1. Certification Program for Service Technicians Enforcement and Monitoring
UNEP First Inter-Regional Thematic Meeting
Paris, 18 January 2018
Marco Buoni
VicePresident International Affairs, AREA
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration European contractors’ Association (
Secretary General Italian Association of Refrigeration Technician, ATF (
Director Centro Studi Galileo (

2. Fgas Certified Technicians in EU: nearly 500.000!
Contractors’ training with low GWP refrigerants: mind the gap!
Kigali Amendment includes measures in favour of a decreased use of HFCs in RACHP equipment. Such measures would, in turn, result in an increased use of alternatives, namely low GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants, and in particular the so-called “natural refrigerants” (CO2, hydrocarbons and ammonia). Mindful of the key role played by contractors in the safe, efficient and reliable functioning of equipment working with natural refrigerants, AREA sought an overview of the availability and level of training in the EU.
In EU:
Report of EU commission presented at Consultation Forum 1st December
Fgas Certified Technicians in EU: nearly !
Start certification of personnel for alternative refrigerants

3. Enforcement: Why creating Training, Assessment, Certification and make it work
With the help of Legislations:
Reducing Refrigerant Emissions, GHG (as F-gases), ODS
Increasing energy efficiency (reducing CO2)
of Customers / End users:
Whole sellers, distributors, big customers … requires environment friendly and energy efficiency products
Require a proof of competency
of Service Technicians:
A more aggressive competition requires prove of higher quality and certification
 Certification of the personnel and of the companies who handle air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pumps equipment

4. Why creating Training, Assessment, Certification (2)
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

5. 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
Fill the logbook of the system
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.

6. Recap on Enforcement: Promote the certification of RAC Service Technicians
For the success of the certification some important recommendations should be considered:
Certification should be made compulsory by law for every technician who is handling refrigerants (especially flammables)
Certification should be necessary to buy refrigerants and equipment containing refrigerant
Certification should be properly and publicly advertised at all levels (end-users, service companies, manufacturers, government institutions) as an added value to guarantee professionalism through seminars. Information should be made available to the technicians and the end users
Possible barriers before and after the certification should be considered, such as:
technicians may see Certification as an added cost, a tax to enter the sector
the process may be very bureaucratic , it must be made simple

7. AREA guidelines Low GWP Refrigerants
Guidance on minimum requirements for contractors in RSS
Training & Certification
Used by several EU member states for implementing national legislations and recommendations
E’ UGUALE ALLA SUCCESSIVA?

8. Example: training for Flammable refrigerants
Course details
Thermodynamic characteristic of Hydrocarbons as refrigerant - p/h diagram
Specific components for Hydrocarbons
Electronic components suitable for flammable refrigerants
Refrigeration and Air conditioning applications with HC
Recovery or Venting Hydrocarbons
Vacuum-Charging procedures
Leak testing
Mechanical/compression joint connections – avoid brazing
Flammability and safety issues, first aid
Conversion HCFC – HFC systems into HC
National and European regulations and standards
Transport and storage requirements
Logbook
Necessary equipment and components (minimum)
Test Rig equipped with Pressure Gauges, sight glasses in key points, service valves for connections, temperature well - thermowell (Domestic/Commercial refrigerator or small packaged portable air conditioning unit)
Mechanical/compression joint tool and connectors
Nitrogen Regulator - Cylinder of High Purity Nitrogen
Electronic Weighing Platform
Hydrocarbon Cylinder
Electronic or analogue Vacuum gauge
Manifold set - Hoses with ball valves
Vacuum Pumps and Hose
Electronic Leak Detector (suit HC)
Proprietary Leak Spray
Temperature meter
Ammeter
Tools, Pipe Cutters, Pipe Deburring Tool, Pipework Expanders, Hacksaws, Brazing Rods
Flaring Tool
Personal protective equipment
Togliere

9. Recommendations of AREA: Minimum Requirements for alternative refrigerants HC – NH3– CO2– HFO
COMPETENCE OF SERVICE TECHNICIANS  Assessment: P Practical T Thoretical HC
NH3
CO2
HFO A2L
BASIC THERMODYNAMICS AND PHYSICS T
Properties : temperature, pressure, density, thermal capacity..
Differences between Low GWP refrigerants and HFCs ……
GOOD PRACTICE P
Identify typical application
State and identify the commonly used refrigerants designation
HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
Safe system shutdown and isolation
Extinguish a fire, First aid care treatment
REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Knowledge of International and National Regulations standards
Storage of the refrigerant
…….
Details in AREA Guidance
Specific modules for the different characteristics of the alternative refrigierants should be part of the certification you can see here a shorten list of the competences from the certification scheme, details on our website.
the exam, therorectical and practical to check the competence of the technicians,
And after the assessment, this will result on the certification, a badge and your name listed in a public register accessible to costumers, technicians, authorities
Thermodynamic properties of Low GWP refrigerant: temperature, pressure, density, thermal capacity, p/h diagram
Differences between Low GWP refrigerants and HFCs
Identify typical application of Low GWP refrigerants systems
State and identify the commonly used refrigerants designation
Safe system shutdown and isolation 2
Extinguish a fire, identify the appropriate fire extinguisher
First aid care treatment for frostbite
Knowledge of European and National Regulations and standards

10. ! Translated already in 8 languages, including Spanish!
AREA guidelines
Equipment for handling refrigerants with lower (A2L) and higher (A3) flammability
Example of Figure from the guideline: Possible sources for leakage and safety equipment used when filling flammable refrigerant
! Translated already in 8 languages, including Spanish!

11. Minimum Requirements for Training & Certification
What is really important is that the certification body is accredited itself, in order to be allowed to issue certification of persons and companies. An example is the regulation that you see displayed, that states the min requirements for institutions in order to certify others. In this flowchar you can see that the certification body has to certify the entity who makes the training and practically makes the exam, through a theory and practical test, for example a way to keep the standards is explained in the ISO 9001 which for exmaple lays down all the criteria to have like trainers must be graduated and have tot years of experience, you need to keep a copy of the exams for 3 years, you need to give all the proof and so on.

12. Registration and monitoring

13. Registration and monitoring
Online Register with the name of all the service technicans and companies which are certified
Anybody can see if someone is or is not certified

14. Recap on: 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

15. Certification System for the Middle East
Centro Studi Galileo and UNEP are working to activate the national certificate programme for rehabilitating workers in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors in accordance with the European certificate (F-Gas Regulation).
Bahrain's strategic plan, , for phasing out ozone-depleting substances, implemented by the SCE, requires rehabilitating personnel operating in air conditioning sectors according to the requirements of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete
the ozone layer.
WE CAN SUPPORT YOU!

16. Training & Certification in Tunisia
Example of session carried out with UNIDO in Tunisia:
Training
Certification Session
Delivery of equipment
We are working to develop a certification scheme
Many other countries, such as: The Gambia, Rwanda, Ghana, Benin, Bahrain, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Montenegro, The Caribbeans, China, etc.

17. With UNIDO Training and Equipment for flammable refrigerants in Caribbean islands
Certification Session
Curriculum for starting the Certification on traditional refrigerant mandatory + voluntary certification on alternative refrigerants

18. Real Alternatives for LIFE Refrigerant Emissions Alternatives and Leakage – blended learning for low GWP refrigerants
Objectives
Increase knowledge amongst technicians in partner and stakeholder countries.
Address inconsistencies in skills across the whole of the EU
Overcome equipment operator and distributor concerns over safety, reliability, containment, efficiency and standards restrictions
Support implementation of F Gas Regs and transition to alternative refrigerants
Togliere

19. Project Management team 8 organisations – 6 Languages
Associazione Tecnici del Freddo, Italy
London South Bank University, UK
Institute of Refrigeration, UK
Foundation for
the Protection of the
Ozone Layer, Poland
Limburg Catholic University College, Belgium
European
Association for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Het Pumps (AREA)
Informationszentrum für Kälte- Klima- und Energietechnik, Germany
With the co-operation of the International Institute of Refrigeration

20. REAL Alternative Learning Modules
9 booklets to download for free as study aids and e-learning
Programme Modules now available at 1
Introduction to Alternative Refrigerants - safety, efficiency, reliability and good practice 2
Safety and Risk Management 3
System design using alternative refrigerants 4
Containment and leak detection of alternative refrigerants 5
Maintenance and repair of alternative refrigerant systems 6
Retrofitting with low GWP refrigerants 7
Checklist of legal obligations when working with alternative refrigerants 8
Measuring the financial and environmental impact of leakage 9
Tools and guidance for conducting site surveys

21. Elearning and booklets

22. Project website
(multilingual)

23. Certification on Alternative Refrigerants
Modules on the different Alternative Refrigerants through the Real Alternatives Certification (theoretical and practical)
Carbon dioxide
Ammonia
Flammables (HCs & A2L)
Addressing safety, efficiency, reliability and containment aspects of service and maintenance.
Higher system pressures
Flammability
Toxicity
And the tools to handle those refrigerants
Certification
on Alternative
Refrigerants

24. LET’S MOVE TO ALTERNATIVE REFRIGERANTS TOGETHER!
Option 1 Global Partner
Option 2 National Lead Partner
Option 3 Training Partner
Option 4 Assessing Partner
Option 5 Sponsor Partner
Option 6
Free User
WHO
Institutions, Associations, Government representatives
Training Centres, Associations, Certifying Bodies, Institutions
Companies, Training Centres, Associations, Institutions
Businesses in the HVAC/R&HP sector
Training Centres, Associations, Certifying Bodies, Institutions, Companies
WHAT
Translate the training into national language* and be official representative for your Country
Be the official REAL Alternatives© representative for your Country
Licence trainers to deliver theoretical & practical training in your Country
Can carry out Assessments and issue Certificates to technicians***
Have your Company’s logo displayed on websites and newsletters
Disseminate Real Alternatives© free online material and e-learning platform within your network
WHY
Spread knowledge globally, improve consistency of training standards and support training in your Country
Become REAL Alternatives reference point for your Country**, help to implement national legislation, standards, etc.
To ensure consistent standard of technician training using REAL Alternatives© programme materials
Use ready-made REAL Alternatives© assessment and certification standards
Connect with thousands of businesses worldwide and show your active participation
Share the innovative and free online platform of Real Alternatives© to enrich the culture and knowledge on new alternatives
HOW LONG
unlimited
3 years
3 year
*Already available languages: English, Italian, French, German, Polish, Spanish, Finnish, Dutch; under development languages: Russian, Portuguese, Czech, Slovakian, Romanian, Croatian, Turkish **Possible only when training material is already available in the official language of your Country *** Certificate fee: 30€

25. Cooperation with UNEP

26. Conclusions WE CAN SUPPORT YOU
Goal  Make it self sustainable and economically feasible
WE CAN SUPPORT YOU
Writing and Implementing a Certification Scheme in your Country
Strengthening the local Associations
Providing the training & equipment
Delivering Certification

27. New AREA membership category: International Observers
Due to the significant worldwide interest in European legislative evolutions, and the increase in competence of the personnel who handle the new refrigerants, we wish to introduce to you the brand new “International Observer” membership category in AREA. This will give a fantastic opportunity for RACHP installers’ bodies, throughout the world, to benefit from the expertise and discussions within Europe through their access to AREA.
Join AREA 22 Associations of RAC Technicians!

28. To preserve
our water,
our climate
our environment
we should move to new refrigerants but
we should do it with competence
THANK YOU!
Marco Buoni
VicePresident International Affairs, AREA
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration European contractors’ Association (
Secretary General Italian Association of Refrigeration Technician, ATF (
Director Centro Studi Galileo (
To preserve our water, our climate and our environment we should change refrgierants but we should do it with competence. Thank you.