HVAC&R Nation Summer 2020 by AIRAH

Skills

WORKSHOP

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Fire in the hole Safety measures that save lives

The XX Factor

Women strengthening our HVAC&R workforce Summer 2020 / ISSUE 135

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Summer 2020 / ISSUE 135

The XX Factor 10

HVAC&R Nation is published by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating (Inc). AIRAH – National Office James Harrison Centre 3/1 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Tel: 03 8623 3000

Fax: 03 9614 8949

www.airah.org.au/nation

Magazine team Communications Manager Matthew Dillon matt.dillon@airah.org.au Tel: 03 8623 3000 Editor Mark Vender mark.vender@airah.org.au Tel: 03 8623 3001 Contributing writers Danny Chan Sean McGowan Willow Aliento

We’ve long lamented the gender imbalance in our industry. But what can we do about it, and what are the opportunities we could unlock? Willow Aliento reports.

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HVAC&R Nation regulars

Glenn Douglas glenn.douglas@airah.org.au Tel: 0411 839 667

John McGrath john.mcgrath@airah.org.au Tel: 0419 556 108

ISSN 1834-9522

HVAC&R Nation is printed on paper sourced from well manned forests and other controlled sources.

HVAC&R Nation is an official publication of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. Statements expressed in HVAC&R Nation do not necessarily reflect the policy or views of AIRAH or its members.

Global Update

Green Wedge

No responsibility is accepted by AIRAH, the Editor or HVAC&R Nation’s supply partners for the accuracy of information or for errors or omissions. HVAC&R Nation is distributed without charge to all financial members of AIRAH. The publisher reserves the right to alter or omit any article or advertisement submitted and requires indemnity from advertisers and contributors against damages or liabilities that may arise from material published. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission of the Publisher.

26 28 28

13,144 September 2019

EC motors for HVAC&R fans

See what’s new in the ‘Shed

Disclaimer

The Toolshed

Skills Workshop

Industry news from around the world

Exclusive to this issue

The white boxes popping up in homes around Australia

Legal speak

Employers, employees and COVID-19

AIRAH News

The winners of this year’s AIRAH Awards have been revealed!

Around the Nation

Who’s in the news?

Cool Tech

Shake hands with your workmate of the future

Fire in the hole

Fire and smoke walls can help save lives – as long as penetrations are made correctly. Sean McGowan looks at this vital, but not widely understood, part of our buildings

Smoko with …

Q&A with Nicklas Christiansen

Lighter Side

The shonkier side of the nation

PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT AND RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KEEP IT.

Summer 2020

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Ed’s letter

ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE Yep, The Lighter Side is undoubtedly the most popular part of the mag. Over the years, this wall of installation shame has provided plenty of laughs.

In his book Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, Jerry Mander laments that when he moved from advertising into environmental campaigning, the only way to raise awareness for their cause was to accentuate the negative. Photos of green fields and happy animals didn’t register; shots of logged forests and slaughtered wildlife, that got people’s attention. Call it a problem of human nature.

The photos still pour in, too. If you emailed months ago and haven’t seen your pic on back page yet, don’t lose hope. We’ve got a big backlog!

But it’s also important to offer a way of changing things, or at least understanding what might have gone wrong.

Which is great, right? Well, sort of.

So that’s what we’ve done this month. We enlisted the help of one of our most experienced members – Graham Boyle, F.AIRAH, from South Metropolitan TAFE in Perth – to provide some background commentary on the photos.

Oh, g’day. You look like you might be lost up here at the front of the magazine. I’m guessing you’re after the back page.

Go ahead – you won’t hurt my feelings if you leave now, at the start of my letter. I know who gets top billing around here.

As much as we love people sharing their photos and stories, it also shows how many bodgie jobs are out there. Some people ask us why we chuckle about poor work standards. After all, AIRAH’s goal is to strengthen the industry, not point the finger and laugh at how bad it is.

Another reader suggested we could have a page of good installations to balance out the bad ones. We could call it The Brighter Side.

Actually, Australia has a long history of shaming people into doing the right thing. Back in the late ‘80s, the “Drink Drive, Bloody Idiot” campaign used this approach. In the 12 months after it aired, the road toll dropped by 37 per cent.

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I’m not sure we’ll get enough to do a regular section, but we could include some on the back page. They might even win a prize. If you’ve got a job that you’re particularly proud of, go ahead and send

Summer 2020

Larry and Mark in the green room - pre-COVID times!

it through. I know there are thousands of fridgies out there who care passionately about doing it right. We’d love to shine a light on your work. Speaking of caring, a big shout out to Larry Ford, who just finished up as senior technical officer in the refrigeration department at RMIT after 14 years. His passion for the industry and his care for the students shine through. He was always happy to lend us a hand, too. Thanks Larry, and all the best for the future. ■ @AIRAHnews

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

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Summer 2020

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Toolshed 1

Total control from Dwyer

The Series WPTN Multi-Jet, NSF Certified plastic water meter is a new series of plastic mechanical water totalising meters from Dwyer Instruments.

Product applications include potable water, commercial water usage, chiller water usage and irrigation.

Diamond disinfectant

The company recommends the device for rooms up to 84m3 that require air sterilisation. The units are aimed at single-room applications up to 81m3 where viruses can be easily managed. Larger capacities are available on request.

Frese hits a six

The Frese Combiflow 6-Way is controlled by a rotating actuator with Modbus or analogue control. Notably, it enables remote commissioning via the BMS.

HVAC&R Nation

Go platinum

Featuring a four-way auto swing, the unit circulates air to more areas of the room. Built-in wi-fi enables control from outside the home.

“One actuator means only one data point versus conventional six-way valves that need to be coupled with additional PICV and actuator for similar control or manual balance valves and DPCV with lower authority flow control,” says Frese.

Go to: powercleanairproducts.com.au ■

The Platinum 3D is Teco’s latest range of DC inverter wall‑mounted split systems.

With the Combiflow 6-Way component, the company says that only one valve and one actuator is required to achieve complete pressure independent balancing and control.

Go to: www.frese.eu ■

Power Clean Air offers a range of air and surface treatment products including the Aircare Air Purifier as well as cleaners and sanitisers for air conditioning filters and coils.

Valve developer Frese says it has found a way to reduce the number of required valve components through the Combiflow 6-Way.

The company says that by requiring fewer fire penetrations, less pipework, fewer data points and reduced fan coil costs, the new design also has the potential to reduce building costs.

In conjunction with AirTemp, Power Clean Air Products has launched a new range of Airtemp Air Sterilisers.

According to Power Clean Air, Ultra Plasma ion Fields and e-Nano Electrostatic Filters decompose and remove viruses and bacteria including coronavirus, staphylococcus, influenza and candida, with an efficacy of 99.9 per cent.

The standard model consists of the driver and 700mm UV-c LED strip. This model can be used on mini‑wall split AC units up to 10kW. For FCU units up to 23kW, users can opt for a Pro Kit with 30 UV-c LEDs in addition to the standard model.

“This is possible because Frese has directly built in the differential pressure control into the 6-way valve, and turned it into a compact all-in-one solution. Frese has a patent pending on this integrated technology.

Care for your air

Available in three sizes – for commercial, home and personal use – the devices are designed to inactivate airborne viruses, remove odours and ultra-fine particles.

According to BlueDiamond, the system can be installed inside an existing or new wall split unit, and the retrofit unit can convert any new or pre-installed mini-split or FCU into an air sanitiser.

Key benefits include simplified ordering, quick set‑up and diagnostics, weatherproof construction, and versatile pump skid applications.

Unlike most UV-c products that are aimed at the ducted ventilation market, BlueScience is aimed specifically at fan coils and mini-splits.

Go to: www.pumpmates.com.au ■

Now available with 120-240 VAC capability (viaHV option), the Series EDA can be ordered for line voltage applications. With the “-HV” option, the EDA can be powered with 120-240 VAC, eliminating the need for a step-down transformer and reducing the installation time, cost, and complexity in applications where only 120-240 VAC power is available.

Go to: www.dwyer-inst.com.au ■

BlueScience is a UV air disinfection system from BlueDiamond Pumps. The retrofit system provides UV-c LED technology for all existing AC equipment to treat and protect the air by constant disinfection every time it passes through the unit. According to BlueDiamond, the system works through a process of germicidal irradiation. The UV-c light attacks the DNA/DNR of micro-organisms, killing 99.9 per cent of them and rendering bacteria and viruses harmless and unable to reproduce or spread.

Good thing, small package

The Series EDA Electronic Pressure Controller from Dwyer Instruments is a compact package that can replace a separate gauge, two switches, and a transmitter in a system. The company says the product design saves money and installation time while conserving panel space.

The meters display the total water usage in gallons. They are available in a range of body sizes and include NPT optional couplings. The plastic body water meters can be used where standard brass is not compatible, in potable water applications, some corrosive environments, or where an economical water totaliser is desired.

Go to: www.dwyer-inst.com.au ■

The “I Feel” mode senses the temperature based on the location of the remote control. Teco says this gives a more accurate read, compared to a sensor on the high wall unit. The Platinum 3D range also features an advanced statically charged filter system that helps reduce the circulation of airborne contaminants, as well as a self‑cleaning function. According to Teco, Gold Fin protection on the indoor and outdoor unit assists with longevity and performance of the system. Registered and approved under the latest determination of MEPS, the Platinum 3D (2.6kW) is rated on cooling at 6.5 Stars in Sydney, 7 stars in Melbourne and 9 stars from Brisbane to Far North Queensland. Go to: www.teco.com.au ■

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Summer 2020

Toolshed Get in the zone

Pacific Ventilation has designed the plug-in to automatically bring in fan information to drawings when used with the company’s fan selection software, FansSelect. It saves every change so you can swap different fans in and out of your plan as long as you have grabbed the .fsx files from FansSelect.

The iZone smart air conditioning system maintains home air quality with sensors that monitor the humidity, CO2 and volatile organic compound (VOC) levels present in the air.

Users can create the fan selection output on their own or call their local branch for a copy of the job file. To use with Revit, the plug-in only needs to be installed once, as the tool encompasses an automatic update system.

It has been designed to improve general health and reduce symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, asthma, allergies, coughing, dry skin conditions and shortness of breath. iZone’s iSave can automatically respond to high humidity by turning on an outdoor compressor to reduce humidity and cool the home. As temperatures drop and humidity levels decrease, the air conditioning system reverts to outside air cooling.

Go to: www.pacificventilation.com ■

The system can also detect VOCs, such as gases emitted from household cleaning substances. Once the system flags unsafe levels, action can be taken to reduce exposure by opening a window or triggering other smart appliances to turn on – such as an air purifier, a fan, or a dehumidifier to help improve air quality.

The PUMPCALC is a centrifugal pump analysis program from AWDABPT that can be used to predict the performance of one or more centrifugal pumps, at various impeller sizes, speeds and series or parallel configurations. The main data needed for running PUMPCALC is the pump performance data. This consists of sets of values of flow rate (or capacity), head and efficiency for a particular pump, and for a specific impeller size and speed.

Go to: izone.com.au ■

Quick on the draw

Under the pump

Normally, this information is available in a pump catalogue. The number of sets of flow, head and efficiency values are limited to between three (minimum) and 15 (maximum) sets of points. The data points taken off a manufacturer’s pump curve must cover the entire range of flow rates permissible for the specific pump.

Revit software users can now use the free Revit plug-in to save time and reduce data transposition errors when selecting the most appropriate ventilation solutions for their mechanical drawings. Revit is a drafting tool that enables a streamlined method of adding HVAC equipment to drawings.

Go to: www.awdabpt.com ■

DO YOU HAVE A NEW PRODUCT TO GO IN THE TOOLSHED?

Email mark.vender@airah.org.au All submissions received will be considered, though publication cannot be guaranteed.

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For all your HVAC product, design, installation and servicing needs: Call (02) 9804 6366 or visit www.regulatorautomation.com.au

Summer 2020

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HVAC&R Nation

Global Update

USA

INDIA

COOLEST XBOX EVER

AC ON THE BAN-WAGON

Faced with online mockery around the design of the Xbox Series X resembling more a fridge than a sleek gaming console, Microsoft embraced the criticism and built an actual Xbox Series X Fridge. The tech giant made three versions of the meme-inspired fridge, presenting one to famous rapper and gaming aficionado Snoop Dogg, and another to tech influencer iJustine. The third and final fridge went to a lucky fan. The 183cm refrigerator was unveiled on Instagram by Snoop Dogg. It looks like a replica of the gaming console, complete with illuminated Xbox logo. When you pull the door handle, which is patterned after the console’s disk drive, the fridge opens to the Xbox Series X start-up sound. According to the terms and conditions of the competition, the approximate retail value of the fridge is US$2,999, or about Au$4,100. ■

The government of India has banned the import of air conditioners pre‑charged with refrigerants. In a move aimed at encouraging local production, the Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification banning the import of split AC system and other air conditioners with refrigerants – moving them from “free” to “prohibited” category. In June, the country put the import of television sets under a restricted list, asking importers to seek licences from the DGFT. The AC import ban prohibits imports of any kind. The domestic market of air conditioners in India is believed to be worth around US$5–6bn (AU$7–8.4bn). The import curbs are intended to boost the manufacturing and sales of locally made air conditioners. Most imported air conditioners are filled with refrigerants. India imported split ACs worth US$469m (AU$658m) in FY20, including US$241m (AU$338m) Chinese products and US$189m (AU$265m) from Thailand. ■

JAPAN

RUSSIA

WIND OF CHANGE FOR DAIKIN

RUSSIAN RATIFICATION

Amid a resurgence of interest in how ventilation can help to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Daikin has indicated its intention to launch the Urusara X, which it says is the only model with the technology to bring outdoor air indoors.

As part of the global effort to reduce the use of HFCs, the Russian Federation has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, becoming the 105th country to do so.

As opposed to most room air conditioners that only circulate air indoors, the Urusara X brings in fresh air from outside. It doesn’t, however, remove indoor air outdoors. A Daikin spokesperson recommends using the new system in combination with periodically opening windows.

“If member states deliver on their obligations regarding substances that deplete the ozone layer, by mid-century the ozone layer will have recovered to its 1980 level,” says Russian Federation Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko.

According to the Cooling Post, the Urusara X is one of five residential split systems with ventilation and humidification functions that Daikin intends to launch in Japan. The Urusara X and Urusara mini, the first among the company’s new wall‑mounted models, were slated for release on November 1, followed by cassette and floor standing units at the end of March 2021. ■

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Summer 2020

“Our joint efforts to implement the Montreal Protocol present a successful example of international cooperation to resolve environmental issues at a planetary scale. The emission of greenhouse gases with high global warming potential will be regulated using effective mechanisms. It is only by working together that we can succeed in limiting global warming to 1.5–2°C by 2050.” Russia’s ratification was the sixth in five weeks, following former Soviet republics Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. Liechtenstein, Botswana, and Nicaragua have assented since August. ■

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HVAC&R Nation

Cover Feature

THE XX FACTOR Despite efforts to attract more women into the HVAC&R industry, the overwhelming majority of workers are still male. Willow Aliento talks to women and men in our sector who share a passion for building a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

It’s no secret that HVAC&R is an industry with a relatively small number of women. It’s also no secret that many would like this to change.

“The industry has grown rapidly over the last 20 years, but over this same period those entering the industry at trade level has declined,” he says.

LIFE AS A FEMALE FRIDGIE

Grant Swanson, M.AIRAH, has been in the HVAC&R sector for around 40 years, and teaches HVAC and refrigeration at Ultimo TAFE in Sydney. Although the number of female apprentices and students remains low for HVAC&R, it is growing. This year, for example, there were a total of 13 female students across courses including Certificate II Career Start Electrotechnology, Certificate III Journeyman Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and apprentices across Stage One, Stage Two and Navy apprentices.

One way of tackling this challenge and increasing the talent pool is to actively attract women.

Swanson says there are a number of factors beyond the classroom that contribute to low female participation rates. The perception of HVAC&R workplaces as very male-dominated is one of them.

While those are not big numbers, Swanson points out that the HVAC&R trade as a whole has historically struggled to attract new quality apprentices because it is not as high-profile as building, plumbing and electrical. 10

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“We have been looking at ways to target and promote greater female uptake of air conditioning and refrigeration apprenticeships,” Swanson says. “The industry requires a large injection of quality trades people to service the continual growth of the sector.” The TAFE NSW Ultimo refrigeration section is currently actively seeking female participation in a Certificate II Electrotechnogy Career Start course in 2021. The course is two days a week for six months, and provides students with key foundation skills and knowledge, and a sample of what the industry has to offer, before they commit to a full apprenticeship in either electrical or HVAC&R. Summer 2020

“This may not be very inviting to young girls starting out on a career,” he says. “Coming from an all-girl high school or co-educational high school to a TAFE class where you may be the only female in the class could be intimidating for some.” There are also some features of workplaces that can be discouraging. Swanson observes that facilities on many smaller construction sites are of a low standard and would generally not meet female needs.

Cover Feature could be done at TAFE. Just as courses often bring in a bank representative to talk about managing finances, they could bring in a workplace gender relations coach to talk about how to build good working relationships between men and women.

Women need to see engineering trades are

Another challenge she has encountered is colleagues and others being concerned about her physical abilities, such as lifting.

not a socially hard choice

The low number of female fridgies also makes being in the trade more challenging.

“Women need to see engineering trades are not a socially hard choice,” Ganado says.

“But there are a lot of females who like to take on a challenge!” she says. McDonald is positive about the pathways the trade can offer, from big plant rooms and chillers and cooling tower work through to coolrooms, freezer rooms, refrigerated cargo containers and buildings including major commercial offices and retail centres. Bridie Kate McDonald

This is something Bridie Kate McDonald, a qualified refrigeration technician and former student at Ultimo TAFE, has experienced first-hand. She often works on sites where there are no amenities for women, including hygiene product disposal. These are facilities all workplaces should be providing, she says. “Even if it is a male-dominated workplace, it is just basic workplace health and safety [to have sanitary product bins]. Women don’t necessarily speak up about having those amenities. They are too anxious, and we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.” When she attended TAFE she was the only female student in her classes, and there was some adjustment required by the male students. This has carried through into the workplace, where she says some of her male colleagues have found it difficult to feel comfortable with their usual “joking around”. “A lot of them I think are worried about what they can and cannot do around women at work,” she says. “Nobody knows where the line is.” McDonald says there needs to be workplace resources around this to help men understand what is and is not OK in terms of behaviour. This is also something that

In addition to the diversity of sites, there is diversity in products, technology and tasks. “You are always learning something different – it is not everything being the same every day.” There are also multiple skills involved beyond technical and tool skills, including communication skills. This is an area where McDonald thinks women may have a path to success. “Communication skills are one of the biggest keys,” she says. A sense of humour is also essential, McDonald says.

HARD TO BE WHAT YOU DO NOT SEE Mikaila Ganado, M.AIRAH, is Chair of the Women in AIRAH Special Technical Group and a director of GWA Consultants. She says one of the most important factors in recruiting more young women into the trade is ensuring they know it is an option. Careers advisers could be suggesting young women who are good at science and maths consider engineering and trade careers. At the same time, she says change needs to “come from the top down” in terms of how the industry presents itself to the wider public.

The image of the industry as a place where there are “girly magazines in the coffee room” is outdated and needs to be changed. Advertising also plays a role – with outdated gender stereotypes rampant. Ganado points out it is always a man installing the air conditioner, or a male roadside mechanic coming to the rescue of a mother with a baby in the car. “We are subtly reinforcing the stereotype for another generation of girls that these are men’s roles,” she says. It is already tough being a teenage girl and navigating social expectations, Ganado says. The last thing most want to do is take a career path they see as the “road less travelled”. “Many school-aged girls don’t want to be seen as different,” she says. Ganado says part of raising the visibility of women in the HVAC&R sector is also about reaching critical mass – around 30 per cent female participation.

LEAPING THE GENDER PAY GAP Once women are in the trade there are some advantages compared to other professions. For a start, while many roles partly judge a female worker by appearance, Ganado says high-vis and uniforms are a great leveller. In HVAC&R a person is judged by the quality of their work. The gender pay gap of around 14 per cent on average difference between women’s average weekly earnings and male weekly earnings is also not as likely to be encountered. In the early years, apprentice wages are set by awards and enterprise bargaining agreements, so are strictly gender-neutral. At higher career levels, Ganado says being assertive is important to ensure wages and salaries keep pace with male peers.

DIVERSITY IS A SUPERPOWER For the industry too, there are benefits. Women do think differently to men, and Ganado says difference is “a superpower”. “I have seen my difference in thought as an asset and an advantage in my career,” she says. “And research shows that companies with diverse boards financially outperform those that lack diversity. “We don’t need the same solutions from the same people. We need new and creative solutions from a diverse range of people.”

Mikaila Ganado, M.AIRAH

Parental responsibilities are one area where some women see potential career roadblocks. Ganado says that “every industry needs to drop the idea of maternity leave and paternity leave. It’s parental leave.

Summer 2020

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HVAC&R Nation

Cover Feature “We should be focusing on improving our working environments for people and moving away from the idea of improving conditions for women, or mothers, or fathers, or carers and so on. Ultimately, flexible workplaces and a healthy work-life balance benefits everyone, not just certain groups.”

Patricia Bellotti, Affil.AIRAH

McDonald says there is potentially a financial issue that needs to be resolved in terms of paid maternity leave or parental leave. Not all awards or all employers do include paid leave for pregnancy and the post‑pregnancy period.

In other parts of the economy, cultural shifts around parental leave and balancing family responsibilities have been positive for both genders. “The better companies are following the example of mining,” says SHAPE Australia project manager Erin Oxley.

NOT TREATING TRADES AS SECOND-BEST

Many mining companies recognised they wanted a more diverse workforce, and so put in place measures to support women workers and families including work flexibility and ensuring promotions were still attainable after taking a break for maternity leave.

To ensure the HVAC&R industry can recruit the new, female talent it needs, Swanson says we need to change the mindset that all girls “should go to university, or if not university, retail or fitness.” “Trades other than hairdresser or beauty therapist are not generally considered as an option,” he says.

“Construction companies saw how successful that was for the mining industry,” says SHAPE Australia design manager Althea Papinczak.

“School career advisers and parents need to be more open to encouraging girls leaving school toward more male-dominated trades that are paying top dollar but lacking numbers of quality candidates entering the trades.”

“But I just kept knocking away at that door,” Bellotti says. Having assistance from a sponsor that saw potential in her and gave her a platform to prove her worth also helped.

He says the HVAC&R industry in turn needs to promote itself as a trade of first choice for both male and female school-leavers.

“Having a sponsor to assist when you’re starting out and your political capital is not strong, is a valuable benefit of networking and building great working relationships,” she says.

The true scope of the industry also needs to be showcased. “When Joe Public thinks of air conditioning or refrigeration they think of their kitchen fridge or a little wall-mounted air conditioning unit. The actual trade is far more diverse and interesting than these simple domestic appliances,” Swanson says. “HVAC&R is a multi-skilled trade where you learn fitting, welding fabrication, sheet metal, electrical, piping, programming and control skills just to name a few.” That means trainers and employers are looking for intelligence – not super strength. “Girls should not be discouraged thinking that it is a physically demanding career that involves constant heavy lifting. Females can also contribute heavily in the key service skills of being good communicators and organisers, and understanding client needs.

RE-ENGINEERING THE GLASS CEILING Progressing into the higher management levels in HVAC&R can still be a struggle. Project manager – mechanical services at HVAC in Queensland, Patricia Bellotti, Affil.AIRAH, says she needed to overcome “massive roadblocks” when she wanted to step up from contract management to project management, due to being a sole parent.

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But at the same time, encouraging more women into construction and trades – both young women and mature women looking to change careers – is important.

“In some cases the people who own the construction companies saw how their own wives were treated [with career breaks].” The growing emphasis on family-friendly working also addresses the issue many men experience of there being a stigma around needing to dedicate time to children as well as work, Oxley says. There is another way in which diversity can improve company culture for male workers and that is in terms of addressing some of the underlying attitudes and behaviours that can lead to serious workplace bullying. Working on respect for diversity can help shift some of those attitudes, Papinczak says. “The more men feel empowered to share, and talk, it will break down that toxic culture.” It’s also the responsibility of site managers to call out bad behaviour.

THE NEXT GENERATION Some organisations are working proactively to encourage young women into the industry. “The schools we work with are on the front foot with less biased career advice,” Papinczak says. WIDAC’s Inspiring the Future career expo sessions at schools introduce participants to project managers, engineers, architects and lighting designers.

Papinczak says she has never felt she had less opportunity in her career than her male peers. She has also been seeing growing numbers of women in the construction workforce over the past decade.

“Parents also need to be more responsible for giving their kids a broad range of ideas, looking at their interests and what they are good at,” Papinczak says.

Mentoring and support are very valuable for women in the industry, Papinczak says. Having a sponsor who “understands your abilities and pushes for you where you haven’t built that social capital up yet in an organisation” can be a major help with career progress.

“But I still notice it [when I see a woman on the tools]. I would love for it to become normal.” ■

Male champions are also valuable, she adds, particularly in organisations where women do not feel as well heard or as well supported as would be ideal.

The perception was that parenting responsibilities would not be compatible with being onsite at the same times the rest of a construction team was there. HVAC&R Nation

Women in Design and Construction (WIDAC) is a network of women that was founded in Queensland and has grown into a national network of peer-to-peer support and mentoring.

Ultimately, recruitment needs to be about who is best for the job, Papinczak says.

“On shore you may be working in a critical data centre, supermarket refrigeration, a mine or one of many large-scale industrial cooling or heating applications.”

Once she was in the project management space, Bellotti says management recognised it was not essential for a project manager to be onsite from 6am five days a week. This is something the recent COVID-19 situation has also consolidated for many firms, as people have worked remotely and still managed to keep trades on-track.

Founding members SHAPE Australia design manager Althea Papinczak and SHAPE Australia project manager Erin Oxley says they think a 50 per cent target or gender quotas are not the best way to proceed.

“Being a fridgie can take you around the world. You could be cooling a cruise ship, servicing a six-star hotel on an exotic island, or cooling the propulsion or weapon system on a navy ship,” Swanson says.

LEARNING FROM OTHER SECTORS

Bellotti says the opportunities created by networking are also “huge”. This includes the kind of networking provided by organisations such as AIRAH and WIDAC. Summer 2020

While women onsite in trade roles are still rare, Oxley says the numbers have been increasing “dramatically”.

Do you want to connect with the Women of AIRAH special technical group? Go to www.airah.org.au/woa

LOTUS TOWER HVAC SOLUTION BACKGROUND Applied Air Services, an air conditioning specialist based in the Brisbane suburb of Geebung, commenced work on Lotus Tower in March 2019. A luxury villas apartment and penthouse development, Lotus Tower is located in the highly sought-after suburb of Kangaroo Point. The complex features an extensive range of residential amenities including a rooftop sun deck and spa, swimming pool, dedicated yoga space, a golf simulator and children’s play areas, as well as high-end residential villa-style apartments, penthouses and townhouses.

THE PROJECT The 24 storey Lotus Tower complex consists of four levels of basement and 19 levels of apartments, with level 20 the penthouse floor. There are an additional 12 townhouses detached from the main tower. Common areas within the precinct include a gym, golf simulator, reception and private dining area. Applied Air Services was required to meet the individual heating, cooling and air flow requirements of all residential and commercial tenancy, as well as the building’s shared amenities.

CHALLENGES Managing power allocation for each tenancy was a requirement of the chosen HVAC system. The Fujitsu General VRF solution enabled this to be implemented due to its power apportioning feature. All the Lotus Tower indoor units are powered from a local distribution point from the apartment, and the building has watt hour meters, monitoring the power used for all the outdoor units. Software converts power meter usage into a percentage for each tenant.

OUTCOME

The Lotus Tower project required the installation of 54 outdoor units and 533 indoor units. During installation not one of them had a fault, error or gas leak which is a testament to the quality of the product and the installation quality.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW PRODUCTS: VRF HEAT RECOVERY VRF HEAT PUMP DUCTED SYSTEMS WALL HUNG SPLIT SYSTEMS

With power apportioning managing the systems energy usage, the building management can extract reports regarding the allocation of energy usage to understand where there is wastage, and where savings can be made.

QTY OF INDOOR UNITS: 519 X VRF 12 X DUCTED UNITS (LHTDP) 2 X WALL HUNG SPLIT SYSTEMS

A Fujitsu General ducted air conditioning system was installed in each townhouse, providing zone control and individual system management. A Fujitsu General VRF heat recovery system was installed in the main tower. Applied Air used bulkhead fan coil units connected to multiple RB units located in the corridor. The bulkhead fan coil units were chosen for the compact size and internal drain pumps.

QTY OF OUTDOOR UNITS: 35 X VR-II 4 X J-IIS 1 X J-IIIL

The basement received CO (carbon monoxide) controlled ventilation which allows system sensors to level the CO produced by vehicles in the basement and operates ventilation fans to reduce the amount of CO, a new standard practice in the industry.

CENTRAL CONTROLLER: SYSTEM CONTROLLER (UTY-APGXZ1) WITH POWER APPORTIONMENT (UTY-PEGXZ1)

“Fujitsu was the preferred choice over competitors with its five-year warranty as standard. I also have peace of mind with securing manufacturer parts and labour warranty.” Jeff Mann, Applied Air Services.

SEPARATION TUBES: 44 X 4 PORT RB UNITS 23 X SINGLE PORT RB UNITS 391 X SEPARATION TUBES TOTAL SYSTEM CAPACITY: 1271.9KW OF CONDENSER COOLING CAPACITY

FUJITSU GENERAL AUSTRALIA • 1 Telopea Place, Eastern Creek NSW 2766 • T 02 8822 2500 • W fujitsugeneral.com.au

Summer 2020

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Green Wedge

SOAKING UP THE SUN

Just as solar panels are now the norm on top of Aussie homes, another piece of kit is becoming more common inside them.

Around four million Australian homes are predicted to have solar panels on their roofs by 2030. We already have the highest uptake of solar globally, with more than 21 per cent of homes fitted with rooftop PV systems. Skyrocketing energy prices – growing by almost 120 per cent between 2008 and 2018 – and householders’ wishes to reduce their carbon footprint are boosting uptake.

The Tesla Powerwall 2.

The Tesla Powerwall 2 is a rechargeable cobalt‑based lithium battery boasting a 13.5kWh capacity (7kW peak/5kW continuous) that the company says is sufficient for daily cycle applications when fully charged. If required, you can stack up to nine units to expand capacity. The Powerwall debuted in the US market at an astonishing US$3,000 (Au$4,253) and almost immediately sold out through to the middle of 2016. Setting up a unit in Australia would cost around Au$11,700.

This is all good news for the home battery storage market. Thanks to better technology, falling prices, and government rebates, a battery boom could be on the cards.

Six months after Tesla claimed its 100,000th Powerwall installation, long-time battery maker Energizer announced the global launch of its first Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Energizer Homepower, in October 2020.

The quiet market segment started getting mainstream buzz when Tesla joined the party in 2015. CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Tesla Powerwall, part of the company’s grand vision to end our dependence on grid power and switch to solar energy.

The Energizer Homepower features a 6.1kWh capacity module that can connect up to three additional sub‑units with a maximum total capacity of 24.4kWh.

The Energizer Homepower.

Like the Tesla system, Energizer Homepower comes with software that allows you to control your energy use and solar production in real time from anywhere in the world. In addition, the mobile app can guide your technician along a step-by-step installation sequence, which helps to reduce installation time. For Australian solar users, the biggest draw of the Energizer announcement is probably the unit’s pricing, at $7,500–8,500. Depending on capacity and brand, a lithium-ion battery and hybrid inverter will typically cost between $8,000 and $15,000 to purchase and install. The price is lower if you factor in government rebate schemes. For example, Victoria’s Home Solar Battery Rebate can take as much as $4,174 off the price. So don’t be surprised when you spot a large white battery box on your next residential job – we’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the future. ■

There’s a whole other world of HVAC&R to discover in Ecolibrium magazine.

Get a taste of AIRAH’s official journal at www.airah.org.au/ecolibrium To advertise in ECOLIBRIUM contact — Glenn Douglas 0411 839 667 or John McGrath 0419 556 108

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Summer 2020

MODULE

135

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

AIRAH Industry Nights 2021

EC MOTORS

FOR HVAC&R FANS EC motors, also known as BLDC motors (brushless DC), BLPM motors (brushless permanent magnet), are electronically commutated permanent magnet brushless DC motors and are from the external

Skills summary

rotor motor family.

■ What?

newly manufactured equipment and for retrofit into existing plant

They are now used extensively in various applications, both for

A close look at EC motors, including what they are, how they work, controls, benefits, and safety precautions.

such as computer room AC units, refrigeration condensers and

■ Who?

This Skills Workshop explains how they work and the benefits they offer.

Relevant for anyone involved in the design, selection, installation, operation and maintenance of fans and fan systems.

What is an EC motor? You can think of an EC motor as an electric motor with a built-in variable frequency drive (VFD). These are very efficient motors with on-board electronics to allow for synchronous speed control with complete motor protection. This eliminates the need for contactors and overloads on the mains supply to the motors, and for shielded mains cable from the VFD to the motor. EC motors tend to be more common in the smaller motor sizes, where the AC equivalents are far less efficient. AC motor or internal rotor motor efficiencies increase as the motors increase in power sizes. As with all things, there are high-quality motors built to comply with the highest global standards with full R&D backup. There are also low-cost, reverse-engineered or copycat products that may seem similar at first glance, but often have little or no engineering support.

general HVAC systems.

It also covers details of their operation, and relevant safety precautions you should take when working with this equipment. Shortcomings in quality, performance, electrical compliance, and product support should be understood and considered carefully.

Evolution of the EC motor

Different brands also have different inclusions and capabilities. Some can only do the basics, while others go “all out” with many programable and communication options.

As energy efficiency became important, manufacturers started running close to the limits of the ERM AC motor, and began looking for other ways to improve motor efficiencies.

What is an external rotor motor?

By taking a VFD, changing the AC rotor to one with permanent magnets and combining them, the EC motor was born. At the time, electronics were large and expensive compared with today, and due to the size, they had to be mounted in a separate box like a VFD and wired into the motor. In the mid-1990s, as electronics became smaller and less expensive, they were merged into the motor housing to create the more compact and user-friendly EC motor we see today.

External rotor motors, known as ERM motors, are motors where the stator or stationary component of the motor is inside the rotor. These motors were originally designed for gyroscopes but became popular for fans because they are more compact than traditional internal rotor motors. From these original motors, blades were added to create the most common style of refrigeration fan seen for the last half a decade. In the chase for energy efficiency, the EC motor was developed.

Today the EC motor manufacturers are on the third and fourth evolutions of these motors. As the EC motor benefits became more understood and used in various industries, EC motors kept improving. Manufacturers also received feedback from the market and made changes for specific applications.

How does an EC motor work? For the most common variety for use in HVAC&R, you supply standard AC voltage into the electronics, where it is converted to DC voltage through a rectifier and filtered with the help of capacitors to form a DC link. The inverter, using electronic switches called IGBTs, switches the voltage in a controlled manner to the motor windings to create the rotating magnetic field. The advantage of having electronic switches is that it can control the magnetic field, making it stronger or weaker, faster, or slower, by changing the frequency and amplitude of this voltage to the

Figure 1 – Typical AC external rotor motor Summer 2020

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HVAC&R Nation

HVAC&R Skills Workshop or OEMs to monitor the equipment 24/7 to eliminate most catastrophic failures. Using clever algorithms, the EC motor data can help predict more than just energy and maintenance bills.

Control In EC In an environment of systems that are increasingly integrated, monitored and controlled, EC motors offer wider options and flexibility. Most of the EC motors available today are equipped with smart technology and sensors. Options range from basic controls to high-level interfaces (HLI).

Figure 2 – Typical EC motor exploded view

windings. This rotating magnetic field causes the rotor with the permanent magnets to turn. Low voltage, typically 0-10VDC, or analogue input is mostly used to control the operational speed of the fan. The electronics monitor the speed of the rotor with the help of feedback through sensors. Comparing this feedback to the speed set-point, the inverter varies the switching to match both. This set-point can be a speed or a torque that represents an airflow or a pressure value.

sensors, unlike an AC motor. A VFD can be installed, but this requires additional space, filtration and shielded cables – all of which increase costs.

Benefits of EC over AC motors

Some manufacturers do fault-logging on these motors to quickly identify onsite issues. Fault logging can contain data on motor block, over or under temperature in the processor, motor or other electronics, overvoltage, over current, line faults, wrong rotation, onboard errors etc.

Microprocessors and connectivity EC motors have microprocessors on board for the necessary controls. Some also offer standalone or decentralised control without external controllers, by connecting sensors directly.

Efficiency An EC motor usually has over 90 per cent efficiency. When compared to an ordinary motor, energy savings are expected to be over 30 per cent. The prime reason for high efficiency is the lower losses in the motor.

Some EC motors have onboard vibration sensors. This information is used along with the fault logging information and motor temperature sensors to warn users long before a critical failure might occur. This technology makes it possible with IOT or cloud systems to access the data, and for manufacturers

In the case of an EC motor, the magnetic field is partially created by the permanent magnet. In the case of an AC motor, the magnetic field is created due to current flow. Because there is no current flow in the rotor of an EC motor, there is no current loss in the rotor.

Rectifier to convert AC voltage into DC voltage

AC Power Supply

Control via high-level interface (HLI) Apart from the basic control, EC motors also offers HLI options that are mainly used in the Building Management System (BMS). This is usually installed

DC link

Inverter to feed motor

1~ or 3~

Motor 3~

0-10 VDC control signal

The benefits of an EC motor are clear when fans are speed-controlled. The chart in Figure 4 shows the power consumption of a voltage-controlled AC motor, a frequency-controlled AC motor, and an EC motor at different fan speeds.

Processor Feedback sensor

Figure 3 – Typical EC motor schematic 110 100 Power Consumption in %

At 60 per cent speed, the voltage-controlled motor consumes 550W whereas the EC motor only consumes 200W. A VFD-controlled AC motor consumes 50W more than EC at 60 per cent speed, and as speed increases this difference becomes greater, in favour of the EC motor. This is evident at full speed, with AC motor controlled by VFD consuming 980W and EC motor only 800W. Therefore, in applications requiring speed control, EC motors provide a better solution.

100% = 1000W

60%

90 80 70 60

~55% = 550W

50 40 30

~25% = 250W ~20% = 200W

20 10

Overall cost

0 30

The need for an additional device for speed control (VFD) and cost of wiring AC motors makes EC motors cheaper. EC motors also offer high power density and rotation in both directions. The maximum speed of an EC motor is independent of the main frequency, unlike an AC motor. An EC motor can be speed-controlled using output from HVAC&R Nation

Fault indication is another feature that makes troubleshooting easier. It is often indicated by a voltage-free relay contact inside the motor to provide external indication. The fault relay contacts can either be Normally Open (NO)/ Normally Closed (NC) or other via programming. Since the fault is indicated usually via an LED using flash code, the requirement of tools for diagnosis is minimal. Alternatively, the fault could be identified using a computer, building management and control system (BMCS), or via Bluetooth if supported.

–

Control

Basic control options of an EC motor usually include on/off and 0-10 VDC, 0-20mA or pulse width modulation (PWM). Outputs from active sensors – which maybe 0-10V, PWM or 4-20mA – can be connected to most EC motors.

Some of the inherent losses in electric motors include copper and iron losses. Other losses include mechanical losses at bearing and bush friction losses. Additionally, an AC induction motor suffers from slip, which is eliminated in the EC motor because it is a synchronous speed motor.

Basic control

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60 70 Fan speed in %

100

AC motor – voltage controlled AC motor – controlled by vfd EC motor Figure 4 – Typical AC versus EC motor efficiency comparison |

Summer 2020

HVAC&R Skills Workshop by OEMs, which helps communicating to the equipment via the BMS communication network.

• Overload the onboard relay contact by exceeding the current or voltage ratings.

HLI enables the users to control and monitor in real time, making it more efficient. By varying the parameter of the HLI, this can be integrated in BMS programming. Depending on the BMS, the communication protocol used in the HLI can vary. Some of the common HLI options are Modbus, BACnet, Ethernet, EtherCat, and PROFINET.

• Using long analogue cables.

How to work safely with EC motors

• Water ingress in EC motors can affect the electronics and can damage the motor.

EC motors also offer various safety features. These include overload protection, locked rotor protection, false rotation, temperature sensors for overheating, line failure, and protection against over voltage. All EC motors have capacitors inside and can provide significant electrical shock for several minutes after being turned off while they discharge. If the power to the EC motors is removed and the rotor is still turning, energy is fed back to the DC link. A rule of thumb is to isolate the EC motor from mains power, make sure it stops, then wait 3 minutes before working on the motor. But always check with the manufacturer. As EC motors have motor built-in protection, if the motor is not spinning but the power is still on, the motor could restart at any time without warning.

• Incorrectly sized cables not based on motor specifications. • Using a VFD for power to the EC motor. • Never megger-test an EC motor unless you can separate the windings, normally not possible. • Using contactors and (using) current overloads. They are an unnecessary expense and older contactors can cause damage to the DC-link. • Connecting 3~ to a 1~ EC motor. • Connecting high voltage to the controller side. EC Analog In

DC Out

Digital In

(max = 10mA)

(max = 70mA)

DC Out

24V 10V GND D1 E1

Mains

Contact rating max. AC 250 V 2 A

L1 13NO14

Off / On 4

L2 L3/N PE

Line voltage

Rating-plate 1

10kΩ

External speed setting 5

– 6

• Using one multi-cable for control and mains supply. • Using HLI and not obeying the communication guidelines. • Using standard EC motors in non-suited applications.

• EC motors should not be used for smoke exhaust applications or in an explosive atmosphere.

EC motors do not generate motor noise associated with speed control, providing improved occupant comfort. EC motors can maintain higher efficiencies even at much lower speeds than AC motors can operate. This unique feature enables them to be more versatile, replacing conventional fan models with new EC fan models.

• Do not connect 10VDC or 24VDC motor outputs from one EC motor to subsequent EC motor outputs.

Wiring requirements for EC motors

Some EC motors can also be programmed for use in zone pressurization systems or “fire mode” for fresh air supply systems, offering true run to destruction, bypassing all motor safeties, and being fully compliant with AS/NZS1668 Part 1. Complying with this standard requires that all motor protection needs to be bypassed while in fire mode. Note that complying to this standard is only applicable for use in fresh air supply applications – no EC motor can be used for smoke exhaust or hot gas exhaust applications.

Mains • An appropriately sized main circuit breaker with characteristic “C” and/or fuse of operating class “gG”, based on motor rating, is required. This will protect the wiring and motor should a short circuit occur. • A local isolator may be used for added safety and compliance.

Retrofit with EC fans AHU fans make up about 30 per cent of a building’s energy consumption. Replacing low‑efficiency belt-drive fans with direct-drive fans with EC motors could potentially reduce the electrical consumption by 10-30 per cent.

• Good practice is to use individual circuit breakers or isolators per motor to provide redundancy in multi-fan systems. • Ensure 1~ fans are only supplied 1~ as per motor name plate, because connections are often similar for both ~1 and ~3 motors.

The ability to replace large traditional AHU fans with several smaller EC fans eliminates the logistical challenges for traditional large scroll fans at end of life, upgrade, or replacement. Typical EC plug fans can be carried by one or two people through standard doors, lifts and into existing AHUs without crane lifts or the major structural complications required to bring replacement scroll fans into existing built-up AHUs.

• Appropriate cable to suite application and correct outer diameter for the cable glands used to provide correct IP rating. Moulded cable is required to maintain IP rating. • The use of shielded cables is normally not required but offers high protection against electromagnetic interferences.

Because EC motors are typically smaller in size, benefits can be gained both in overall system efficiency and system redundancy using multiple fans in parallel to achieve the same duty.

Control • Analogue input for motor speed specification, ensure correct voltage and polarity.

Reducing the energy consumption is no longer just a trend, but usually a requirement and often a necessity for building compliance. This means there is a need for high-efficiency motors with lower impact on the environment. High-efficiency IE5 EC motors consume less energy for a shorter payback period. Because the motor runs more efficiently, it generates less waste heat. This means EC motors generally have a longer life, higher system efficiencies, and a reduced heat load for cooling the motor.

• No contactor and overload is required for the EC motors as all motor protection is internal to the motor.

What to avoid.

Control

Other considerations

+ Input 1… 10V 4… 20mA

1. Line voltage see rating plate 2. Relay output “K1” for fault reporting (factory function), max. contact load AC 250 V 2 A • During operation the relay is energised, i.e. the connections “13” and “14” are bridged • In case of a fault, the relay is de-energised • In case of a shutdown using the enable (D1 = Digital In 1) the relay remains energised 4. Digital enable input (factory function) • Device “ON” when contact closed • Device “Off” when contact open 5. External speed setting 6. Input 0… 10 V, 4… 20mA 7. PWM input, f = 1… 10kHz

Figure 5 – Typical EC fan wiring diagram

Other retrofit applications include refrigeration, cooling towers, filter units, energy recovery units, and kitchen exhaust systems. These can hugely benefit from reduced noise levels, increased efficiency, improved air performance and other savings.

• Typical approved cable types include, AWG22 (2x2 twisted pair moulded cable). Check with the manufacturer. • Maximum allowed wire length is generally 1,000m (CAT5/7 500m).

Given all these benefits, it is easy to think that if it is EC it will be better. But selection is still critical – not all EC motors are the same, and choosing the wrong one can have negative effects on your project goals.

• Appropriate cable to suite application and correct outer diameter for the cable glands used to provide correct IP rating. Moulded cable is recommended. • The use of shielded cables is normally not required but offers high protection against electromagnetic interferences.

A final consideration: There is no use having the most energy-efficient motor on the least efficient fan impeller. You must consider the complete fan assembly to meet the desired project specifications. ■

This month’s skills workshop has been provided by Mark Jones, AM.AIRAH, from Ziehl-Abegg. For more information visit www.ziehl-abegg.com/au/home/ Summer 2020

Next issue: Performance tests for chillers |

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Summer 2020

Legal Speak EMPLOYER OBLIGATIONS Preparing a COVIDSafe Plan forms part of the development of a safe system of work, but does not in itself mean that an employer has complied with their duties under the OHS Act and OHS Regulations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an employer has the following obligations: • Regularly update the business’ COVIDSafe Plan • Ensure that any workers that can work from home are able to do so • Collect records of all workers and any person who attends the work premises for 15 minutes or longer • Ensure that there is one worker per 4m² of enclosed workspace or in shared areas • Ensure workers do not work across multiple sites. If it is not practicable to limit a worker to only one work site, or if the worker has multiple employers, then the worker must declare this to their employer(s). The employer(s) must maintain a record of all workers who work across multiple work premises • If a worker is unwell, send them home and direct them to be tested. They must stay home until they have their result • Report any positive cases of coronavirus to the DHHS, WorkSafe, health and safety representatives, and notify your workforce

DUTY OF CARE AND COVID-19

Everyone has the right to be safe at work, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. An employer’s obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations) do not change as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions.

The COVIDSafe Plan must set out the following:

Employers must ensure they follow any health directions that apply to how their business must operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure they meet their obligations under the OHS Act.

• How the employer will prepare for, and respond to, a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace

A COVIDSAFE PLAN All businesses that have already opened or are opening in Melbourne must have a COVIDSafe Plan in place. The COVIDSafe Plan focuses on safety, prevention and response in the event that coronavirus is linked to the workplace. The COVIDSafe Plan should be developed in consultation with workers and any relevant health and safety representatives in the business. If a business operates out of multiple locations, a COVIDSafe Plan will need to be developed for each location.

• Regularly clean facilities, shared spaces and provide additional cleaning supplies • Undertake risk assessments for cleaning and the potential closure of the workplace in certain situations.

EMPLOYEE OBLIGATIONS It is important to note that employees must also comply with their duties under the OHS Act. Employees have a duty to:

• The employer’s actions to help prevent the introduction of COVID-19 in the workplace • The level of face covering or personal protective equipment (PPE) required in the workplace

• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety in the workplace • Take reasonable care of the health and safety of others in the workplace • Cooperate with their employer/s about any action they take to comply with the OHS Act or the OHS Regulations.

• How the employer will meet all of the requirements set out by the Victorian government. High-risk workplaces such as construction, warehousing and distribution need to develop a High Risk COVIDSafe Plan. Employers do not have to lodge their COVIDSafe Plan with the Victorian government; however, they may be required to provide it to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) or WorkSafe in the event of a confirmed positive case.

The employee duties pursuant to the OHS Act mean that employees must cooperate with any reasonable policies or directions their employer has put in place to reduce the risks to health and safety from COVID-19. This obligation applies to employees even if they are working from home. This means that an employee should not go to work if he/she believe that he/she: • May have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 • May have contracted COVID-19 • Has any of the symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild.

Article prepared jointly by Frank Gambera and Bridget Vaughan of McMahon Fearnley Lawyers. Contact them through www.mcmahonfearnley.com.au

Please note that this article is based on the current situation in Victoria. Check with your local authority for the current health directions in your state or territory. Please seek legal advice if you have any doubts regarding your obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic. ■ Summer 2020

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Feature

FIRE IN THE HOLE Fire and smoke walls help protect buildings and their occupants. But as Sean McGowan reports, the improper penetration of these walls for services can render them ineffective, and even increase the unpredictability of fire and smoke spread. unavoidable, but it is the treatment of the penetration that is vital to the integrity of the fire and smoke wall.

Fire and smoke walls are one of the key passive fire protection features for protecting both buildings and their occupants. Used to create compartments within buildings that help to restrict fire and smoke to the compartment of origin, they are able to minimise the damage and risk caused by a conflagration. Ultimately, they save lives. But fire and smoke walls are only as good as their weakest point. Penetrations made through these walls can create a breach, and, if the penetration is not completed correctly, can cause them to be ineffective. Penetrations associated with HVAC&R, plumbing and electrical services all pose a risk to fire safety. Some are 20

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“Many service providers pay little attention to fire walls and make penetrations in ways and locations that make their work easier or cheaper, without considering the ramifications,” says Paul Waterhouse, NSW state manager at the Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia).

these features to allow for services can provide opportunities for flames and smoke to spread to other compartments.” Improper penetrations can allow fires to grow more quickly than expected, and make both the spread of fire and smoke more unpredictable.

He says if fire and smoke protections are not reinstated, the consequences can be fatal.

This puts occupants in much greater danger. They may be exposed to fire and smoke from unexpected sources, and have less chance of evacuating a building safely.

“If the protection that fire and smoke walls provide is not reinstated through the use of passive fire protection measures, penetrations created in

Fires can also grow faster and more unpredictably, making it much more difficult and dangerous for firefighters to fight a fire or rescue occupants.

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Feature

GOOD PRACTICE

The smoke control effectiveness of curtains, shutters or dampers is dictated by the quality of the sealing strips around the edges of the closing elements.

The Fire Protection Association of Australia (FPA Australia) published two Good Practice Guides in March 2018 aimed at assisting all stakeholders involved in with the protection of openings created by service penetrations. GPG-06 Fire Resistance provides guidance and information on the general requirements for fire-resisting construction under Volume 1 of the Building Code of Australia (BCA). It details why such fire resistance is required. GPG-07 Protection of openings for service penetrations in fire resisting building elements provides guidance and information on the requirements of Clause C3.15 of Volume 1 of the Building Code of Australia (BCA), and details the options available for the protection of service penetrations. The FPA Australia board recently decided to allow access to full copies of these documents to non-FPA Australia members. To access your copy, visit www.fpaa.com.au or email technical@fpaa.com.au

A GROWING PROBLEM

“These errors in construction are made worse whenever installers are willing to look the other way and provide certification that everything is OK.”

According to Brett Fairweather, M.AIRAH, mechanical engineering consultant with It’s Engineered, the improper penetration of fire and smoke walls is an all too common occurrence – and a problem the construction industry needs to address.

With new laws recently passed in New South Wales that will help to hunt down defects and pursue those responsible, it is hoped that such practices will become a thing of the past.

“Near enough is never good enough when it comes to the fire safety in buildings,” he says.

CHANGING BEHAVIOUR In 2019, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) held a series of workshops as part of its “harms based regulatory approach” pilot program that seeks to enhance the VBA’s capability to identify harms, understand the contributing factors and decide on where best to focus regulatory activity. During these workshops, improper service penetration of fire and smoke walls in class 2 to 9 buildings was identified as a harm requiring priority action. The VBA has since partnered with BehaviourWorks Australia – a leading behaviour change research enterprise at Monash University – to carry out research on reducing the occurrence and impact of improper penetrations. One idea that came up was prototyping – a highly recommended practice for large scale installations. Completing one example that everyone understands and agrees to makes it easier to repeat that penetration technique for the rest of the installation.

“The rules are laid out pretty clearly now in the relevant regulations, codes and standards, and there is no excuse for failing to learn or ignoring these rules,” says Fairweather.

and what to do when they come across them as part of their installation or service/maintenance work. “Experience or training in the use of relevant passive fire protection systems, such as fire collars and firerated sealants, would be particularly helpful,” he says. As well as familiarising themselves with building plans, HVAC&R practitioners should also talk to the designers and builders to identify where the risks are and what requirements have been specified to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.

“They exist to protect building occupants and the community, and those people are relying on us to know what we are doing and to do it properly.”

CALL YOURSELF PROFESSIONAL If you’re involved in the design, installation or commissioning of HVAC&R systems that are penetrating compartment boundaries, you must be familiar with all aspects of the construction rules from state regulations, the National Construction Code (NCC), and the referenced Australian Standards. “Beyond just knowing the rules though, everyone involved should be appropriately qualified and experienced for the work they are responsible for,” says Fairweather. Even beyond the construction phase, the installation needs to be ready to withstand the scrutiny of fire safety practitioners who inspect and endorse fire safety system performance.

LEARNING CAN SAVE LIVES Although industry bodies like the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) are undertaking research on changing behaviour in the construction industry, HVAC&R professionals should know their responsibilities. AIRAH offers a number of courses that speak to the issues associated with fire and smoke wall services penetrations, with particular emphasis on responsibilities. For installers and those performing ongoing maintenance, AIRAH’s Essential Safety Measures course should be considered. Those involved in the detailed design, installation and commissioning of fire and smoke dampers should consider completing AIRAH’s Smoke Control and Fire Dampers course. These courses are regularly updated in line with the latest codes and standards – with more content added as new information comes to light.

“So if you are not comfortable, seek training to improve your knowledge or just focus on other work that you are great at.” According to Waterhouse, HVAC&R professionals should be trained in how to recognise fire walls Summer 2020

For more information about these courses, visit www.airah.org.au/training

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HVAC&R Nation

Feature Waterhouse says the installation of systems should be planned carefully, and designs discussed with project stakeholders. “Where the installer finds a need to deviate from those designs, it should only be done following further consultation with the design and building teams,” he says.

PAY ATTENTION According to Fairweather, most of the improper services penetrations he comes across relate to errors in design and/or installation. While he says designers are responsible for knowing what is necessary and then coordinating systems to achieve the necessary protection, those practitioners involved in the installation of systems must pay careful attention – particularly when coordinating services. “Installation requires paying careful attention to design details and the instructions of manufacturers providing fire and smoke stopping products,” Fairweather says. “Poorly coordinated penetrations, in particular, can become big problems to fix after the work is done.” Common errors include the incorrect size, position or clearance of the penetration, or the fire protection product being applied to the penetration.

It is usually the spread of toxic and obscuring smoke that causes occupant deaths, not the heat and radiation of the fire itself.

And as is almost always the case, quick fixes are rarely the correct solution. “If you are unsure of a detail in an installation, ask someone who should know until you understand it yourself,” says Fairweather.

EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBLE

When you see something

Anyone who has anything to do with fire and smoke walls has a responsibility to know how their work affects the fire protection integrity of these walls. And this is particularly so for anyone who sees them as a barrier to the installation of their own services and products.

that is not quite right – no matter the area of the construction – speak up

ESSENTIAL SAFETY MEASURES UNDER SCRUTINY The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) recently announced new initiatives to boost the compliance and performance of essential safety measures (ESMs). ESMs include air-handling systems for smoke control and fire and smoke dampers, as well as things like smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. According to the VBA, the Victorian Statewide Cladding Audit has revealed many deficiencies in the design, approval, installation and maintenance of ESMs in apartment and public buildings since it began in December 2017. “Through expert analysis of these buildings, responses to fire events such as the NEO200 building fire, and enforcement programs run in partnership with local councils, the VBA has gained unparalleled insight into the performance and compliance of ESMs across the state,” the VBA says. “Coupled with evidence pointing to widespread confusion over the roles and responsibilities

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related to ESM maintenance, the VBA has seen firsthand the impacts that sub-standard installation and maintenance can have on public safety and confidence in our built environment.” In response, the VBA has been working closely with industry to establish Victoria’s first ESM Enhancement Program – a set of initiatives to address public safety, enhance practitioner competency with wet systems, and to promote the importance of effective and compliant ESMs. AIRAH, the Fire Protection Association of Australia, National Fire Industry Association, AMCA, and the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia are all involved. To give industry and building owners an early preview of some core themes of the Enhancement Program, the VBA has recently produced a guide to the roles and responsibilities associated with ESMs. For more information, go to www.vba.vic.gov.au

Summer 2020

“The success of a HVAC&R installation relies on the expertise of the HVAC&R practitioners and their ability to thoroughly coordinate their work with all associated parts of the construction,” says Fairweather. When you see something that is not quite right – no matter the area of the construction – speak up, and recommend that someone else has a closer look. You will not only be meeting your obligations under law, but you could well be saving lives. ■

GETTING ACCREDITED AIRAH has supported FPA Australia in developing questions for the Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS). The FPAS currently offers accreditation for the routine service of passive fire protection in the form of fire seals and collars to AS1851-2012. It also has categories for accredited practitioners (fire safety) in NSW for the annual assessment of fire seals protecting openings in fire-resisting components of the building. AIRAH is working with FPA Australia on the future development of training for practitioners managing penetrations in fire walls, as part of future broader reform. But beyond industry organisations, there are also many fire safety product manufacturers and installers who can be valuable sources of information and technical expertise.

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Summer 2020

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10/11/20 10:46| am HVAC&R Nation 23

AIRAH News

WINNERS OF THE AIRAH AWARDS 2020 ARE: Student of the Year – Higher Education or Research Nima Izadyar, Affil.AIRAH Product of the Year (sponsored by HVAC&R Search)

Temperzone – OPA Eco Ultra Excellence in HVAC&R Research Dr Xiaolin Wang, Affil.AIRAH, ANU – Carbon dioxide hydrate‑based cold thermal energy storage and carbon capture

HIGH ACHIEVERS OF HVAC&R Winners of this year’s AIRAH Awards celebrated virtual victories as the event went online for the first time ever.

we’ve been able to maintain some traditions – like the AIRAH Awards. In 2020 we are celebrating our Centenary, so it was especially important we hold the event this year.

In a special online edition of its annual awards ceremony, AIRAH announced the winners of the AIRAH Awards 2020. Held as the culmination of AIRAH’s Outlook 2020 international HVAC&R conference, the awards celebrated the leading people, projects and products in Australia’s HVAC&R industry across 11 categories. The winners’ list features some of Australia’s most sustainable buildings and innovative upgrades, as well as young researchers and rising stars of the sector. Phil Carruthers, F.AIRAH, earned AIRAH’s highest honour, the James Harrison Medal, for his contribution to HVAC&R over a career of more than 50 years. The ceremony was sponsored by Daikin, hosted by comedian Harley Breen, and included messages from industry figures, both local and international. AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH, says this year’s awards ceremony held extra significance, coming at the close of such a tumultuous year. “We’ve all had to adjust and adapt during 2020,” says Gleeson, “But I’m very pleased that AIRAH thanks the Awards Gala Sponsor, Daikin, as well as individual awards sponsors ActronAir, A.G. Coombs, HVAC&R Search and Ecolibrium.

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“It’s also fitting that we wrap up our major event of 2020 by celebrating HVAC&R, because without our industry, Australia may not have survived the pandemic. Through this year’s lockdowns, we relied more heavily than ever on heating, cooling and refrigeration to keep our cold chains working, keep our data centres running, and keep our hospitals and healthcare facilities operating. “As we look to the future and the next 100 years for AIRAH, we see exciting times ahead. This year has focused greater attention on what we do, particularly activities such as ventilation and improving indoor air quality. As we recover from the pandemic and the lockdowns it imposed, the HVAC&R sector will be challenged to provide more innovative and sustainable solutions. Looking at the list of winners in this year’s AIRAH Awards, I’m confident our industry is ready to rise to that challenge.” ■

MISSED THE SHOW? You can see a recording of the AIRAH Awards 2020 at www.airah.org.au/awards

Summer 2020

Denis Joseph Award for Innovative Use of Solar Energy in HVAC&R Veolia and McClintock Engineering Group – Innovative solar thermal water battery WR Ahern Award (sponsored by Ecolibrium)

James Spears, M.AIRAH – Improving pump efficiency: A combination of regulation and good design (Ecolibrium, July 2019) Best HVAC Retrofit or Upgrade IT Critical Systems – BHP Olympic Dam: DR site upgrade Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Norman Disney & Young Excellence in Innovation McClintock Engineering Group – University of Queensland, Gatton Campus Future Leader (sponsored by A.G. Coombs)

Grace Foo, M.AIRAH Excellence in Sustainability (sponsored by ActronAir)

Norman Disney & Young and Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre – Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre Narren Warren James Harrison Medal Phil Carruthers, F.AIRAH

Summer 2020

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HVAC&R Nation

Around the Nation 1

4 2

1 QBCC SAYS CHECK YOUR LICENCE

refrigeration trades,” says Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni. “Despite both qualifications being in demand, until now the only way to resolve this issue was by people completing two apprenticeships – a pathway that can take up to eight years.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is alerting employees who perform air conditioning and refrigeration work for a licensed contractor that they must hold the relevant mechanical services occupational licence by January 1, 2022.

“Through concurrent delivery of the training, it is intended that the dual‑trade qualification can be achieved in just five years, making the new apprenticeship attractive to both employees and employers.”

Under the new licensing framework, the threshold value of mechanical services work has been reduced to zero. This means the performance of any mechanical services work requires the appropriate licence.

A pilot project will be established during the first stage of implementation, with a small number of apprentices starting in early 2021. ■

The new framework also includes a single occupational licence for employees who perform RAC work for a licensed contractor. Employees must hold the occupational licence by January 1, 2022.

3 BEIJER BOOSTS LOCAL MANUFACTURING

“If you are an employee, we encourage you to review the technical qualifications now to ensure you have the required qualifications in time to be licensed by January 1, 2022,” says the QBCC.

Beijer Ref in Australia has announced the formation of SCM REF Australia, a Sydney-based OEM to service the Australian refrigeration industry.

“Although the deadline seems a long way off, we encourage you to review the licensing requirements now to ensure you will have the required qualifications in time. Any additional training that is needed should be considered as soon as possible.” Go to: www.qbcc.qld.gov.au ■

2 DUAL-TRADE PILOT IN SA Apprentices in South Australia will soon be able to complete both electrical and RAC qualifications concurrently, thanks to a new program.

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AIRAH cracked the champagne after winning the Outstanding Industry Education/Training Award for our Professional Diploma in Building Services – HVAC&R. Chris Stamatis, Affil.AIRAH, from CopperTree Analytics took away the ARBS Young Achiever Award. Bueno and Woolworths won the ARBS Project Excellence Award for their work on the Woolworths Energy Management Centre. Actrol scored the ARBS Product Excellence Award for its DC-3 Smart Refrigeration System. And Bueno took home another gong for its Bueno Platform in the Software/Digital Excellence category.

A sales team led by Inderpal Saund and supported in the field by Douglas Herkess, Jason Pearce, Affil.AIRAH, and Andrew Galliano, Affil.AIRAH, will continue to build on the natural refrigerant system work already done within the local retail sector and apply an increased focus on the broader commercial and industrial refrigeration markets.

5 SEMINAR SESSIONS ON NOW

Go to www.beijerref.com.au ■ |

“Leading a business or product to success is a remarkable endeavour, which is why we are proud to showcase the dedication and expertise of our deserving award winners,” says Sue Falcke, ARBS exhibition manager.

Finally, ARBS also announced the Hall of Fame inductees for 2020: Mike Garton (CIBSE ANZ), Alan Channells (AREMA), Steve Smith (RACCA), John Mott, F.AIRAH (AIRAH), and Michael Crook (AMCA).

The SCM REF Australia manufacturing operations will be located at the new Australian Beijer Ref headquarters at Bankstown Airport, Sydney and will be headed by director of operations, Paul Campbell. The facility will be operational Q1, 2021.

“For some time now the refrigeration and air conditioning sector has reported a shortage of electrical refrigeration technicians who are fully skilled and licensed in both the electrical and

Back in October, ARBS announced the winners of the ARBS 2020 Industry Awards in a gala online ceremony.

“The investment is a significant injection into the Australian refrigeration industry and allows us to strengthen our manufacturing capability, including our natural refrigerants offer to local customers,” says Wayne Ferguson, managing director for Beijer Ref in Australia.

Beijer Ref says the business remains committed to locally manufactured customised solutions, with SCM REF Australia able to assist customers meet their unique project requirements.

The Electrical, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician apprenticeship will run for five years. At the end of the program, graduates will have a UEE32211 Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration and the UEE30811 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician.

4 ARBS HANDS OUT AWARDS

Summer 2020

Go to www.arbs.com.au/arbs-2020-awards/ ■

Although the big show couldn’t be held this year, ARBS has converted its usual seminar series into online seminars featuring leaders, academics, organisations, associations and experts in the HVAC&R and building services industry. The ARBS Seminar Series Online started in November and goes into December. A small registration fee applies to selected sessions. Topics include using IoT solutions for monitoring refrigeration systems, energy efficiency of ammonia systems, and standardised digital engineering. “We are thrilled to launch this online format to share the latest news and those who continue to drive innovation and the flow

Around the Nation 6

of education and updates to our industry,” says ARBS exhibition organiser, Sue Falcke.

Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989. The company has been ordered to pay a civil penalty of $500,000.

“We hope you can join us for this exciting series of seminars.”

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley says the department’s prosecution against the company began in July 2019 after an investigation into the importing of bulk HFC without a controlled substances licence.

The next face-to-face ARBS exhibition will be held from April 27–29, 2022, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The ARBS Seminar Series Online aims to reach an even more diverse audience, connecting industry from Australia and throughout the world.

“During our investigation, department officers seized several one-tonne capacity cylinders containing HFC‑227ea, a widely used extinguishing agent, from the company’s premises in Melbourne and Perth,” says Ley.

Go to www.arbs.com.au/timetable-sso/ ■

“The company was aware of their obligations and import licensing requirements but proceeded to import a significant quantity of HFC-227ea anyway.”

6 NO CHANGE TO HC RULES

HFC-227ea is the fifth most potent of the 18 scheduled HFCs under the Act, with a global warming potential (GWP) of 3,350. ■

Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Dr Anthony Lynham, has responded to the parliamentary petition to “approve the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants and appliances in Queensland” tabled by One Nation member for Mirani, Stephen Andrew.

8 JUST THE FACTS

In his response, the minister clarified that hydrocarbon refrigerants and appliances may be used in Queensland under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004. According to Dr Lynham, as of August 13, 2020 there were 2,800 models of refrigeration devices – including domestic fridges – that use hydrocarbon refrigerant approved for use in Queensland. “The Queensland public has access to a wide range of hydrocarbon refrigeration devices if they choose to purchase them,” said the minister. ■

7 RECORD FINE FOR IMPORTER The largest fine ever issued under Australia’s ozone protection laws has been handed down to a Victorian‑based fire protection company for the unlawful importation of HFCs. Following a civil prosecution from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, the Federal Court of Australia found the company formerly known as Fire Protection Technologies Pty Ltd to be in contravention of section 13(1) of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic

A new version of the Cold Hard Facts report has been released. It is the fifth in a series that has become the definitive industry reference for quantifying Australia’s HVAC&R industry. This year’s report found that Australia may have hit “peak bank” – the point from which the total global warming potential of our synthetic greenhouse gases (SGGs) begins to decline. The report says this has been driven by a softening of RAC equipment sales in 2018 and 2019 across nearly all major equipment segments, in line with softer economic conditions, and potentially market saturation in some smaller air conditioning equipment segments. “Slower growth in the bank of refrigerants is also a product of new equipment designs that require smaller charge sizes to deliver equivalent refrigeration services,” says the report. “Adoption of natural refrigerants and larger numbers of units in some segments, particularly in self‑contained commercial refrigeration, is displacing traditional HCFC and HFC applications – even while the stock of equipment is growing.” Go to www.environment.gov.au/protection/ozone/ publications/cold-hard-facts-2020 ■

9 POD PEOPLE GOTAFE is partnering with Bendigo Kangan Institute (BKI) and HVAC&R industry bodies in an innovative new training project for RAC trades. One of the most significant parts of the project is the development of state-of-the-art refrigeration training pods, custom-designed and manufactured to meet the needs of industry. The units can be towed behind a car, allowing GOTAFE and BKI to deliver specialised training to students all over regional Victoria. The project will see students learn to install, set up, test, repair and maintain refrigeration systems and equipment. The project also aims to develop training modules to assist with the transition to refrigerants with a lower global warming potential (GWP) and other related technologies. Steve Crapper, Affil. AIRAH, a refrigeration teacher at BKI, says the new pods will allow meaningful practical classes for students wanting to learn about natural refrigerants. “The new pods will support the theory in this area of refrigeration and air conditioning in both existing and new competencies being introduced next year.” ■

10 SPECIAL OCCASION FOR COOMBS Mechanical and building services contractor A.G. Coombs has had two milestones to recognise recently: 75 years in operation, and what would have been founder Allan George Coombs’ 100th birthday. “Allan Coombs was instrumental in the establishment of the HVAC industry in Australia straight after WWII, the development of industry standards and tradebased training for the industry, and the founding of the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association – AMCA,” says A.G. Coombs Strategic Development Director Bryon Price, F.AIRAH. “He was recognised for his contribution to the industry with an Order of Australia (AM) in the 1979 New Year’s Honours List, and was one of the inaugural inductees to the ARBS Industry Hall of Fame in 2010, along with James Harrison.” ■

Summer 2020

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HVAC&R Nation

Cool Tech

A HANDY INVENTION A robotic hand that paints and hammers may soon show up at your workplace. When we talk about industrial robots, the picture of a panel-punching, metal-welding machine usually comes to mind. We tend to think of something hard and unhuman, built to do the repetitive heavy lifting.

two mechanical arms – called “collaborative robots” or “cobots” – assembled by UNSW Built Environment researchers and technicians last year. There are six robotic arms being developed in Australia, but UNSW is the first university to get its units – nicknamed Betty and Arnold – up and running.

Charlotte Firth, a UNSW student and robotics innovator, sees it differently. As part of her Master of Computational Design, Firth has built the world’s first soft robotic hand for use on construction sites.

Firth says her interest in construction cobots was spurred by the shortage of skilled tradespeople and the potential for applying robotic materials in an industry where they have been underused.

Her robotic creation is capable of human-like coordination and built for more dexterous work such as picking up and putting down objects, painting and hammering. Importantly, the silicone‑covered appendage is also safer to be around at the workplace.

According to the federal government’s 2018–2019 Labour Market analysis of Skilled Workers, most states are experiencing skills shortages in areas such as HVAC&R, welding, motor mechanics and plumbing.

“Industrial robots are so dangerous the way they are now,” says Firth.

Firth and her supervisors at the university will begin trialling the hand’s capability with the cobot, which has stop sensors that enable it to work alongside humans in various workplaces.

“Being able to create soft robots would change the way humans interact with them and it will take out the element of danger.”

“We’ll be testing it,” she says, “and actually seeing if that soft material has the capability to hammer a nail, pick up a paintbrush and be able to paint and trim.” ■

Known technically as an “anthropomorphic end effector”, the robotic hand will fit onto one of

Smoko with . . .

Name: Nicklas Christiansen, Company: Keep It Chilled

Affil.AIRAH

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nt What’s the happiest a clie rk? wo has been with your r We had a large compresso m. roo zer fail on a free to We had to drive two hours d it fitte and nt me lace rep a get ked sto s that night. The client wa ore bef g nin we got it up and run ck. midnight, not losing any sto .

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Summer 2020

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Summer 2020

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1 WINNER

Cameron in Calala, NSW, attended a new site where the AC was not cooling. “Found this new type of TX valve and the bulb wasn’t even strapped to the pipe,” says Cameron. “It was just hanging in the drain tray of the indoor unit! All I could do was laugh.” Graham says: The TX valve bulb is pressurised and factory sealed. The moment someone penetrated the remote bulb to weld in a schraeder valve they released the bulb charge and the TX valve stopped working. Shows a complete lack of understanding of the way the valve is supposed to operate.

2 SOCKET TO THEM Chris in Melbourne found this on a recent call-out. “For a second there I was contemplating asking them for the key to switch the unit off to change the condenser fan,” he says. “They told me they were worried about someone deliberately switching their coolroom off. They laughed when we pointed out the obvious.” Graham says: I agree, for the sake of a few dollars it would have been much better to hard-wire the supply and have restricted access. Unfortunately, sometimes people think it is funny to wander past and flick a switch off, which can cost the customer lots of money in lost product.

3 IT REALLY SUCKS “I was intrigued with this takeaway kitchen exhaust innovation,” says David, who sent in this pic. “If one fan isn’t enough, simply add another!” Graham says: There could be reasons for what has occurred. Maybe they were not meeting required airflow at the air filter, maybe there was a noise issue for the fans to be over the roof line. There doesn’t appear to be any access for duct cleaning, so maybe they needed more airflow because maintenance access was poor?

4 CONTROL FREAK Dominic found this unusual setup on the Gold Coast. “This person couldn’t decide how they were going to control the coolroom,” he says.

Graham says: Hard to tell what is going on here. Maybe they didn’t know how to program the controller or it wasn’t working so the quick fix was to go back to basics with a thermostat. Not a very good attempt to vapour seal the penetration through the wall – duct tape doesn’t really do it.

5 WE’RE GOING TO NEED A BIGGER LADDER Nathan came across this installation on his travels. “Couldn’t believe someone would put the unit up so high,” he says. Graham says: It would appear with the proximity of the gate that they were concerned about trucks with high loads damaging the unit. However, safe access for maintenance and repair is a perpetual problem. Working at heights training for technicians and appropriate access equipment, such as scissor lifts or cherry pickers, all add to the cost of the service call. Once construction is over and the cranes and scaffolding removed the poor old technician is left with the problem of access and nobody wants to pay! Additional comments and observations provided by Graham Boyle, F.AIRAH, portfolio manager, heavy automotive and refrigeration at South Metropolitan TAFE. 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 monthly 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

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Summer 2020

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Summer 2020

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HVAC&R Nation

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HVAC&R Nation Summer 2020

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Fire in the hole

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