IRI conference draws capacity attendance

The Institute of Refrigeration Ireland (IRI) recently held its biennial conference at the Green Isle Hotel, Dublin. A capacity attendance of over 100 delegates took part in what was a very informative occasion with a speaker line-up comprising 14 industry experts.

The conference is normally held every two years but this particular event was the first one since 2019 due to the Covid pandemic. The main theme was “Decarbonisation and net zero, the role of heat pumps and refrigeration heat recovery.” The main discussion points centred around Ireland’s national decarbonisation targets, the RAC industry’s role in meeting them, the ever-changing rules and regulations being introduced to drive the change, and the new technologies coming on stream to achieve these aims.

Series of excellent papers

The conference programme saw the 14 expert speakers deliver a series of excellent papers on everything from green building certification to the new national Irish standard for heat pumps. They came from a wide range of industry bodies such as the ESB, EPA, TUD, SEAI and Codema, and various businesses involved in RAC and heat pumps. This resulted in a broad-ranging and highly-educational conference with delegates gaining as much from the ensuing Q&As as they did from the papers themselves. Selecting a main theme for the conference is the task of the IRI’s Technical Committee, which is chaired by Declan Fitzmaurice of FTG consulting. The aim is to incorporate topics which have a current relevance for the RAC industry. Delegates attend a series of talks and are brought up to speed on the latest technologies, trends and regulations which affect their jobs and businesses. The recent conference fulfilled this objective and also provided the opportunity for delegates to network and exchange ideas with their peers.

About IRI

The Institute of Refrigeration Ireland (IRI) is a professional membership body that represents refrigeration and airconditioning professionals in Ireland. The overall aims of the Institute are:

• To promote the general advancement of refrigeration and air conditioning applications;

• To pursue excellence in the provision of refrigeration products and services for the community;

• To provide members with continuing learning and networking opportunities;

• To establish and maintain standards of education, training and conduct;

• To speak as the authoritative voice of the refrigeration and air conditioning profession in Ireland;

The IRI pursues these aims by working in partnership with other key stakeholders in the industry, including government departments, state agencies and other professional bodies.

For more information see www.iri.ie

AC for people who don't

BTU celebrating 50 years

BTU outing at Old Conna

The BTU outing at Old Conna saw 40+ participants competing for the excellent array of prizes put up by sponsor Mueller Europe. The course was in perfect condition though the windy and cold weather did present a challenge.

Results

Overall winner: Barry Steele 38 pts.

Class 1

Class 2

Winner – Graham Fay, 33pts; Winner – Brendan Coghlan, 33pts; Runner-up – Ger Hutchinson, 32pts. Runner up – John White, 32pts.

Front Nine – Steve Jones. Back Nine – John Littlefield.

Visitors’ Prize – Eugene Smith.