RAC qualification review recommends training in all refrigerants

As reported in the July 2014 edition of Cool Change, E-Oz Energy Skills Australia has commenced a major review of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning trade qualification to ensure it meets the current and future skill needs of Australia's Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) industry. After consultation with a wide variety of stakeholders, the following draft recommendations were made:

A revised Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning qualification should:

a. Remain as an apprenticeship.

b. Cover the essential knowledge and skills required by all RAC mechanics irrespective of the area of specialisation. That is, the generic skills required to install, commission, test, fault find, repair, replace components and maintain manufactured or unity equipment. This includes:

-- Refrigeration: single refrigerated normal and low temperature merchandising/display cabinets and small cool/coldrooms, including those with remote condensing units which are commonly found in commercial applications
-- Air Conditioning: self-contained, split and ducted packaged air conditioning units, ventilation systems, evaporative coolers commonly used in residential and light commercial applications

c. Meet the relevant National/State/Territory regulatory requirements for Refrigerant Handling, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Work and Restricted Electrical Work in every State/Territory, including Western Australia.

d. Cover all the groups and classes of refrigerants, including natural and synthetic refrigerants.

e. Include benchmark units to enable competency based progression.

A new qualification was also recommended as an advanced version of the Certificate III qualification. The proposed Certificate IV in Advanced Refrigeration and Air Conditioning qualification should:

a. Be established as an apprenticeship.

b. Either have the Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning qualification as an entry requirement or contain the Certificate III core units embedded in its core.

c. Contain specialisation electives covering higher level or more complicated equipment and systems for example: Variable Refrigerant Volumes (VRV), Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes, Central plants, Bus and train air conditioning, Supermarkets, Cold stores, Industrial refrigeration, Ammonia/C02 systems, Secondary systems, Beverage coolers.

The end goal will be for E-Oz Energy Skills Australia to finalise their draft recommendations and submit the revised/new qualification and competency standard units for endorsement by the end of 2015.

Training, codes of practices and licensing are the cornerstones of a quality and professional industry.

For further information, or should you wish to comment, go to the E-Oz website www.e-oz.com.au and search under IndustryProjects / Electrotechnology Projects.

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