The upshot of all this are industry and manufacturer initiatives geared at registering and certifying contractors. The HVCA was in on the act early, setting up the REFCOM register of companies competent to handle refrigerants. While administrator David Williams acknowledges that it is taking time for the register to gain recognition, he is confident that REFCOM is established.
"Of course new benchmarks of excellence take time to become recognised, especially if the standards laid down are such that compliance requires a high degree of commitment on the part of all participants," he admits. "Progress is being made, however. The principle of REFCOM is gaining acceptance and the benefits of membership are gradually being realised, not only by contracting firms but also by a growing number of specifiers and end users who have endorsed its aims."
Williams believes that the benefit lies in the fact that by joining REFCOM a company can differentiate itself from its competitors by offering evidence that it has high standards, employs well trained staff and has invested in the appropriate equipment.
He also insists that the working brief for the initiative was to ensure that it was genuinely meaningful and that the membership requirements must be stringent, ensuring the enterprise maintained credibility.
To this end, to qualify for membership a company must:
A further element of the scheme is that applicants allow access to their premises for inspection of records and equipment and for verifying statements made on application forms. Only once an applicant has undergone a satisfactory inspection is a certificate of membership presented.
Where appropriate the inspector may agree to carry out a repeat inspection once perceived deficiencies from the first inspection have been remedied.
"Registration is not a one-off matter" emphasises Williams. "The company must maintain its adherence to all the REFCOM requirements if it is to avoid the risk of subsequent removal from the register." Two further developments have broadened REFCOM's position. Late in 1997 the London and International Power Operations Division of BT became the first end user member, while in September 1998 Space Airconditioning became the first distributor member.
The HVCA is not alone. Several of the major contractors allow only certified contractors to install equipment, while the Addvent division of Heatstore recently launched a support package for electrical contractors through wholesaler CEF.
Addvent offers a step-by-step package with system design, technical support, installation and commissioning. To prepare a quotation it requires details of the areas to be cooled, with a sketch of the locations showing features such as doors, windows, etc. It then completes the design, with a pre-installation appraisal to confirm the survey information. The company hopes that by offering a comprehensive service it will encourage contractors into a market they might otherwise feel they do not have the level of expertise to tackle.
Toshiba Carrier UK, Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric are backing the CETEC scheme. This trains installers in new refrigerant techniques, pipework and brazing, plus handling of refrigerants.
What all the initiatives reflect is an industry desire to see installers properly trained and registered before they are let loose on refrigerant systems.
How to join refcom
Initial registration with REFCOM, which is valid for one year, costs £300 (£150 for HVCA members and organisations belonging to the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board) and annual renewal costs £200 (£100 for HVCA and ACRIB members). For further details contact David Williams, REFCOM, Esca House, 34 Palace Court, London W2 4JG (0171-313 4935).Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
