As governments begin easing COVID-19 restrictions, the NSW Ministry of Health (NSW Health) has issued a reminder that building owners and occupiers have a legal obligation to ensure air conditioning cooling towers are properly maintained, to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease. “There has been an increase in cases of Legionnaires’ disease across the Sydney […]
As winter approaches and people start heating homes and other buildings, Standards Australia has sent out a message to raise awareness about safety and energy efficiency. Standards Australia notes that standards set out requirements for the safe design, use and energy consumption of heaters and similar electrical appliances heavily used in winter. It also points […]
Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) has released a series of new digital training resources that provide an innovative and hands-on way for apprentices to understand the refrigerant recovery processes for various types of equipment. “The processes for recovering refrigerant, pressure testing, evacuating and re-charging systems are critical for both upholding industry best practice and reducing the […]
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, ASHRAE has scheduled a four-day live virtual event. The 2020 ASHRAE Virtual Conference is structured to allow participants from all over the world to take advantage of the Society’s strong technical content. The virtual conference will include more than 90 technical sessions, updates from Society leaders, and virtual networking […]
A new white paper is encouraging leaders from government and industry to use the COVID-19 recovery to transform our traditional construction processes. “The global construction industry cannot continue operating the way it does,” write co-authors Sumit Oberoi and Alain Waha in the paper, titled Industrialised Construction: The Rebound from COVID-19. “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, […]
The Property Council of Australia, Facility Management Association (FMA) and the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) have called on building owners and facilities managers to commence careful planning for the safe reopening of commercial buildings and workplaces across Australia. The advice comes as the national cabinet and state governments announce easing […]
Leading members of the international scientific and medical community have called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish global guidance on the minimum lower limit of air humidity in public buildings. Those behind the move have created a petition, which they say is aimed at increasing global public awareness about the crucial role indoor […]
By Craig Roussac, M.AIRAH. All buildings are created for people, and building owners must ensure they are safe. But unfortunately, as with most things in life, there is no guidebook setting out the “ideal” way to achieve that outcome. This is especially true in a pandemic. Over recent days, research has been published in the journal Nature that […]
The Queensland government has confirmed it will work to address a loophole in its new licensing framework for air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. At the beginning of 2020, a new HVAC&R licensing framework was introduced in Queensland. Workers now require a Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence for mechanical services work. This includes air […]
New studies have fuelled speculation about COVID-19 spreading through the air, and emphasised the vital role that HVAC systems will play in controlling the virus. Since the beginning of the outbreak, the World Health Organization has advised that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets. When someone with […]