ACR Journal

NEWS 12 June | July 2020 Volume 6 No.4 WHICH? PUTS ITS TRUST IN REFCOM CERTIFICATION Only refrigeration and air conditioning contractors who hold a REFCOM certificate will appear on the Which? Trusted Trader list from now on. The endorsement scheme, which has been testing and recognising reputable traders for over 60 years, has changed the way it vets contractors and is using REFCOM certification to ensure quality and compliance. The move came after REFCOM F-Gas and Elite member company Airconco (UK), based in London, spent months lobbying Which? to change the way it assesses the competence of listed RAC businesses. “We have been frustrated for a long time that some companies were promoting their ‘air conditioning services’ on the Which? website, but were not qualified or had been de-registered by REFCOM,” said Managing Director Gary Woodward. Head of REFCOM Graeme Fox said: “This is a big win against the cowboys, who are operating in the market and placing unfair pressure on good companies who do the right thing. Thanks to proactive REFCOM members like Gary Woodward, Which? will no longer allow sub-contracting businesses to advertise that they carry out air conditioning work if they are not properly registered and licenced to do so. Rogue operatives put the quality of services and products at risk, endanger lives and property, and undermine the UK’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” Aermec becomes CIBSE Patron Aermec UK has become a Patron of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). The company, which manufactures air handlers, chillers and heat pumps, is a long-standing supporter of the work CIBSE does for the industry. Aermec says it is looking forward to exchanging information and collaborating on multi-disciplinary projects with CIBSE partners, while supporting future generations of engineers to build a better HVAC future. UK Sales Specification Manager Graham Etherington said: “Aermec is delighted to become a CIBSE Patron. This provides a great opportunity to support the building services industry through collaborating with CIBSE and other organisations which will further knowledge and skills. We are excited about the many ways Aermec can contribute, exchange information and learn from fellow patrons and CIBSE members.” Bock claims CO 2 efficiency benchmark GEA Bock says its latest subcritical compressors using CO2 refrigerant set a new benchmark for industrial low temperature applications in cold stores and in the food industry. The main advantage of the new HGX44e CO 2 series, launched at EuroShop in February, is said to be a minimum 6% higher CO 2 compressor eciency compared to other compressors on the market. Manuel Fröschle, Product Manager Natural Refrigerants at GEA Bock, said: “This allows operating costs to be significantly reduced. Our new series scores points with customers above all through improved process eciency with minimized energy costs, while at the same time expanding the range of applications and uses. And all this with the highest reliability thanks to our proven GEA Bock CO 2 compressor design.” In addition to improved eciency, the new HGX44e CO 2 series - which has four model variants - is said to set further standards for subcritical CO2 compressors. These include extended operating conditions, e.g. optimized hot gas defrosting and an extended frequency and temperature range with evaporating temperatures from -50 to -15 °C and condensing temperatures up to +15 °C, adapted maximum permissible operating pressure (LP/HP 30/55 bar) and the excellent performance spectrum with swept volumes from 27.7 to 49.2 m3/h (50 Hz) and corresponding refrigerating capacity from 51 to 90 kW. Fröschle added: “Our HGX44e compressors o«er planners, investors and operators clever solutions for industrial low temperature applications where functionality, cost-e«ectiveness and climate protection go hand in hand. We call this The “ Clever Art of Cooling .” The new HGX44e CO 2 series from GEA Bock