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Report finds ‘disjointed’ laws on flammable refrigerants
A new report commissioned by Refrigerants Australia has mapped out the laws that govern the use of flammable refrigerants in this country. It also highlights key themes and gaps within the regulatory landscape. The report, written by Bronwyn Weir and Krista Weymouth, reveals a complicated patchwork of regulations. There is no one set of laws […]
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Cooling school playgrounds to counter climate change impacts
As part of a project to cool school playgrounds, environmental organisation Greening Australia and Western Sydney University have released a study revealing some of the most heat-vulnerable schools in the Sydney Basin. As part of its Cooling the Schools program, Greening Australia commissioned Western Sydney University to capture location-specific measurements at 100 schools from Western […]
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CDC updates advice on COVID-19 and ventilation
The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) has released updated advice to reduce exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. The advice includes suggestions to improve ventilation that may help reduce the concentration of virus particles in the air. According to the CDC website, SARS-CoV-2 viral particles spread between people more readily indoors than […]
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Industry offers guidance on fire safety practitioners
AIRAH, the AMCA, FMA and FPA Australia have written to certifying organisations to provide guidance on selecting fire safety practitioners in New South Wales. New requirements have been introduced for fire safety practitioners in NSW. The previously named competent fire safety practitioners (CFSP) are now called Accredited Practitioners (Fire Safety), or APFS, and must be […]
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New look for NCC 2022
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has announced the 2022 version of the National Construction Code (NCC) will be released as a digital product. Historically a print-only publication, the digital release is being planned to improve the usability of the code. The ABCB is making the changes after consulting with industry groups, and the first […]
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Time to look beyond Kigali targets, say experts
The cooling sector has to take a more holistic view of sustainable cooling that extends beyond the Kigali targets, according to experts speaking at a special event held alongside the latest Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol. The Economic Affairs Officer with the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, […]
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Australian property leading the way for sustainability
Australian property companies have recorded a continuous 10-year run at the top of the global GRESB real estate assessment ranking. The ranking assesses and benchmarks the environmental, social and governance (ESG) and other related performance of real assets, providing standardised and validated data to the capital markets. Participation in the 2020 assessment grew by 22 […]
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Skill up this summer says AIRAH
The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) is offering free and/or discounted access to a range of technical resources and programs over summer. Participants will earn continuing professional development (CPD) points and at the same time stay updated on best practices in the HVAC&R space. The Summer Skill Up includes special offers […]
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Legionnaires’ cases highlight risk for restarting buildings
As more workers return to their offices, businesses in NSW and Victoria have been warned about the risks of Legionnaires’ disease in hibernating buildings. Several Legionnaires’ disease cases have been notified to NSW Health, representatives of which have visited different areas of Sydney. “Cooling water systems can be a source of Legionella bacteria that cause […]
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Industry and consumers push for better buildings
Ahead of the meeting of state and territory building ministers this week, industry and consumer groups have urged government to focus on delivering better productivity and quality in Australian buildings. The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), supported by 20 member organisations, has appealed to Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews to maintain […]
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Are hotels suitable COVID-19 quarantine facilities?
As pressure mounts to allow more international arrivals into the country, the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has flagged serious concerns about the suitability of hotels as quarantine facilities. So far, the outbreaks connected to hotel quarantine facilities in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales have largely been blamed on […]
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NSW releases draft regs for professional registration
New South Wales has taken a major step towards starting its scheme for professional registration of engineers. The draft Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2020 has been released for public consultation, and is open for comment until Monday, January 11. The Regulation has been developed to support the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, which was […]
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Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine faces cold-chain challenges
The new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine that is claimed to be 95 per cent effective will face a major hurdle in global distribution and storage. The drug, currently pending emergency federal approval in the US, will need to be refrigerated at -70 to -80°C. These cold storage requirements pose an enormous logistical challenge given that most […]
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States leading the way to a sustainable future
Industry groups have applauded the Victorian and NSW governments’ significant investments in harnessing the power of energy efficiency and social housing to create jobs and drive the economic recovery from COVID-19. The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), Energy Efficiency Council (EEC), Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), Property Council of Australia, and, as a […]
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Expect greater emphasis on IAQ after COVID, says BSRIA
Air conditioning and ventilation providers will be required to do much more to address indoor air quality issues following the COVID-19 pandemic, says the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) in the UK. New findings from the UK-based organisation have warned that COVID-19 and research concerning airborne contamination in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces has […]
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COVID-19 outbreaks prompt hospital HVAC audit
The Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority has commissioned engineering assessments of the HVAC systems within wards dedicated to suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients at 20 hospital sites over the next eight weeks. The assessment will work with health services to verify airflow rates, effectiveness of ventilation strategies adopted by hospitals, and any adjustments […]
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South Australia aims high for energy efficiency
Industry groups have applauded the South Australian government announcement that it will invest $60 million to improve the energy efficiency of government buildings. According to Dan van Holst Pellekaan, Minister for Energy and Mining, the commitment is the largest per capita stimulus investment of any Australian government in improving the energy efficiency of public buildings. […]
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AIRAH Awards 2020 winners announced
In a special online edition of its annual awards ceremony, AIRAH has announced the winners of the AIRAH Awards 2020. Held as the culmination of AIRAH’s Outlook 2020 international HVAC&R conference, the awards celebrated the leading people, projects and products in Australia’s HVAC&R industry across 11 categories. The winners’ list features some of Australia’s most […]
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Check licence requirements now, warns QBCC
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is alerting employees who perform air conditioning and refrigeration work for a licensed contractor that they must hold the relevant mechanical services occupational licence by January 1, 2022. Contractors who hold a mechanical services licence and have employees who perform mechanical services work are encouraged to discuss licensing […]
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Has Australia hit ‘peak bank’?
A new version of the Cold Hard Facts report reveals that Australia’s HVAC&R sector may have hit “peak bank” for synthetic greenhouse gases (SGGs) in 2019–20. The total global warming potential (GWP) of the bank of synthetic greenhouse gases employed in refrigerating and air conditioning systems in Australia is predicted to have peaked in 2019–20 […]