contamination in soil, water, and food supply.”

Greg Picker, however, says there is lack of understanding about PFAS.

“PFAS is used in an unbelievably wide variety of things: non-stick pans, food packaging, clothing and textiles, smart chips, gaskets, wiring harnesses,” he says. “It’s in tons of stuff that is essential.

“DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in the UK) has said that regardless of the question of whether HFOs create harmful PFAS or not – and despite what some people

CA Group Services Director Ian Tuena, AM.AIRAH (facing camera, on left), leading a CO 2 training session.

say, it’s not settled science – we have to have some sort of assessment of where we need these substances and where we don’t, and they think we absolutely need it for heat pumps and refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. This is not a non-essential use.”

Picker also believes that, sometimes, “we focus on Europe too closely”. At the recent Montreal Protocol negotiations, Picker noted that EU representatives agreed that their approach works for them, but, “other countries need to develop approaches that work best for them and not follow the EU”.

But he notes that the rules of EU policy will be felt worldwide.

“If we’re going to base our phase-down schedules on [other countries’ approaches], I’d look to Japan. Why? Because that’s where most of our equipment comes from, or if it’s not from Japan, it’s from companies that are based in Japan manufacturing in the region.

“Japan is doing it differently, but they’re doing some very innovative stuff that’s as good as the Europeans, and I would contend with a bit more recognition about what’s technically possible. Government and industry are working on this together – it’s more collaborative.

“We’re in a global race to push technology development and deployment as quickly as we can. Regulations will help deliver this outcome, but they need to be well calibrated. Time will tell which countries have the right settings.”

RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES

“The Europeans are certainly trying to change the technology mix around heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration but they have not yet come to a landing.”

However, our industry is truly global, he says, and is driven by the large markets and manufacturing centres across the world.

“The United States is commencing implementing the AIM Act, which sets a new approach for refrigerants, and Japan has embarked on a tremendously exciting program of research and deployment of new technology.

“Getting the phase-down right is critically important,” Picker says. “Done well, it will drive change quickly and will ensure the critical services provided by heat pumps, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment are not curtailed. If those settings are wrong, the negative consequences could be profound, either making cooling and heating more expensive and less available, or increasing emissions.”

Understanding the impact from various decisions won’t be easy, Picker adds.

“Too sharp a phase-down and industry won’t be able to deliver services easily and may end up using high- GWP refrigerants already deployed to service new equipment and actually increase emissions.”

A QUESTION OF QUOTAS

In Australia, we don’t count refrigerant in imported pre-charged equipment in our HFC quota.

Scantec Refrigeration’s Stefan Jensen, F.AIRAH, says the official reason provided by the Australian government representatives is that HFCs imported in pre-charged unitary equipment are subject to the HFC controls in their respective countries of origin.

“Some of these countries of origin, however, are categorised as Article 5 countries (developing nations), and as such, the HFC phase-down in these countries takes place over a significantly longer period than in Australia.

“It is therefore questionable as to what extent the HFC controls within these nations have a measurable impact on Australia’s HFC imports,” he says. “If the purpose of the Australian HFC import quota is to reduce HFC importation, then the only logical approach is to make that quota applicable to all HFCs, regardless of how these enter the country.

“HFCs imported within pre-charged unitary equipment will ultimately either leak out into the environment or they will be recovered and destroyed/re-used. Either way, these substances circumvented the HFC import quota and contributed to the environmental damage that the CO2e-based HFC import quota is there to mitigate.”

Associate Professor Schofield of the University of Melbourne says the pre-charged issue is illustrative of how the effective management of CFCs under the Montreal protocol worked well in contrast to how GHGs are managed.

“Given that most of our refrigerants are imported in pre-charged goods it is ineffective policy not to control at the point of entry.”

Refrigerant Australia’s Greg Picker, however, says Australia is following international best practice in how we manage refrigerants.

“Australia, like every other country in the world, is required by the Montreal Protocol to be responsible for bulk gases entering the country,” he says. “Refrigerant contained in pre-charged equipment is accounted for in the country of manufacture.

“The Europeans have chosen to account for imports in pre-charged equipment. But it is worth noting that less than 10 per cent of refrigerant entering in the market in Europe comes in pre-charged equipment – it is a non-issue there. In Australia, that amount is in excess of 40 per cent and we simply could not incorporate refrigerant from equipment into the quota as it is not included in the baseline.”

He adds that the government can support technology changes through GWP limits on equipment types, like those recently announced for small air conditioners.

“Also, Australia has a long history of being fast adopters of new technology in this industry,” says Picker. “We were the second country in the world to adopt R32 for example – and it is fanciful to think we will reject this tradition.” ■

But according to Jensen, there is a major risk associated with doing nothing.

“The UBA (Umwelt Bundesamt) report titled Persistent Degradation Products of Halogenated Refrigerants and Blowing Agents in the Environment: Type, Environmental Concentrations, and Fate with Particular Regard to new Halogenated Substitutes with Low Global Warming Potential published by the German EPA makes clear that the increased use of R1234yf in motor vehicle air conditioning systems coincides with a rapid rise in TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) in waterways and lakes recorded over a two-year period. TFA is an acid that is about 30,000 times stronger than HCL.” And currently, there are no methods readily available for removing this contaminant, he adds.

“Only about 1 per cent of the water on Earth is suitable as drinking water. TFA has the capacity to damage or destroy this resource. The opportunity for Australia and other nations is to adopt a top-down approach and introduce refrigerant bans sooner rather than later.

“It was a similar approach that Denmark adopted in 1996 under the then Danish Minister for the Environment Svend Auken. This contributed to making Denmark one of the world leaders in natural refrigerant applications.

“Australia could be the Scandinavia of the Pacific. Instead, we appear to be doing what we can to retain status quo.”

Ian Tuena agrees. “We give the illusion that we’re doing a lot, but we’re actually not,” he says. “We should be introducing policies like Denmark did in 2012.” Associate Professor Schofield is also on board. She says while some natural refrigerants require special handling because of their flammability or may be less efficient, as with CO2 in space heating/cooling, they are absolutely where refrigerants need to be going.

HOW TO MOVE FORWARD

Picker says at the moment, there is no capacity to adjust the quota downwards; however, Australia should look to accelerate its transition to refrigerants with lower impact so we can consider this in the future. He says Refrigerants Australia has, for more than five years, called for the federal government to put in place GWP limits on small air conditioners (which the government announced this June), for refrigeration uses to transition away from R404a (which the government is investigating), and in car air conditioners (a recent consultation on vehicle fuel efficiency standards considered this issue).

“Once these transitions are in place, it may be possible to further tighten the quota, but to do so now would be premature,” Picker says. But Stefan Jensen says Australia needs to do what Denmark already has done and what the EU is now considering doing.

“During his presentation at the Eurammon Symposium on the 27 June, Cornelius Rhein of the EU Commission outlined the ongoing discussions within the Commission with respect to strengthening the HFC phase-down and possibly move towards a ban for certain substances. These discussions are anticipated to be finalised around November/December this year.

“As outlined above and in Dr Michael Kauffeld’s report to the EIA published in 2012, bans of unwanted substances are the most effective way of reducing

Sometimes we focus on Europe too closely

the emissions of HFCs. A failure to do so could mean that the HVAC&R industry is caught either unprepared or insufficiently prepared for the impact of these kinds of overseas political initiatives,” Jensen says. Associate Professor Schofield says the EU policy development in this area is “absolutely where the Australian public would like the energy transition to be taking them”.

“I’d like to see Australia having strict and clear HFC import bans and being across the latest science and alternatives for HFOs so we don’t end up with a forever chemical issue in 5–10 years’ time.

“We have a carbon-intensive electric grid, so a full life - cycle analysis should be required for small studies (i.e., government) and large AC refrigeration installations (required of all commercial builds),” she says.

“Ensuring energy efficiencies and air quality through insulation and heat and enthalpy recovery systems is also vital. Heat pumps and chilled beams don’t refresh the air and have caused COVID superspreader events indoors.”

The public expect policies to be holistic, Associate Professor Schofield says. This means incentives to replace gas heating with heat pumps should not indirectly increase GHGs or add to our forever chemical burden via their pre-charged refrigerants.

Tuena also wants to follow the lead of Europe, and particularly Denmark.

“Denmark started to force technology and change in 2012 basically by banning systems

In March, the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee agreed to amendments to the F-gas regulation that would see bans on fluorinated gases in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment over the next five years.

with a charge over 10kg – you had to put a low GWP in – and that government policy forced the adaptation of technology,” he says.

“The country became the leaders in transcritical systems, and everyone’s followed from that.

“If we implemented the Danish plan, that would significantly hasten the transition to natural refrigerants, by the consumer, by the architect and consultant, and by the industry. But you’ve still got to get the skill set up.”

And Tuena says there are funds available to back the training. He believes more could be done with the money collected through levies and licences.

Tuena became so frustrated and disillusioned with the current state of training, he personally invested half a million dollars and built his own CO2 trans- critical mobile training pod. It travelled across the country last year and successfully trained 250 mechanics with hands-on practical experience in transcritical CO2 systems, he says.

“If a small business like mine can spend half a million and build the necessary equipment to train, why can’t those who receive significant funding via levies and licence fees do the same?” he asks.

“The interest alone earned from funds in investment accounts held others in the industry that has been collected through levies on refrigerants would go a long way in helping retrain the industry.” ■

VALE GRAHAM BOYLE

Graham Boyle, L.AIRAH, a highly respected educator and advocate for Australia’s HVAC&R industry, passed away in June after a battle with illness.

WA-based Boyle began teaching refrigeration and air conditioning at Perth Technical College in 1980 and eventually became Portfolio Manager at South Metropolitan TAFE (previously Polytechnic West) in 2009. He was the author of the Australian Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Volumes 1 and 2 national textbook (also known as the ARAC manuals) used throughout Australia and New Zealand for VET training. He served as an AIRAH board director and was a long-standing member of AIRAH’s WA division committee. In 2022, Boyle was awarded life membership of AIRAH.

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN

Born in England, Boyle migrated to Western Australia on his own aged just 15. He found work in the Pilbara, which led to various jobs in agriculture, construction and oil exploration. Eventually he returned to the Pilbara to work on the construction of the Port of Dampier Ore loading facilities, where he was introduced to refrigeration and air conditioning. Boyle started in servicing before moving on to work as a technician, service manager, contract supervisor, designer, project manager, TAFE teacher and lecturer, technical writer and author. He completed a

bachelor’s degree in education and later, with a change of focus, completed a degree in theology and was ordained as an Anglican priest in the Diocese of Perth.

A PASSION FOR HVAC&R

Efficiency of HVAC&R systems was a topic of great interest for Boyle. This drove him to enable the development of a range of courses that took students beyond a trade qualification, dealing with issues such as sustainability, controls, commissioning, design and maintenance.

He was widely known as someone willing to innovate and accept new challenges.

“Graham was extremely passionate about all things HVAC&R and has made an enormous contribution to the industry,” says AIRAH President Paul Jackson, F.AIRAH.

“It was always great to get his insight into where the industry has been and where it may be going. His stories about the early days in the northwest of WA were always intriguing. He was and still is a legend and will be sorely missed.” ■

TRIBUTES TO GRAHAM

Graham will be sadly missed. He touched to lives of so many people through his work as an Anglican Minister and through his long association with AIRAH and his work with the TAFE.

Keith Glenn, M.AIRAH, South Metropolitan TAFE , Head of Programs

Before embarking on any job, whether it’s a career in air conditioning or fine-tuning an old 750 valve in refrigeration, it is crucial to have some knowledge about it. This often involves attending school or apprenticing under someone skilled in that particular field. It’s a matter of common sense. However, there is one job that each and every one of us finds ourselves thrust into, unprepared and uneducated, without the slightest understanding of the challenges or the goals we need to accomplish.

This job is the most demanding and perplexing one on Earth: the job of life.

To make matters more perplexing, we don’t even grasp the true essence of life. It is riddled with contradictions. Why do some individuals who appear to have a head start end up performing poorly, while others who start with nothing excel remarkably? We strive to decipher the underlying logic behind these paradoxical realities, seeking the rules of the game we find ourselves entangled in. We conjecture, suppose, and engage in wishful thinking. Nevertheless, as we were puzzled at the moment of our birth, most of us remain perplexed at the hour of our demise. What was it all about?

Success leaves clues, and Graham Boyle left behind some invaluable clues that can guide us towards understanding one profound Truth. Thoughts are tangible entities. Graham exemplified that our

thoughts and attitudes determine the outcome of everything in our lives. Our existence and all that befalls us are a direct result of the beliefs we hold and the words we speak. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to this great man, and may God bless him for imparting such profound wisdom on our industry.

George Haydock, Manager, Pioneer International

A true gentleman and mentor to so many of us in the industry. Graham always made time for anyone that had a question and was one of the most patient people I have known. Our deepest sympathies to Graham’s family.

Val de Souza, Affil.AIRAH, WA State Manager , Mechanical Project Services

Skills summary

■ What?

A guide to the cleaning protocols that should be applied to a commercial kitchen exhaust system, in a best-practice approach.

■ Who?

This Skills Workshop will be of use to all those engaged in the safety, design, construction, operation, servicing, and management of kitchen exhaust systems in commercial buildings.

Section 13 of AS 1851 sets out the requirements for routine service of fire and smoke control features of mechanical services in buildings covered by AS 1668.1, AS 1668.2, AS 1682.1, AS 1682.2 and AS 2665.

The commercial kitchen exhaust system best practice approach outlined here goes beyond

CLEANING COMMERCIAL KITCHEN EXHAUSTS

Commercial kitchen exhaust systems extract the heat, smoke, particulates, grease, and water vapour generated by cooking operations in kitchens and discharge them safely outside. These systems become contaminated with grease and other cooking by-products. Over time, accumulations of these combustible contaminants create a fire safety hazard within the system. When a system is poorly designed, installed or maintained, the accumulation of contaminants complete the fire triangle –fuel, air, and ignition – to significantly increase the fire risk within the system and escalate the potential consequences of a kitchen fire.

Accumulated grease and moisture also create a hygiene hazard within the system that can lead to issues such as unpleasant odours, mould growth, bacterial contamination, and pest infestation. This Skills Workshop provides a methodology to determine the frequency and necessity for physically cleaning a kitchen exhaust system, through defined inspection procedures and a set of performance standards; acceptable methods for cleaning exhaust systems and components; and a set of standards used to verify acceptable post-clean cleanliness.

the minimum inspection and routine service requirements of AS 1851 to outline a targeted evidence -based approach, as documented in overseas standards. This risk-based approach relates the requirement or minimum frequency for inspection/cleaning to the hours and style of cooking and evidence of build-up of grease in the system.

Initial cleaning frequency guide

In the absence of historic data for grease deposit levels, such as for newly installed systems, grease production load and system usage -based analysis can be used to estimate the required initial cleaning frequency. Tables 1 and 2 provide a matrix

Notes to Tables 1 and 2

1. The hood and extract plenum are areas with a high risk of fire. Consideration should be given to more frequent cleaning of these areas in accordance with insurers’ requirements.

2. In addition to the scheduled specialist cleaning, a daily or weekly cleaning regime should be implemented on hoods, separators and associated drains and traps in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations. Typically, these are carried out by the kitchen operator, to comply with insurers’ requirements.

3. Owing to wide variations in usage, the frequency of cleaning is often best monitored by the kitchen operator.

4. The results of inspection and cleaning of the system may lead to changes to cleaning frequencies (see section 4).

Table 1: Non-solid fuel cooking applications

Table 2: Solid fuel cooking applications

relating (predicted) grease production and daily usage rates to minimum cleaning intervals for both non-solid fuel and solid fuel cooking applications.

Pre-cleaning requirements

General requirements

A competent person should perform the pre-cleaning requirements.

Prior to cleaning, the person should determine if a certificate, label, or tag has previously been posted on the exhaust hood and, if yes, then all relevant information should be recorded. If no certificate, label, or tag is posted, this should be noted in the post clean inspection report.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE must always be used during inspection, cleaning, and post-cleaning processes, in accordance with regulations. Proper inspection of all PPE must be performed prior to commencing work.

PPE required for the kitchen exhaust cleaning and inspection includes (but is not limited to) the following:

• Approved eye protection.

• Respiratory protection to prevent inhalation of harmful particulate and gases.

• Hand protection (gloves) to prevent injury from sharp objects and exposure to chemicals. Foot protection to prevent “slip and fall” accidents and foot injuries.

• Lock out/tag out and ground fault interruption devices. Fall arresting harnesses and lanyards.

• Head protection to include bump caps and/or hard hats.

Ladders

Where ladders are necessary to gain access to facility rooftops or interior portions of the kitchen exhaust system, the ladder, surface, and safety requirements must comply with relevant standards and regulations and allow adequate space for safe working.

Chemical handling and use

all chemicals used in the cleaning process should be used, handled, and disposed of in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions and applicable standards and the WHS regulations for chemical handling and hazard communication.

Pre-cleaning inspections

Basic operation test

Before cleaning it should be verified that the system is mechanically operable. If the system is powered off, system start-up should be initiated where possible, including all exhaust fans and any make-up air fans. Exhaust airflow should be verified, and the quantity should be assessed.

The owner(s) or operator(s) of the system should be interviewed, if applicable, to determine if the facility has experienced any problems with the system performance.

If system deficiencies are identified during the precleaning inspection and testing operations

notification should be provided as soon as practical to the owner/operator of the system.

Grease removal devices

Hood grease filters or other listed grease removal devices used in exhaust hoods should be inspected to determine their condition.

Fan visual inspection

Where possible, the visible portion of the exhaust fan should be inspected to ensure that it is operating. Notification of recorded deficiencies should be provided as soon as practical to the owner/operator of the system.

Inspection of belts and drives

The fan must be locked out and tagged out and all fan motion confirmed to have ceased prior to inspection of the belts and drives of the fan. The motor compartment of the exhaust fan should be opened, and a visual inspection should be performed of the belts and drives. Notify the owner/operator of deficiencies such as cracked or loose belts as soon as practical.

Effluent treatment equipment

Effluent treatment equipment and systems should be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions by persons who have received specific training to service the equipment. Where grease or oil accumulates due to these systems, this should be identified and drained or cleaned as required. Any hazards to maintenance personnel (e.g., from UV or ozone) must be identified and mitigated.

Other equipment and systems

Other equipment and systems should be maintained and inspected prior to cleaning by a competent person in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Where oil accumulates due to these systems, this should be identified and drained or cleaned as required.

Water wash hoods

The cleaning person should surcharge the hood drain in a water wash hood system prior to the start of work to ensure that it is freeflowing and record any noted deficiencies. Specialised blowers should be maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Protective covering

Protection of workspace areas

To avoid the possibility of contamination, all food products should be removed from the workspace area and stored in a proper place prior to the start of the cleaning process.

Where possible, all food preparation cookware and equipment should also be removed from the workspace area and stored in a proper place prior to the start of the cleaning process to avoid any possibility of contamination.

Where that is not possible, all items that remain in the workspace area should be completely covered with protective sheets, prior to the start of the cleaning process.

When all cleaning procedures have been completed, all protective sheets should be removed from food preparation equipment.

Wet-washing process preparation

When wet-washing kitchen exhaust systems, all equipment that may be exposed to wash water and cleaning agents should be covered with protective sheeting. Protective covering used for hood wrapping and equipment protection should be of a thickness sufficient to withstand the cleaning process. Wash water should be contained for proper disposal.

No process wastewater should be disposed of through a storm-water collection system. Waste solids should be collected and disposed of in an environmentally safe and approved solid waste disposal device acceptable to the relevant authority.

Energy source protection

Pre-cleaning

Prior to the start of the cleaning process, all electrical switches, open flame gas burners, and utility distribution systems serving the cooking appliances and the exhaust fans that could be activated accidentally must be locked out and tagged out.

Where solid fuel is present, all solid fuel must be extinguished and properly removed and disposed of, prior to the start of the cleaning process.

Post-cleaning

When all cleaning procedures have been completed, all components of the system should be returned to an operable state.

Cleaning methods

This section provides specific advice on how to clean and maintain kitchen exhaust systems. All cleaning processes must result in the removal of cooking by-product deposits, grease, and fuel from the interior surfaces of kitchen exhaust systems. The cleaning methods implemented must be capable of achieving the required standard for post-clean verification, as set out in this guide, on both the internal surfaces of the exhaust ductwork and the system components. The guidance provided on cleaning methods is not intended to be definitive as there are many methods, both traditional and new technologies, which can be applied in tandem on a kitchen exhaust system. Table 3 provides examples of some typical cleaning methods. When choosing the cleaning method, consideration should be given to operator safety. There should also be particular focus on the surrounding environment when using wet cleaning methods, because grease and moisture can leak from the ductwork and components causing exterior damage.

All interior surfaces of a commercial kitchen exhaust system should be accessible for inspection and cleaning purposes. Where applicable, all exhaust ducts must be provided with access openings for inspection and cleaning in accordance with AS 1668.1.

For any specialised effluent treatment equipment or energy control equipment, the relevant equipment supplier, representative or agent should provide guidance on cleaning methods and frequencies. If any cleaning process or chemical has the

Method Removal method

Manual

Hand scraping and removal of deposits and/or wiping the surface of the ductwork with a cloth. Chemicals can be used to soften or dissolve heavy deposits making them easier to remove. Flammable solvents or other flammable cleaning aids must not be used.

Steam cleaning

Rotary/ mechanised brushing systems

The use of hot water vapour expelled at high pressure from a lance to dislodge/ dissolve deposits to clean the surfaces.

Scarifying of the surfaces of the ductwork with rotating brush heads to clean the surfaces driven by a shaft. Hot chemical foam application

Highpressure water washing

Application of degreasing solution by pressurized vessels to deliver chemical laden foam to clean the surfaces.

The use of pressurised water discharged at ambient or high temperature from a lance or nozzle to dislodge deposits and clean the surfaces.

potential to cause disturbance to any fire safety equipment, it is recommended that a person competent in that equipment is engaged.

Wet cleaning methods using chemical foam, steam cleaning and high-pressure water washing should be carefully assessed for use in ductwork that is situated above false ceilings or in vulnerable areas. Unless the exhaust system is specifically designed and sealed for wet cleaning, these methods should be avoided, due to the risk of possible leakage of contaminants from the duct to the surrounding area and services.

After applying wet cleaning methods, care should be taken to ensure that all condensed vapours and cleaning fluids are removed from all parts of the exhaust system.

The use of chemical cleaning agents should only be considered where a risk assessment has been carried out to assess the effects of the applied chemicals on the materials of construction, environment, and cleaning personnel.

Vertical exhaust ducts should be cleaned from top to bottom either by direct personnel entry using manual processes, or remotely using any of the described cleaning processes. The exhaust fan should be positioned to allow access to the vertical duct or access should be provided to the intake side of the fan. Horizontal exhaust ducts should be cleaned from one end of the duct to its other end either by direct personnel entry using manual processes, or remotely using any of the described cleaning processes. These processes can be applied from outside or inside the exhaust ductwork.

It is not normally necessary or economically practicable to clean kitchen

exhaust systems and fans to a “like new” bright metal condition. This may be impossible due to substrate staining.

Excessive abrasion should be avoided, and care should be taken when cleaning to avoid damage or removal of protective coatings on fan casings, impellers, and motor housings.

Cleaning frequency

Minimum standard approach

AS 1851 provides guidance on minimum inspection and cleaning requirements. Specific cleaning intervals stated by property owners, facility managers, proprietors, system designers or insurers should be identified by the owner/operator, and the cleaning and maintenance contractor should be notified.

Best- practice approach

The best-practice approach is to determine cleaning frequency based on the recommended system inspection frequencies in Table 4.1 supported by Grease Thickness Test measurements (see Appendix A for measurement options) taken at representative locations. Following each inspection and/or clean, a decision on the frequency for future cleaning should be made so that grease levels are maintained below 0.2mm or 200µm, as a mean across the system.

Conditions and warranties within insurance policies, should stipulate minimum cleaning frequencies for kitchen exhaust systems. It should be noted that some insurance contracts may require a higher frequency of cleaning than recommended in this guide and failure to comply with such requirements may invalidate the property insurance policy.

Post-cleaning requirements

When all cleaning procedures have been completed, all protective sheets should be removed and all components of the system should be returned to an operable state.

Post-cleaning verification

Pre-clean and post-clean grease measurements (Grease Thickness Test) should be taken where practicable, and these should be clearly detailed in the post- clean report (see Appendix B).

For cleaned system verification, the surface should be visibly clean and capable of meeting the specified level of cleanliness.

For verification following cleaning, individual postclean grease thickness tests must not exceed 50µm.

Post- clean report

A post-clean report should include the following: An executive summary page that highlights the following key risks:

1. A clear statement indicating whether the system was cleaned in its entirety.

This skills workshop is taken from AIRAH’s Best Practice Guide for Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Management, available at www.airah.org.au/resources

2. If the entire system was not cleaned, state precisely what element(s) was not cleaned and why it was not cleaned, together with suggested solutions and recommendations.

3. Grease Thickness Test measurements for the stipulated test locations. The mean (average) micron reading across all Grease Thickness Test measurements taken.

4. A recommendation of a new cleaning frequency based on the pre-clean Grease Thickness Test readings.

Note: To calculate a frequency based on keeping grease levels below 200 microns as a mean across the system, the rate of build-up of grease needs to be assumed to be linear over time. This assumption can be validated by future inspections over time.

5. Any deficiencies or other hazards that have been identified.

Post- clean reports should contain a description of the actual work performed, identification of systems that are cleaned, and the specific customer information, in addition to the following:

Type of fan(s)

• Number of fan(s)

• Location of fan(s)

• Location of duct and access panels (accessible and non-accessible)

Location and type of kitchen exhaust effluent and energy control equipment

List of known leakage locations

• Fan switch location

• Enough photographs of the system taken before and after cleaning that are representative of the system condition A schematic diagram or as-installed drawing of the system layout, showing the system in its entirety including known components, changes of direction, access panels, areas that have been cleaned and any areas that could not be cleaned.

Note: If other factors are known to influence the speed of grease accumulation, such as peak periods of trade or where historical data infers, then interim inspections should be implemented/recommended to check grease thickness, and further frequency adjustments made as appropriate.

Verification certificate

When a commercial kitchen exhaust system is inspected or cleaned, the person performing the inspection or cleaning should attach a pre-printed label or tag containing the service provider name, telephone number, and date of inspection or cleaning.

Old certificates, labels, or tags should be removed when affixing new labels, or tags. A service verification certificate should also be provided to the client. ■

Next month: Flexible ductwork

Table 3 – Examples of cleaning methodology

SEALING THE DEAL

Press fittings are a way of connecting refrigeration and plumbing pipework using special tools to apply pressure to the pipe, rather than brazing with an oxy-acetylene torch.

A.G. Coombs’ National Operations QA Officer Chris Cartwright says press fittings work in a similar way to push fittings. “However, press fittings work with the aid of a mechanical press gun that clamps the O-ring within the fitting, sealing the fitting to the pipe,” he says.

Cartwright says he has used this system successfully for heating and chilled pipework, hot and cold water, natural gas, and refrigeration gas lines, and “it can also be used for applications that need stainless steel pipe lines”.

Reece Conex Banninger Specification and Technical Manager Steve Lowry is also familiar with the flame -free method of joining copper and stainless steel pipe together. He explains that for a three-point press system, the press fitting is installed with a tool that performs a mechanical press on both sides of the bead and one press crimping the O-ring.

“This provides a permanent and secure joint,” Lowry says.

Some of the primary uses for press fittings include water, gas, refrigeration and air conditioning.

“However, we are now receiving enquiries more often for projects where hydrogen and other special mediums are being used,” he says.

“We can accommodate these requests as we have access to press fittings that incorporate O-rings manufactured from a range of materials including EPDM, HNBR, and FKM.”

Rapid Locking System Marketing Manager Jessica Slaughter, based in the US, says press fittings are “suitable for high-pressure refrigeration, as well as industrial gases such as nitrogen, argon, helium and oxygen (non-medical)”.

However, although press fittings are becoming increasingly popular in several sectors, there has not been the same level of uptake in the HVAC&R industry. Here, the debate still continues over whether a brazed joint is more reliable than a pressed one.

Using press fittings for pipework instead of welding or brazing is becoming increasingly popular in the plumbing industry. So why the hesitation in HVAC&R? Louise Belfield reports.

Image courtesy of Conex Bänninger.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The pressing procedure is similar to the one used with water press fittings, says Slaughter. “However, they were developed to withstand the high pressures found in HVAC&R systems,” she says.

“The fittings are soft annealed copper, which, when pressed onto tube, results in a permanent mechanical joint. Our design has one seal on each end and when pressed, these create two 360-degree bands around the copper tube, allowing full contact on every part of the tube.

“The copper tube ends are first prepped the same way as you would with brazing (sanding, deburring, etc.). With press, you also need to mark for insertion depth to ensue your tube is inserted past the seal, but not too far past so that you can insert the opposite tube end appropriately.

After prep, which I want to mention is extremely important, you are good to place your fitting over the tube, and press.

“Another measure we take to ensure the press is adequate is to use our press gauge over the two circular bands the jaws make to double check the press is complete.”

THE UPSIDE

Some benefits in for choosing press fittings over brazing, Cartwright says, include not having to lug around oxy-acetylene gear for brazing, not having to apply for hot works permits, and not having to worry about any of the other safety issues that come with working with flammable gases.

Steve Lowry agrees, saying not only can you avoid the cost of hiring and hauling around

oxygen and acetylene bottles, but press fittings are also “super-fast to install and look really neat and attractive in exposed areas; there’s less time required training the workforce to join pipes and or fittings (the skill isn’t as complex as a traditional brazed weld); and there is no need to purge the pipeline when only press fittings are installed.

“Press fittings have numerous advantages over traditional methods of joining tube, [not least being] a reduction in labour costs,” he says.

Slaughter says press fittings also connect in 10 seconds; are UL-listed to 700psi working pressure; provide safer conditions [no fire hazards]; provide more flexible access to job sites; come with a warranty; are available in the largest size ranges (from US¼ inch to 2-1/8 inch) and are compatible with all major tool brands.

Correct preparation is essential to guarantee a good seal. Image courtesy of RLS.

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THE DOWNSIDE

The drawbacks of press fittings in comparison to brazed fittings are that they do come at a higher cost, says Lowry.

“This is due to the additional materials, technical requirements in manufacturing, and R&D costs,” he says. “However, the time and materials saved during installation, such as nitrogen or purging pipework, bottle hire and silver solder often offset the cost difference.”

But this offset needs to also take in other considerations, says Cartwright.

“It is very important to make sure the fittings are kept clean at all times,” he says, “you need to buy or hire a press fittings gun, and it can be difficult to notice if a press was missed in installed pipework.” Slaughter agrees that the higher cost can be a downside to adopting press fittings, but that “this can be rebutted by labour and time savings”.

Press fittings are currently listed for A1 refrigerants, and it is expected that by early 2024 they will be certified for use with flammable refrigerants, says Slaughter.

“R454B is one of the fluids we are ensuring compatibilities with, as we know this is a replacement for R410A. The fittings and gaskets are already compatible with these fluids; it’s just a matter of completing the testing and earning the certification.”

One downside of the press fittings is the additional cost, though there are savings in labour and time. Image courtesy of Conex Bänninger.

WHY THE SLOW UPTAKE IN HVAC&R?

“Press fittings are well established for water and gas applications, having been available in that market for 40-plus years,” says Steve Lowry. “However, press fitting for refrigeration and air conditioning were introduced much later … so it is still fairly new technology in the ACR market.

“As an industry that is quite traditional in brazing and flaring, some installers may feel reluctant to try new methods, particularly as they are dealing with higher pressure systems and misconceptions around the risk of leaks.

“[But] more installers are adopting the technology, because when it comes to pressing fittings, you have peace of mind knowing that every single joint has been done exactly the same in every installation. What you’ll find is installers try it once and never go back.”

Slaughter says RLS is also seeing more adoption every year, as trust builds.

“Press for refrigeration has been around for just over eight years,” she says.

“It is true that adoption started slow, with hesitations to the technology. However, in the last eight years we have had over 15 million fittings in the market, globally …with millions of positive experiences. It is a matter of awareness, training and education, and getting the product into the contractors’ hands.”

Cartwright agrees the reason press fittings haven’t been as widely used in HVAC&R as in other sectors is mostly the cost aspect and the lack of confidence in the join sealing for a lifetime.

“[But] press fittings have been a game changer, similar to when they introduced silicone. Plumbers went from soft soldering gutters to using silicone, which in many ways resembles the same benefits.

“With the time restraints on building sites, the skill shortages in the industry, and the constant push to get jobs completed in record time it has been a real help.”

INTO THE FUTURE

Slaughter says it was noticed back in 2008 that there was a void in the HVAC&R market for this technology compared to the plumbing industry, and that new technology was needed.

“After years of design and extensive testing, the press was introduced into the market in 2015. HVAC&R pressures are much higher than water (200psi), so the engineering process was and still is extremely meticulous.

“To some the adoption may seem slow, but we know how particular trades are about their work as well. The main obstacle is training and awareness of the product. It is a simpler process than brazing and offers many benefits, but if you have not experienced the reliability and ease yet, then one might be hesitant.

“The best strategy for adoption is training and getting the tool and fittings in [trades’] hands. [Press fitting

Press fittings arrived later in HVAC&R due to the higher working pressures of the equipment, but uptake is increasing.

Image courtesy of RLS.

systems are now supplied] to more than 29 countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan, Europe, Australia, and Latin America, [ and I have] witnessed leaps and bounds in adoption over the last three to four years.” With millions of fittings already in the market, Slaughter says, “we are excited for the future of press and continuing providing new technology to an evolving and innovative industry”.

COOLEST DAY OF THE YEAR

To mark World Refrigeration 2023, Woolworths opened its supermarket plantrooms to the public in capital cities around the country. AIRAH was there to join the tour.

World Refrigeration Day, held annually on June 26, is an international awareness-raising campaign endorsed by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) to lift the profile of the HVAC&R sector.

In Australia, Woolworths has been one of the biggest supporters of the initiative. In 2019, it hosted highly successful plantroom open days in Melbourne and Sydney. The idea was to share a day in the life of a refrigeration mechanic, and promote opportunities in the HVAC&R sector.

The 2019 events proved very popular, attracting about 90 attendees – including one person who took leave from work and flew in from Cairns for the experience!

The pandemic curtailed the plantroom tours for a while, but this year Woolworths made up for lost time, expanding the event across six locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth.

Woolworths National Sustainable Engineering Manager Dario Ferlin, M.AIRAH, has driven the initiative since its inception, and was very happy with the results this year.

“All up we had more than 300 registrations for the day and a pleasing 70 per cent of these were not HVAC&R practitioners nor from a HVAC&R teaching background,” he says.

“If we consider the aspiration of World Refrigeration Day ‘to raise the profile of the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector’ and to focus ‘attention on the significant role that the industry and its technology play in modern life’, then we can look back on this year’s Plantroom Open Day with a sense of accomplishment. One that we hope to surpass in 2024!” ■

ATTENDEE IMPRESSIONS

Casey Robertson and Daniel Grosso both attended the WRD2023 event in Melbourne, with a view to learning more about opportunities in HVAC&R.

What brought you here today?

Casey: I just finished my pre-apprenticeship at RMIT, so I applied to all the job boards, and through one of those I got the email about World Refrigeration Day. It sounded interesting because I did really like the refrigeration part of the pre-app. When we started doing it and plotting charts and looking at the components, it was like a puzzle, and I love pulling things apart and putting them back together.

Daniel: I applied through Woolworths, because that’s where I’ve worked for about 14 years now, I’ve been a baker for about six of those years. and I’ve gotten to that point in my life where I want a change. I was speaking to one of the service technicians and he said he works across five stores – you don’t know where you’re going to be or what you’re going to do, or what the problem is or how you’re going to fix it. It keeps you on your toes.

What did you take away from the tour?

Daniel: The maintenance room really blew me away – how the whole system is run in regards to the refrigeration, the airflow, the gas, and how it converts. That was really interesting. I didn’t know how technical it was.

Casey: If you ask a normal person about refrigeration, they would say “a fridge, makes things cold”. Today just proved how much this is an expansion on that. In the pre-app I learnt on little stuff, little compressors, little gauges. This was massive. ■

LIKE TO KNOW MORE?

For more about World Refrigeration Day –including the free fundamentals webinars that AIRAH is running – visit www.airah.org.au/wrd

Attendees in Sydney – including AIRAH CEO Trish Hyde –visited the Woolworths supermarket in Eastern Creek.

In Melbourne, visitors got a look inside the plantroom at Dandenong Woolworths.

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1 SAFETY FIRST

Superior Training Centre (STC) and AIRAH have launched a new nationally recognised training program on fire safety.

Inspect, Test, and Repair Fire and Smoke Control Features of Mechanical Services Systems (UEERA0098) is aimed at fire safety professionals working in the HVAC&R industry.

“Fire and smoke control features are critical components of building safety,” says AIRAH Education and Technical Services Manager Brendan Pejkovic.

“This program aims to ensure individuals working in this area are equipped with the knowledge and skills to safely, efficiently and competently carry out maintenance works and repairs on fire and smoke-control features of HVAC&R systems.”

The curriculum covers design principles and systems. It includes inspection, testing, and repair of fire and smoke control features in mechanical services systems. Via an online delivery model, the curriculum covers theoretical foundations and simulated practical exercises. Successful candidates are issued with a nationally recognised statement of attainment. Go to www.stc.nsw.edu.au/course/ fire-and-smoke-control/ ■

2 BAN ON HIGH-GWP SMALL AC

The federal government will implement restrictions on small air conditioning equipment with high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant.

From July 1, 2024, Australia will ban the import and manufacture of small air conditioning equipment using refrigerant with a GWP over 750. The ban will apply to equipment with up to 2.6kg refrigerant charge (per the compliance/rating plate) for use in cooling, heating, or both heating and cooling, a stationary space, primarily for human comfort. Equipment covered will include portable and window/wall units and non- ducted split systems (single and multi-head).

The ban will not apply to similar air conditioning equipment that is ducted, for mobile applications such as caravans and boats, or to systems for use in electrical enclosures and computer rooms. Existing equipment will not be affected. Equipment imported or manufactured before July 1, 2024 will be allowed to be sold after that date.

The move is not unexpected, coming after a consultation with industry in 2021 on a proposed ban. Such a measure would cut off the “tail” of small AC units using R410A (GWP 2,088), which have already mostly transitioned to R32 (GWP 675). ■

3 FREE REGO FOR APPRENTICES

The Victorian government has made vehicle registration free for eligible apprentices.

The $10 million initiative, included in the Victorian Budget 2023/24, provides free registration to apprentices if their employer can verify that their vehicle is an essential part of their work.

Apprentices who need their car for work were already entitled to a 50 per cent discount on their vehicle’s registration fee as part of the Trade apprentice registration discount scheme. This was introduced in 2016 to reduce costs for trade apprentices needing to use their own vehicle for work purposes, and expanded to border communities in early 2023 to cover apprentices who live in Victoria but work in New South Wales and South Australia.

Learner and probationary licences and online testing are now also free, while drivers who have not incurred demerit points or committed road safety offences in the three years prior to their licence expiring receive a 25 per cent discount on their renewal. Go to www.vicroads.vic.gov.au ■

4 DISTRIBUTION DEAL

Wholesaler Kirby HVAC&R has announced it will join Beijer Ref Australia as an authorised distributor of Embraco products throughout Australia.

Kirby national sales and marketing manager Brett Hedge, M.AIRAH, says the extensive distribution

channel offered by Kirby, coupled with the existing distribution within the Beijer Ref Australia business made it an ideal arrangement for the Embraco portfolio, part of Nidec Global Appliance.

“We are delighted to add Embraco to our portfolio,” says Hedge. “Kirby seeks to fulfil all our customers’ new project and product servicing needs. The addition of Embraco to the range strengthens our ability to do this.”

Specialising in variable speed compressor technology, Embraco is a major player the transition to natural refrigerants, with compressors suited to low- GWP refrigerants and natural refrigerant R290. Its condensing unit portfolio covers systems for service cases, upright refrigerators, undercounter freezers, prep tables, reach-ins and merchandisers. ■

5 OCEAN BREEZE BY MHIAA

Mitsubishi Heavy Industry Air Conditioning Australia (MHIAA) has teamed up with Meriton to provide a climate solution for a new development on Queensland’s Gold Coast. At 76 storeys, the Ocean complex is the second highest building in Surfers Paradise and boasts the highest apartments on the Gold Coast.

The project required a high-performance climate solution from top to bottom, and working with contractors Superior Air-conditioning, MHIAA obliged using a selection of ducted, ceiling and wall-mounted systems. These included FDUT slim-line ducted systems for many of the common areas; KX series VRF systems with FDU, FDUA and FDUM ducted systems for other large common areas; the FDT series of ceiling cassettes for additional common areas; and FDK series wall-mounted units in other service areas.

MHIAA and Superior Air-conditioning then installed more than 2,000 RC-EXZ3A wired controllers throughout the project to provide control over all these systems by both assets owners/operators as well as residents.

The installers also integrated a key tag interface for serviced apartments to turn systems off when not occupied.

Go to www.mhiaa.com.au ■

6 WHEN THE FOOTY IS ELECTRIC

Mitsubishi Electric Australia has joined the Dolphins NRL club as official air conditioning and refrigeration partners.

Executive Director and General Manager Zane Barron says the team is delighted with the partnership.

The addition of the Dolphins as the second Brisbane franchise in the NRL and the club’s location within Brisbane’s northern expansion corridor has made it a long-awaited opportunity for Mitsubishi Electric Australia, Barron says.

“Mitsubishi Electric and the Dolphins share a synergy and hold the same values,” he says.

“We are excited to be a part of another sporting organisation with strong values of community. It’s an exciting time for Mitsubishi Electric to enter into a national team sponsorship for the first time outside of a New South Wales team.

“The Dolphins are having a strong inaugural season and, like us, they are focused on getting the best possible result. We are looking forward to supporting the team to sharing this passion with them and even bigger success in 2023.”

Go to www.mitsubishielectric.com.au ■

7 HOME BASE

The South Australian government has established a Learning Hub to provide easy “one stop” access to builders, allied professions and trades seeking knowledge and skills to support the transition to energy-efficient and net zero energy homes.

The site has six training webinars and case studies that make up the Net Zero Homes training course for builders, developed by the South Australian government in collaboration with Design Matters National and Renew during 2022. This course was developed in consultation with Master Builders Association, Housing Industry Association, Green Building Council Australia and the New South Wales and Victorian governments to assist industry prepare for changes in the energy provisions of the NCC

2022 and meet consumer demand for efficient and comfortable net-zero-ready homes in the future.

In addition to hosting the NZH course and a growing compilation of residential case studies for builders, the site includes a broad curation of links to supporting information sites. These are categorised by source, including government, community and industry networks, free online learning resources and alternative industry training offered by a range of RTOs and industry peak bodies. Go to netzeroenergybuilder.com.au/netzero/ welcome ■

8 BACK TO CLASS!

In June, AIRAH’s WA division held a site visit to South Metropolitan TAFE.

It was back to class for AIRAH National President Paul Jackson, F.AIRAH, who gave a presentation about his journey in the HVAC&R industry – and highlighted the wide range of career pathways on offer. Jackson had a lot to share. He boasts more than 35 years’ experience in the industry, starting as a service engineer, then getting involved in field diagnostics and commissioning of a wide variety of building services plant. Now his skill set encompasses mechanical, electrical, air conditioning, associated control systems, and BMS systems.

After the presentation and refreshments, WA division committee member and TAFE Lecturer Darryl De Saran, Affil.AIRAH, provided a tour of the leading training facility. ■

9 FANTASTIC LOGISTICS

Daikin Australia has officially opened its new Daikin Park Melbourne facility in Truganina with a ceremony attended by Daikin dealers and key business partners involved in the development of the site.

The warehouse facility of 13,603m2 has been built as a comprehensive logistics solution for Daikin Australia to optimise fulfilment and dispatch operations for finished goods and spare parts in Victoria. It offers a storage capacity of 40,000m³, facilitates

the transportation of 700,000m3 of outbound freight annually, incorporates 13 loading docks for streamlined operations, and is powered by the Manhattan Warehouse Management System (WMS). Located in the industrial precinct of Truganina, the facility is about 15km from Port Melbourne, 19km from the Melbourne CBD, 20km from Melbourne International Airport, and is accessible to key arterial routes.

The facility also houses a Daikin Trade Centre, a multipurposes space that will be used for training and as a drop-in office for Daikin staff in the west of Melbourne. Daikin says the new development is part of an Australian expansion program to improve the company’s supply chain, with other facilities soon to be opened in both Brisbane and Adelaide. Go to www.daikin.com.au ■

IN THE HUNT

Hunt Heating has announced its acquisition of HydroHeat Supplies, with a goal of expanding the existing business Australia-wide and offering more products.

HydroHeat will continue to trade independently and expand its product range to embrace the latest technologies in new residential and commercial hydronic heating and cooling solutions fit for the future, says Hunt Heating.

A dedicated fabrication facility will also be incorporated within the HydroHeat business, which will help to present compliant packaged solutions to the market, the company says.

According to Hunt Heating CEO Paul Linley, the joining of two of Australia’s leading hydronic companies and manufacturing partners will drive the sales beyond $50 million in 2025.

“We firmly believe that the success of a company is built on the commitment of the people who are passionate about their work and who can creatively contribute to its improvement,” says Linley. “We recognised this within the existing HydroHeat team during our early discussions.”

Go to huntheat.com.au ■

Paul Jackson, Chris Bong and Darryl De Saran (L-R)

Daikin Australia Managing Director Isao Tsumura and Victorian State Manager Peter Rybinski.

Name: Mitch Beddow

Company: Efficient Hygiene Services (EHS)

Occupation: HVAC hygiene and IAQ specialist.

What’s the best thing about working in HVAC&R? Being able to provide indoor air quality solutions to the built environment through HVAC hygiene works.

How long have you worked in the industry? 14 years.

What is the biggest thing that has changed about the industry since you started working in it? The importance and understanding of indoor air quality.

If someone wanted to find you on a worksite, they should look for the person who is … Crawling in the ductwork, haha.

Favourite tool: Graco Airless Spray Gun.

Cool Tech

Best on-the-job advice you ever received: “If you think it’s clean, clean it again anyway.”

What’s the happiest a client has been with your work?

We provided HVAC hygiene services to a large Gold Coast hotel (189 fan coil units), which increased the efficiency of the entire building and saved the hotel thousands annually – amazing feedback to hear.

Dream car: F150 Raptor R.

Dream holiday: Greece and Italy with the missus (kid free).

Favourite smoko snack: Sushi. What did you listen to on the way to work today? Podcasts.

Sporting hero: LeBron James. When I’m not working I’m … Spending time with the kids and renovating the house.

SUPERFLY

Fishing is one of those pastimes that some practitioners really like to complicate. Big expensive boat? Check. Sophisticated electronic fish-finding equipment? You bet.

And of course, a rod tricked out with the latest reel is part of that maximalist inventory. But this venerable activity can also be made pretty simple too.

The Tenkara Sato Fly Fishing Rod Multi-Size Telescopic pares things back, making the pursuit of the pescatarian a lot simpler.

The carbon fibre rod folds down into a neat transportable bag, and there is no reel, so catching whatever is on the end of the line is truly a contest between you and it. The rod telescopes out for use, with three length options.

“Tenkara is the easiest, lightest, smallest fishing rod you can get,” says Josh Rosen, host of outdoors series Dirt. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s really technical, but once you get going, it’s amazing.”

The rod doesn’t require a lot of back-casting space, so is perfect for tree-lined riverbanks.

“The Sato is a compact and lightweight tenkara rod,” according to one online gear reviewer. “At its shorter length it is perfect for tighter streams, and at its full length it will be ideal when the stream opens up again or when you find a bigger pool to cast your fly.”

It retails online for $650. ■

This Japanese fishing rod reduces the implement down to its elegant and practical essentials.

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1

GETTING COLD FEET

Scott in SA was sent this photo by a customer who wanted a quote to replace a “failed air conditioner”.

Steve says: First thought: Hope the renovations at the side of the house were carried out after the system had been installed. Second thought: Is this a form of torture applied while the kids are doing their homework at the table?

2 WRAPPED IN PLASTIC

Mitch found this on a site in Western Queensland.

“Obviously the previous contractor ran out of access panels and used some plastic and duct tape instead,” he says. “Very surprised it wasn’t condensating like crazy.”

Steve says: The lack of any insulation would cause moisture to condense on the plastic whenever the dew-point of the air outside the duct dropped down to (or below) the air temperature in the duct. Another obvious issue would be the unwanted transfer of additional heat energy into the air travelling through the duct.

3 CONDENSER WITH A TWIST

Yet another snap from our man Mick in Albury.

“Yep,” he says, “that’s an extension lead hard-wired to the fan via a GPO.”

Steve says: As well as the electrical problems already identified, the unit is secured to some box section tube, but that tube appears to be sitting on the roof sheeting without any fixings. The pipework does not appear to have any form of vibration management and is not insulated, and finally, orange sheathing is not suitable for outdoor use, as it is not UV protected.

4 BOX OF TRICKS

“Quality at its best!” says Liam, who found a condenser mounted inside the plywood box. The duct goes to a whirly on the roof.

Steve says: Poor workmanship on show here. The material used to construct the box is clearly swelling, and the structure is not secured correctly at the base, permitting in ingress of air.

On a more serious note, unobstructed airflow is crucial to the survival of any air conditioning system.

5 A STRANGE BUZZING NOISE…

The customer stated that the unit was working perfectly the night before. “To my surprise,” says Luke, “there was a whole zoo of mud wasps taking up refuge.” Steve says: This can be a common occurrence in equipment that sits idle for long periods. Insects, birds and rodents are always on the lookout for dark spaces that provide a safe home.

Additional comments and observations provided by Steve Smith, Affil.AIRAH, Education Relationship Manager at Superior Training Centre. Please note that the comments are provided on the basis of the photos only and should be read with this in mind – not all issues or solutions are apparent from a 2D image.

HAVE YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING SCARY, UGLY OR JUST PLAIN FUNNY?

If your entry is deemed the winner, a 700ml bottle of Jim Beam will be on its way to your door. Please include a postal address with your entry. Entrants must be 18 or over. Send your hi-res (>500KB) photos to Editor, Mark Vender at mark.vender@airah.org.au

START HERE

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