HVAC&R Nation July 2021 by AIRAH

Skills

WORKSHOP Inverter diagnostics and testing

Holding the key The power of trades to unlock better buildings in Australia

BMS revolution! How building management systems have become a vital tool for technicians

July 2021 / ISSUE 139

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July 2021 / ISSUE 139

BMS revolution 20

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

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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 Sean McGowan Willow Aliento

Modern building management systems offer a wealth of information and insight for techs who know how to “plug in”. Sean McGowan talks to two experts who explain how to get the most out of the BMS you encounter in the field.

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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.

Disclaimer 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. 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.

10 19

The Toolshed

Inverter testing and diagnostics

Global Update

Industry news from around the world

Exclusive to this issue

Beaut Utes

Meet Zeus, Greek god of the sky and the work vehicle at Mick’s Air-Conditioning Services

Safety Matters

Around the Nation

See what’s new in the ‘Shed

Skills Workshop

How to protect your most important tool: your heart

Who’s in the news?

Smoko with …

Q&A with Stephanie Peters

Holding the key

A landmark survey of Australian HVAC maintenance workers and practices has revealed that trades have a vital role to play in unlocking better buildings.

Cool Tech

One-handed versatility with the Leatherman Free T4

11,510 September 2020

Lighter Side

The shonkier side of the nation

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

July 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

Fresh Treated Air and Ventilation Supports Iconic Fresh Food Market It was recognised that the Market’s evaporative coolers were approaching the end of life, made evident by higher moisture content, higher space temperatures and the declining life span of fresh produce. The Market needed a solution which would protect the integrity of its products and deliver a healthy and comfortable visitor experience.

“With over 70 traders under one roof, the Adelaide Central Market is one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere, buzzing with life and colour all year round. Offering a huge range of fresh food including fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, seafood, cheeses, bakery, smallgoods and health foods, along with some of Adelaide’s most popular cafes and eateries – The Adelaide Central Market remains Adelaide’s premier food destination for multicultural cuisine and fresh produce.” 1

In line with the company’s vision to be the world’s leading food and produce market, Trent Snowball, Operations Manager, reached out to Lucid Consulting for a solution. The Adelaide Central Market underwent a major refurbishment of the whole air conditioning system servicing the market and its tenants, totalling some 8,000 square metres of floor area.

As one of South Australia’s premier food destinations the Market’s reputation has been built upon the health and quality of its products.

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July 2021

The project brief meant an energy efficient climate control solution best suited to a retail food environment had to be integrated into the building to meet the project objectives and overall business philosophy. Ultimately, the Market needed an efficient way to cool 100% outside air, particularly throughout Adelaide’s “The cooling technology is Australian designed and made, so that was a really fantastic outcome that the Adelaide Central Market was able to connect with a local business and deliver the product to our market.” — Jodie Kannane General Manager Adelaide Central Market

“Having fresh air and having cooled air through a retail space is always important, but particularly a fresh food market, the reason why we went with the Climate Wizard system was because it does deliver fresh air through the market at all times. Because it allows us to control the humidity as well, it is fantastic for customers, traders and the fresh produce that we have here.” — Jodie Kannane General Manager Adelaide Central Market hot summer days. With large groups of people converging during busy trading periods, the decision around HVAC needed to account for the health of Market users, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. The design required a positively pressurised space to reduce the outdoor air infiltration through the openings on Gouger and Grote Street, while holding space temperatures at around 24°C on extreme days; presenting the following installation objectives: • Replacement of existing direct evaporative coolers that were reaching end of life • Provide 100% outside air due to large open roller doors on north and south entrances • Hold lower temperatures in the space with less added moisture • Provide favourable indoor conditions to improve shelf life of fresh produce • Provide a cooling system that was energy efficient and one which reduced peak demand. In terms of project challenges, there were the following:

possible was organised to avoid traffic disruption due to crane lifts • The proposed equipment had to work into existing site power limitations • A robust control system to maintain desired room temperature of 22°C and relative humidity of 50% • The installation was to be carried out with minimal disruption to the business or the stall holders After an extensive evaluation and selection process, Seeley International’s Climate Wizard air conditioning technology was specified by Lucid Consulting and selected by Adelaide Central Market as the best solution. The 32 Climate Wizard CW-H15S Plus units provide 51,200 litres per second of 100% treated outside air into the market and alfresco areas.

• The existing air distribution system was intended to be reused

The system now provides positive pressure to the relatively open space to eliminate infiltration load from the large trafficable entrances.

• As the building is located in the CBD, as much prefabrication as

At Adelaide summer design conditions, the units are able to reduce the air

▲ Customer: Adelaide Central Market ▲ Consulting Engineer: Lucid Consulting ▲ Contractor: Westside Group ▲ Supplier/Manufacturer: Seeley International ▲ Technology: Climate Wizard Indirect Evaporative Air Conditioners

temperature by over 20 degrees and provide a total of 640 kilowatts of stand‑alone cooling into the building. The units can provide this capacity with a coefficient of performance of 9.3, which is over three times more efficient than a comparable refrigerated system. Most importantly, Climate Wizard is playing a key role in maintaining The Adelaide Central Market’s status as a premium food destination by maintaining fresh produce and ensuring a visitor experience which is healthy and comfortable. The client is extremely happy with the final result and the cool air that the CW units are delivering. To read about more installations by Seeley International visit: https://www.seeleyinternational.com/ corporate/sectors/projects/ 1 https://adelaidecentralmarket.com.au/about/

“Climate Wizard introduces cool, fresh air from outside, which is really important for our customers and traders. Particularly with our traders on the market floor, who are here for long days and work hard physically; having that cool fresh air from outside and bringing it into this environment definitely makes it a healthier work place.” — Jodie Kannane General Manager Adelaide Central Market

July 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

Ed’s letter

FLYING THE FLAG Since I started working in HVAC&R, one question has come up again and again. Why is it that such an important part of our world is practically invisible to most people?

Although our industry overcomes incredible technical challenges every day, there’s one nut we haven’t been able to crack: how to make people realise the vital role HVAC&R plays in our lives. And it’s not for want of trying. By the time you read this, World Refrigeration Day 2021 will have been and gone. I wonder if you celebrated it through a special event, or maybe by liking a WRD21 post on social media, or even just by raising a cold one. It’s one of many great initiatives that have been created to bring attention to our industry and the work we do. So, is it making a difference? I don’t know. But I do know that this is a long game. Things won’t change overnight. We’ve got to keep flying the flag. And that’s the idea behind AIRAH’s latest campaign to raise the profile of our industry. I hope you’ll be part of it!

The Australian Census is coming up on August 10. Within the questions, they ask for your industry of employment. It’s a free text field, which means you can write whatever you want. And AIRAH is encouraging everyone in our industry to write that they work in “HVAC&R”.

There is another section that asks for your occupation. I can imagine there will be a great variety here: HVAC technician, refrigeration mechanic, ESD engineer, contractor, educator, salesperson, marketer … it’s amazing to think how many different roles our industry covers. According to the Cold Hard Facts reports, there are around 300,000 of us in Australia.

knowledge to call myself an HVAC&R specialist, I’m going to stand under our industry flag. No matter our specific jobs, if we all stand together, we have a better chance of being seen. It’s a little thing, but all part of that long game.

Editor and writer – that’s what I’ll be putting. And I’ll be honest with you, in previous jobs I probably would have listed my industry as media or communications. This time, despite feeling like I don’t have the technical

As Confucius said, carry small stones and eventually you can move mountains. ■ @AIRAHnews

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July 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

Toolshed 1

Daikin’s plug-and-play AHU

Daikin has introduced air handling units (AHU) with productintegrated controls (AHU-PIC), which the company describes as “an industry-leading IoT-ready air-handling unit offering ultimate control straight out of the box”.

The dual-barrier coating on the unit’s heat exchanger and facial surfaces is designed to prevent dust and greasy dirt from adhering to it. Mitsubishi Electric says this not only helps the unit stay cleaner for longer, but also makes cleaning the unit easier.

“Delivering more efficient, technologically advanced and highperforming buildings is becoming an increasingly important consideration in the construction industry,” Daikin says. “Building owners, builders and consultants are placing a greater focus on specifying products that contribute to their smart building credentials while minimising risks around systems integration. “Now, AHU-PIC takes air handling units to a whole new level, delivering ultimate control into the hands of building owners thanks to a configurable integrated control system that provides deeper insight into building performance, with advanced systems integration and connectivity requiring fewer people and processes.

The MSZ-AS90VGD-A1 offers optional wi-fi control, connecting the unit to a user’s smartphone, tablet or online account, and allowing them to control the unit via internet. This can be used to heat or cool a room before the user arrives home.

“Because no brazing or flaring is needed, HVAC refrigerant lines can be securely connected in various environments saving you time and money,” says the company.

Aim high with EcoHVAC 3

“Whether you call it upper-air UVGI or upper-room GUV, this is the very concept we started with, back 60-plus years ago, when approached about building fixtures to use in rooms, with the potential for person-to-person airborne transmission of infectious pathogens,” says EcoHVAC.

“Getting a secure connection is easy, thanks to the sight window on each fitting,” says RectorSeal. “To use, simply push the fitting into the correspondingly sized lineset, and relax.”

The STBF-24 model is designed for high bay applications where a minimum mounting height of 3.8m is possible, such as airport concourses, gymnasiums and conference centres.

Both systems use UV-C lamps and reflectors and a fan and louvered exterior to provide UV-c intensity into the upper air of a room while confining the UV-C energy to the unoccupied space above the floor.

Go to www.rectorseal.com.au ■

5 4

Mitsubishi’s plan for open plans

“Delivering clean, fresh and healthy air is a priority for us,” says Mitsubishi Electric Australia National Product Manager Atesh Mani. “The AS90 uses a built-in anti-allergy enzyme filter, which works to trap allergens such as mould and bacteria by using enzymes to decompose them. 8

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July 2021

FLIR Systems has released its latest T-Series high-performance thermal camera, the FLIR T865.

FLIR says that with ±1°C or ±1 per cent temperature measurement accuracy, professionals can more confidently inspect and assess equipment health regardless of the time between inspections or changes in environment conditions.

Mitsubishi Electric Australia has introduced a new 9kW wallmounted split system designed for large open-plan spaces that can often be hard to temperature control from a single unit. The MSZ-AS90VGD-A1 is designed for year-round service in large open-plan living areas thanks to its relatively large capacity. It also includes features such as advanced air filtration, dual barrier coating, and long airflow operation.

FLIR T character

“Built for electrical condition and mechanical equipment inspection, and for use in research and development applications, the T865 provides ±1°C or ±1 per cent temperature measurement accuracy, a wider temperature range between -40°C to 120°C, and more on-camera tools for improved analysis,” FLIR says. “A free three-month subscription to FLIR Thermal Studio Pro and FLIR Route Creator, and a one-month subscription to FLIR Research Studio is included with purchase.

Go to www.ecohvac.com.au ■

“Refrigerant leaks can be a painful situation during an installation that offers limited installation space, hard‑to‑reach linesets, and installations where it’s challenging to braze and flare. Why take a risk brazing and flaring when PRO‑Fit connections make the task faster, easier, and equally secure? Every time you light your torch is an opportunity for a refrigerant leak to develop. Often, one that you won’t discover until you are pulling a vacuum on the system.” RectorSeal says that, when properly installed, PRO-Fit fittings provide a unique, leak-proof sealed connection. The double O-ring sealing design creates a secure high-pressure gas seal that helps prevent connection leaks caused by galling, vibration, pulsation, and extreme temperature changes that can affect HVAC linesets up to 60 bar.

“With a renewed demand for these systems over the past few years, the aesthetic requirements for many applications, combined with larger shared spaces has led American Ultraviolet to update its upper-room GUV offerings to fit this need.”

The STBF-12 model is designed for applications such as classrooms, offices and conference rooms. It has a single mount point, allowing it to be installed as a single unit or an array of units to cover larger spaces.

Flame-free fittings

According to RectorSeal, PRO-Fit Quick Connect push‑toconnect fittings efficiently connect copper and coated aluminum linesets for unitary and ductless HVAC units.

Go to www.daikin.com.au ■

Australian equipment supplier EcoHVAC is offering a series of upper-air UVGI systems recently released by American Ultraviolet.

Go to www.mitsubishielectric.com.au/ ■

“AHU-PIC arrives onsite with controls and sensors factory-fitted, pre-programmed and tested, ready for immediate installation. The integrated control is easily connected to existing BMS, BACnet or ICN platforms, and is configurable for internet connectivity without the need for a BMS contractor onsite. With less trades onsite for installation and connection, the WH&S risk is minimised and construction timelines are accelerated.”

“This is the largest capacity model in our domestic range, making it ideal for families who are spending more time indoors, whether that be for study, working from home, or keeping warm during the cooler months. This unit provides ultimate comfort with operation modes such as long and wide airflow, helping to provide a more even air conditioned experience.”

“By reducing measurement variation, companies can reliably prevent equipment breakdowns and outages in utility substations, power generation and distribution, data centres, manufacturing plants, or facility electrical and mechanical systems. For those in research and development, the improved accuracy provides the temperature measurement detail required to eliminate any guesswork in research, science, and design that uses the visualisation of heat.” Go to www.flir.com/t865. ■

Toolshed 6

anywAiR, anytime

7 FieldInsight embraces HVAC

Fujitsu General Australia has expanded its anywAiR technology suite with the launch of the anywAiR technology wi-fi adaptor.

FieldInsight, an Australian developer of field service and job management software, has introduced new features aimed at HVAC businesses.

The adaptor plugs into a select range of compatible Fujitsu General air conditioners including the wall-mounted Lifestyle Range (KMTC) indoor unit. It enables wi-fi control, allowing the unit to be controlled remotely by smartphone or tablet using the myanywAiR app.

“Do you struggle with slow systems, poor accountability and lack of team communication in your HVAC business?” says FieldInsight. “Do you feel like there are lost hours that could be saved? If you find that you’re struggling with any of these things, you will be relieved to hear about the new HVAC‑specific features FieldInsight has been working on.”

“The Fujitsu General anywAiR technology wi-fi adaptor provides users with flexible and convenient control of their Fujitsu General KMTC unit,” says Fujitsu General national product manager Kyle Rafter. “This addition to the Fujitsu General anywAiR technology suite gives our customers even more control over their indoor comfort.”

FieldInsight says the new functionality has been released to improve customer visibility, team accountability, and system streamlining.

Once set up by a Fujitsu General air conditioning specialist, the myanywAiR app lets users turn the unit on and off, as well as change mode, set-point temperature, ambient temperature, and fan speed. Users can also set timers and scenarios to assist with efficient operation of the air conditioning system and management of indoor comfort.

According to FieldInsight, its End-to-End software allows users to automate job management, centralise their customer database, and handle quote cycles. FieldInsight has 10 key pillars in asset management, project management, CRM, report generation, timesheets, finance integration, scheduling, preventive maintenance, inventory management and SWMS, all accessible in one platform.

The Fujitsu General anywAiR technology wi-fi adaptor is compatible with a selection of smart home devices, such as Google Home, to enable voice commands. The free‑to‑download app is available via the App Store or Google Play.

“With FieldInsight, there are no more cumbersome paper‑based or wayward spreadsheet problems,” says the company. “With clear visibility over your workflow and strong communication within your team, you will have access to real‑time information from the office to your team in the field.”

Go to www.fujitsugeneral.com.au ■

Go to www.fieldinsight.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 more information: juliana.freire@sauermanngroup.com July 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

Global Update

ISRAEL

CHINA

H2O FROM AC

UNDERWATER DATA

Microsoft is using the waste condensate from air conditioners at its Herzliya, Israel office to irrigate the landscaping at the corporate campus and to help cool the 46,000m2 building. The tech titan uses similar systems in its offices in Twycross in the UK, and Hyderabad, India.

The massive free-trade port of Hainan in China is planning to launch a commercial undersea data centre, based on a prototype tested earlier this year. The facility will operate in 100 airtight pressure vessels on the seabed near the Changjiang nuclear power station.

“We are also considering its inclusion in other Microsoft buildings depending on HVAC design, regional climates and other factors,” says Microsoft senior sustainability program manager Katie Ross.

The project aims to install racks of data centre equipment in pressure vessels, which will be sunk to the seabed at offshore locations. The tiny data centres will be operated through a combined power and internet cable, and cooled by the surrounding seawater.

The innovation saves the Herzliya office three million litres of water – enough to meet the annual water needs of several families.

Microsoft tested and successfully ran a 12-rack data centre off the coast of Scotland for two years, but has no plans to commercialise the technology.

At the moment, air conditioner condensate reuse systems don’t scale efficiently to use in most homes and other small spaces. Yet such systems may prove in the near future to be a useful tool to help make buildings more efficient in terms of water use.

By placing data centres underwater, the idea is that they can be kept cool without using as much energy as traditional above-ground data centres.

The UN has suggested that water is the “primary medium” through which we will feel the effects of climate change. ■

USA

PLAN B

BIG PROMISE FOR MICROWAVE?

Johnson Controls has opted to use R454B to replace R410A in its ducted residential and commercial unitary products. The low-GWP R454B will also be used in air-cooled scroll chillers. Johnson Controls evaluated several low-GWP alternatives on a variety of performance and market metrics, such as safety, capacity, efficiency, reliability, availability and longevity. This decision was made as the US industry prepares to phase out high‑GWP refrigerants under the recently passed American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. “Utilising R454B was a clear decision, but one that took years of in-depth research, testing and evaluation,” says Johnson Controls’ Chris Forth. “This decision maximises environmental benefits, which will help to avoid, if not completely avert, a second, near-term transition for the unitary sector. As the AIM Act phase-down schedule progresses, higher-GWP fluids such as R32, while viable today, have the potential to be eliminated as an option due to their high GWP values.” ■ 10

HVAC&R Nation

And if low-carbon energy from the local Changjiang nuclear power station is used, the project could be carbon-neutral. ■

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July 2021

UK energy technology company Heat Wayv has unveiled the world’s first microwave boiler intended as a zero-emissions replacement for gas boilers. Originally developed as a portable cooking device for the military, the technology has now been applied to heating. Set to be trialled in 2022, the new boiler is said to offer a range of benefits such as zero emissions, plug-and-play installation and silent operation. “The end of the [natural] gas boiler is inevitable and scheduled,” says company founder Phil Stevens. “But the proposed replacement technologies do not work for consumers, as they are either too expensive to install or too expensive to run. We looked for a clean technology where the boiler would cost the consumer the same to buy, same to install and same to run as a gas boiler.” Heat Wayv co-founder Paul Atherton says the tech offers a more practical solution than hydrogen, with considerably less investment than the billions hydrogen will cost. ■

iQC & NiQ – energy saving motors a new look to efficiency.

ebm-papst pioneered energy savings in refrigerating systems with the release of its iQ series motor over 10 years ago. With proven application in harsh conditions all over the world in both new and replacement installations, the iQC and NiQ now improve on the tried and tested iQ series motors. The iQC and NiQ have enhanced the existing advantages by reducing environmental costs.

Benefits reliable and durable. Designed to achieve high performance in a wide range of tough environments, the iQC and NiQ are able to handle wet and dusty applications. The high efficiency of the motor means that less waste heat is generated, resulting in improved refrigeration performance and longer service life than typical shaded pole equivalents in cold side applications.

Benefits of upgrading. As with all ebm-papst motors in the iQ range, the iQC and NiQ are a direct one-to-one replacement for existing Q and shaded pole motors. With huge cost savings when compared to outdated AC technology and ease of replacement, the iQC and NiQ are the smart choice for retrofitting existing applications.

Benefits cost effective. Higher operating efficiency means reduced power input, resulting in lower operating costs and longer life time. As both the iQC and NiQ motor replace a range of shaded pole motors, this means having the right product for the application on hand when you need.

Find out more at www.ebmpapst.com.au

July 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

Feature

UNLOCKING BETTER BUILDINGS According to a landmark Australian survey, HVAC&R technicians hold the key to more efficient, sustainable and comfortable workplaces. Willow Aliento reports. The majority of Australians who work in an office do not work in a premium-grade CBD commercial tower. Instead, they work in older, smaller and poorer quality buildings, which represent about 80 per cent of Australia’s commercial building stock. These buildings are known as the mid-tier. It’s a sector we don’t know much about. Although NABERS ratings, Property Council of Australia data and other sources have a lot of information about the top end of town, there has been a real lack of insight into the mid-tier and how these buildings are performing. A multi-disciplinary team from the University of Wollongong and commissioned by the federal Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources has been trying to fill this gap. They have conducted research into the sector by surveying the people who are closest to the action when it comes to building systems – the HVAC&R technicians. The project is called Better Ways to Work. Understanding and improving energy performance involves both technical and human factors. Accordingly, the UOW team brought together engineers and social scientists from its own Sustainable Buildings Research Centre and Australian Centre for Culture, Environment, Society and Space. Researcher Dr Daniel Daly says that because the ownership of buildings in the mid-tier is quite fragmented, and it is a known challenge to engage owners in this sector, the research team decided speaking with the contractors, tradespeople and facilities managers was the best way to gather data. 12

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WHAT IS THE MID‑TIER AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

The business case for these small investors in terms of what motivates them to want to improve their building and its performance is different to the premium office market, where NABERS ratings and competition for tenants drive momentum for improvement.

The mid-tier comprises about 50 per cent of all office space in Australia, and about 80 per cent of commercial buildings, according to Bruce Precious, M.AIRAH, property sector expert and principal consultant at Six Capitals Consulting.

Precious says that often in the mid-tier, expenditure on building maintenance is managed from a “zero baseline”.

It ranges from the small commercial office block in Dubbo to the outer suburbs accountant’s office building, the bank building in Bunbury, an administration block attached to a manufacturing facility, or a hospital’s administration building. Precious noted at an AIRAH webinar launching the research, “Opportunities to Create Value through HVAC Maintenance”, that the mid-tier is characterised by older plant and equipment. This can mean the HVAC systems are using phased‑out refrigerants, and they generally have less integration of sensors or automation. On top of this, they often lack an onsite facilities manager. UOW researcher Dr Chantel Carr, co-leader of the Better Ways To Work research, says the complexity of the sector extends to building ownership. While premium buildings are often owned by a major fund as part of a portfolio, a mid-tier building may be owned by single offshore investor, a small self-managed super fund, or a local professional like a lawyer or doctor.

July 2021

“That means there is no budget for routine maintenance, and no budget for breakdown maintenance,” he says, “and that presents its own problems.” Carr says that most contractors have a very good sense of the business case for proactive maintenance, but it can be hard to get this point across. “Contractors reported lack of budget and interest from owners as the biggest barriers to better maintenance, and FMs reported low levels of capex discretion,” says Carr. “So owners in this market are clearly sensitive to costs, and don’t think a lot about their HVAC systems until something goes wrong. “We’ve known this anecdotally for some time, but being able to put some numbers behind it [from the survey] really helps us to get these issues onto the policy radar.” Daly says another key barrier that often comes up in the researcher team’s interviews is difficulty in getting in front of the owner to explain the benefits of an alternative approach – particularly when the owner is a trust or international investor.

Feature

“The point of upgrade or replacement is really key to installing more efficient systems, because decisions are being made that have life-cycle ramifications of 20–30 years,” says Carr. “And these decisions are often being made under time pressure where a system has completely broken down and tenants are complaining. “We know that technology improvements mean new kit is likely to perform much better than an old ‘heritage’ system that’s limped along and been patched up over the years, but one of the big issues contractors raised is that even like-for-like is often not available due to model changes. “We’re going to spend a bit more time digging into point of upgrade decisions, and lots of survey respondents indicated they’re keen to help us with that, which is terrific.”

FMS DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW Business development manager for Airmaster, Pat McManus, also spoke about the mid-tier issues at the “Opportunities to Create Value” webinar. He flagged a crucial issue around lack of knowledge on the part of FMs and building operators around the testing regimes required to ensure fire and smoke control protection systems are functional. In many cases, he said, these were made part of the HVAC system design in the original building.

But many older buildings have been renovated or reconfigured to reflect changes in tenancy or occupancy, and this can impact the performance of the fire and smoke protection systems. Without an understanding of the original specifications or access to the original building documentation, the FMs are not well positioned to understand the testing and maintenance required. According to Ellis Air Senior Contracts Manager, Gary Ward, M.AIRAH, FMs in mid-tier buildings generally don’t have the knowledge to look after the building correctly. Many are ex-tradies, he explained, and they know their own trade extremely well. “But there’s a massive amount of components in a building that it needs to function properly,” he says. Ward believes the knowledge needs to be “channelled up” from the trade experts to the FM and then upwards to the building owner. This must occur across the board. “It’s all about the awareness,” he says, “good reaching out and getting the FMs aware, making the building operators aware.” There are multiple benefits to be gained from improving the mid-tier, Precious says. It not only offers environmental benefits in terms of reduced energyrelated emissions, but also has the opportunity to deliver economic benefits and broader community benefits. “There is an opportunity to make them safer buildings not only for the people who work in those buildings but equally, safer for the technicians and service personnel that visit those buildings and make their away around to the plant rooms. They’re safer through having guards

on equipment, safer by eliminating confined spaces, safer by ensuring switchboards are kept locked. “There are a whole range of ways that buildings can be made safer. They can be made more comfortable and more productive by ensuring the air conditioning is performing effectively and allowing people to get on with their work.” Precious says the task is to divert the money currently being wasted on problems like excessive energy use into the maintenance function.

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These barriers mean that maintenance or replacement takes a “like for like” approach rather than aiming for betterment.

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

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Feature POWER TO THE TECHNICIANS

“We did ask (survey) respondents to tell us about a time where they had been able to do better than like-for-like replacement,” says Daly. “The most common reason to improve a system was that the existing system was obsolete and therefore an alternative solution was required.

The Better Ways To Work research found that the HVAC contractors and trades do hold a significant amount of power to effect change, because of their depth of knowledge.

“However, the second most common reason, and the most common reason for the FMs we surveyed, was that the life-cycle cost was more favourable for an upgraded system.

Some quick facts from the research: • HVAC is the largest end use of energy in commercial buildings – when it works more efficiently, energy bills go down.

“This suggests that contractors have an important role to play in communicating the full life-cycle costs and benefits of different strategies, and that FMs and owners are receptive to this information. Other common reasons given were contextual factors, such as HFC refrigerant phase‑down, or changes to the building’s use over time.”

• The majority of contractors in commercial building HVAC are small and medium enterprises, and the average contractor or tradesperson has more than 11 years of experience in the sector. Most also hold trade qualifications. • Close to half (42.7 per cent) of all mid-tier buildings survey respondents work on have the original HVAC system in place, with no significant upgrades carried out since installation. • Central plant is only slightly more common than a mix of central and split systems, and many buildings have only split systems, indicating that splits may be “patching up” under-performing systems. • Cost is a deciding factor when it comes to upgrade and maintenance – but while contractors focus on up-front cost, the majority of facilities managers reported being more concerned about life-cycle cost. • The majority (81 per cent) of maintenance or repair callouts are initiated due to tenants’ reports that the system is not providing the level of heating/cooling required, or that it has broken down. • Contractors rely on their own experience, their peers and industry associations for knowledge and ongoing learning – FMs rely on the contractors to provide information.

onsite who ‘know what good maintenance looks like, and

Another aspect to the lengthy experience of many survey respondents is it raises an issue around ensuring knowledge is passed on to the incoming generation of tradies.

She says contractors should see what they do as providing a service that includes building manager and tenant education, maintenance and providing comfortable buildings.

“The survey highlighted that there are some concerns around an ageing workforce in the HVAC sector, which has implications for bringing people into the trade and how contractors keep up with their professional development,” Carr says.

“Tradies are at the centre of this question,” she says. “And contractors are really important in regional locations.” Dr Daly from UOW says that at the start of the research the team was aware that a lot of contractors and FMs knew what they should be doing to improve buildings, and many also knew what they wanted to be doing to their buildings. But it is the technicians who go onsite who “know what good maintenance looks like, and what a good job looks like”. www.airah.org.au/nation

She says that having a sector with such a wealth of knowledge and experience is an asset, and the task now is to equip contractors to better communicate the benefits of improved maintenance that increases efficiency to owners and tenants.

“We want it to work in with the ways people are already doing things, not work against it.”

what a good job looks like’

“There is a lot of knowledge in trades, we can forget that,” she says, “especially when it comes to HVAC. It is an electromechanical system – it is right up there as far as complexity goes.”

The federal government is looking at resources it could develop to help with this, Carr says. This could also involve some form of training for contractors around communicating the benefits of improvements to owners and FMs. She notes that ideally, this kind of training would fit with existing workloads and commitments and build on the kind of information‑sharing that already happens within the industry.

It is the technicians who go

HVAC&R Nation

Carr says the human capital of experience-based knowledge is often under-rated.

“The key is really getting that message out there that preventative maintenance is a better value proposition in the long term.”

“There is a lot of expertise in the sector, but [HVAC&R contractors] can be their own worst enemy with a lowest cost approach,” UOW’s Dr Carr says.

The Better Ways To Work survey recorded more than 1,500 survey responses across all parts of Australia.

As she points out, it is the tenants who bear the cost of poorly maintained, under-performing systems, both in loss of comfort and in their energy bills.

The opportunity for contractors is to educate FMs and building managers about the benefits of improving systems, according to the researchers.

EXPERIENCE PLUS KNOWLEDGE IS A SUPERPOWER

“This is really important as we begin to see a positive shift in looking at energy efficiency. “The demand for comfortable buildings isn’t going anywhere, and there is potential for HVAC contractors to become seen as an expert workforce, but this can only happen if we keep building the industry’s skillsets.

July 2021

“We’re currently working on a project in the training and skills space to look at what’s needed here, and the experience of organisations like AIRAH and FMA are key to this work.”

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Daly says one of the research team’s biggest takeaways was that contractors in HVAC are “really engaged.” “They are keen to have their voices heard. The survey got a fantastic response rate, which shows a lot of engagement and a lot of interest in doing things better.” The research team now is continuing to look at how to equip the HVAC sector to help improve mid‑tier building performance. “We’re now working on three projects where we’re spending a bit more time with those respondents who said they were available to talk in more detail about the issues they see and what options are on the table for doing things better,” Carr says. “One of those is looking at key points in the procurement process, like the point of upgrade. A second project is looking at how the findings might translate across other building types like aged care and the retail sector. A final project is looking at training and skills, and how we can work with the way the industry is structured to understand how to best target upskilling. “So, the project is still very much active, and we’ll be looking to keep these conversations going, keep shining the light on the plant room for a while yet. We’ll be publishing our findings along the way on the Better Ways to Work website.” ■

CHECK OUT THE SURVEY RESULTS UOW has created a detailed report and also an interactive dashboard with information about the roles of those working on HVAC&R systems, where they work, maintenance routines, and barriers to better maintenance. It’s a treasure trove of information. Go to betterwaystowork.com.au

MODULE

139

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AIRAH

Skills summary ■ What?

A guide to inverters in modern air conditioning units and some common problems you may encounter in the field.

■ Who?

Relevant for HVAC&R technicians and anyone involved in installing, commissioning, and maintaining air conditioning equipment.

INVERTER DIAGNOSTICS AND

TESTING – PART 1 One of the most common ways to modulate the cooling capacity in air conditioning systems is via inverter technology. An inverter controls the speed of the compressor to change the refrigerant flow rate. The turndown ratio depends on the system configuration and manufacturer. Inverter technology is commonplace in today’s air conditioning systems, from commercial units through to residential split systems. Often, issues with the inverter will cause the system to stop working. This Skills Workshop looks at common causes for these issues and describes how to fix them.

Background The world has changed very quickly in a short period of time with air conditioning. There have been several factors governing this rapid change: • A doubling of air conditioning sales from 2000 and continuing steady growth • Increasing energy demand and the subsequent increase in carbon emissions • A mandate for energy efficiency in household appliances with the original minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), and greenhouse and energy minimum standards GEMS, which came into effect in 2012 • Refrigerant phase-out, phase-down and replacement as per the Montreal Protocol, which has had various amendments since 1989, bringing some phase-out dates forward • Customer needs and keeping up with technology, such as home wi-fi and internet-based control, plus indoor air quality enhancements made with unit design. The average technician now has more demand placed on them to manage and work effectively with these new technologies that are commonplace in domestic and commercial systems. The evolution of air conditioning design has seen some very good old and tested designs disappear forever. Just like those old Kelvinator round shoulder refrigerators, some older design air conditioners are still in service today. Although the manufacturer got it right with those types, they could not evolve using those older designs. Original design split system air conditioners (high‑wall types) presented technicians with rudimentary simple logic and control interface. Inverters were not in use then. There were three very common types: 1. Simple direct-switched (240V AC control) with five-wire interconnect and contactor-started permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor. The five wires comprised active, neutral (earth), compressor start, reversing valve signal, and outdoor fan control for heating mode governed by the indoor unit. 2. Direct-switched (240V AC control) cooling only with three-wire interconnect. Yes, you guessed it – only need on signal wire for the compressor. These also used contactor-started PSC motors and a current transformer (CT) in line with the contactor coil.

This would create a fault call if it did not detect coil current. They were very simple but easy to work on and diagnose. 3. The model everyone liked. This generation saw the introduction of the three-wire interconnect in which direct AC switching was replaced by communication and each indoor and outdoor has a PCB. The contactor and reversing valve power, fan motors came from the interface connections off the PCBs with very simple protections such as a motor overload, thermistor control and, in some models, a dedicated high- and/or low-pressure switch. The indoor fan was a phase control AC motor type, which was the first real variable speed used and not requiring speed tap windings. Unfortunately, these designs ran constant speed compressors and used a simple on/off logic for temperature control. The result of this design saw efficiency at only one peak condition. Constant stop/start of the compressor added mechanical and electrical wear, and temperature control was an unwanted oscillation, giving rise to deviations far from the set-point. These design types would not survive in the marketplace today, given the energy-efficiency needs and demands placed on refrigerated appliances. The answer to efficiency with air conditioning came from aligning a system to part-load conditions while removing the temperature swing oscillation effect. In order to do that, mass refrigerant flow had to be controlled at changing conditions while preventing the temperature swing from causing erratic on/off. Changing mass flow rates to match load keeps the suction pressure at design, and maintains the volumetric efficiency while reducing power input through lesser demand at a more friendly low-compression ratio scenario. The temperature swings are smaller because capacity is controlled. In the perfect world, the compressor does not turn off; rather it gently oscillates to load change like a fine-tuned PID. Enter the variable speed compressor. The diagnostic needs for former air conditioning design systems were relatively straightforward and required a technician really to be equipped with minimal electrical tools such as ammeters and multi meters. The logic of these systems seemed simple, so it was not questioned too much. It did, however, require a new understanding for working with printed circuit boards, and gave many an insight into communication needs between indoor and outdoor systems. July 2021

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HVAC&R Skills Workshop Common scenarios

Indoor coil heat exchanger thermistor

It is useful to discuss inverters and some of the components, plus common scenarios. This is not a specific reading of a service manual or exact descriptive nature for fault finding. For that you can use the manufacturer-provided service manuals and technical support services. The aim is to provide guidance on the things to look out for and consider onsite. Remember: • Contact your service agent/manufacturer for specific service and repair requirements for your unit. This is best practice. • Electrical work is for licensed and competent tradespeople relative to the field of work and licence requirements inclusive of restricted licenses. • Where a test or diagnosis involves resistance measurements, these are first option over any live-testing alternative. Regulations for this vary from state to state. So, let us have a look at some of the key areas with split systems and how these designs affect the way you approach servicing issues onsite. Just note the figures and information provided are not deemed completely accurate, but are likely in range.

Thermistors vs pressure switches Our world is a binary system, and we use YES/NO in decision-making processes. This process is a pure digital response and everything that happens on modern air conditioning systems follows these rules. An analog response sees changes over time, but regardless of how much time or how much variation it can deviate to and from, the end result is a digital outcome. If you consider a voltage between 0 and 10V where 0 = off and 10 = on , the analogue deviation between these points can be seen and measured but the digital outcome is fixed at only two points. These points can be shifted; however, the outcome is the same. An analogue to digital converter ADC is used to convert analogue signals to a digital response or outcome. The value is converted into a simple digital on/off action. For the humble thermistor, which is analogue in operation, it is simply taking its time to get there. Let’s compare a very simple and familiar ADC with another.

In cooling mode acts as a low-pressure control by stopping operation below freeze conditions (0°C). In heating mode acts as a high-pressure control by keeping coil temperatures below 55°C by regulating outdoor fan operation first and then stopping the compressor as temperatures exceed 60°C (approximate).

Discharge pipe thermistor The enthalpy of the refrigerant being used is already known to the system at pressure through mathematical operations associated with that refrigerant. Target superheats are set with the discharge thermistor from other operating thermistors depending on operation mode. Maximising performance is not to just run things flat out, but rather keeping a watch on the operating limits and superheats. The discharge pipe thermistor is one of the most important sensors in the system and responsible for many of the protective modes being activated with the compressor. Discharge pipe protection modes are the ones that surface during high load, high ambient in summer, and overload conditions over time. Protective modes are not just to stop operation – that is usually the most extreme of conditions – but rather to reduce the condition that is being caused to prevent further overload. This is why compressor frequency speeds vary during these modes and performance drops off. Unless there is more sensor data input to prove a genuine fault condition, logic systems act on absolutes and parameters of operation because the current problem experienced may be temporary. Rather than shut off all operation, the system gives time for conditions to improve, gradually stepping down operation if it does not and stepping up when things improve until it fully releases back to normal operation. Next time you are surfing the service manual, look at what thermistors do and what operations they are responsible for. The rules of operation logic for any such protective mode is usually well documented and as those conditions are absolutes. You can compare that with your communication interface tools that give real-time readouts. Thermistor inputs create certain problems when they are faulty. Usually, these problems seem to be almost identical across brands. For a thermistor to be faulty, the logic must see that it is out of its design operating range. Things have improved a lot here. Other thermistors can judge each other faulty if one is reactive (changing) while the other is not, depending on operating mode. Heat exchanger thermistors tend to be problematic if they experience excessive heat or if they breach their outer seal. Operation in any mode can stop, units do not start, compressor speed is being limited constantly creating low performance, indoor fans do not operate at full speeds, or they are going very slow. It’s the logic conundrum where the rules of operation are being applied and not contested, nor creating any fault code or fault response. In some cases, things don’t work but are quite normal. The outdoor air thermistor on heating mode will lock out the system if the ambient is above a set temperature. Even on a cold morning, direct sunlight or reflecting radiant heat and the perfect install facing the right way for sunrise can create a situation because of radiant energy on the sensor. This is fixed by waving a book to stir up air around the thermistor, but it does show that faults are not always accurate, and yet they are obeying their programmed logic rules.

Analog to digital converter.

Micro-processor controlled,

Indoor air sensors are the next most important sensor.

Uses incremental pressure

uses both analog and digital

changes to enact an open

decisions from multiple

or closed switch.

sources to enact outcomes.

Inverters operate in many ways, but the simplest rules require a compressor frequency to be set by a differential from set-point and current room air on condition.

The pressure control on the left is the simplest form of ADC, but it has a finite range of operation and it cannot be modified. The microprocesser can work with both analogue and digital signals with many variant rules applied to produce the required outcome. This makes the split system very powerful. It is easy to incorporate multiple decisions all at once based on processing speed and the number of controlling points. We will look at the logic behind the decisions further on, but for now, appreciate that even the simplest sensors and inputs can have a huge impact on operation and control. Pressure switches are basically unused in many domestic systems with the thermistors replacing their duty. When a pressure switch is added in a design, it is typically the last line of safety with the analogue systems in control of the main decisions. Here’s how this was done … 16

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It is very important to check the unit’s design operating ranges in all modes. Continuous operation is shown by manufacturers for both indoor and outdoor conditions. Working outside these ranges for too long can create overload or cause protective modes to activate. The indoor air sensor location may be fixed on some models. The location and installation are important, especially if there is radiant energy from direct sunlight or the unit is recirculating air from obstruction. In the case of ducted units, wall remote sensors can be a real issue if they are not in a good monitoring area since in heating mode there is more reliance on the wall controller due to heating stratification effect. There are settings to switch the controller sensor out if it is not in a good monitoring area or enclosed. Fresh air intakes can also create problems in extreme weather on very hot days with return air in ducted systems. Squashed ducting can create vortex or eddy current patterns in return air boxes through air favouring one side (as shown in picture). These can create poor movement around the sensor.

HVAC&R Skills Workshop The advantage of transducers is the ability to use their analogue range and apply it to differing needs with refrigerants. Digital gauges are quite easy to transpose to other refrigerant types.

Pressure in MPa

Negative pressure zone when left-side duct is restricted, a vortex around the sensor can be created – as an example, around the return air sensor – which prevents correct air sampling.

These are critical devices responsible for many operations and fault determinations.

Left return air duct squashed in by some force in the ceiling.

The transducers by default DC Voltage take the place of first-stage pressure detection and Pressure/Voltage graph – example monitoring for both high and low pressure. Unlike a conventional pressure switch, these will perform a pressure limit function through logic control and prevent unwanted pressure rise by controlling compressor speed. In the case that pressure does overload, they will halt operation and allow for retries over a period of attempts rather than just call it time for a sudden problem. If the pressure is overloading constantly, the system typically will call an error. The transducer’s best role is the ongoing control of both heating and cooling pressure/temperature design operations. For example, 6°C cooling and 46°C heating saturation temperatures. The compressor will be regulated to control and allow for other staging in a larger system for example. These do their best work in variable refrigerant systems in complement with other systems connected as one multi-unit. In single heat pump systems, the universal transducer does much the same. In general it is quite a reliable device. These also call changeover of reversing valves with needed pressure displacement differential and in some cases control EEV opening control from first start.

Example of impinged airflow.

All these situations create conditions that the system must adjust for and that may affect operation. Technicians in many cases need to look outside the square rather than just look at the split system as being faulty due to some ongoing fault or performance issue. Temperature resistance checks can be done to prove functionality. The live readout tools are probably the best since some can fail mid-operation at certain temperatures over time with cases of erratic or intermittent faults suddenly occurring for no apparent reason. The simplest heat pump usually only contains indoor air temperature and heat exchanger sensors; outdoor units are the same and a discharge pipe thermistor. Domestic multi systems can have an extra indoor sensor for subcooling control and outdoor suction line thermistors. Electronic expansion valve opening/closing control can operate from more than one sensor during operation. Once you go up to variable refrigerant commercial systems, they can be everywhere, including branch control. Without knowing the functionality of these thermistors, it can be overwhelming trying to pinpoint an issue. It is a good idea to read up on the control of thermistor grouping per unit or device.

Pressure transducers Pressure transducers are simple, and easy to test and diagnose. A 5V DC supply voltage is provided across the two wires (red/black) and the reference or feedback voltage is sent through the third wire to a ground reference (white/black). On heat pumps and commercial variable systems, you might see two types: 1. Dedicated high- and low-pressure transducers (independent) 2. Universal transducers that work with high- and low-pressure (suction line located).

Pressure transducer with common wiring colours

There is usually a given formula to work out the exact pressure it is reading from a given reference voltage; however, a more user-friendly chart is supplied to determine what the pressure transducer is reading currently.

Typical problems with these are quite easy to find, but they can cause unusual faults to occur. Use a service gauge, a DC voltmeter, and a reference chart to investigate, unless you have a live service diagnostic tool. The following faults with pressure transducers do occur, but may not show up in service manuals: • Non-start of unit – failure to run or load up compressor speed (low and high) • Non-start of unit due to false high pressure but transducer not out of range for an error code generation • Failure of reversing valve to changeover on heating or back to cooling operation • EEV on indoor unit does not open • An error code for low refrigerant is generated, but no refrigerant has been lost. In this example the fault priority is beyond our control. Once the transducer reads less than 1 Volt DC, its time to have a good look at the system charge. If it reads 0.5V DC, it will be in real trouble. Manufacturers have really improved on these in the commercial side with multi-type units having sub-error codes to identify which condensing unit and which sensor is failing. These units must be out of their operating range to be faulty. Because that range is quite generous, it is possible for them to operate in error from current pressure if they experience some malfunction. Read the manual to check where the specific brand and model operates, and what needs to be tested. Nothing is impossible with erratic components. ■

This month’s Skills Workshop was provided by Dennis Kenworthy, Affil.AIRAH, lecturer at South Metropolitan TAFE, WA and administrator of the website What Would Dennis Do? www.whatwoulddennisdo.com

Next issue: Inverter testing and diagnostics – Part 2 July 2021

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DA04 DA24

ESSENTIAL TOOLS IN HVAC COMMISSIONING

AIR SYSTEM BALANCING

HYDRONIC SYSTEM BALANCING

THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF REFRIGERATION, AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING

DA04

DA24

AIR SYSTEM BALANCING – IN HVAC

HYDRONIC SYSTEM BALANCING – IN HVAC

DESIGN APPLICATION MANUAL

This new DA manual discusses the testing, adjusting and balancing of air distribution systems in HVAC&R applications. DA04 promotes best practice for the balancing of air distribution systems in the industry. It has been prepared to provide both theoretical and practical knowledge.

DA24 is a complete revision of the previous version, titled DA24 Water Systems Balancing. This manual promotes best practice for the balancing of hydronic systems in HVAC&R, recognising acceptable industry-standard techniques. It also highlights the importance and complexity of hydronic balancing.

Designed for engineers, architects, contractors, equipment owners, operators, and specifiers. Anyone involved in air/water balancing or in HVAC&R system commissioning or recommissioning should keep copies of these manuals handy.

Access the electronic versions or order hard copies at

airah.org.au/DA_Manuals 18

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Field Focus

BEAUT UTES

In response to our “The Wheel Deal” feature in the April issue, we received messages from readers who thought their work vehicle deserved a guernsey too. Here’s one of them. Owner: Mick’s Air-Conditioning Services Make and model: Isuzu NPR Also known as: Zeus How long have you had it? A couple of months. We used to run a Landcruiser ute, which had a custom‑made toolbox/canopy type set‑up – and by custom, I mean it was custom down to the storage baskets inside, the battery holders, inverters, lights and fold down ladder at the back. Alas our “little” Landcruiser was too small to carry all of the equipment we need plus the systems and parts we needed, so we upgraded. We cover a wide range of jobs, in a range of locations, and we need to be prepared.

The last thing you want is to not have a particular tool, fastener or even capacitor with you.

All our vehicles are also equipped with an Evakool fridge for those hot days and to keep lunches fresh.

What changes have you made? We have started with two standard toolboxes and customised the ladder racks and storage baskets – TIG welding is a handy skill to have! Battery holders are a must‑have too. They keep the batteries accessible and quick to grab.

Future plans: We are still yet to get an inverter back on board to charge the tool batteries, an air compressor, and more lights … but all the extra add-ons take time! ■ Does your work vehicle have great features you’d like to share? Send us some pics at mark.vender@airah.org.au

Favourite features: The tailgate lifter is a godsend! It means no more lifting (especially of an early morning when we load up for the day). July 2021

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Cover Feature

BMS REVOLUTION! HVAC&R technicians are increasingly interacting with building management systems (BMS), particularly in the commercial building sector. Sean McGowan reports on how being equipped with the right knowledge can help you make the most of these interactions. Before the introduction of digital control of buildings in the late 1970s and 1980s, pneumatic or electric control was commonplace, operating on a standalone basis. Most of these systems are now a thing of the past. Instead, modern building management systems (BMS) have been installed to provide control and oversight of internal environmental conditions including heating, cooling and lighting. BMSs are also known as building management and controls systems (BMCS), building automation systems (BAS) and building automation and control systems (BACS). They typically consist of several digital controllers that communicate via a network infrastructure to a system server and operator workstation. These controllers are digital – and increasingly wireless. They operate with embedded software specific to HVAC control known as direct digital control (DDC). 20

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BMS architecture typically features three to four levels: field, system, management and enterprise. The field level refers to application-specific controllers such as terminal devices including fan coil units (FCUs), and variable air volume (VAV) boxes and control peripherals such as sensors, valves and dampers. The system level, also known as the automation level, is associated with controllers that serve the main plant such as air handling units (AHUs), chillers and boilers. The management level comprises the BMS server and the operator workstation (dashboard). It allows for the management and monitoring of the control system from a single point. A fourth level – enterprise – can sit above the other three levels to provide data analytics including asset management. Very simple systems that serve some buildings may only require two-level architecture, or DDC.

July 2021

DIRECT DIGITAL CONTROL Residing upon the BMS network, DDCs share information with the system and perform their primary function of controlling mechanical equipment such as fans, pumps, valves and dampers. There are typically two types of DDCs: fixed function or freely programmable. Fixed-function controllers are traditionally associated with field terminal devices such as FCUs and VAV boxes, which have limited fixed input and output channels. Freely programmable controllers offer greater flexibility to program a control strategy specific to a function. All DDC controllers have the ability to communicate on a network. Field-level controllers communicate on a simple network infrastructure physically connected together in a “daisy chain”.

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Cover Feature System-level controllers have multiple levels of communication, including one for the field-level network and another for the system-level network. They provide faster speeds to cater for the large amounts of data being transferred.

automation. BACnet is often used at the heart of the BMS, with Modbus used in the devices being integrated to a system. “Many years ago, the transition from proprietary systems to BACnet open protocol was a big step in the right direction for the industry,” says Jason Duncan, Affil.AIRAH, regional sales manager for Reliable Controls.

TALKING MY LANGUAGE Traditionally, BMS communication has been conducted via serial networks and ethernet networks utilising protocols such as Modbus, BACnet, LON and N2. The former two have, and continue to be, the most commonly used protocols in building

“Back in the days of proprietary systems, and even back in the early 2000s, we could only access BAS systems by attending site and physically going to the BAS computer in the building. But with improved processing power of PCs (and everything generally), coupled with improved network infrastructures, those days are gone.” Today, BMS manufacturers offer broader communication protocol capability within their products. This includes server-based software with a browser user interface (BUI) to access the BMS from anywhere, at any time.

TRAIN HOW YOU PLAY

“As the world transitions to IoT (internet of things) and big data, the industry – like all other technology‑based industries – is currently in a transition from the information and data silos that buildings were,” says Duncan, “to information and data sources that can be mined, analysed, optimised and operated by multiple sources.” Other significant changes to BMS technology in recent years include improvements to speed, reliability and data storage capacity and efficiency. There has also been a dramatic increase in the extent of integration to other building systems. Where system integration is conducted, even more IT-based languages are in use. These include APIs (application programming interface), JavaScript, and multiple data formats including XML and JSON.

Logical Building Automation managing director Jeremy Cooke is an advocate for continuing professional development.

THE STATE OF BMS

How can you gain confidence with BMSs?

“Some sites have brand new systems, and others are surviving on legacy systems that are more than 20 years old,” says Jeremy Cooke, managing director at Logical Building Automation.

While ASHRAE guidelines state that the average life expectancy of a BMS is 15 years, the state of operating systems in buildings varies greatly.

The best way for HVAC technicians to work more confidently on BMSs is to have training, and seek more of it.

He says the extent to which a system’s age impacts on operation depends largely on the system’s backward compatibility.

If you are working with or around a BMS system that you’re not familiar with, speak to your supervisor about arranging some training for you from the BMS contractor.

“For systems that have large technology changes that result in hardware becoming obsolete with the latest software, these are the most at risk of impacting operations,” he says. “The systems are not able to utilise the latest enhancements that software or drivers may offer.”

The BMS system really is intended to be a tool for all stakeholders to use at various levels so as to get the most value out of it for the building, and ultimately, the occupants and owners.

Ageing BMS systems – or more pointedly, systems that are not continuously optimised and upgraded – often result in less efficient buildings. Energy savings are not maximised. Additionally, equipment connected to ageing BMSs can have decreased life expectancy, an increase in replacements and integration costs, and are less likely to maintain optimal comfort conditions.

What kinds of projects can technicians expect to work on? Logical has been involved in the design, implementation and tuning/maintenance of BMS systems for over 20 years for clients in sectors including universities, data centres, hospitals, premium-grade office towers and energy‑monitoring systems. The company applies technology to achieve customer goals such as sustainability initiatives, space utilisation, occupant comfort (IEQ), and energy-saving initiatives like Green Star and NABERS. ■

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WHAT CAN GO WRONG?

LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT In the early days of BMS, there were few opportunities for HVAC technicians, or any other trade that didn’t work for the product manufacturer, to connect to a |

July 2021

Reliable Controls regional sales manager Jason Duncan, Affil.AIRAH, outlines some of the main things to look for, or be aware of, when interacting with a building’s BMS. Is what you are seeing on the screen really happening? It’s very easy to get caught in a mode where you see things happening on a screen and assume that that is what is actually happening in the field. But it’s just a computer – it might not be a reality. So, get off the chair and get out into the field to check what’s really going on, then compare it to what’s being put forward by the BAS. When should be manual override be implemented? The entire operation is meant to be automated. So, if something has to be over-ridden and put into manual operation, then that’s a problem. Use a manual override as a short-term solution only, and find a way to get the system back to full automation as soon as possible. How can manufacturers empower stakeholders? Unlike some of the traditional BAS manufacturers, we believe all the building stakeholders should be empowered with the knowledge and resources to understand and operate their systems. With all open protocol products, as well as being simple, flexible and sustainable, we empower stakeholders with choice by distributing products through an authorised dealer network. ■ BMS system. Mainly this was because such systems were proprietary and closed-source. “When I joined the BMS industry, I remember needing to have a client application software running on a laptop and plugging into a controller with some kind of ethernet-to-serial converter,” Cooke says. This has since evolved from being able to use a web browser with no pre-loaded software and connecting onto an IP network, to now being able to use mobile devices over wireless networks.

Healthy Building Solutions Powered by the WebCTRL® Building Automa�on System, Automated Logic’s suite of Healthy Building Solu�ons include advanced products and services that help deliver healthier, safer, more eﬃcient, and more produc�ve indoor environments. Our experts will work closely with you to design, maintain, operate, and sustain your buildings to help protect what’s most important – the health of those inside. Environmental sensors, controls, and control strategies work together to help op�mize indoor air quality (IAQ) for building occupants. Occupant Engagement and Educa�on Tools that provide building occupants with real-�me visibility into air quality metrics in their surrounding areas. Facility Management, Diagnos�c, and Repor�ng Tools that help facility operators manage occupant comfort, energy eﬃciency, and overall building health. Remote Diagnos�cs & Resolu�on Services that allow our Experts to remotely manage your building’s systems, providing a safe and comfortable environment for occupants with li�le or no visits to the site.

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HVAC&R Nation

Cover Feature Connections can even be made without directly accessing a BMS system, via the cloud. And while there are still plenty of proprietary BMS vendors, the number of closed systems is diminishing.

Data-driven maintenance

So why engage with the BMS? What’s in it for HVAC technicians?

is the way for the future.

REMOTE ACCESS Network communications can be extended beyond the boundary of the physical BMS via an internet connection to allow for remote monitoring and control functionality.

“This is a way to use technology to optimise a technician’s time onsite,” he says, “by sending them straight to the poorest performing equipment for rectification.”

According to Cooke, technicians can obtain a lot of information from the BMS about the performance of HVAC equipment and plant, and the building’s operation more generally.

Web-based systems behave like a website and serve pages of information that can be accessed by a standard web browser, while non-web-based systems use proprietary software to provide remote access. ■

For this reason, Duncan says data-driven maintenance is a win-win.

For instance, they can access real-time information about the network and health of DCCs. They can also use tools such as alarms, trends and analytics to identify areas of concern as part of a broader data‑driven maintenance regime.

“The building stakeholders get a more efficient building that costs them less to run and has less impact on the environment,” he says. “At the same time the service providers get to work on more interesting projects, and overall get more work because the BAS is constantly providing optimisation opportunities in the building.”

“For mechanical or electrical technicians, they can work closely with the BMS contractor to set up or train up on some of the features of the BMS system that would allow them to identify poor performing equipment to investigate as part of their maintenance,” Cooke says.

RESPECT THE TECH

Duncan says collaboration and engagement from everyone involved in the operation of a building is critical to successful optimisation. The BMS is no exception.

This is often done is by comparing HVAC performance either against design parameters measured over time, or against the same equipment operating in different locations. Should vast differences or anomalies be identified, then these can be investigated in the field.

Despite the advances in technology, and opportunities that BMS systems afford, they can be a minefield for HVAC technicians who are under-trained or ill prepared to work with them.

“You need to ask yourself these questions,” he says. “Am I engaged with and do I have the support of someone who will help me if things go wrong? What BMS product is being used in the building? Where can I get training and support to learn about this product before diving in?”

“These differences, anomalies or thresholds can also be pre-programmed as part of a fault detection diagnostics approach,” Cooke says. “The BMS system will detect this in real time as soon as these events occur, or predict when these will occur in the future.”

So, what do you need to be aware of before plugging in? “It begins with respecting the local BMS contractor and the intrinsic knowledge they have of the system,” says Jeremy Cooke from Logical Building Automation.

THE INQUISITIVE MIND

A NEW MODEL Duncan says the old model of maintenance via a roster where most of the equipment checked is functioning fine (and didn’t really need to be checked) is rapidly disappearing.

“Work closely with the BMS contractor and building manager to establish processes that may involve the ability to temporarily disable alarms while working on equipment. Or take equipment out of sequence that need servicing – via the BMS and not the local isolator – to avoid unnecessary nuisance alarms.”

The common goal of all stakeholders managing and maintaining a building should be to make the building better. And the best way of achieving that is for everyone to work together while learning from each other.

Technicians should also recognise that there are many connected parts to a BMS, and much time and effort goes into the configuration and programming of these systems.

“Arrange your maintenance day onsite to coincide with that of the BAS technician,” Duncan advises. “I come from an HVAC trade background, and I remember when I first made the transition to BAS, I thought it was all very easy. But once I started digging in, I realised there is an endless world of technology behind the screen that takes a journey of continuous learning to understand and keep up with.

In its place, data-driven maintenance is becoming the new and preferred model for many HVAC and building services contractors. “Data-driven maintenance is the way of the future,” says Duncan. “And the BAS is the collector of and simultaneously the window to that data.” He says using features such as integrated fault detection and diagnostics (IFDD) from within the BAS can highlight poor performing equipment and suggest intuitive action to improve performance.

“There are sometimes misperceptions out there that BMS systems are ‘plug and play’ or simply an interchangeable commodity,” says Cooke. “But these systems are only becoming more complex and crossing further over into the IT and softwaredevelopment world.” ■

“So, start slow, connect with the right people and keep asking questions.” ■

TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT A BMS

1 2 3 24

Respect that a whole lot of thought, time and effort has gone into the BMS in the project phase. What you determine that the system is doing from a quick screenshot may not necessarily be the whole picture. Understand what “open protocol” actually means and what role BACnet plays in that. It is an important step to understanding a BMS. Read the functional description for the BMS, and be aware of any pre-conceived ideas on how things should operate.

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5 6 7

July 2021

Everything is easy once you know it. Make the effort to get to know your BMS provider and learn some of the key fundamentals of the BMS so that everything you do on a daily basis will become a lot easier. A BMS is not a mysterious black box – but it can be incredibly technical and fidgety. The BMS should be your first point of call, and is your best tool for fault finding and optimisation of HVAC equipment. BMS fault finding needs a methodical approach – and patience.

The BMS technology will never take your job. But if you learn how to use it to your advantage it will make your job easier, the building will perform better, and you will get some of the credit for it.

9 10

The BMS industry is ever-evolving and exciting to be in. A BMS product that can be purchased and installed by more than one provider is critical to ensuring ongoing quality service. ■

Safety Matters

YOUR MOST IMPORTANT TOOL?

with salt include snacks like chips and crackers, as well as ready-made sauces, processed meats, dips, and baked goods. There is also a link between eating red meat and developing cardiovascular disease. The Heart Foundation recommends that across the week, you should eat less than 350g of unprocessed red meat (such as beef, pork or lamb). And you should eat this together with vegetables, wholegrains and healthy cooking oils (such as olive, canola, sunflower, peanut and soybean oil).

4. GET ON TOP OF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE Blood pressure is the pressure of your blood on the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps it around your body. High blood pressure over a long time is one of the main risk factors for heart disease. High blood pressure has no clear symptoms. That’s why it’s important to have a regular blood pressure check. If you are 18 or over, get your blood pressure checked by your doctor at least every two years. If you are 45 and over, you should have your blood pressure checked as part of a regular, comprehensive heart health check.

No, it’s not your gauges, pliers or shifter – it’s your heart. “Men ... treat their bodies as tools to do a job,” say Derek M Griffith and Elizabeth C Stewart from Vanderbilt University, USA. “Health is not always important or something they pay much attention to until poor health gets in the way of their ability to go to work, have sex or do something else important to them.” It’s a timely reflection, given that we have just marked Men’s Health Week. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, coronary heart disease takes more than 18,000 Australian lives each year, with men being the majority of people dying and being hospitalised. As we return to the ways of life and the patterns and habits we had before the pandemic, there’s one thing we must change: it’s time to take better care of our hearts. But how? The Heart Foundation has put together five simple steps.

1. GET A HEART HEALTH CHECK If you are 45 years old and over (30 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), make an appointment to see your doctor for a Medicare‑funded 20-minute Heart Health Check. During a Heart Health Check, your doctor will assess and address your risk of developing heart disease by: • Checking your heart disease risk factors • Discussing your health history and lifestyle • Determining if you are at low, moderate or high risk • Taking action to improve your heart health.

2. FIND THE TIME TO GET MOVING Not being active enough is responsible for 11 per cent of the burden of cardiovascular disease (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2017). But you don’t have to instantly go from couch to five kilometres. Here are some tips to get going: • Join a Heart Foundation Walking group and look for ways you can take more steps every day • Break up your exercise into easy‑to‑manage blocks of time – it’s less daunting to exercise for 10 minutes three times each day than it is to do one 30‑minute stretch

3. COOK AND EAT DELICIOUS HEART‑HEALTHY MEALS

Just like high blood pressure, high levels of low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) can lead to heart disease. This “bad cholesterol” sticks to the walls of your arteries, causing a build‑up known as plaque that can create blockages in your arteries and can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. You can control your cholesterol levels by:

• Begin with realistic goals, achieve them and then go on to bigger and better targets from there • Get the whole family involved, or get your mates on board: play footy or basketball, go for a bike ride or a run, or get a gym buddy.

5. CONTROL YOUR CHOLESTEROL

• Avoiding foods that are high in saturated and trans fats, including pizzas, cakes, biscuits, pastries and deep-fried foods • Eating healthier fats in foods like nuts, seeds, avocados, olives and using their oils for cooking • Eating a heart-healthy diet • Taking any cholesterol-lowering medications, as prescribed by your doctor. ■

Poor diet is the second-highest risk factor for developing heart disease. For example, Australians eat way too much salt. The average daily intake is 9 grams, almost twice the recommended amount. A build‑up of sodium in your blood can lead to high blood pressure, which increases your risk of developing heart disease. Foods that are packed

This article was adapted from material provided by The Heart Foundation. For more information go to heartfoundation.org.au

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Around the Nation 1

1 QUEENSLAND WON’T RUSH LICENSING REFORM The Queensland government has indicated it will be working with the federal government to resolve issues around automatic mutual recognition before adopting the reforms, due to take effect on July 1 around Australia. “The Queensland government is supportive of improving occupational mobility to support economic recovery, but not at any cost,” says the government. “It is committed to retaining Queensland’s high standards of regulatory protections and safeguards. A critical issue for Queensland is ensuring appropriate clarity and flexibility to be able to effectively exempt specific occupations to address and manage the substantial concerns raised by key stakeholders and regulators. In this regard, the Queensland government is continuing to engage with the Commonwealth on these matters. “As such, any adoption of the reform in Queensland would only be at a time when Queensland is fully ready.” The automatic mutual recognition (AMR) system has been designed to allow licensed workers to operate across borders without having to apply, pay for and wait for a further licence to perform the same type of work in other states and territories. ■

4 PUT HVAC&R ON YOUR CENSUS!

“We hope to provide evidence-based guidelines on appropriate indoor conditions, design/ specifications and operations of classrooms for stakeholders including educational and health authorities and building designers,” says Associate Professor Priya Rajagopalan.

With the Australian Census coming up on August 10, AIRAH is rallying its members and those who work in the wider HVAC&R industry to classify themselves as “HVAC&R” under “industry of employment”.

“We also hope that the guidelines will inform the operation and maintenance of school classrooms, including filter-grade specifications, ventilation rates and temperature set-points in order to close the energy efficiency, thermal and IAQ performance gap.” ■

3 TIPS FOR TAX TIME The Australian Taxation Office has compiled tax‑return advice for trades. It covers the items you can claim, depending on whether you are an employee or a small business. In general, employees can claim a deduction for expenses incurred if: • You spent the money yourself and were not reimbursed • It was directly related to earning your income

2 SCHOOLS FAILING ON AIR QUALITY

If your expense was for both work and private purposes, you can only claim a deduction for the work-related portion.

A recent RMIT research project has highlighted the poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in some Victorian classrooms, and added to concerns around ventilation in Australian schools in general.

Small businesses can claim business expenses if: • The money was spent for your business (not a private expense) • You have a record to prove it.

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“It is strange that a sector worth $38 billion, that uses more than 24 per cent of Australia’s electricity and that accounts for 11.5 per cent of our carbon dioxide emissions is basically unknown to most Australians,” says AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH. “Unfortunately, the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not provide data specifically on the HVAC&R industry, because we are not listed as our own standard industrial classification, and that is what we would like to address. “When you fill in the industry section of your census on August 10, write that you work in HVAC&R and help us get the standing we deserve.” Go to airah.org.au/census ■

5 STAR SYSTEM FOR SPACE HEATERS The Equipment Energy Efficiency Program (E3) has published a product profile on space heaters in Australia and New Zealand and is looking for feedback to support a ratings scheme for these appliances. According to E3, space heating accounts for around a third of residential energy use in Australia and New Zealand. Energy rating labelling and supporting tools could help consumers compare different heating technologies, to make a more informed decision to best meet their heating needs.

More detailed information is available for categories such as clothing and PPE, tools and vehicles. Special measures such as temporary full expensing and instant asset write-off have also been put in place for COVID-19.

The product profile provides an overview of the space heater market and products, outlines existing government policies (domestic and international) for space heater energy efficiency, and identifies the scope to assist consumers to recognise and select more efficient space heaters. This information and the feedback E3 receives will provide a foundation for the development of a comparative energy rating labelling system.

Go to www.ato.gov.au/tradies ■

Go to www.energyrating.gov.au/consultation ■

If the expense is for a mix of business and private use, you can only claim the portion that is related to your business.

Average CO2 concentration levels in the different school classrooms ranged from 912 to 2,235ppm, and spiked as high as 5,000ppm during occupied hours. Although the Australian Standard (AS1668.2) specifies minimum floorspace and outdoor airflow

rate per occupant rather than maximum CO2 levels, concentrations above 1,000ppm are generally seen as unhealthy.

• You have a record to prove it.

Ventilation rates were below the recommended standards in seven out of the 10 classrooms selected for the study. Average classroom ventilation rates were far below the Australian Standard’s per-person requirement.

July 2021

Around the Nation 10

6 8

(L–R) Richard Agar-Wilson, General Manager, Pacific Ventilation; Peter Gibson, Affil.AIRAH Managing Director, Pacific Ventilation; Jay Owen, Sales Director, IAC Australia; Andrew Twisse, Affil.AIRAH, National Sales Manager, Pacific Ventilation

6 NEW SITE FOR SAFE STORAGE Trafalgar Safety has launched a new website. “We’ve been working hard to give customers what they want: a website where they can find all the products and information they need all in the one place,” says Rebecca Marlor, group marketing manager at Trafalgar Group. “We’re excited to finally launch the site and properly showcase our wide range of Australian-made and owned products.” Trafalgar Safety is one of five Trafalgar Group divisions with a focus on safety storage and transport solutions. The new website combines all four Trafalgar Safety brands (Store-Safe, Fyre‑Safe, JNI Pallet Safe, and JNI Freight Safe), putting the ranges of safe storage cabinets, cages, and stillages in the same place. Trafalgar Group is an Australian business with offices in South Granville, Ingleburn, and Brendale (Queensland). All Trafalgar Safety products are manufactured in South Granville and have Australian-made and owned certification. Go to tsafety.com.au ■

7 RLS PRESSES AHEAD Also boasting a brand-new website is RLS, the US‑based manufacturer of the RLS Rapid Locking System line of press-to-connect fittings. A new product catalogue and other marketing materials are also part of the marketing roll-out. The new website explains the potential advantages of using flame-free RLS press fittings in place of brazing. RLS says these include saving time, reducing total installed costs, and increasing safety for HVAC&R contractors. “RLS established an Australian office earlier this year to better serve our customers in the region,” says RLS Australia director of sales Ian Robertson. “Now, with the launch of our new website and catalogue, we’re demonstrating an even stronger commitment to Australia and New Zealand as the use of RLS technology continues to increase in these important markets.”

In addition to the new product catalogue, the site includes installation instructions, FAQs and other marketing collateral. Distributors are listed by region.

“Our newest agreement with IAC will provide both organisations and the HVAC industry the most innovative and complete fan attenuation solution available,” says Pacific Ventilation managing director Peter Gibson, Affil.AIRAH.

Go to rapidlockingsystem.com.au ■

“With innovation and engineering at both companies’ core, the industry will begin the journey to complete fan attenuation solutions, perfectly matched for the best energy efficiency and sound performance. This is only the beginning, and great potential exists as the power of our two companies combine.”

8 DAIKIN’S DEAL WITH AAF Daikin has announced a distribution partnership with American Air Filter (AAF). As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of commercial and industrial air filters, AAF makes a variety of products for removing and controlling airborne particulates and gaseous contaminants.

IAC Acoustics sales director Jay Owen is also optimistic about the alliance. “We are delighted to be able to announce our formal collaboration with Pacific Ventilation as we firmly believe it represents a change for good in the Australian HVAC market,” Owen says.

“By combining Daikin’s market‑leading HVAC capabilities and AAF’s air filtration expertise, Daikin can offer an all-in-one solution for any building’s HVAC systems, both at the time of install and for ongoing maintenance,” says Daikin.

Go to www.pacificventilation.com or www.iac‑australia.com.au ■

AAF has been a subsidiary of Daikin Industries since 2007. In 2015, AAF Asia’s regional headquarters expanded into Australia with sales offices and warehouses in Sydney and Melbourne. These strategic locations were chosen to enable short lead times and cost‑competitive delivery.

10 IMPROVING OUR INSULATION

AAF filters are now available from Daikin and Daikin Distribution Centres. Pricing and further details available on request. Go to commercial.daikin.com.au/american-air-filter ■

9 A SOUND MOVE FROM PACIFIC Pacific Ventilation and IAC Acoustics have announced that Pacific Ventilation is now the sole HVAC attenuation distributor for IAC in Australia. Together, they will provide ventilation and sound attenuation solutions to a wide variety of projects, including MRT, industrial, commercial, and domestic HVAC markets. Pacific Ventilation and IAC Acoustics say they are prepared to lead a new era of HVAC attenuation selections based on reliable, certified, sound data.

A coalition of insulation, building and organisations focused on energy efficiency has released a joint Roadmap for quality control and safety in insulation installation. The roadmap sets out a series of actions to ensure that insulation is installed following best-practice processes for quality control and safety. “Insulation is an essential component of a healthy, comfortable building,” the coalition says. “Adequate insulation can increase thermal comfort, lower heating and cooling bills, and reduce the prevalence of illness and death. Insulation needs to be properly installed in order to deliver its full value in both existing and new buildings. “The almost 40 organisations that developed and signed this roadmap are committed to working with governments to ensure that insulation is installed properly. The roadmap includes actions that industry commits to undertake, and recommendations for actions by governments and other organisations.” Go to https://tinyurl.com/ysyhz3ds ■

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HVAC&R Nation

Smoko with . . .

Name: Stephanie Peters Company: BSA Occupation: Second-year

apprentice

ut working in HVAC&R? What’s the best thing abo – every day can be different. The diversity of the industry a half years. d in the industry? One and How long have you worke about the job? What has surprised you techs. I have received from all the The support and knowledge Favourite tool: Pliers.

test twice, ever received: “Test once, Best on-the-job advice you then test again.” test for the third time ... and rk? nt has been with your wo What’s the happiest a clie g for a nin run and up m ded a coolroo We once had a client that nee we worked well to get it done and although big event. We had one night was over the moon. ore the event and the client into the night it was fixed bef n Plymouth Road Runner. Dream car: First-generatio iland. Dream holiday: Spain or Tha d roll. Iced coffee and a chicken sala Favourite smoko snack:

What did you listen to Triple J. on the way to work today? Woodman. d rugby union player Portia Sporting hero: New Zealan . … Catching up with friends When I’m not working I’m

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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July 2021

Cool Tech

BLADE OF GLORY The versatile Leatherman Free T4 multitool features technology that allows one-handed use. There are knives and then there are knives. The Leatherman Free T4 fits into the latter category. Measuring less than 10cm and weighing just 121g, the T4 is a dozen tools in one. In addition to the main blade knife, it boasts spring-action scissors, a pry tool, a package opener, an awl, a wood/metal file, a Phillips-head screwdriver, a medium screwdriver, a small screwdriver, an extra-small screwdriver, a set of tweezers, and – of course – a bottle opener. Sure, there are plenty of army knives and multitool options on the market that offer something similar. What sets the Leatherman Free range apart is a system that allows one-handed opening of the tools – useful if you need to keep hold of what you’re working on while selecting a different implement. “Maximum utility, minimum space,” the company says. “After 35 years of evolving, adapting, and pushing the limits, we challenged ourselves to unknow what a multipurpose tool can be. Completely redesigned, Leatherman Free is built to turn any obstacle into an opportunity to save the day.”

Tools on the T4 pop open with a push of the thumb, which saves on broken fingernails (and frustration). “Locking and unlocking is safe and secure thanks to the designed cam locks,” the firm says. “Leatherman Free lets you keep your eye on the task, not the tool.”

newly

Super sharp, the knife blade is made from 420HC high‑carbon stainless steel, which provides decent corrosion resistance. Made in the US, the Free T4 has a 25‑year warranty. It retails in Australia for about $115. ■

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HVAC&R Nation

The Lighter Side This month’s Lighter Side brought to you by:

1 WINNER

1 CROWDED AT THE TOP

4 THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

Jordan sent in this pic from Miranda in Sydney. “Soft drawn slapped in everywhere,” he says. “This is where outdoor units come to die.” Sadly for Jordan, this wasn’t a job he was called out to – he found it when he went to investigate why the AC in his brand-new apartment wasn’t working.

Scott was called out to a home in Wynn Vale, SA, because the AC wasn’t working well. “The customer’s back garden was under full pergola,” Scott says, “so they hadn’t seen the air conditioner since it arrived about 20 years prior. “I asked when they’d last had it serviced, and the response was of course: ‘What do you mean, it needs a service!?’ “I’ll never forget the looks on their faces when I showed them the photos. I should have taken that photo! Priceless.”

Graham says: Just finding the right unit to work on would be a challenge. Often these systems are not designed, they are “sold” by a salesperson and the installer then has to make the best of it. The bottom line is that the price rules.

2 TECHNICOLOUR HVAC Those of you old enough to remember the Mousetrap game will appreciate Ben’s pic of a bar in Brisbane. Graham says: Wonderful job of brightening up some boring old ducting. So long as the access doors are still usable.

3 TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE BRAIN “Came across this beauty on a job in Brunswick,” says Kody. “Package unit completely surrounded by solar panels.” Graham says: Reinforces the need for access walkways on rooftops which make the task of servicing air conditioning units much simpler and also much safer.

Graham says: While we can be critical of the customer, it was really the fault of the selling agent who didn’t instruct them properly on the need for service. Out of familiarity with our equipment we tend to think that customers understand what we are talking about and have what we would describe as common sense.

5 UNHAPPY UNION “Had to replace this unit due to premature compressor failure,” says Aidan. “I think you can tell why. Yes, the flared unions were cut away.” Graham says: It appears that the pipe run between indoor and outdoor unit has been cut back to a minimum, which may have created some flood back, although there should be an accumulator to protect the compressor. The “pair coil” insulation is not great, but may have been cut back for the photo. The apparent close proximity between indoor and outdoor unit could also present problems for noise and vibration through the wall.

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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July 2021

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Visit apacair.com.au for more information

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HVAC&R Nation

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• Quality control and testing performed in factory to reduce risk of issues during installation • Plug and play – BMS contractor can communicate with AHU-PIC via High Level Interference (HLI) removing the need for field-fitting of controls • Easy access to all components for service and maintenance • Fast and easy installation

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HVAC&R Nation July 2021

Articles inside

Lighter Side

Cool Tech

Around the Nation

Global Update

HVAC&R Nation regulars

Smoko with

Beaut Utes

The Toolshed