EU training and certification scheme Alternative Refrigerants

Transcription

1 EU training and certification scheme Alternative Refrigerants Sarajevo, 20 Nov 2015 Marco Buoni VicePresident, AREA Air Conditioning & Refrigeration European contractors Association ( Secretary General Italian Association of Refrigeration Technician, ATF (

2 AREA The indisputable voice of European RACHP contractors Funded in 1988 in Brussels, Belgium Represents RACHP contractors AREA in figures: 22 national member associations 20 countries from EU and beyond > 9,000 companies (mainly SMEs) +/- 125,000 work force +/- 20 bn annual turnover Design, installation, maintenance and repair of all Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps RACHP systems

3 AREA Priorities General mission statement "support and initiate activities to promote the industry and its high standards of quality, in order to serve users' interest in a safe and uninterrupted usage of efficient refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment, and to create and maintain a favourable business climate for European refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump contractors, in terms of quality, safety, employment, fair competition and profitability". General objectives Harmonisation of education & training / certification Promotion of technical evolutions Environmental protection / tackling climate change / energy efficiency Recommendations on and promotion of professional techniques & high-level standards Key issues Regulatory aspects - F-Gas Regulation implementation and review - Monitoring of Ozone Depleting Substances - Energy efficiency - Climate change - Eco-design of energy-related products Professional standards - Heat pump installation - F-gas certification and education Professional guidance - Low GWP refrigerants, certification and education

4 Emissions present and future in EU -28% -44% Business as Usual Without F-Gas Regulation & MAC With F-Gas Regulation 842/06 & MAC automotive directive

5 Emissions present and future worldwide

6 In Pills: To prevent refrigerant emissions Training and certification The Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps systems containing fluorinated refrigerants in EU should have: - Logbook - Periodical inspections - Installation, repair only by certified craftsmen Refrigerant to be sold by distributors only to certified craftsmen Refrigerant to be withdraw only by certified craftsmen

7 Why creating Training, Assessment, Certification Certification is an important tool and a must to organize the labor market according to the national qualification classification system Through legislation, this will have the effect of: Reducing Refrigerant Emissions, GHG, ODS Increasing energy efficiency (reducing CO2) Contractor-driven: More aggressive competition requires proof of higher quality and certification Customer-driven: Wholesalers, distributors, big customers require environmentally friendly and energy efficient products Protects the interests of customer through providing services according to applicable standards Certification of the personnel and of the companies who handle air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pumps equipment

8 Why creating Training, Assessment, Certification (2) Certification will also play an important role for the sustainability of the associations, as it could be an important income stream both through the training and the certifications organized by the association. The associations role in certification could be also: to work alongside the government to set the rules, certification schemes and regulations a third party policing the correct implementation of the regulation certification body who guarantees the high standard of the certification certification body who issues the certification, renewing periodically the body who keeps the list, register and the records of certified technicians and companies

9 Why creating Training, Assessment, Certification (3) It is recommended that only Certified Technicians holding a certificate will be allowed to: install, maintain, repair, recover, dismantle RAC systems containing refrigerants buy the refrigerant as a proved Certificate holder NB. Informal Sector buys Refrigerant only if holding the certification. This will stop the development of an informal sector and in particular preventing the bad behavior (accidents, emissions) which is most common in this sector.

10 Certification is the best practical method to verify the competence of personnel handling refrigerants and to ensure the correct installation, maintenance, repair and dismantling of a refrigeration, airconditioning and heat pump systems.

11 Who needs to be certified? (1 - Personnel) Natural persons (personnel) carrying out certain tasks on certain types of equipment must be certified or qualified. Equipment Stationary refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump and fire protection equipment Refrigerated trucks (above 3.5 t) and trailers Air conditioning equipment in road vehicles Tasks a) Installation, servicing, maintenance b) Repair c) Decommissioning d) Leakage checking e) Recovery

12 (b) proof that the necessary tools and procedures are available to the personnel engaged in activities for which certification is required. Who needs to be certified? (2 - Companies) *some countries worldwide offer the certification of companies. It is likely that developing countries could use a different method to ensure the compliance of the requirements described below, for example provided that the single service installer, as self-employed person, provides the compliance Companies carrying out certain tasks on certain types of equipment for other parties must be certified. Equipment Stationary refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump and fire protection equipment Tasks Installation, servicing, maintenance Repair Decommissioning Companies should fulfils the following requirements (a) employment of personnel certified in accordance with Article 5, for the activities requiring certification, in a sufficient number to cover the expected volume of activities;

13 Equipment and tools Who needs to be certified? (2 - Companies) (2) Equipment and tools of the certified personnel to be supplied by his employer Manifold Vacuum Gauge or Vacuum Meter Temperature meter Portable leak detector Refrigerant weight Scale Vacuum pump Recovery set Nitrogen pressure regulator Recycling cylinder RC x x x x x x x x x Figure 4 Recovery cylinder, how to label it Figure 7 Leak detector Figure 5 Vacuum pump Figure 8 Scale Figure 9 Vacuum Gauge Figure 6 Refrigerant recovery machine Figure 10 Pressure Manifold Figure 11 Temperature Meter

14 REGULATION (EC) 303/2008 (or EN becoming ISO) MINIMUM COMPETENCE OF PERSONNEL T = THEORETICAL P = PRACTICAL CATEGORIES DUTIES AND KNOWLEDGE I II III IV 1 Basic thermodynamics T T T 2 Environmental impact of refrigerants and corresponding environmental regulations T T T T 3 Checks before putting in operation, after a long period of non-use, after maintenance or repair intervention, or during operation P P 4 Checks for leakage T/P T/P T/P 5 6 Environment-friendly handling of the system and refrigerant during installation, maintenance, servicing or recovery Component: installation, putting into operation and maintenance of reciprocating, screw and scroll compressors, single and two-stage P P P P P 7 8 Component: installation, putting into operation and maintenance of air cooled and water cooled condensers Component: installation, putting into operation and maintenance of air cooled and water cooled evaporators P P 9 Component: installation, putting into operation and servicing of Thermostatic Expansion Valves (TEV) and other components P 10 Piping: building a leak tight piping system in a refrigeration installation P P

15 REGULATION (EC) 303/2008 MINIMUM COMPETENCE OF PERSONNEL

16 REGULATION (EC) 303/2008 MINIMUM COMPETENCE OF PERSONNEL

17 REGULATION (EC) 303/2008 MINIMUM COMPETENCE OF PERSONNEL

18 REGULATION (EC) 303/2008 MINIMUM COMPETENCE OF PERSONNEL

19 REGULATION (EC) 303/2008 MINIMUM COMPETENCE OF PERSONNEL

20 REGULATION (EC) 303/2008 MINIMUM COMPETENCE OF PERSONNEL

21 Assessment: practical organization issues Maximum candidates per class dependent on number of assessors Assessor/s should be independent and not involved in the training of the candidates Multiple answers tests, 30 questions for 90 minutes duration The same test among candidates with variation of questions to prevent predictability among candidates Closed books, only specific technical tools such as calculator and pressure-temperature comparator allowed NO! mobile phones or cameras NO! copying or communication between candidates YES! speaking to the assessor to ask explanation of the modalities and of the questions if not understood; many candidates use different words and vocabulary to identify the same concept (eg. Valves) Theoretical assessment: Pass mark above 60% correct answers Laboratory is properly equipped for performing the practical test Practical assessment: Pass if candidate proves competence in performing main RAC service technicians activities without or with only small hesitations (remember candidates could be knowledgeable but be nervous!): Thermodynamic parameters reading through gauges and devices, temperature, pressure, subcooling, superheating Parameters interpretation, troubleshooting Perform a leak test Vacuum, charge, recovery with minimum emissions System Logbook reading, understanding and competition Brazing leak tight joints

22 Assessor Qualification and competence Assessors and Trainers should hold a certificate Assessors should have multiple years of experience in the field Assessors should be comfortable in trainees evaluation Please see International Standards as ISO for more details N.B in order to confirm the value and guarantee the sustainability of the certification, standards must be kept high and therefore not everyone will pass the exam! Certification is both a theoretical and a practical assessment A certificate is not: A training course where a Participation Certificate is issued at the end without a written, oral or practical assessment which proves the ability of the service technician or the quality of the company

23 Certification of technicians in servicing sector how it runs (1) Theoretical Exam Sample questions for the Theoretical assessment of the certification (Real_Alternatives_Project, 2015) 1. The hazards of R32 include: High flammability Mild flammability High toxicity Mild toxicity 2. What is the maximum charge of R290 that can be used on a supermarket shop floor (occupancy category A) It cannot be used in this application 150 g 1.5 kg There is no limit 3. What is the pressure of R744 in a system which is at standstill in an ambient temperature of 20 C? 4.9 bar g 7.4 bar g 55 bar g 72.8 bar g 4. What is the approximate displacement required for a compressor operating on R600a compared to one operating on R134a to give the same cooling capacity The same Two times Seven times Half 5. According to the latest European F Gas regulation (EU517/2014) how frequently must an R1234ze system with a charge of 300kg and a fixed leak detection system. It does not need to be leak tested Once per year Twice per year Four times per year 6. Which refrigerant can be detected by the use of litmus paper? R32 R744 R290 R When working with R1270 what is the recommended radius around the work area that should be free from sources of ignition? 0.3 m 1 m 3 m 10 m 8. What is the usual method for removing R744 from a system? It is vented It is recovered using a high pressure recovery machine It is pumped into high pressure cylinders The system is pumped down

24 Certification of technicians in servicing sector how it runs (2) Brazing Vacuum, Charge, Recovery Temperature, Pressure, Subcooling, Superheating

25 Monitoring the results of the certification Monitoring systems consists of putting in place several tools within the National Certification Scheme: A register of certified personnel and companies publically available online (recommended) or held by a national authority Only certified personnel and companies can purchase refrigerants and refrigerant containing equipment Only certified personnel and companies can install, repair, maintain, recover and dismantle RAC systems A register with the quantity of purchased and recovered refrigerants (both at a certified personnel or company level and from at the distributors) available to the authorities Refrigeration System Logbook containing relevant historical data of the installation, maintenance and repair available for each system (a threshold to avoid small systems, like domestic refrigeration and air conditioning, could be evaluated) The above allows the checking and monitoring of the whole sector, whether the Service Technician and the company doing the job is competent and prevents loopholes in the certification system

26 Registration and monitoring

27 Registration and monitoring (2) Online Register with the name of all the service technicans and companies which are certified Anybody (authorities, costumers, manufacturers) can see if someone is or is not certified

28 Certification UK individuals hold Category 1 certificates It is estimated that 7000 UK companies are registered Germany Personnel certified in Germany about Companies certified in Germany about 1800 the numbers Belgium registered companies is estimated at 209 Italy Personnel certified in Italy: (Sept 2014) Companies certified in Italy: Average cost for preparation to the certification and the assessment in 600 Euro (700 dollars) Craftsmen are happy to be certified as they have a recognition of their important job. Certification can be spent by craftsmen as a proper professional qualification, which is mutual recognized in all 28 European Countries

29 Certification the numbers (2) Number of certified personnel in different countries (2014) Country N of Service Technicians Australia (including automotive mechanics) Germany Italy Philippines United Kingdom

30 Training and certification worldwide CSG have over the last few years been deeply involved in helping developing countries improve living conditions, by improving refrigeration and air conditioning systems and processes, through capacity building and training technicians to install, repair, maintain and design numerous Certification Sessions with United Nations in Africa and Asia (Rwanda, Ghana, Tunisia, Eritrea, Benin, Gambia, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Turkey etc ).

31 Refrigerant Emissions and Leakage-blended learning for alternative refrigerants in new equipment safety, efficiency, reliability and containment e-library REAL e-learning Alternatives classroom practice

32 Refrigerant Emissions and Leakage-blended learning for alternative refrigerants in new equipment Developed as part of a collaborative European project to address skills needs in technicians in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector in: Carbon dioxide Ammonia Hydrocarbon Low Flammables (HFO/R32 etc)

33 Refrigerant Emissions and Leakage-blended learning for alternative refrigerants in new equipment Addresses safety, efficiency, reliability and containment aspects of service and maintenance. Critical safety factors associated with alternative refrigerants: Higher system pressures Flammability Toxicity

34 Consortium of Expert Project Partners - INDIPENDENT Associazione Tecnici del Freddo, Italy Institute of Refrigeration, UK London South Bank University, UK Foundation for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, Poland Limburg Catholic University European College, Belgium Association for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps (AREA) Informationszentrum für Kälte- Klima- und Energietechnik, Germany With the co-operation of the International Institute of Refrigeration

35 The 2 year work programme started Oct ending next Oct 2015 STEPS 1 - Research to clarify training needs and opportunities LSBU 2 - Review of existing resources LSBU 3 - Developing training booklets, e-learning pages, library KHLim 4 - Piloting, testing and translation ATF 5 - Measuring impact, evaluating and adjusting IKKE 6 - On going dissemination and stakeholder engagement AREA / IOR 7 - Project Management IOR 8 Explore sustainability options post funding PROZON Launch of free resources and training schemes in English, Polish, German, Dutch and Italian Spring 2015

36 Conclusions - industry needs 104 responses from major stakeholders to define industry needs 63 individuals from 12 European countries took part in the pilot test Need for improved skills especially for CO2 and HFO/low flammable refrigerants Retraining to address safety, reliability and leakage Assessed and certificated classroom based training, with supporting on line technical information

37 Numbers Elearning Login Pilot Testing Launch DIVIDED BY LANGUAGE (German too early for consistent data DE: 0% PL: 15% IT: 25% NL: 9% UK: 51% 549 have registered to use the website and download library/download booklets

38 REAL Alternatives blended learning resources: flexible learning programmes and schemes for use by individuals, companies or training providers. multi-lingual website e-learning & booklets study materials in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Polish searchable e-library (over 100 free documents) of resources users can add to tracking spreadsheets, report formats and other tools standard on-line tests and controlled assessment papers with optional certification stakeholders contribute materials and resources opportunities for more translations, training programmes etc

39 Learning materials in 8 modules Real Alternatives Europe programme modules: 1. Introduction to Alternative Refrigerants - safety, efficiency, reliability and good practice 2. System design using alternative refrigerants 3. Containment and leak detection of alternative refrigerants 4. Maintenance and repair of alternative refrigerant systems 5. Retrofitting existing systems with low GWP alternatives 6. Checklist of legal obligations 7. Measuring the financial and environmental impact of leakage 8. Tools and guidance for conducting site surveys

40 Multi language e-learning with free registration (English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Dutch)

41 Each module offers downloadable Learning Booklets (PDF)

42 Register at the project Website and searchable e-library

43 Promoting the use of Alternatives at international meetings and events

44 Thanks also to our stakeholders, who helped during the project we are proud to have among our stakeholders European Commission DG Clima & UNEP OzonAction

45 How you can get involved become a stakeholder add technical material to the e-library now sign up technicians for the FREE e-learning courses launched in MARCH 2015 register to deliver classroom training courses using these materials as an employer or training provider register for updates at the website, follow us on twitter translate in other languages spread the word

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49 Real Alternatives to to comply to 517/14 Article 10 Training and Certification 8. Member States shall ensure that all natural persons holding certificates under certification programmes provided for in paragraphs 1 and 7 have access to information regarding each of the following: (a) technologies referred to point (e) of paragraph 3 9. Member States shall ensure the availability of training for natural persons who wish to update their knowledge in relation to the matters referred to in paragraph 3

50 Melting glaciers Rising seas Increasing temperatures For our environment, one of the solution is Competence THANK YOU! Marco Buoni VicePresident, AREA Air Conditioning & Refrigeration European contractors Association ( Secretary General Italian Association of Refrigeration Technician, ATF (

51 THANK YOU! Marco Buoni VicePresident, AREA Air Conditioning & Refrigeration European contractors Association ( Secretary General Italian Association of Refrigeration Technician, ATF (