Around the Nation

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Aspergillus mould spores

1 AMR COMING SOON

The Australian government has introduced the Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2021 to the House of Representatives.

If it passes through parliament, it will see a new system for automatic mutual recognition (AMR) of occupational registration beginning on July 1, 2021.

The legislation will allow workers with occupational licences who are registered for an occupation in their home state to carry on activities in a second state without having to pay for a second licence. The activities are carried on in the second state under automatic deemed registration.

AMR will cover trades such as HVAC&R technicians, electricians and plumbers, as well as a raft of other licensed occupations such as teachers and property agents. States have the option to exempt a registration from being subject to AMR because of a significant risk to consumer protection, the environment, animal welfare, or the health or safety of workers or the public. Debate in parliament noted the lack of consistency in licensing across the states, particularly in the building industry. ■

2 COMFORTING AUSTRALIA

ActronAir has launched a new website. The Australian air conditioning manufacturer says the new website is designed from the ground up to make navigation easier while incorporating tools to make air conditioning simple to understand for everyone. “For those first researching it, the world of air conditioning can be a daunting place,” says ActronAir CEO Brendan Simpson. “It’s filled with technical terms and concepts, and the differences between products and brands isn’t always clear. With our new website, we’re looking to change that. people’s comfort, and their power bills. Our goal is to help everybody understand those differences in as easy a fashion as possible, and we’re really excited to begin telling that story.” ■

3 CLOCK TICKING ON LICENCE APPLICATIONS

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is offering new arrangements for mechanical services workers who apply for their occupational licence ahead of the January 1, 2022 deadline. Employees who perform mechanical services work for a licensed contractor, including refrigeration and air conditioning, have until January 1, 2022 to hold the relevant occupational licence.

Normally, these licences will need to be renewed one year after they are issued. Under the new arrangements, employees can apply and receive their licence now, but because the licence will only begin on January 1 next year, the first renewal will be on January 1, 2023. “The deadline is fast approaching,” says the QBCC. “Apply early so you will have the assurance of knowing you have the required licence in time. For those who are granted their Mechanical Services Occupational or Site Supervisor licence after February 2021 and before the January 1, 2022 deadline, the QBCC will arrange for your licence to commence on January 1, 2022, so the first renewal will be January 1, 2023.” Go to www.qbcc.qld.gov.au ■

4 TREATING THE HIVE

Clear-Air (Aust) recently remediated a hospital HVAC system where a tape lift sample came back from the lab with 50K CFU aspergillus – a common mould that can cause infection of the respiratory system. “Aspergillus exposure is difficult to avoid,” says indoor environmental professional and IICRCcertified mould remediator at Clean-Air, David Hill. “Indoor dust contains spores and thermotolerant moulds that may colonise damp or water-damaged building materials or components. HVAC systems can shed spores into a building.”

Filters, in particular, are breeding grounds for mould.

“Filters are a massive surface area for harbouring mould-loaded dust particles,” says Hill. “Generally, no one treats the hive. “Dust particles provide a source of nutrients for odour-causing bacteria and mould, which rapidly grow colonies in untreated air filters. Towards the end of its working life, a typical filter is highly contaminated.”

To address this, the remediation team applied a residual biocide to the filter fibres. Hill says that this controls and prevents mould and odour-causing bacteria from colonising. The treatment migrates to dust particles making it toxic as a food source for micro-organisms. It is also designed to stay on filter fibres even under extreme airflows.

Go to: www.cleanairaust.com.au ■

5 AUSSIE RULES LEGEND AT AAD

Australian Airconditioning Distributors (AAD) recently opened its superstore in Bayswater in Melbourne’s north east.

Located on Turbo Drive, the store features 2,200m² of warehouse space and is set on 4,000m² of land. The company says the location is ideal for servicing HVAC trades in Bayswater and surrounding areas, in anticipation of the region’s population growth over the coming years. The grand opening of the HVAC superstore was attended by suppliers, local tradespeople and AAD staff, as well as former Sydney Swans player Warwick Capper. Attendees were treated to a site tour, barbecue, raffle and celebratory drinks. The addition of the Bayswater superstore takes the total number of AAD branches to eight with Clayton, Hallam, Bayswater, Epping, Laverton, and Tullamarine servicing metropolitan Melbourne; a regional branch in Bell Park servicing greater Geelong and surrounding areas; as well as a branch in Arndell Park, NSW. ■

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6 PRESIDENT PAUL

The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has held its board elections for the 2021–2023 term and voted in Paul Jackson, F.AIRAH, as the new president. He will succeed Ian Harwood, F.AIRAH, whose term ends in May.

Also appointed to the AIRAH board were Bryon Price, F.AIRAH, and Liza Taylor, M.AIRAH, both re-elected. Chris Stamatis, M.AIRAH, is a new appointment, and succeeds the outgoing Harwood on the board.

The announcement of the incoming president comes just as AIRAH celebrates its 101st birthday. Mindful of the legacy he will inherit, Jackson is also focused on the path ahead.

“The Institute has been very agile over the past 101 years,” says Jackson, “and I’m sure it will continue to evolve to suit the needs of its members and the wider industry for another 100 years. Along with my fellow board directors, I look forward to helping navigate AIRAH into its second century.”

The national contracts manager for Engineering Commissioning Services, Jackson boasts more than 35 years’ experience in the building services industry. ■

7 MOST COMMON RAC FAULTS

A new report prepared by the Expert Group for the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment lists the most common faults identified in residential and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

The report, titled Leaks, maintenance and emissions: refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, found that the most commonly recurring fault in commercial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment is refrigerant undercharge – directly related to leakage. issues with system capacity and mismatched components; control systems, sensors and wiring issues; and poor equipment location.

The report notes that these common faults occur across most equipment segments, and a large majority are related to maintenance or can be addressed by routine maintenance.

Patrick McInerney, Director, International Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Section at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, says there are opportunities to increase awareness and commitment of equipment owners to invest in routine preventative maintenance, proper installation, and commissioning practices.

“These simple steps will contribute to equipment functioning as designed, have minimum leaks, emissions and reduce the running costs over the life of the equipment,” says McInerney. ■

8 WAGE SUBSIDY EXTENDED

The federal government is extending its Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement subsidy scheme for 12 months until September 30, 2021.

The program, which covers 50 per cent of wages paid to new or recommencing apprentices, has been embraced by businesses. The government says it is has helped create 100,000 apprenticeships in less than five months.

According to the government, 40 per cent of these new apprentices and trainees were employed by small businesses, with the largest take up in the construction, food and beverage, administrative, and repair and maintenance sectors. Around 36 per cent of the new commencements have been women, and about 20 per cent were over the age of 35.

The new tranche of funding, estimated at around $1.2 billion, is expected to generate 70,000 new positions. It will also cover business that had already employed apprentices under the program, so that they get a full 12 months of the subsidy. ■

9 SAFE WORK GUIDANCE ON

COVID-19

A new COVID-19 fact sheet on improving ventilation in indoor workplaces has been developed by Safe Work Australia. The fact sheet highlights practical steps to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and improve ventilation in indoor workplaces.

The advice covers three main points: ensuring HVAC systems are operating properly; taking steps to improve ventilation; and measures to limit the number of workers.

Safe Work Australia also notes that the most effective ways to minimise the risk of COVID-19 infection at your workplace are to ensure workers do not attend work if they are unwell, to practice physical distancing, and to maintain good hygiene and environmental cleaning. Go to: www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/improvingventilation-indoor-workplaces-covid-19 ■

10 HARRISON IN THE SPOTLIGHT

From March 20–28, Geelong Design Week hosted an exhibition about Australian refrigeration pioneer James Harrison at Barwon Grange.

The exhibition was titled James Harrison’s Momentous Achievements – models, medals, memorabilia and explored Harrison’s life from 1816–1893. He was the first to create ice via mechanical means, and the founder of the Geelong Advertiser.

Harrison emigrated to Australia from Scotland in 1837, and was a printer by trade. After founding The Advertiser in 1840, he realised the sulfuric ether on printing presses could have other uses.

The exhibition followed his extraordinary life as he became a member of the Geelong Council, made the first attempt to ship frozen meat from Australia to Britain, founded the Victoria Ice Works and much more.