For R32 refrigerant training.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia (MHIAA) has held the first formal training on the handling of A2/A2L flammable refrigerants in Australia.

While R32 refrigerants have been available Australia wide for several years, to date there has been no formal training in this refrigerant and it was necessary to address this critical skill gap in the industry, Superior Training Centre representative, Ben Peters said.

“We knew there was a skills shortage and training shortage on the ways to properly handle R32 refrigerants. With R32 being rolled out industry wide, more technicians will be working with this refrigerant and it is important that anyone working with these products know the safety and legal ramifications of this refrigerant,” he said.

MHIAA general manager, sales and planning, Adrian Brown said it was time for manufacturers in Australia to become involved in the training of technicians in R32.

“As a manufacturer of R32 products, and with the understanding that our company will continue to roll out products with this refrigerant, we recognised that it was time for us to be at the forefront of this refrigerant and ensure that our technicians, and those installing MHI products, all understand this refrigerant and employ safe work practices. This training as it is vitally important, not only for the technicians but for the industry as a whole.

“We had an exceptional turnout at our event in Sydney and given this was the first time it was run in Australia we can clearly see that technicians are keen to learn and employ safe practices with R32 refrigerants,” he said. The company plans to work with the training centre again when the course goes national.

The course was developed by Superior Training Centre, who liased with the Australian Refrigeration Council and key manufacturers including MHIAA to ensure the content was correct. It combined both practical and theoretical elements, looked at ways to correctly recover R32 and how to identify the different ratings and cylinder labels for each class of refrigerant. Participants also learnt the emergency procedures to use with R32 to ensure the safety of all technicians in their respective workplaces.

The full day course was held at Innovation Park, MHIAA’s new showroom and training facility at the Sydney head office