CCN Oct 2017 by YAFFA MEDIA

Meet our 2017 winners of HVACR Leadership Awards OCTOBER 2017 Green Accreditation Bioclimatic architecture

Climate Control News

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CO2 refrigeration training Residential Air Conditioning

RECOGNISING

EXCELLENCE The ARBS Industry Awards recognise achievements and excellence in individual performance, projects, products, services and education categories within the HVAC&R and building services sector.

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN www.arbs.com.au

Proudly sponsored by

Winners will be announced at the ARBS Industr y Awards Gala Dinner to be held on 9th May, 2018 in Sydney

Contents

Leadership Awards

Meet this year's winners in our special report on the 2017 HVACR Leadership Awards. The special report features full page profiles of each award winner. Plus, a full roundup of the speaker presentations at CCN Live’s Trade Talk event.

Climate Control News October 2017

RAC pre-app

Launch of Australia’s very first pre-apprenticeship course for refrigeration and air conditioning.

CO2 refrigeration

Danfoss champions CO₂ with its mobile training unit.

Split Club

The Split Club is a new multi-faceted resource for installers and contractors.

Mobile app

The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has launched a free mobile phone app for RAC technicians.

Italian style

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia (MHIAA) introduces its new Avanti range to the local market.

This month 06

Meet our 2017 winners of HVACR Leadership Awards OCTOBER 2017 Green Accreditation Bioclimatic architecture

Residential air conditioning

Trade Talk

Insulation & Ducting

This feature includes the latest product releases as well as future housing challenges.

A full roundup of the speaker presentations featured at CCN Live 2017.

A national review is underway to ensure Australia has a safe built environment.

Climate Control News

Legionella risk

How to identify and manage risk relating to the prevention of Legionella.

Residential Air Conditioning

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Cover

Alternative cooling

CCN examines cooling systems based on bioclimatic architecture.

CO2 refrigeration training

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In the news

With 11 stores nationwide and plans for continued growth, Totaline will continue developing its brands and services throughout Australia. Totaline’s product range continues to grow, and in turn has created opportunities for expansion in the wholesale refrigeration market, to complement the airconditioning, heating, and spare parts sides of the business.

CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS OCTOBER 2017

Editorial

Climate Control News EDITOR Sandra Van Dijk Ph: (02) 9213 8277 sandravandijk@yaffa.com.au NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Michael Northcott Ph: 0420 403 044 michaelnorthcott@yaffa.com.au ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Michelle Carneiro Ph: (02) 9213 8219 michellecarneiro@yaffa.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS GREATMAGAZINES.COM.AU CALL 1800 807 760 SUBSCRIPTIONS@YAFFA.COM.AU SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 year $99.00 Overseas 1 year NZ A$110 ASIA A$125 ROW A$170

View from the Editor’s Desk

PUBLISHER Helen Davies CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER Martin Phillpott MARKETING MANAGER Sabarinah Elijah MARKETING EXECUTIVE Jasmine Gale

THE VIEW FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK HAS BEEN PRETTY INSPIRING IN RECENT WEEKS THANKS TO THE HVACR LEADERSHIP AWARDS.

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Matthew Gunn ART DIRECTOR Ana Heraud Sandra Van Dijk – Editor

I'VE HAD THE opportunity to profile our award winners which has been an uplifting experience. It is always a treat to talk to people who love what they do and are passionate about life. And, as we all know, positivity is infectious! This means the mood at the keyboard has been relatively upbeat as I compiled CCN's special report on the award presentation and the CCN Live speaker program 'Trade Talk' (look above to see yours truly pictured at the event). When I am not mixing it with HVACR champions at CCN Live I have been involved in preliminary meetings for the Split Club, another exciting initiative covered in this issue of the magazine. The Split Club is a new resource for installers and contractors to help with day to day, on the job challenges. It provides business and HR tips, up-to-date regulatory information, install tricks and other real world advice. The Club is being introduced to everyone via a series of events to be held across the eastern

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

states including Queensland, NSW and Victoria later this month. Membership to the Split Club and attendance at the events is free. An article on the Split Club is included in this month's Residential Air Conditioning Feature. In other industry news, Victoria now has its very own pre-apprenticeship course for the RAC trade. Yep, more good news. There is certainly plenty of positive activity right now which is a good sign of things to come as we work our way toward the new year and ARBS 2018. Readers can stay up to date with all the latest headlines at www.climatecontrolnews.com.au. ✺

STUDIO MANAGER Lauren Esdaile DESIGNER Bree Edgar YAFFA CUSTOM CONTENT DIRECTOR Matt Porter Ph: (02) 9213 8209 mattporter@yaffa.com.au CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS is published by Yaffa Media Pty Ltd ABN 54 002 699 354, 17-21 Bellevue Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010. Ph: (02) 9281 2333 Fax: (02) 9281 2750 ALL MAIL TO: GPO Box 606, Sydney NSW 2001

ISSN 1446-6937. Member Circulations Audit Board.

THE NEXT

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News

Launch of pre-apprenticeship course for RAC trade AUSTRALIA’S VERY FIRST PREAPPRENTICESHIP COURSE FOR REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING (RAC) WAS LAUNCHED IN MELBOURNE LAST MONTH. A PRE-APPRENTICESHIP COURSE for the refrigeration and air conditioning industry was launched in Melbourne last month. The first 11 students to undertake the preapp course attended an orientation session at the Box Hill Institute which is home to the Refrigeration and Climate Control Centre of Excellence.The students had registered in Certificate II Electrical and were offered a further 120 hours of RAC training through the new pre-app course which is full time, five days per week for a total of 10 weeks. Apprentices complete two days of welding, are briefed on Occupational Health and Safety Issues and have access to CV writing and mock interviews at the Box Hill Skills and Job Centre. The 10 weeks of study are followed by

LEFT: AMCA executive director, Sumit Oberoi.

a three-week work placement with a member of the Air Conditioning Mechanical Contractors’ Association of Australia (AMCA) for on the job training and experience. The Box Hill Institute as part of the Refrigeration and Climate Control Centre of Excellence (RCCC) partnership created the initiative with Apprenticeship and Traineeship Employment Partners (ATEP). It followed the introduction of a fully supported pathway for youth who have little to no work history in apprenticeships and traineeships that was introduced by ATEP. In the past 30 years ATEP has observed some common barriers to youth employment including a lack of industry experience, uncertainty about what

trade they want to do, fear of committing to a three-year or more apprenticeship as well as confusion about what some trades do or what is involved. Prior to the RAC pre-apprenticeship course, apprentices entered the trade from Certificate II Electrical. While the new preapp course is a Victorian initiative, AMCA executive director, Sumit Oberoi, said it could be rolled out nationally. “Now that we have a set framework, it can be applied in other states,” he said. The launch was attended by the Victorian Skills Commissioner, Neil Coulson, who is currently rationalising courses and working with industry to ensure courses are geared toward job outcomes.

Sustainability knowledge evolves from niche to essential AS THE PROPERTY and construction industry tackle an ever-expanding host of sustainability issues, Australia’s Supply Chain Sustainability School has chalked up its 1,000th member. Launched in March 2015, the school has grown steadily since it was established to increase sustainability knowledge and competency in the construction and infrastructure supply chains. The school’s CEO, Robin Mellon, said members access free learning resources and events around the country. “The school now has more than 300 free online resources to help people in our industry to skill up,

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

stay relevant and gain insights into many of the hot button topics transforming the industry,” he said. In-demand topics include how to prepare for Australia’s incoming Modern Slavery Act and how the new IS020400 guidance standard will influence sustainable procurement. “Our research has identified the industry’s main skills gaps are around social sustainability, energy, water, waste, materials and sustainable procurement. The School can help plug those gaps,” Mellon said. The School is funded and supported by 14 partner organisations across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors including founding

partner, the Green Building Council of Australia. The council’s CEO, Romilly Madew, said sustainability knowledge has evolved from “niche to essential” over the last decade. Michaela Toohey, strategic business lead for water treatment specialists HydroChem, was the 1,000th person to join the School.

LEFT: Supply Chain Sustainability School CEO, Robin Mellon.

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE With the revolutionary Carel EVD Ice Superheat control factory fitted and optional Ultracap, Cabero Pro is a great deal better.

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News

Changing the culture of safety in the HVACR industry AIRAH HAS LAUNCHED a guide to workplace health and safety (WHS) and occupational health and safety (OHS) in the HVACR industry. Available for purchase, the guide provides insight into the complex WHS and OHS regulations affecting the HVACR industry. AIRAH CEO, Tony Gleeson, said WHS and OHS regulations have an enormous impact on the HVACR industry, its members and its stakeholders. “But understanding requirements and compliances is easier said than done," he said. “AIRAH’S Guide to Model WHS Law in Australia is designed to help provide an understanding of specific WHS issues and challenges faced by industry." The guide covers a broad swathe of safetyrelated issues such as: • Safety-in-design requirements and the WHS duties of equipment/system designers and suppliers. • General safety in the construction and plant maintenance industries, such as safe work method statements. • Working with toxic or flammable substances, for instance, the safe use, handling and storage of the refrigerants used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems. • Working in confined spaces, for example, installing/servicing plant in concealed basements, ceilings, roof spaces and inside cooling towers, large boilers, large tanks. • Working at height, for instance, installing/ servicing roof-mounted plant. • Working from elevated platforms, for example, installing/servicing roof-integrated high-level fans. • Working with dangerous plant such as large boilers, chillers or gas-fired electricity generators. • Working with plant known to generate risks of Legionnaires' disease (for example, cooling towers). Buy a copy go at www.airah.org.au/store.

LEFT: AIRAH CEO, Tony Gleeson.

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AS THE APPLICATIONS FOR CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS EXPAND, THERE IS A NEED TO INCREASE COMPETENCIES AROUND ITS USE IN THE INDUSTRY.

CO2 refrigeration training comes to Australia TO HELP ADDRESS this growing need, Danfoss has developed the Mobile CO₂ Training Unit which is packed with CO₂ solutions and interactive learning modules. CO₂ is rapidly advancing in refrigeration as traditional HFCs are phasing out globally and retailers are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. The CO₂ Mobile Training Unit addresses a critical industry need for training on the emerging technologies in natural refrigerants, which are both a sustainable and economical choice for refrigeration systems. Danfoss will hold “open house” sessions to observe the training unit’s equipment and components for CO₂ solutions as well as hands-on training sessions led by dedicated Danfoss CO₂ champions who will share their in-depth knowledge of the natural refrigerant’s properties and the opportunities and challenges surrounding the use of CO₂. Asia Pacific business development manager for Danfoss Food Retail, Inderpal Saund, said the technology for CO₂ is available today, although it continues to evolve. “Part of our mission with the CO₂ Mobile Training Unit is to provide system builders, as well as contractors, service technicians, installers and technical departments with the necessary knowledge about CO₂ that will enable them to take advantage of the full potential of this natural refrigerant," he said. The CO₂ solutions presented in the mobile training unit range from simple gasbypass systems to more complex parallel compression solutions with or without heat reclaim. Moreover, the

training unit introduces the AHR Expo Innovation Award winning ejector technology, which industry experts recognise as key to the evolution of transcritical CO₂ refrigeration. These ejectors have the potential to enhance the energy efficiency of their systems by up to 20 per cent on the hottest days of the year, thereby solving a problem that previously limited the use of transcritical CO₂ systems to milder climates. As technologies for implementing CO₂ refrigeration continue to evolve to offer enhanced performance while increasing the ease of use, the Danfoss Mobile Training Unit will constantly be updated with new components, know-how and learning modules to reflect these changes. The Unit was on display in Sydney during September and will be in Melbourne at the Danfoss Office through to October 6, 2017.

ABOVE: Danfoss interior of mobile training unit. LEFT: Danfoss mobile training unit.

ONLY PANASONIC GETS

5 STARS AGAIN, AGAIN & AGAIN

Only Panasonic Air Conditioners scored 5 Stars in the 2014, 2016 & 2017 Canstar Blue ‘Most Satisfied Customers’ award.

Canstar Blue reviews and rates air conditioners based on factors including; • Reliability • Functionality • Noise levels • Ease of use • Value for money • After sales service • Overall customer satisfaction. To find out more about the new range of Panasonic AERO Series Air Conditioners: Contact 1300 COMFORT (1300 266 367) or visit www.panasonic.com.au

* Overall satisfaction is an individual rating and not a combined total of all ratings. Brands with equal overall satisfaction ratings are listed in alphabetical order.

News

BOC collaborates with CSIRO on hydrogen project ENGINEERING GROUP AND MEMBER OF THE LINDE GROUP, BOC, HAS PARTNERED WITH THE CSIRO TO CREATE ITS $3.4 MILLION AMMONIA TO HYDROGEN CRACKING AND MEMBRANE PURIFICATION PROJECT. IT IS A project that is set to revolutionise the global supply chain for hydrogen. Under the agreement, BOC will contribute inkind gas products, equipment and technical expertise worth in excess of $100,000 for the twoyear project now underway at CSIRO’s test site in Pullenvale, Brisbane. Moreover, BOC will supply ammonia, which will be cracked and purified into pure hydrogen by the modular membrane technology unit which was developed by CSIRO. BOC engineers will also assist with compressing the hydrogen and storing it in special cylinder packs, then distributing it to customers on the Australian east coast for use in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. BOC's general manager of hydrogen, Alex Dronoff, said the company is proud to be working with CSIRO researchers as they take a significant step forward in this technology, paving the way for future export markets that could meet rising demand in emerging loca-

tions such as Europe, Japan and South Korea. “As the only global organisation with expertise and technology that covers the entire hydrogen supply chain, BOC and The Linde Group are committed to working with Australian researchers and industry to help advance the global transition towards clean hydrogen for mobility and energy,” Dronoff said. CSIRO energy director, Karl Rodrigues, said there is growing global momentum to develop hydrogen energy systems, and the potential for a hydrogen export industry will benefit Australia. The CSIRO project, he said, is a vital technology breakthrough that complements much of the pioneering work that The Linde Group has been driving for decades. “We are certainly excited by the significant role that Australia will play in making renewable hydrogen a fuel of the future,” he said. BOC supplies compressed and bulk gases, chemicals and equipment around the globe. See www.boc.com.au.nt

TOP: Billy Chan, Luc Fogliaresi and John Roynon with the membrane separation equipment ABOVE: Dr Michael Dolan CSIRO and Alex Dronoff BOC at CSIRO’s Pullenvale site.

Record year leads to hiring spree DATA CENTRE COOLING solutions vendor, STULZ Australia, is charging into the latter half of the year with three new hires and eight new roles to be filled, following a record year of client wins, new partnerships and company investments. Celebrating 17 years in operation, STULZ has over 5,300 employees in 130 countries. The local business currently has 55 LEFT: STULZ Australia managing director, John Jakovcevic.

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

people across Australia and New Zealand, but this is set to rise to around 60 by the end of the year. The business is currently recruiting for roles in Melbourne and Sydney. This is in addition to the recent appointment of three new staff members. They are Luke Pescarini as national business development director, Katrina Crittenden as people and culture manager in the Sydney office and Jarrod McDonald as service manager in the Melbourne office. STULZ Australia managing director, John Jakovcevic, said the past 12 months have been an exciting time for the company locally. “Not only have we expanded our partnership

portfolio to further strengthen our solution offering, we have also welcomed a number of new customers on board," he said. “To meet the new demands of our customers and partners we have numerous hires in the pipeline, which are mostly focused on the enhancement of customer service relations.” The company has also invested in a number of workplace programs and innovations as part of its vision 2020 strategic plan and a new showroom. Right now the company is recruiting for the following roles: national service manager, business development manager, service technicians and sales engineers (various solutions). ✺

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Residential Air Conditioning

RESIDENTIAL AND LIGHT COMMERCIAL HVAC INSTALLERS AND CONTRACTORS FINALLY HAVE A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR WORKING LIVES EASIER.

One stop shop

for installers and contractors

KNOWN AS THE Split Club, it was created as an online hub for Australia's younger generation of independent installers to go to get information about all aspects of running their HVAC business, from keeping up to speed with latest compliance, tools, installation practices and to network with their mates in the industry. This couldn’t come at a better time given that contractors and installers are needing to keep up to speed on the rapid evolution of both legislation and technological advancements in HVAC installation. Specifically, the Split Club education program covers everything from installation tips, real world business advice including HR and invoicing issues right through to the latest regulatory updates, licensing changes and information on new low GWP refrigerants. It

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

will also be the place where installers will be able to share real-life experience and challenges with each other. CCN believes it will provide a very handy central hub of information for those who want to protect and grow their installation business. And yes there is more but bringing together so much information and resources didn't happen overnight. The concept began with the realisation that under the current regime installers and contractors had to go to the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) website for licensing and compliance updates, the CCN website for news headlines or manufacturers’ websites for product information. Moreover, business advice for small operators can be invaluable but isn't always easy to

find and consultants are only affordable to the big end of town. At the same time, most small business operators are busy people with not a lot of time on their hands to source information that might help their business, according to David Staker, the group marketing manager at Temperzone.

RIGHT: Temperzone’s group marketing manager, David Staker

Residential Air Conditioning

"Smaller installers of residential and light commercial split systems are usually so busy in their business they don't get much of a chance to work on their business,” Staker said. “We have set the Split Club up as a hub where smaller HVAC operators can go to get ongoing information to help with running their businesses in a way that is as streamlined, compliant and profitable as possible. “Ultimately, the goal is make life easier for the people at the coalface of our industry." As one of the original creators of the Split Club, Staker said it was important to get a broad cross-section of partners on board to ensure members had access to the right information and resources. “An education campaign requires a media partner, that's where CCN comes in and we have also partnered with Reece, a grass roots company with huge reach across the country,” he said. Support from the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) is critical to keep members up to speed with licensing and compliance issues. “Today's RAC workforce has had to adapt to an ever-changing regulatory environment so its important to always be a step ahead,” he said.

“In a nutshell, the Split Club is a place for smaller installers to go to get ongoing support across a number of areas, from quoting, workf low, HR, sales and marketing and of course compliance and licensing. And we want it to be the place they can go to share experiences, war stories if you like, and help each other.”

“THERE ARE ALWAYS BENEFITS THAT COME WITH CLUB MEMBERSHIP BUT THOSE BENEFITS ARE EVEN BETTER WHEN ITS FREE TO JOIN.” - CCN PUBLISHER, HELEN DAVIES.

To introduce the RAC trade to the Split Club, a series of events will be held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Townsville in coming months. “The events will be a great chance for installers and small contractors to relax, have a drink and learn new ways to make life eas-

ier for themselves,” he said. “Not to mention the chance to win an all expenses paid overseas trip and there will also be a heap of tools up for grabs. To join go to thesplitclub.com.au “The entertainment will be great too, we don't want it to be all work, networking does require a relaxed environment.” As the publisher of CCN which is Australia's only daily news site for the climate control industry, Helen Davies, said it is clear that the Split Club is long overdue. “There is clearly a need for a more holistic resource that is a one-stop-shop for smaller operators,” she said. “There are always benefits that come with club membership but those benefits are even better when its free to join.” Representatives from ARC will also be in attendance at the events to deal with any questions relating to licensing and compliance. ARC CEO, Glenn Evans, said the Split Club is a great forum for installers and contractors to keep informed. “We recognise the importance of education programs and look forward to the Split Club events.”✺ CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS OCTOBER 2017

Residential Air Conditioning

ARC Green Scheme Accreditation THE AUSTRALIAN REFRIGERATION COUNCIL (ARC) HAS LAUNCHED A GREEN SCHEME ACCREDITATION PROGRAM FOR RAC TECHNICIANS SO THEY CAN BE UPSKILLED IN THE USE OF NEW AND EMERGING REFRIGERANTS AND TECHNOLOGIES. IT IS VOLUNTARY and incorporates key refrigerants not covered by the ARCTick scheme. Specifically, hydrocarbons, C02 (R744), ammonia and HFO 1234yf. Snapshot of the ARC Green Scheme Accreditation: Accreditations (two years) are available, based on refrigerant type: hydrocarbons, C02 (R744), ammonia and HFO 1234yf The ARC Green Scheme Accreditation program is voluntary To apply, competencies associated with a relevant ARC refrigerant handling licence are required, and further units of competency associated with the refrigerant type E-card and logo will be issued on approval of application Free mobile phone app for accreditation holders. The accreditation scheme is qualificationsbased and not only focuses on technician safety, but also provides industry and consumers with confidence that the industry-standard of

high skills and professionalism will not be challenged. The accreditation scheme will be voluntary and cover natural and low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. It builds on the national, skills-based ARCTick licence scheme for synthetic refrigerants. Natural and low GWP refrigerants have their own set of challenges, and technicians need to be aware of these so they can effectively and efficiently manage them. Support from the mainstream climate control industry together with the need for improved technician safety has been the genesis of the ARC Green Scheme Accreditation program. The new accreditation scheme isn't just an upskilling pathway for technicians but provides clarity around course gaps and required course development. ✺

FREE MOBILE PHONE APP FOR RAC TECHNICIANS The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has launched a free mobile phone application for technicians as part of its Green Scheme Accreditation program. The ARC Green Scheme Accreditation mobile phone app is ideally suited to refrigeration and air conditioning technicians who work with natural or low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants in Australia. All ARC Green Scheme Accredited technicians will gain free access to an online ‘tool box’ full of features to help them maintain and promote their accreditation, and provide valuable resources on the job, including: Refrigeration and air conditioning wholesaler directory – On the job and need supplies fast? Find a supplier nearest to you. This directory contains over 950 refrigerant wholesalers Australia-wide. Technical resources – Free access to information on refrigerants, codes of practice/standards, training, safety and more. Your Accreditation e-card - This is your proof of accreditation and your way to identify your credentials to your customers. To use the app, you will need to hold an ARC Green Scheme Accreditation. The app is available for Android or iPhone mobile phones. Visit www.arcltd.org.au/green-scheme-accreditation.

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

Web-based refrigerant calculator EMERSON HAS LAUNCHED a refrigerant calculator that helps retailers forecast the impacts of phasing down higher-GWP systems and phasing in new refrigerant architectures, assisting with the transition to lower-GWP natural and synthetic refrigerant alternatives. The web-based app helps a decision maker to forecast the life cycle climate performance (LCCP) of a franchise or store based on preferred refrigeration architectures as well as preferred refrigerants. By inputting key information about current and proposed system architectures, an end user can calculate the phase-down impacts and download charts that will help demonstrate those impacts. Input information includes store design temperatures, store counts of current and future architectures, leak rates and refrigerant choice. “The calculator will be a valuable tool for retailers as they replace the common hydrof luorocarbons targeted for phase-down by the Environmental Protection Agency,” said Andre Patenaude, director, CO2 business development of Emerson’s Commercial and Residential Solutions platform. “It provides a visual forecast of the impacts of phase-down and phase-in of new refrigerants and system architectures, and assists retailers in the assessment of total carbon footprint impacts and LCCP in a single store and across an enterprise.” The calculator provides metrics that can be downloaded as charts, including total LCCP per franchise, total LCCP per store, weighted GWP per store and total weighted GWP. ✺

Give your customers total control. Anytime,

Fujitsu General’s Lifestyle range has gone wireless. Introducing the Fujitsu General anywAiR technology. The new Fujitsu General Lifestyle wall mounted air conditioning units have a built-in wireless LAN interface allowing users to remotely control the indoor comfort of their home or ofﬁce. Through the free, easy-to-use FGLair app, users are able to view and change the air conditioning units’ settings remotely. Customising individual room temperatures, turning units on or off and setting up timers can be done anytime, anywhere. Users can easily identify which unit they are controlling by setting up a customised name for each room in the app.

Stock up today to keep your customers in control of their home comfort. Contact your Fujitsu General Business Development Manager today. Call 1300 882 201 or visit www.fujitsugeneral.com.au

Residential Air Conditioning

Avanti style and innovation in the home MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AIR-CONDITIONERS AUSTRALIA (MHIAA) HAS LAUNCHED THE NEW AVANTI RANGE BRINGING AN AWARD WINNING ITALIAN DESIGN TO AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CONSUMERS. BASED ON MHIAA’S world class air conditioning technology, the Avanti air conditioning range beautifully complements any household interior and was recently awarded the A’ Design Silver Design Award from Italy, a global indicator of quality and perfection in design. Interior design expert and MHIAA ambassador, Tara Dennis, said air conditioning units are moving away from the standard shape consumers have known. “The Avanti range has been designed and developed for the modern home. It is the perfect accessory for all new homes and those wishing to bring elegance and luxury to their living spaces,” she said.

THE AVANTI RANGE MODEL AND CAPACITY (KW) SRK20ZSA-W

2.0kW

SRK25ZSA-W

2.5kW

SRK35ZSA-W

3.5kW

SRK50ZSA-W

5.0kW

DXK06ZSA-W

2.0kW

DXK09ZSA-W

DXK12ZSA-W

DXK18ZSA-W

2.5kW

3.5kW

5.0kW

“The Avanti range of air conditioners boast elegant smooth curves and rounded corners to suit any home. As one of the quietest models on the market, it is altogether less intrusive and the perfect addition to any home. “Home owners are continually looking for ways to bring style and comfort to their homes. They want high end products that are built to last. With the Avanti range, MHIAA is once again pushing the boundaries to bring quality designed products to consumers, a feat now recognised internationally,” Dennis said. MHIAA continues to invest in extensive research and development and this has ensured that the Avanti range guarantees high values of energy efficiency and low consumptions. Using the R32 refrigerant, Avanti requires less energy to achieve the desired temperature and less refrigerant volume to operate. As a reverse cycle unit, the Avanti range provides heating and cooling and comes with both a dry and fan mode. The Avanti range will continue to provide powerful cooling even when the outside temperature is as high as 46 degrees.

BLADE TECHNOLOGY MHIAA’s 130 year history of engineering innovation is seen with the Avanti range using the same blade technology as jet engines. This enables a large volume of air to be blown with the minimum amount of energy gener-

ating an airf low that is uniform and quiet. “With warmer months just around the corner, now is the time for every home owner to take advantage of this technology,” Dennis said. Further to this, the Avanti range utilises both the allergen clear and photocatalytic filter to neutralise and purify the air flow. Through these filters any bacteria, mould, pollen or lice that has built up in the unit is quickly eliminated and deodorised to provide consumers with a cleaner air flow. The Avanti range also features a silent night function with a dimmable light providing the perfect temperature and ambiance, night and day. This means that even as the evening approaches the unit can remain on for those warmer nights without a bright light in the corner of the room. Users have the option, through this feature, to dim the LED light or turn the light off without having to switch the air conditioner off. MHIAA understands what consumers want and this has influenced the features of the Avanti range. By harnessing Wi-Fi technology, the Avanti range allows users to set up and program the air conditioner through their smartphone or tablet outside a normal daily schedule. This option allows consumers to set the desired temperature of the unit before returning home and allows them to check if the unit has been left running should they not be home. MHIAA is bringing consumers a holistic and stylish range that has been internationally recognised for its quality design. The Avanti air conditioners are available from August in leading retailers and air conditioning dealers, and come with a five-year parts and labour warranty. ✺ Prices start from $999. See the full range, visit www.mhiaa.com.au or call 1300 138 007. ABOVE: The Avanti range won a design award for its slim and elegant style.

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The Split Club is launching with events around Australia Register interest for a chance to win a trip to Malaysia, plus 1 of 100 Hitachi 3.5kW high walls. Register at thesplitclub.com.au

If you are a High Wall Split Air Conditioning installer, the Split Club™ has everything you need to know: • • • •

Real-world advice Proven ways to convert way more quotes The inside track on install tricks The latest regulatory updates

Terms and conditions apply.

An event in partnership with

Residential Air Conditioning

LEFT: SED has its very own energy performance analysis program.

On a mission of total flow SCIENTIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN INC. (SED) IS ON A MISSION TO PARTNER WITH ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS AND CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS TO IMPROVE HEATING AND COOLING IN THE HOME.

THE COMPANY'S VICE president, Neal Kearney, said most residential HVAC systems do not meet building code requirements which is why homeowners are paying too much to heat and cool their homes. It is also contributing to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issues. Kearney said the problem is getting worse because average home sizes have increased in recent years. While homes are larger and construction materials have improved along with more efficient HVAC equipment, the one component of the

home's environmental system that is not receiving proper attention is the vastly increased interior volume with increased air flow requirements. "The lack of proper air flow results in inadequate dehumidification, stagnant air pockets and temperature differentials in the home. This not only results in occupant discomfort, it has the real potential to contribute to health issues due to mould growth and poor IAQ,” Kearney said. Many in the HVAC industry recognise that interior air volume is an issue. The standard solution is to add more HVAC equipment. This leads to several problems, including equipment short cycling (i.e., turning off and on too frequently), higher initial costs and ongoing high utility costs. All the while, the systems still do not properly dehumidify or purify the indoor air. However, Kearney said all of these issues are solved by SED's Total Flow technology. Using its Total Design Approach, SED is involved from the home's design phase through construction to ensure 100 per cent code compliance and reliability of all aspects of the home's environmental system. Applying its energy performance analysis program, SED also guarantees energy savings for the lifetime of each system it designs—with savings of up to 60 per cent on the cost for heating and cooling. ✺ Architects, homeowners and custom home builders can learn more about SED's services at www.sedefficiency.com.

Inverter splits combine technology and design TOSHIBA’S INVERTER HI-WALL Split System series of air conditioners raises the standard of air conditioning with a new level of comfort. Toshiba's business unit manager for residential and light commercial products, John Caione, said this is comfort that comes with quiet operation and follow me sensors for temperature regulation. “All of these features while still maintaining excellent performance, even at 46°C outdoor temperature,” he said. “Our new 8kW, 9kW and 10kW range, of course, showcases our very best technology. “With a brushless DC motor designed to use electricity efficiently and effectively to the selfcleaning feature that removes moisture from forming in the indoor unit, this range is truly the complete package of air conditioning technology and performance.”

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Caione said the larger capacity is especially good for bigger environments such as gaming rooms, community centres and modern open plan living areas. As with all Toshiba Air Conditioning products, they are easy to install, feature low maintenance requirements and boast a five-year warranty for year-round satisfaction and peace of mind. ✺ Visit www.toshiba-aircon.com.au.

ABOVE: Toshiba's new 8kW, 9kW and 10kW Inverter Hi-Wall Split Systems.

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Residential Air Conditioning

Future housing focus is on sky-rise greenery HOUSING OF THE FUTURE WILL REQUIRE A COMPLETE RETHINK BY PLANNERS AND REGULATORS, ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARCHITECT, RICHARD HASSELL.

THE PROBLEM TODAY is that urban planners are still relying on decades-old planning templates. Instead, he said the focus should be on exploring climactically appropriate designs. Delivering the keynote address at the Housing Futures 2017 Forum, the Singaporebased architect said the sky is the limit. "One day we could have streets in the sky, farms on rooftops and energy farms crossing over between towers,” Hassell said. "Planners make regulations around the conservative things buildings already do, and that enshrines what we build.”

“THE INTRODUCTION OF MORE GREENERY COULD CHANGE CITYSCAPES IN A BIG WAY.”

With 21st-century cities facing challenges such as global warming and unprecedented population growth, he said planning is critical. "We need to be exploring climactically appropriate designs, sky-rise greenery and holistic designs that not only focus on the envi-

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

ronment but also build and foster communities,” Hassell said. "If we just keep doing what's done now, it will be okay for a little while, but go forward 20 years when we have much stricter outcomes for energy use and require buildings to be more resilient - and they'll fall short. "The high-rise developments done in Australia are rather large consumers of energy, they have no cross ventilation and cost a lot to run. “It sounds simple, the introduction of more greenery could change cityscapes in a big way.” Hassell said plants and greenery throughout buildings help absorb heat and provide shade, reducing the need for air conditioning, plus absorb gases resulting in cleaner air. To improve greenery, Hassell would love to see more cities embrace Singapore's landscape replacement strategy which requires developments provide enough green space to equal to the size of the site it's on. It can take the form of one big garden, or multiple outdoor areas throughout a building. "It may cost more to build these, but over 30 years you could save millions of millions of dollars worth of energy across developments, and really reduce our carbon footprint,” he said. Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) CEO, Romilly Madew, agrees.

Speaking at the House of Representatives’ inquiry into the Australian Government’s role in the development of cities last month, Madew said the government must elevate its role in city-shaping. “Our cities can provide some of the most efficient, highest impact and lowest cost solutions to these issues. But all demand a commitment to collaboration to deliver smarter policy, planning and decision making, and a focus on creating value through joined-up government thinking and collaboration with industry,” Madew said. “But there is a perversity in the development of our cities. While we try to overcome their greatest challenges and grapple with significant policy issues, we are at the same time making our cities worse by repeating the same mistakes that gave rise to these problems in the first place.” ✺

L TO R: GBCA CEO, Romilly Madew: Architect Richard Hassell.

GBCA’S FIVE KEY POLICY PRIORITIES ARE: 1. Achieve more productive, liveable, sustainable and healthy cities 2. Secure more resilient communities 3. Deliver a low carbon, high performing built environment 4. Raise standards through the National Construction Code 5. Facilitate sustainable utility infrastructure.

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Residential Air Conditioning

US-MADE THERMAL “ICE BATTERY” ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, WHICH COULD DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE COOL THEIR HOMES IN SUMMER, IS POISED TO TAKE ON THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET.

Ice battery technology tailor made for Aussie market ICE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY can potentially cut household peak power consumption by up to 95 per cent. Now it is coming to Australia through a distribution deal with local solar hot water company Apricus. California-based Ice Energy has inked an agreement with Melbourne-based Apricus to be the exclusive distributor of all its thermal energy storage products in Australia, covering all market segments, including utilities, commercial and industrial, and residential. The company is best known for its commercial and industrial Ice Bear technology, which works alongside air conditioning units by freezing water at off-peak periods, or when excess solar or wind power is available, and using the “ice battery” to provide power-free cooling during on-peak periods. More recently, however, the company has been attracting attention for the creation of its “Ice Cub” – a smaller-scale version of the Ice Bear, that is targeting the potentially huge residential market. Unlike the Ice Bear, the Ice Cub is a kind of all-in-one, hybrid battery/air-con unit that replaces the conventional home air conditioner. But unlike conventional air-conditioners, the Ice Cub has the ability to fill an insulated tank with ice in four hours, store it and then, on command, switch from conventional AC to

ABOVE L TO R: Apricus Australia director, Chris Taylor; Ice Energy CEO, Mike Hopkins.

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“OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS WE’VE HAD A STEADILY GROWING NUMBER OF INQUIRIES FROM AUSTRALIA ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS.” - Ice Energy CEO, Mike Hopkins.

using the ice to cool the house for at least three hours, instead of electricity. It is particularly promising for households with rooftop solar, who can use excess solar generation to make the ice – rather than sending it back to the grid – which can then be used for cooling as the sun goes down and as families return from work to their sun-baked homes. The system also comes with a 20-year warranty, and – unlike most conventional lithium-ion and lead acid batteries – does not degrade over time. Ice Energy CEO, Mike Hopkins, said that initially products for the Australian market will be imported from the US. The company has production facilities in New York state that can make 1,000 Ice Cubs a month. But the “mutual intent” of both parties, through the Australian distribution deal, is for Apricus to manufacture locally as sales increase. Apricus will target new-build homes and existing homes looking to replace their cooling systems. “We’re delighted to be partnering with Apricus in this new market for Ice Energy,” Hopkins said. “Over the last 12 months we’ve had a steadily growing number of inquiries from Australia about our products. This is not surprising given the needs of the country’s grid, the im-

portance of their cooling load and the ability of our products to turn that load into a costeffective and reliable storage resource capable of flattening peak demand and eliminating solar over-generation.” Chris Taylor, director of Apricus Australia, said his company shared Ice Energy’s enthusiasm about the partnership and the products’ potential in the Australian market. “There are terrific applications for the whole product line, but the hybrid AC/energy storage system for the home, with its ability to provide cooling 24/7, make ice with excess solar generation and cool for four hours without needing electricity to create the cooling for that period, is a truly disruptive product tailor-made for Australia,” Taylor said. ✺

PRODUCT INNOVATION Next month CCN will publish a special feature of Innovative Products for 2018. The feature will showcase new products planned for 2018 or updates to innovative products that are already established in the Australian market. To participate in the feature contact CCN's national advertising manager, Michael Northcott, on 0420 403 044 by early October.

Residential Airconditioning

Silvan series a cool solution for summer SILVAN'S FC400 AND FC440 EVAPORATIVE AIR CONDITIONERS ARE THE IDEAL WORKPLACE COOLING SOLUTION FOR THE UPCOMING HOT SUMMER MONTHS.

WHEN THE SUMMER heat rolls in it is imperative to provide congenial workplace environments to ensure the comfort of staff and to maintain productivity. And, of course, the best time to improve workplace conditions is to be prepared and ready before the hot uncomfortable summer days arrive. Warragul-based power machinery sales and service business VC Traders and Warragul Equipment Hire are already preparing for the summer heat. VC Traders and Warragul Equipment Hire general manager, Dean Addison, has invested in two Silvan FC Evaporative Coolers. His businesses specialise in sales and service of an extensive branded range of popular garden and outdoor powered equipment. Addison has 10 staff with the workshop housed in an older style enclosed brick building which isn't ideal on hot summer days. He said the two units are sufficient to cover the floor area and layout of the workshop. One unit, the Silvan FC400 model, is recommended to cool an area of 30 to 50 square metres with a maximum airflow of 9,000m3 per hour, while the higher capacity FC 440 is recommended for a floor area of 70 to 100 square metres as its maximum airflow is 12,000m3 per hour. The recommended retail price of the FC400 unit is $799 inclusive of GST, while the larger FC440 retails at $1,149 inclusive of GST. Both units are mains powered with a quiet running electric motor that is 400 or 440 watts and a 70-litre capacity water tank. The internal water tank can be filled by a bucket or be mains supply or external water tank connected and each has a water level sensor to advise when the internal storage is low,

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

while water consumption is in the range of 10 to 20 litres per hour. Each unit has a three-speed adjustable fan with a remote controller plus a timer function for auto-start or finish and a liquid site level indicator. Each unit is housed in a heavy-duty poly construction cabinet fitted with four swivel wheels, two of which can be locked in position. Silvan Australia’s merchandise manager, Michael Frost, said the Silvan FC Series units are ideal for shearing sheds, farm machinery workshops as well as retail areas, outdoor events, marquees or patios.

He said that the Silvan FC Series of Evaporative Air Conditioners provide the ideal cooling solutions. They are simple to put in place requiring only a mains power connection and a water source, with a range of control functions. The FC400 is only 36kgs while the FC440 is 43kg. “Every summer we experience a rush for these coolers as soon as the weather warms up so the sensible approach is to have one in place ahead of the season,” Frost said. ✺ Call 1300 SILVAN (1300 745 826) or email info@silvan.com.au.

ABOVE: Dean Addison of VC Traders and Warragul Equipment Hire in his service workshop with the new Silvan coolers.

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CCN Live 2017

Leap of faith required for industry to evolve THE WHOLE OF INDUSTRY WILL NEED TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH TO MOVE FORWARD AND ADAPT TO THE CHANGING HVACR LANDSCAPE.

HIS WAS THE message delivered to participants at CCN Live's Trade Talk event by Australian Refrigeration Council CEO, Glenn Evans. Referring to the need to upskill technicians in preparation for new low-GWP refrigerants, Evans said RAC is an evolving industry and everyone needs to be on board working together. He said an immediate priority is upskilling the RAC workforce which is why ARC introduced the Green Accreditation Scheme which provides technician training in the

ABOVE: ARC CEO, Glenn Evans, said RAC is an evolving industry and everyone needs to work together to move forward. LEFT TO RIGHT: There was plenty of audience interaction and networking at Trade Talk; Patrick McInerney updated participants on the review of the Ozone Act.

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

use of new and emerging refrigerants and technologies (turn to page 14 for details of the voluntary program). “There are a lot of upskilling issues to consider from course development, which requires funding, to trainer availability,” Evans. "One problem is that training often follows the adoption of new technology, not the other way around, creating an uncertain environment. "Upskilling is just the start, we need to give confidence to training providers to step into this space and that is what the Green Accreditation Scheme is all about."

Evans cited a trilogy of issues to address that are all inter-related and work together. They are training, licensing and a code of practice. “Industry needs to step up and work on all three of these issues, they cannot just rely on government,” he said. “The accreditation program is only a small part of this step forward, we can't forget the codes of practice. We really need to develop those.” Participants were updated on the changing HVACR landscape by Patrick McInerney, the ozone protection and synthetic greenhouse gas policy director at the Department of Environment. McInerney outlined Australia's new legislative framework and obligations under the Montreal Protocol. Under the Kigali Agreement, the global phasedown of HFCs will reduce global emissions by 70 billion tonnes (CO2e) in period to 2050. He said the agreement is likely to be ratified by the end of the year. It is a gradual phasedown achieving a 40 per cent reduction by 2024, 70 per cent by 2029, and an 85 per cent reduction by 2036. McInerney said the two-year review of the Ozone Act led to more than 60 recommendations. He said these amendments wre passed in June 2017. “Industry sought a gradual phasedown because it is easier to accommodate and provides investment certainty,” McInerney said. “There is also a standards and training review to accommodate the new low GWP environment and to bring down hazard levels. “Another recommendation is to improve equipment maintenance in a bid to increase energy efficiency and reduce leaks. “More preventative maintenance by equipment owners will reduce business costs but we have to look at how we can do this. “We are currently looking at a program or incentives to improve maintenance.” ✺

CCN Live 2017

LEFT TO RIGHT: All the action from the conference floor. BELOW: ARC training manager, Noel Munkman, said it is time to return to the core skills of the trade.

Wanted: Trade masters with high level expertise THE RAC TRADE is in need of more masters but there is a lack of funding for posttrade training, according to ARC’s training manager, Noel Munkman. As a former TAFE teacher who has been involved in the development of RAC training packages for many years, Munkman said the trade would benefit from more masters with a high level of expertise. “It would be great to one day have a masters accreditation,” he told participants at CCN Live. For now Munkman is trying to get approval for a project that was completed back in 2015. “A couple of years ago we did a review of Electrotechnology training packages and found a few problems,” he said. “There were apprentices with terrible literacy and numeracy skills but once an employ-

er takes on an apprentice, TAFE must take them so we've recommended entry testing. “We also need to make sure apprentices get core skills because we bury them in too much information. It's impossible to know everything in four years so we have recommended going back to core skills,” he said. In addition to ensuring Cert III concentrated on the core skills of the trade, Munkman said Cert IV should include more complicated, higher level systems. “This ensures there are two pathways, one at the basic level and a more advanced pathway with Cert IV,” he said. “At the time we proposed these recommendations the Federal Government decided to overhaul the entire VET system so it was put on hold. “Right now we are trying to get approval to move ahead with this project.” ✺

RAC NEEDS A SEXY MAKEOVER TO ATTRACT APPRENTICES Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (RACCA) president, Kevin O'Shea, said it is time to lift the profile of the RAC trade and make it more sexy to attract the right calibre of apprentices. O'Shea has been in the trade 50 years and in all that time there has always been skills shortages. “We are not attracting the right calibre of apprentices because we want our kids to go to university,” he said. “This needs to change because the trade earns more than a graduate and there is no HECS debt. “A fully competent RAC technician needs the same capabilities as a person doing university but we need to make the industry more sexy.” O'Shea said there needs to be an entry test to make sure new apprentices have the basic skills to complete their training. “At the same time TAFE must cease with all the cost cutting measures,” he said. “Cert II should also cease to be delivered. I would also like to see training for all refrigerants around the country. “As for national licensing, that's a tough one but we can start with trying to get national consistency. “And finally, RAC is a great trade.”

ABOVE: RACCA president, Kevin O’Shea, said TAFE needs to cease the cost cutting measures.

CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS OCTOBER 2017

CCN Live 2017

Split systems the focus of world-first study REFRIGERANT RECLAIM AUSTRALIA (RRA) IS INVOLVED IN A WORLD-FIRST STUDY TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH REFRIGERANT IS LEFT IN END-OF-LIFE SPLIT AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS. EAGER TO CAPTURE and reclaim this refrigerant, RRA CEO, Michael Bennett, said this study will find out how much refrigerant remains in the 10 million units currently installed across Australia. “Plus there is another one million units purchased every year,” he said. “We just don't know how much refrigerant there is at end of life for these consumer durables. “This is due to lack of enforcement so we want to know how we can address this. “There is likely to be at least half a charge left in those systems, maybe more. But we need to know what the end of life period is and how much refrigerant is left in them so we can recover it.” Bennett checked in with organisations around

the globe seeking to get this information. “We asked around the world to see if anyone knew to save us having to do it but nobody had any idea so we're going to go and find out,” he said. At the same time the RRA is working to reach an agreement to supply refrigerant to TAFE free of charge to take the pressure off budgets. The automotive air conditioning sector is also in the process of moving to R1234yf, which is flammable. “It isn't necessary to recover R1234yf but we cannot just let it go because its flammable,” Bennett said. “We did a study with GHD to look at safe ways of emitting flammable gases and came up with some programs including a Flammable Refrigerants Guide for this sector.” ✺

A RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT The average energy efficiency of air conditioning equipment has improved 60 per cent in the last 20 years with two thirds of that reduction occurring in the last decade. Describing it as a significant achievement, Refrigerants Australia executive director, Greg Picker, said the RAC trade should be proud of what it has delivered. “Sometimes we focus too much on our problems and challenges,” he said. “Its good to occasionally step back and look at what we have achieved in the areas of refrigerants, energy efficiency and trade.” Picker said that since the industry began phasing out CFCs and HCFCs it has reduced emissions by 90 per cent since the early 1990s. “Now that is a remarkable level of achievement and the HFC phasedown will take that even further,” he said. “Over a forty year period no other sector anywhere in the world or industry in Australia has delivered anything like this. “Meanwhile when it comes to the trade we’ve delivered lower leak levels, better servicing and better management of refrigerants. Put all three together and that’s a phenomenal performance.”

SUICIDE PREVENTION BLUEPRINT The Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association (AMCA) has actively supported and strengthened the RAC trade through a range of initiatives including scholarships. But for AMCA executive director, Graham Mackrill, the event was an opportunity to talk about a subject that isn't discussed enough, especially in public forums. And that's the issue of suicide, which is particularly high in the construction sector. “The number of suicides in the construction industry is

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

higher than the community average,” Mackrill said. “This is a mental health reality which is why we have created a blueprint for suicide prevention. It includes a range of measures for employers to adopt. “Sadly, men would rather take their lives than make a simple phone call which is why we created this intervention program.” To raise awareness in the HVACR sector, Mackrill said AMCA is sending the blueprint to industry groups throughout Australia.

ABOVE L TO R: Refrigerants Australia executive director, Greg Picker, said the HVACR industry should be proud of its record of achievement; AMCA executive director, Graham Mackrill (centre)and RRA CEO, Michael Bennett.

Refrigerant Reclaim Australia Limited (RRA) is the not-for-profit industry funded organisation that takes back and destroys ozone depleting and synthetic greenhouse gas refrigerants.

Since the inception of the programme in 1993 the Australian refrigeration and air conditioning industry, through RRA, has recovered, returned and destroyed more than 5,000 tonnes of used and unwanted refrigerant. In doing so the industry has prevented the emission of more than 10 million tonnes CO2e, and prevented the destruction of more than 10 million tonnes of stratospheric ozone. The industry-wide product stewardship programme is available to all contractors. To recover refrigerant acquire a recovery cylinder from your refrigerant gas supplier, fill it with used, contaminated and unwanted refrigerant from systems you service, repair, or decommission, and return it to your refrigerant supplier. RRA will collect the recovered refrigerant and, after testing and processing, have it destroyed so it cannot damage the ozone layer or contribute to global warming. We will even pay you a rebate to bring it back.

For more information contact us call 02 6230 5244 visit www.refrigerantreclaim.com.au

HVACR Leadership Awards

Contractor of the Year Award WHEN IT CAME TO SECURING THE CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD, BRAD WISEMAN SAID IT DIDN'T TAKE A MAGIC FORMULA TO WIN. IN FACT, THE 2017 winner and proprietor of Airepair Air Conditioning Services Pty Ltd said he took a pretty straight forward approach to the business of contracting. “We are a family owned business and always strive to provide good old fashioned service to our clients. It's all about providing successful outcomes for customers,” Wiseman said. “It is small businesses like mine that are on the front line of the industry, it really doesn't get more front line than this. “We are the grass roots of the industry, the very heart of HVACR. “Small businesses are still the backbone of the Australian economy.” Wiseman has spent his entire career in HVACR and began his apprenticeship at the age of 17. “Getting my apprenticeship was a thrill. I will always remember the day my indentures were signed,” he said. In his third year of training, he won

SPONSOR’S MESSAGE “Airefrig Australia was proud to be the sponsor of this new category of Contractor of the Year and to acknowledge the people who are an integral part of our business. I would like to congratulate Brad and the team at Airepair Air Conditioning Services on their win and setting a high standard for contractors within our industry.” - Airefrig Australia general manager, Stephen Cross.

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

Apprentice of the Year while working at Haden Engineering. That was back in 1985 and the industry has changed a lot since then.

“MY WISH IS ONE INDUSTRY BODY THAT SPEAKS FOR THE WHOLE INDUSTRY.”

“HVACR is an amazing industry. There are so many pathways and opportunities but we need to expose our industry to more people to attract more apprentices,” Wiseman said. “There are many challenges facing the industry right now, from a shortage of technicians to training problems, red tape and a drop in the number of locally owned and operated businesses. “The TAFE sector needs more funding to provide quality training and we may need to provide greater incentives to apprentices,” he said. Wiseman started Airepair 17 years ago and it is still going strong. Even after almost two decades in business, Wiseman is working on plans for the future. “I am keen to grow the business further and maybe even have a national presence,” he said. “I always try to keep abreast of the latest technologies to ensure we are providing quality workmanship and successful outcomes for current and future clients.” In addition to running his business, Wise-

ABOVE: Contractor of the Year, Brad Wiseman, accepting his award. TOP L to R: Stephen Cross, Sandra Van Dijk, Brad Wiseman.

man has spent many years supporting the industry through his membership in the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association (AMCA). In 2014 he was elected to the Victorian Board of AMCA and is currently chair of AMCA's OH&S Committee. If he could make changes to the HVACR industry what would they be? “I would create one major body or association that would speak for the whole industry,” he said. “Also I would dismantle Cert II and upskill our apprentices to achieve Cert IV.” ✺

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HVACR Leadership Awards

Tradie of the Year A 30-YEAR VETERAN OF THE HVACR INDUSTRY, GROSVENOR ENGINEERING GROUP TECHNICIAN, JASON GLENDENNING, HAS WON THE VERY FIRST TRADIE OF THE YEAR AWARD.

THIS IS A man who has seen the industry evolve over decades and still believes the industry has a big future. “We've come a long way but there's still a long way to go,” Glendenning said. For as long as he can remember, Glendenning has always had a passion for "fixing things". “Grosvenor allows people to work to their strengths and my strength is fixing things,” he said. “I've always lived by the motto – don't find the cause, find the remedy.” Glendenning said he was encouraged to take up a trade when he finished school and was selected for an apprenticeship. He was part of the original Grosvenor team of five technicians servicing buildings in Sydney. Glendenning now works as a technician in the Brisbane region and, by his own admission, prefers to take on more complex projects. “With over 30 years experience as a technician, there’s nothing else I’d rather do,” he said. “I see myself as a HVAC all-rounder and TOP: Tradie of the Year, Jason Glendenning. ABOVE: Hitachi marketing manager, David Staker. RIGHT: Hitachi's David Staker with Tradie of the Year, Jason Glendenning.

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

SPONSOR’S MESSAGE “At the CCN Live event we were reminded of the challenges the trade faces. Recognition of excellence in the trade is a crucial component of encouraging a strong trade for the future. This was attractive to Hitachi Air Conditioning, a company dedicated to helping individuals reach their full potential. We see learning as being central to not only practical skill development, but also to the creation of new products and technologies that will ultimately benefit us all. I’d like to again congratulate Jason Glendenning. It's great to recognise the hard work put in over many years.” - Hitachi marketing manager, David Staker.

nothing gives me more satisfaction than being able to use my experience to find a solution to a problem and, of course, leaving behind a happy customer. “It's good to be the go-to person for fixing things that might be a little tougher to crack than the average job.”

CAREER PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? “I want to stay in HVAC because I really enjoy it and the people involved,” Glendenning said. “While I love being a technician there may come a time when I may consider becoming a Client Account Manager so I can still work with our techs and customers and help out on the equipment where needed. “I enjoy sharing my industry knowledge and often take on a mentoring role with apprentices.” Glendenning said training is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry right now. “Also, attracting apprentices has become more complex as today's generation is much more technology-focused,” he said. ✺

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HVACR Leadership Awards

Energy Savings and Sustainability LEFT: Innotech products on show at the event. BELOW: Energy Savings and Sustainability Award winner, Thomas Heine.

FOR THOMAS HEINE, THE MARKET MANAGER OF EC UPGRADES AT EBM-PAPST A/NZ, HIS JOB IS TO FOCUS ON ENERGY SAVINGS AND SUSTAINABILITY.

SPONSOR’S MESSAGE “Innotech would like to congratulate Thomas Heine from ebm-papst for winning the Leader in Energy Savings and Sustainability category. It is vitally important to keep energy savings and sustainability at the forefront of the HVACR agenda, and to have forward thinking leaders such as Thomas Heine setting examples for others to follow.” - Innotech branch manager for NSW, Joel Fraser.

CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU

FAN UPGRADES PUT him on the front line of improved efficiency but it isn't always as straight forward as it seems. “We don't succeed just by offering something that is efficient or environmentally friendly. It's got to make commercial sense as well,” Heine said. “I see an opportunity in every setback and to get these hard cases across the line it requires a lot of work. “But I am not afraid to make changes halfway through or even towards the end of a project if this is needed. “Fans are such an essential part of any HVACR equipment that what I do has an immediate impact on its performance. It is a good place to be.” Heine first joined ebm-papst in Germany in June 2004 and was assigned to support subsidiaries in Africa, Asia Pacific and Australia as a project engineer. “The majority of fan applications in these regions are for HVACR. I liked it immediately as we constantly released new products and I could see that markets accepted them and asked for more. The uptake of EC technology was exciting and took everybody by surprise,” Heine said. “I enjoy being involved with end-users, contractors and consultants and would like to spend more time with these groups. I think the value that we all get out of a closer collaboration is very beneficial.” Asked about the biggest challenges facing industry right now and Heine sees a huge disconnect between the person who pays for servicing

and running the equipment (and experiencing its performance) and the people installing it. “It is hard to sell a good design that is usually more expensive because builders and contractors compete initially on price. There is little incentive to source and install something that is more expensive but also more efficient and performs better,” he said. “I think the long term fix for this is, first of all, better education and making people more aware. Tenants and property owners need to question and demand more from their builders. “Another option is rating tools for consultants, builders and contractors that tells potential clients the quality of work they can expect.” Asked about career highlights, Heine recalls a project in South Korea. “I spent days crawling around in a suspended ceiling in a flat screen TV plant in South Korea. We had over 12,000 filter fan unit EC fans installed and the firmware needed an update,” he said. “The size of this project was an eye opener and the dedication of our sales engineers on site was inspiring.” If Heine was president of the world of HVACR what would he change? “Mandatory performance testing for all buildings including the mandatory disclosure of the results. For any real estate that you buy or lease there needs to be a fact sheet highlighting the building's leakage, average yearly consumption (gas/electricity/water) and some sort of overall energy rating,” he said. ✺

HVACR Leadership Awards

Male Rising Star TEMPERZONE TECHNICIAN AND MALE RISING STAR AWARD WINNER, SEAN HART, IS A TRUE BELIEVER. TALK TO HART about HVACR and he sounds a bit like a visionary. He is certainly confident about the future of HVACR and where it is heading. This is a topic Hart knows a lot about, he is always keeping up with the latest technologies and changes in the industry. “This diligence gives him the ability to fault find, diagnose and support not only mechanical issues, but also electrical, controls and complex HLI and BMS-related problems,” a referee on his award application pointed out. For Hart emerging technologies serve as an inspiration to develop new diagnostic tools and procedures.

“WE ARE MORE THAN A TECHIE OR MECHANIC WE HAVE EVOLVED INTO SYSTEM TECHNICIANS.” - AWARD WINNER, SEAN HART.

“With such a diverse range of products, brands and technologies available in the HVAC market today, customers cannot be expected to be experts in every area. That's where I can make the biggest difference,” he said. “It's all about making it easier for customers when they go to commission a system or when an installation doesn't go to plan.” After completing Certificate III in horticulture, Hart realised he wanted a mechanical trade and secured an indentured apprenticeship. “We are more than a technician or refrigeration mechanic, I believe we have evolved into system technicians,” he said. “This means we are not just responsible for system repairs and maintenance but also for the life cycle and efficiency of the system. “Every one degree that the temperature decreases can increase energy usage by 10 per cent. This is why system selection is so important. “It impacts the project over its total life cycle and, of course, the environment.” Asked about career highlights, Hart listed a chiller refurbishment project for a major Queensland refinery control room and his in-

ABOVE: Male Rising Star winner, Sean Hart, accepting his award. BELOW L to R: ABB's Mike Briggs, CCN's Sandra Van Dijk and award winner Sean Hart.

volvement in a pilot program at Temperzone. “We are continuing to expand the pilot program and using it as a base for product support and training,” he said. “Of course, receiving the CCN Rising Star Award is definitely a highlight.” Hart is currently responsible for training an apprentice and is now working towards a Diploma in air conditioning and refrigeration engineering as well as a professional Diploma in building services. ✺

SPONSOR’S MESSAGE “ABB was very proud to once again sponsor the Rising Star Award category at the CCN Leadership Awards. It was especially exciting this year, as we took the opportunity to award male and female Rising Star Award categories. ABB strongly believes in the benefits that diversity brings to the workforce. It is inspiring to see an increased number of females choosing to build their careers within the HVAC&R industry." - ABB Australia's business unit manager for drives, Mike Briggs.

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HVACR Leadership Awards

Female Rising Star FEMALE RISING STAR AWARD WINNER, SHAYNE BOYLE, BEGAN HER CAREER AS A REFRIGERATION MECHANIC AND NOW HAS HER SIGHTS FIRMLY SET ON BECOMING A FIELD ENGINEER. SHE HAS WORKED on everything, from domestic splits through to large ammonia chillers and also completed two years of an Electrician Certificate IV which was cut short due to the birth of her first child. But now that she is working at Heatcraft as a branch manager, Boyle said she is getting an even broader set of skills learning everything from sales through to engineering. 2017 Female Rising Star Award winner, Shayne Boyle.

“I am in a position now where I can nurture my skills as a mechanic and further my studies to become a field engineer,” she said. Ask Boyle to list highlights in her HVACR career and she is passionate about everything. “Every repair, every install, every day. I love my job,” she said. “Stripping a compressor for rebuilds, even pulling down chillers for tube cleans, there isn't much I don't like.” Boyle was initially attracted to the varied nature of HVACR. “It is such a varied field and also a very important one. People outside of the industry don't realise how it keeps the world running,” she said. “Another plus is that there are no boundaries of locality, where there are people, there is HVACR so we can work anywhere.” What are the biggest challenges facing the industry right now? “We really need to upskill general technicians out in the field especially on the current refrigerant phasedown and the availability of replacements,” Boyle said. “There are a lot of unskilled technicians out there who are giving the industry a bad

SPONSOR’S MESSAGE “ABB would like to once again congratulate Shayne Boyle for taking out the female category and Sean Hart for taking out the male category. We would also like to congratulate the other finalists on being recognised by their industry peers for being Rising Stars.” - ABB Australia's business unit manager for drives, Mike Briggs.

L to R: ABB's Mike Briggs, Shayne Boyle and Sandra Van Dijk.

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name. Sure they are licensed but not skilled, whether it is a simple leaking f lare or mismatched components in a coldroom, it is bad for the trade. “We need a more consistent Cert III and a nationally recognised licensing system as well as Cert IV for those that want to expand their career. This would be a good start.” Boyle believes there is also a need for more public education. “We need to educate the general public on the subject of maintenance so they are aware of the savings they can achieve and reduced running costs,” she said. If you were the president of the world of HVACR what would you change?

“THERE ISN’T MUCH I DON’T LIKE ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY IT IS SO VARIED, EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT.” - SHANE BOYLE.

“I would police existing license holders to raise industry standards and improve compliance,” Boyle said. “I would also encourage everyone to look outside the box and understand that there is never only one solution. “And most importantly, remind everyone to be happy and to enjoy their job. Don't just do your job, live it.” ✺

HVACR Leadership Awards

LEFT: Award winner Samit Sen with John Caione. BELOW: Innovator of the Year, Samit Sen, accepting his award.

Innovator of the Year AS ENERGY COSTS RISE, THERE IS A GREATER NEED TO UNCOVER HOW ENERGY IS WASTED THROUGHOUT AN ENTERPRISE BY LEVERAGING ANALYTICS TO IMPLEMENT A SOLUTION. AND THAT IS exactly what Samit Sen does at Johnson Controls where he is at the forefront of energy efficiency and smart buildings. The Innovator of the Year award winner has been working with a team and designed an energy dashboard that combines data analytics with asset management for an enterprise. This work, which began in Australia, is now being rolled out globally as Metasys Enterprise Management (MEM). Since it was installed at 200 George Street in Sydney, the customer has saved 600,000kWh and $13,500 per month. “Our goal is not only to decrease building costs, but to actually influence the value, thereby transforming building to actually achieve business objectives,” Sen said. “For example, helping hospital staff care for patients better or uniting airport systems to improve the experience for travellers.” Sen said buildings today are complex ecosystems.

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“The growth of connected end-points within buildings has reached a peak, pointing the way toward exponential technology growth,” Sen said. “A building is no longer just a building. It is an intricate network of information. Security, HVAC, energy management and fire detection systems are all steadily increasing their capacity to connect devices, optimise data and perform advanced analytics – creating new value for building owners that never existed before.”

SPONSOR’S MESSAGE “Toshiba has always been an innovator, one example is the introduction of inverter technology back in 1981. We recognise that innovation is the lifeblood of growth for all industry types. “Toshiba Air Conditioning is extremely proud to have sponsored the 2017 Innovator of the Year Award, and extend our sincere congratulations to Samit Sen for tackling the burden of rising. “Innovation needs to be encouraged and by recognising its leaders and encouraging them to go further it inspires others to follow in their footstep to usher in the next generation of innovators.” - Toshiba Air Conditioning business unit manager for Australia, John Caione.

“THE NEXT GENERATION WILL GO BEYOND SMART TO LIVING BUILDINGS.”

Sen joined Johnson Controls in 1999 as a graduate application engineer and has now been in the industry for 18 years. He has seen a lot of change during this time. “It's exciting because the cost of increasing connectivity to make a building smart is dramatically decreasing,” Sen said. “While saving energy and increasing operational efficiency is top of mind for most building managers today, companies are starting to

realise they can use data to make their people, resources and assets not only more efficient, but also more productive. It's an interesting time for our industry. “I believe the next generation of buildings will go beyond being smart buildings, but through connectivity, analytics, artificial intelligence and sustainability it will help create a new generation of living buildings, which will need high domain skills for HVACR.” ✺

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HVACR Leadership Awards

IT TAKES DRIVE AND DETERMINATION TO BE WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN HVACR AND THIS YEAR’S WINNER, KELLI MCDONALD, HAS THESE QUALITIES IN SPADES.

Woman of the Year in HVACR THE NATIONAL JLL and ANZ commercial manager at Airmaster has worked in all areas of the business since she began her career in HVACR 17 years ago. Ask her what qualities make an award winner and she doesn't hold back. “Loyalty, hustle, resilience and grit, all with a positive can-do attitude,” McDonald said. “Having that constant drive to better myself over the past 17 years and to tackle any challenges head on while still making sure I champion the careers of others.”

“THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PROGRESS INTO MANAGEMENT OR EVEN START YOUR OWN BUSINESS.”

McDonald recognises the importance of mentoring other women. She certainly has a love for the HVACR industry. “I enjoy the diversity of this industry, no two days are ever the same which complements my

love of learning new things,” she said. McDonald believes the industry needs to market itself more to young people. “They need to know that HVAC&R is a highly skilled trade with great potential to excel,” she said. “There are plenty of opportunities to progress into management or even start your own business. “Technicians in this trade can travel the world utilising their skills.” McDonald has a passion for customer relations and is moving into a national client relationship management role in the coming months. She remembers being asked to relocate and move to Sydney at the age of 23, to help set up the NSW branch of Airmaster. “Those years were instrumental in developing my confidence,” McDonald said. Asked about the biggest challenge facing the industry right now, McDonald cites the rapid growth of technology. “It's changing what we do. We are helping to educate customers on the benefits of these new technologies,” she said. “But we have to ensure we have buy-in from oldschool technicians that have been doing their work the same way for the past 20 or 30 years.

SPONSOR’S MESSAGE “Daikin is delighted to sponsor the Woman of the Year in HVACR Award and provide on-going recognition of the contribution of women to the HVACR industry. We warmly congratulate Kelli McDonald on her achievement and receiving the Woman of the Year in HVACR Award.” - Daikin's general manager of finance, Kathryn Joseph.

“New technology isn't easy for everyone so a certain level of compassion and patience needs to come into play sometimes.” McDonald's biggest fan is her six year old daughter, Lilliane, who was thrilled to see her mum win an award. “Now she wants to be like me and do my job when she grows up, that to me hits the heart of why I am doing what I'm doing.” ✺

FAR LEFT: Kathryn Joseph from Daikin announces this year's award winner. LEFT: Winner of the Woman of the Year in HVACR Award, Kelli McDonald.

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HVACR Leadership Awards

HVACR Leader of the Year THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S HVACR LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD, KENNETH BALL, IS WELL KNOWN TO READERS FOR HIS DEDICATION AND MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE INDUSTRY DURING A CAREER THAT HAS SPANNED MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.

PICTURED: Kenneth Ball and Michael Bennett.

REFRIGERANT RECLAIM AUSTRALIA (RRA) CEO, Michael Bennett, presented the award to Ball in recognition for his commitment to the development of the HVACR industry over decades. Ball has worked with associations such as AREMA and CESA, and contributed to the development of licensing and standards. His resume reads like a who's who of companies in this industry from Kelvinator, Carrier and Haden engineering right through to Sigma Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Fujitsu General and Mitsubishi Electric. Ball began his five-year apprenticeship at the age of 15 as a fitter and machinist. This was in the early 1960s when refrigeration was part of the trade and Ball was schooled in both ammonia and freon operating equipment. “My involvement in refrigeration and air conditioning during the apprenticeship enticed me into the mysteries of refrigeration and psychometrics for the rest of my working life,” Ball said. “I worked with a range of equipment in use at the time from freezer rooms to multi story air conditioning plants and centrifugal chillers. “I have always enjoyed the diversity of this industry being able to work with so many different products from simple compressors through to highly complex VRF/VRV systems to chillers.” Ball is a firm believer in continuous learning and would like to see more training and support for technicians.

“We need more funding and incentives but not just for young people, we need to continually update existing operators and trades people,” he said. The truth is that without refrigeration and air conditioning the country would grind to a halt and return to the stone ages.” So if you were president of the world of HVACR what would you change?

“WITHOUT RAC AUSTRALIA WOULD GRIND TO A HALT AND RETURN TO THE STONE AGES.”

“I would remove the ridiculous requirement for refrigeration trade training to be an all-covering course for such a diverse industry,” Ball said. “Let the applicant decide if they want to work in refrigeration or specialise in a specific area. Instead we need a course to teach the basics for two or three years and then they can choose an area to do further study. “The government can use some of the millions of dollars collected from the industry to provide training programs with realistic wages. “Provide training to the older generation, who do not have time for TAFE but possess plenty of great skills from the university of hard knocks.“ So what's next for Ball? “Retire and enjoy life before it’s too late,” he said. Now that sounds like a well-deserved plan for a man that has given so much. ✺

SPECIAL MESSAGE “I would like to personally honour and commend the other nominees and suggest to them that to be nominated is in its self an example of the high regard that these persons are regarded in their fields of excellence. “ - Teco Australia's service operations manager, Kenneth Ball.

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Insulation & Ducting Feature

Opportunities are clear with

recycling breakthrough MELBOURNE RESEARCHERS, WORKING ON HOW TO INCORPORATE WASTE GLASS INTO PREFABRICATED CONCRETE STRUCTURES, SAID THEY’RE CREATING A PRODUCT THAT IS LIGHT, STRONG AND CHEAPER THAN CURRENT CONSTRUCTION METHODS. FUNDED BY SUSTAINABILITY Victoria and the Australian Packaging Covenant, University of Melbourne researchers claim finely ground recycled glass in concrete is a viable replacement for sand and existing supplementary material like fly ash and ground-down slag from blast furnaces. Project manager for the university’s recycled glass R&D project, associate professor Tuan Ngo, said using sustainable and cost-effective materials taken from the waste stream was viable. “The next generation of prefabricated structures can benefit from Australia’s eco-friendly, prefabricated housing research which is striving to deliver breakthrough products to enable our housing industry to compete on a global stage,” Ngo said. Sustainability Victoria’s acting CEO, Carl Muller, said funding research programs helped recover resources and find new uses for materials once considered ‘waste’. “This work can create jobs and, most importantly, ensure the community has confidence that recovered materials have a future use,” Muller said. Researcher Dr Ali Kashani said glass used in concrete can be ground down to particles of similar size to cement and f ly ash, with the finest grades delivering the greatest strength and durability. “In the short term, we are confident that adding glass to concrete will allow us to build strong, light and durable non-load bearing

walls with a reasonably high portion of recycled glass. Our work has shown it has excellent sound, thermal insulation and fire-resistant characteristics.” “We are looking forward to working with the cement and concrete industries and building standard regulators to prove the viability of using these products in traditional concrete structures.” Damien Crough, founding director and board chair of PrefabAus, Australia’s peak body for the off-site construction industry, said upgrading building standards to allow glass in concrete would open doors. “This is where the real opportunities lie. Existing concrete supplementary materials like fly ash and slag are becoming harder to get and more expensive,” Crough said. “The cost of glass will be an attractive factor for

ABOVE L to R: Damian Crough, Tuan Ngo and Ali Kashani with the lightweight product which has excellent thermal and insulation characteristics.

industry as it is readily available and inexpensive, being about a third of the cost of fine sand, or less.” Glass can be reused almost indefinitely and while it is one of the oldest man made materials with a history going back more than 3,500 years, new uses are still being found. The volatility of markets can affect how much glass can be re-used at any one time, potentially leading to stockpiling of material that people want to be recycled. ✺

WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE With rubber and plastic now used in road base, Swinburne University researchers are investigating how glass and flexible plastics could also be added to the road base mix. RMIT is looking at new processing methods to recycle glass into household items including kitchen benchtops, floors, wall or roof tiles. Adding glass to the panels reduces the greenhouse gas emissions generated in the concretemaking process and reduces the need to use virgin raw materials. Monash University is looking at how flexible plastics can be used in railways sleepers.

CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS OCTOBER 2017

Insulation & Ducting Feature

Safety review of building and construction industry A LEADING ACADEMIC and an expert lawyer have been appointed to examine compliance and enforcement issues in Australia’s construction sector to help ensure the ongoing safety of the nation’s buildings. The Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) this week announced that Professor Peter Shergold and Bronwyn Weir have been commissioned to assess compliance and enforcement problems within the building and construction systems across the country that are affecting the implementation of the National Construction Code (NCC). Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Craig Laundy, who chairs the BMF, said the government was committed to ensuring that Australia continued to have a safe built environment. “Australia’s National Construction Code is among the best in the world,” Laundy said. “But

Unit 4, Gateway Boulevard, Dandenong Victoria 3175 Australia

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ers not only have the right products to do their job, but are also using the right products for the job, to ensure we can provide continued confidence in Australia’s buildings,” Laundy said. The Grenfell Tower fire and Lacrosse cladding disaster have exposed the serious problem of nonconforming products (NCP) in the Australian market with the Ai Group blaming it on a lack of independent verification and visible regulatory authority. Ai Group CEO, Innes Willox, said Australia’s regulatory system has not kept pace with complex global supply chains. “As a result, unscrupulous operators have taken advantage of weaknesses in the conformance framework.” ✺

we’ve got to work with state and territory regulators across the country to focus on stamping out the non-compliant installation of building products, such as combustible cladding on high-rise buildings.” Laundy said the two experts commissioned to examine these issues had exemplary credentials. Professor Shergold, the current chancellor of the University of Western Sydney, led an independent review of government processes for the development and implementation of large public programs and projects in 2014. Weir, a partner at Maddocks law firm, is one of the leading expert lawyers in building and construction, with a profound knowledge of building control systems. ABOVE L TO R: Assistant Minister for Industry, Craig Laundy; “We want to make sure our build- Professor Peter Shergold; Ai Group CEO, Innes Willox.

T: +61 3 9791 9200 F: +61 3 9791 9600 E: sales@coilsaust.com.au

Unit 4, Gateway Boulevard, Dandenong Victoria 3175 Australia

T: +61 3 9791 9200 F: +61 3 9791 9600 E: sales@coilsaust.com.au

Insulation and Ducting Feature

Living buildings that breathe and perspire THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED ARCHITECTURE OF CATALONIA (IAAC) HAS DEVELOPED FIVE ALTERNATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS BASED ON BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE TO REDUCE THE USE OF AIR CONDITIONERS IN A BID TO REDUCE COSTS AND IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY. THE PASSIVE AIR conditioning projects for cooling buildings cover Breathing Skin, Hydroceramics, Hydromembrane, Morphluid and Soft Robotics (SORO). Developed by IAAC students from the Digital Matter Intelligent Constructions studio led by academic director, Areti Markopoulou, the projects investigate cooling using new materials that mimic organic processes as well as adaptive structures or robotic systems that help regulate indoor temperatures and create microclimates. IAAC has been developing a series of façades and lightweight systems such as Hydroceramics, Breathing Skin or Hydromembrane that act as second skin for buildings and simulate a living organism by perspiring water to regulate high temperatures. Hydroceramics is a façade system made of clay panels and hydrogel able to cool a building space up to five degrees. Hydrogel capsules have a capacity to absorb up to 500 times their own volume in water in order to create a construction system that can “breathe” through evaporation and perspiration. Hydromembrane and Breathing Skin, unlike Hydroceramics, are based on materials composed by thin membranes and intelligent fabrics acting as a second “breathing” skin for

buildings, which simultaneously self-regulate humidity as well as indoor and outdoor climates. All systems use materials with a high water absorption capacity, which is subsequently released by evaporation creating a cooling effect in warm environments. For instance, Breathing Skin absorbs up to 300 times its own volume in water in a short period of time thanks to sodium polyacrylate, a superabsorbent polymer. There are also other alternatives designed at IAAC focusing on structures and applied robotics within the new and advanced bioclimatic architecture field. Morphluid or Soft Robotics are some examples of passive shading systems which, by using “living roofs” control the quantity of light and heat entering indoor spaces. Soft Robotics is a light and sensitive shading device conceived to create a microclimate by controlling sunlight, ventilation and temperatures as well as to humidify the atmosphere. This robotic prototype adopts several sizes and shapes to mimic artificial “sunflowers” that are able to activate the shading technology at the time the liquid integrated in the device is evaporated by the sun’s heat. It is also based on the transition of liquids as an activator that modulates the roof and heats the area by shading.✺

ABOVE: Soft Robotics can control the quantity of light and heat entering indoor spaces. BELOW: The facades act as second skin for buildings and simulate a living organism by perspiring water to regulate high temperatures.

CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS OCTOBER 2017

New products

Measurement for large pipes, stacks and ducts PROCESS AND PLANT engineers responsible for optimising combustion or pre-heated air to large boilers, stack environmental emissions monitoring, or flue gas/scrubber balancing, will find an optimal solution in FCI’s family of multipoint thermal flow meters. Designed specifically for flow measurement in round pipes or stacks of 300mm and larger diameter, and square or rectangular ducts with cross sectional area of 2500mm and larger, the model ST102A Flow Meter and the new MT100 Series Flow Meters from Fluid Components International (FCI) provide two to eight non-clogging, no moving parts sensing points that ensure superior accuracy repeatability and reliable operation. FCI’s advanced multipoint air/gas thermal flow meters combine state-of-the-art electronics technology with application-matched, precision flow sensors and calibration in a rugged package designed for demanding environments.

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Users get precise control for optimal performance FRIGEL HAS ANNOUNCED the release of advanced 3PR control technology and variable frequency drives (VFD) for its new Aquagel GPV process pump sets. The new release ensures the pumps operate at peak efficiency with lowest possible energy consumption while giving users the ability to gain precise control of the units for optimal performance. The enhanced Aquagel GPV is part of Frigel’s family of pumping, reservoir and filtration systems designed for fast, economical expansion in use with its central cooling systems – Ecodry or Heavygel. With Frigel’s 3PR control console, users can easily monitor all data in real-time for the pump stations. It allows users to operating schematics that monitor pump performance such as pressures, flow rates and VFD capacity, and make adjustments on the fly. Visit www.frigel.com.

New products

NW models feature wider plate gap WITH ITS NEW NW150L stainless steel heat exchanger plates, Kelvion has complemented its range of heat exchanger plates for viscous and particle-containing media by introducing this new product in the lower range. The NW models have a wider plate gap than those in the NT series, which allows efficient heat treatment, with only slight pressure drop, of viscous media and of liquids with particle diameters up to 5mm. In addition, the extremely wide herringbone plate corrugation, with a gap width of 10mm, assures highly turbulent flow at all points of the plate – which in turn counters fouling. As a result, the new plates are outstandingly well suited for applications in sugar production, especially for use with thick juice, syrup, and centrifuge run off. Further application areas are in production of bioethanol, in treatment of industrial wastewater and in petrochemical processes. So-called PosLoc assembly means that re-assembling the heat exchangers after cleaning or inspection work is easy. PosLoc assures optimal centering of the plate pack, which positively affects the service life of the gaskets. The new NW150L is compatible with the frames of the extensively used NT150L series. As a result, users with NT150L plates of the same size – which require cleaning more frequently owing to particle fouling – can change to the new plate without great expense.

A NW150L heat exchanger plate (left), and a detail photo of the NW series (right).

Monitor Your Products

MANAGE WARRANTY CLAIMS As an OEM or manufacturer you are always striving to deliver the best HVAC and refrigeration systems on the market, but what happens once your system has been installed? A Metis Monitoring system, can confirm that a system is functioning at its peak, assist with assessing warranty claims and provide valuable feedback for R&D. Achieve better outcomes with real-time diagnostics and sensors monitoring everything from temperature and humidity to power consumption, and store data history to the cloud for easy access.

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Improve and protect your products with Metis Monitoring n Full visibility of systems via remote 24/7 Monitoring. n Predictive diagnostic and learning-based data gathering. n Easily accessible cloud storage for all performance data. n Simplify your R&D testing. n Minimise abusive warranty claims.

n T: +61 2 8850 3252 n WWW.METISMONITORING.COM.AU CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS OCTOBER 2017

Temperature Gauge

ENGINEERING CONSULTANT, CLIVE BROADBENT, OUTLINES UPDATES TO THE DRAFT NSW HEALTH GUIDELINES RELATING TO THE PREVENTION OF LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE.

Legionella: identification and treatment of risk LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE IS an affliction that may always be with us while we have a microorganism that is widespread in the natural aquatic environment and, unsurprisingly, also in the built environment. In Australia we are fortunate to have a highly informed medical community to handle human treatments and we have in place excellent standards and guidelines for building water systems to assist in precluding Legionella. Facility management concerns about the hazards presented by Legionella have led to the use of risk management methodologies in our bailiwick of Legionella control measures associated with the building stock. Initially, the standard in use has been, and still is, AS/NZS 3666. This standard was initially introduced to handle the range of microbial hazards at buildings. It was first introduced in 1987 and has been incorporated in many regulations since about 1989. In 1998, a performancebased alternative was introduced to the suite of parts to this standard and is concerned pri-

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marily with cooling water systems. Known as AS/NZS 3666.3 – Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control – Part 3: Performance-based maintenance of cooling water systems, this standard has provided a practical means of managing the hazards presented by these systems. It has been modified several times since its inception, although arguably only at the edges, and remains essentially the same document as originally conceived with its requirements well proven. Any person who has responsibility for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of open water systems should study and observe the statements specified in this document. One aspect of the standard that is of special interest is the list of system risk features requiring evaluation (Table 2.1 in the standard). These include aspects such as presence of dead legs, water cleanliness, physical condition of the plant and need for safe access at the plant.

There are five overall risk categories that act as headings for the risk factors involved. These are: • Stagnant water • Nutrient availability • Poor water quality • Deficiencies in the cooling tower system • Location and access to cooling towers A number of the risk factors are described as Key Performance Indicators. These mostly comprise readily measurable parameters such as conductivity of the circulating water, concentration of bacteria, water pH and water temperature. To differentiate the KPI indicators from others provides one method of addressing relative risk (the adage: what can be measured can be managed). It also enables priorities to be set in programs for remedial measures that may require funding. The standard also sets out control actions for the presence of Legionella and/or excessively high general bacterial counts, thereby providing a risk evaluation response sequence albeit one that is necessary after the event. Prevention is always preferable to cure, however. Other risk hierarchy methodologies are available according to the jurisdiction in which the plant is located. One approach to the grading of risk levels is as follows: • High risk – may directly encourage growths or allow transmission of pathogenic organisms, e.g., evidence of significant dead legs; • Medium risk – indirectly compromises the ability of a system to inherently discourage bacterial growths, e.g., poor corrosion control; • Low risk – what is achievable in practice by close attention to the risk factors described in Table 2.1 in AS/NZS 3666.3. These risk levels could well be useful for water-based systems other than cooling towers and including decorative fountains, spa pools, aeration ponds, warm water systems in aged care homes, car washing plant and the like, all of which have been associated with outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease. The risk from the microbial hazards associated with any water system can never be zero but can readily be controlled. An understanding of the factors causing growth of Legionella, and implementation of measures shown to control such microbes, is needed and is facilitated by use of a sound risk assessment approach. ✺ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Clive Broadbent AM, FIEAust, FAIRAH, FASHRAE is a Canberra-based engineering consultant who has written extensively on research findings and control measures for Legionella. Visit www.broadbent.com.au.

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