February 2005 AREA › newsletter AREA › newsletter0502.pdf · F-Gas issues HFC Political...

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Air conditioning & Refrigeration European Association AREA February 2005 Newsletter Items covered: - Editorial p.3 - Web site p.3 - Environment - F-gases Latest developments : HCFC, HFC p. 4 - Education & vocational training Official EU news p.7 Leonardo project’s portfolio : request for dissemination p.10 - Technical& Environment Committee TEC WEEE, EPB, guarantees p.14 - Standardisation Harmonized standards p.18 Active Technical Committees p.20 - European Commission p.22 - European Legislation on RAC p.23 - European Council p.24 - European funding p.24 - News from our Members : AKB, SNEFCCA p.27 - Sister associations : IACSC, ECSLA p.27 - Events p.29 President : J. JACQUIN - SNEFCCA F - e-mail : [email protected] Immediate Past President : N. MITCHELL - RACG/HVCA UK - e-mail : [email protected] Vice-President : Ch. SCHOLZ - VDKF D – e-mail : [email protected] Treasurer : J. HOOGKAMER - NVKL NL - e-mail : [email protected] General Secretary : R. BERCKMANS - AREA - e-mail : [email protected] Beau Site Première avenue, 88 • B -1330 Rixensart • Belgium • Tel : +32 2 6538835 • Fax + 32 2 6523872 VAT : BE 440.154.920 Bank : ABN AMRO – Regentlaan 53 • B 1000 Brussels • Belgium - Account N° 720-5404789-58 Internet : http://www.area-eur.be • General e-mail : [email protected] 1

Transcript of February 2005 AREA › newsletter AREA › newsletter0502.pdf · F-Gas issues HFC Political...

Page 1: February 2005 AREA › newsletter AREA › newsletter0502.pdf · F-Gas issues HFC Political Agreement to formal Common Position: expected timing Hill & Knowlton / EPEE have touched

Air conditioning & Refrigeration European Association

AREA

February 2005

Newsletter

Items covered:

- Editorial p.3 - Web site p.3 - Environment - F-gases Latest developments : HCFC, HFC p. 4 - Education & vocational training Official EU news p.7 Leonardo project’s portfolio : request for dissemination p.10 - Technical& Environment Committee TEC WEEE, EPB, guarantees p.14 - Standardisation Harmonized standards p.18 Active Technical Committees p.20 - European Commission p.22 - European Legislation on RAC p.23 - European Council p.24 - European funding p.24 - News from our Members : AKB, SNEFCCA p.27 - Sister associations : IACSC, ECSLA p.27 - Events p.29 President : J. JACQUIN - SNEFCCA F - e-mail : [email protected] Immediate Past President : N. MITCHELL - RACG/HVCA UK - e-mail : [email protected] Vice-President : Ch. SCHOLZ - VDKF D – e-mail : [email protected] Treasurer : J. HOOGKAMER - NVKL NL - e-mail : [email protected] General Secretary : R. BERCKMANS - AREA - e-mail : [email protected]

Beau Site Première avenue, 88 • B -1330 Rixensart • Belgium • Tel : +32 2 6538835 • Fax + 32 2 6523872 VAT : BE 440.154.920

Bank : ABN AMRO – Regentlaan 53 • B 1000 Brussels • Belgium - Account N° 720-5404789-58 Internet : http://www.area-eur.be • General e-mail : [email protected]

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The letter in brief Please read the letter of Mr. J. Reijmers starting on page 10. This letter addresses a key issue for AREA. The Leonardo Project Partners / Competence and Qualification Committee have come up with a portfolio of the qualifications and skills needed by the so-called “basic European Refrigeration Craftsman”. AREA will propose this portfolio in the scope of the coming F-gas Regulation calling for minimum requirements for the refrigeration personnel working in the European Union. This portfolio is available at the secretariat on request. (For the time being, the portfolio only concerns working with F-gas refrigerating fluids; extending the portfolio to the use of other refrigerants is a decision that the Members of AREA will have to take.) The Leonardo Project Partners, but also the other Members of AREA, are requested to disseminate this information to their relevant National Authorities, Vocational Education & Training VET Bodies, sister trade associations, key schools and institutes and to report their action, the results and the feedback to the AREA secretariat. Little but not encouraging news on the F-gas issues. The Commission, DG Environment, announced that a consultation will be organized. Some Member States (DK, AT) propose to advance the deadline to stop using HCFC in 2010 instead of 2015. About the coming HFC Regulation, the Common Position should not reach the European Parliament before end April – May. And “as a brand new knife has always a good cutting edge”, the new MEPs seem willing to completely review the First Reading and could be in favour of a greener legislation. The Commission is expected to publish some guidelines to specify the “grey area” products falling under the WEEE Directive. EPB appears more and more as a “framework” Directive leaving to the Member States the task of setting their National methodology, calculation criteria, requirements, certificates and sanctions. A first contact with equipment manufacturers show that it will be very hard to have them joining AREA in any agreement on harmonized guarantees. The “standardisation” section of the letter gives a summary of harmonized standards (with internet links) and a list of committees dealing with refrigeration and air conditioning matters. You will also find a list of the pieces of legislation concerning the refrigeration and air conditioning sector (product related). As the Secretary makes it a priority to identify potential new projects that could benefit from a European grant, he gives some details about possible sources of funding.

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Editorial

Dear Members, I wish to AREA : happiness, good health and prosperity. Happiness means a friendly and constructive relationship among our Members. We are doing quite well, we represent 17 European countries, and hopefully some more soon (Slovenia and Ireland should come in Nice as observers), and I can witness a real team spirit on the occasion of our general meetings. Good health means adequate and stable resources and we are getting there thanks to the commitment of our President, assisted by an efficient strategic task force. Prosperity means success in our endeavours. In 2005, I make a priority of proposing to you opportunities of projects of common interest to all and of finding potential European funding. Yours sincerely,

Robert Berckmans Secretary General

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Visiting the AREA website Some interesting figures, since the update of the AREA website, thanks to the Leonardo da Vinci project :

Informations année 2004 (01/01/2004-31/12/2004)

année 2003 (01/01/2003-31/12/2003)

Pages vues 22 108 + 524,5 %

Visites 5 245 + 719,5 %

Visiteurs uniques cumulés

4 178 + 733,9 %

Pages viewed, number of visits, number of different visitors

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Environment F-Gas issues HFC Political Agreement to formal Common Position: expected timing Hill & Knowlton / EPEE have touched base with the Council Secretariat on January 13, to see where the F-gases Political Agreement document is at in terms of translation and the work of the jurist-linguists given the enlargement back log. Here is their report : “Next steps (and expected timing) are as follows: • A meeting of the Council's internal jurist-linguists will take place on the 20 February for a final review of document. This draft will be sent to the 25 Member States for comment ahead of this, by end-January. • On 22 February there will be a meeting with the Member State (MS) jurist-linguists - this allows the MS representatives to present and further explain any specific concerns and changes they wish to see in their respective language versions of the text. • All being well from these meetings, (i.e. allowing for minimal final changes to draft) the hope is to send the text on to Member States Ambassadors (COREPER) for approval. It would be an agenda point for approval (without discussion). Projected date for approval is the COREPER meeting 2 March. • It would then be sent on for rubber stamping approval as a Common Position at any Council meeting (those in March include the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs on 3-4 March; Competitiveness Council on 7 March). • The next step after that is the formal submission of the Common Position text to the European Parliament. There is a fear that final approval by Council in early March could be too late for formal receipt during the only EP plenary in March (week 7-11 March). Formal receipt would then, more likely, take place during next session 11-15 April. The date of formal receipt by the Parliament starts the clock ticking on the time limit for completion of Second Reading by the Parliament. The Parliament has 3 months (with possibility to extend by one month) to complete its Second Reading. This means we would expect Second Reading completion by most likely September 2004.” Latest news (January 20) : an initial contact with the Rapporteur of the Environment Committee, Mrs Avril Doyle (Christian Democrats, Ireland), indicated that the opening of the Second Reading should only start in May (delays in translations). It should last 3+1 months. The unexpected news is that the new MEP appear to want to carefully study the results of the First Reading. Mrs Doyle said that even the Conservative MEPs may ask for a Greener Regulation. A tougher-than-planned job lies ahead!

HCFC On January 13 the Commission, DG Environment, announced that a consultation will be organized. Some Member States (DK, AT) propose to advance the deadline to stop using HCFC in 2010 instead of 2015. A questionnaire will address the technical alternatives available.

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*** UK A letter from DEFRA (Ministry of Environment) invites comments (by 2 March 2005) on the new UK climate change policy, with a link to the web-based document : www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ukccp-review/index.htm Extract :

***

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EPEE letter expressing concern about an on going study on mobile refrigeration in the road transport sector, by a UK consulting firm : Jos Delbeke Director Directorate C: Air & Chemicals DG Environment European Commission Rue de la Loi 200 1049 Brussels Brussels, 7 January 2005 Dear Jos, RE: ON-GOING WORK ON F-GASES IN ROAD TRANSPORT AND REFRIGERATED CONTAINERS IN THE EU

I am writing to you in relation to work that has commenced on a study on F-gases in road transport and refrigerated containers in the EU, not covered by the F-gases proposal (COM (2003) 492). We understand that DG Environment awarded this project to Risk and Policy Analysts (RPA) Limited in the UK and RPA has distributed a questionnaire to the industry. EPEE agrees with the objectives of the study: 1. To undertake a full economic assessment of the costs and benefits of minimising emissions in the two industries mentioned; 2. To undertake a sensitivity analysis on existing and additional data; and 3. To support DG Environment in the interpretation of results and prepare a stakeholders workshop on the main findings of the report.

EPEE and its members look forward to playing a full and active role in the completion of the study. However, EPEE has fundamental concerns in relation to the working method and some of the assumptions made in the preparation of this study, which we wish to bring to your attention. We fear that the consultation may not be reaching all stakeholders across the EU and that distribution is too UK based. We fear that this may skew the outcome of the final study, which will need to be applicable across EU25. This concern is further heightened when considering the tight schedule for completing of the first two elements of the work, (the development of an overview of the industry and the development of Scenarios for limiting emissions), indicated as early January 2005. We are also concerned about some of the underlying assumptions presented in the questionnaire. A key concern we have is that the emphasis in the questionnaire is on the use of HFCs and existing and future trends in the use of non-HFC refrigerants rather than on containment.

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In particular, we are concerned over the origin of the reference in Question 6 to a 50 per cent per annum leakage rate. Our members’ indications are that this is considerably greater than actual leakage rates in practice. We understand the Commission’s obligation to further investigate this issue with a view to having the data to bring forward proposals for future policy in this area. EPEE members have a wealth of knowledge to bring to this study and are ready to assist. However from our current understanding of the working approach/methodology and questionnaire we do not believe the final study will give a fair and accurate picture of the situation in this sector. We would be happy to meet with you to further discuss this issue as well as some ideas we have on how to take the study forward in a timely and positive fashion. EPEE and its members remain at your disposal to answer any question or queries you may have on the above elements. Yours sincerely,

Director General, EPEE Education & vocational training

January 2005 EU LEVEL

recognition of professional qualifications Source : eurlex Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 251 (2) of the EC Treaty concerning the common position of the Council on the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications COM(2004) 853 final http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2004/com2004_0853en01.pdf Background :

Article 251

1. Where reference is made in this Treaty to this Article for the adoption of an act, the following procedure shall apply.

2. The Commission shall submit a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council.

The Council, acting by a qualified majority after obtaining the opinion of the European Parliament:

- if it approves all the amendments contained in the European Parliament's opinion, may adopt the proposed act thus amended,

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- if the European Parliament does not propose any amendments, may adopt the d t

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proposed act,

- shall otherwise adopt a common position and communicate it to the European Parliament. The Council shall inform the European Parliament fully of the reasons which led it to adopt its common position. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament fully of its position.

If, within three months of such communication, the European Parliament:

(a) approves the common position or has not taken a decision, the act in question shall be deemed to have been adopted in accordance with that common position;

(b) rejects, by an absolute majority of its component members, the common position, the proposed act shall be deemed not to have been adopted;

(c) proposes amendments to the common position by an absolute majority of its component members, the amended text shall be forwarded to the Council and to the Commission, which shall deliver an opinion on those amendments.

3. If, within three months of the matter being referred to it, the Council, acting by a qualified majority, approves all the amendments of the European Parliament, the act in question shall be deemed to have been adopted in the form of the common position thus amended; however, the Council shall act unanimously on the amendments on which the Commission has delivered a negative opinion. If the Council does not approve all the amendments, the President of the Council, in agreement with the President of the European Parliament, shall within six weeks convene a meeting of the Conciliation Committee.

4. The Conciliation Committee, which shall be composed of the Members of the Council or their representatives and an equal number of representatives of the European Parliament, shall have the task of reaching agreement on a joint text, by a qualified majority of the Members of the Council or their representatives and by a majority of the representatives of the European Parliament. The Commission shall take part in the Conciliation Committee's proceedings and shall take all the necessary initiatives with a view to reconciling the positions of the European Parliament and the Council. In fulfilling this task, the Conciliation Committee shall address the common position on the basis of the amendments proposed by the European Parliament.

5. If, within six weeks of its being convened, the Conciliation Committee approves a joint text, the European Parliament, acting by an absolute majority of the votes cast, and the Council, acting by a qualified majority, shall each have a period of six weeks from that approval in which to adopt the act in question in accordance with the joint text. If either of the two institutions fails to approve the proposed act within that period, it shall be deemed not to have been adopted.

6. Where the Conciliation Committee does not approve a joint text, the proposed act shall be deemed not to have been adopted.

7. The periods of three months and six weeks referred to in this Article shall be extended by a maximum of one month and two weeks respectively at the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council.

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January 2005EU LEVEL

Europass Decision Source : eurlex

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Decision No 2241/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 on a single Community framework for the transparency of qualifications and competences (Europass) OJEU L 390 of 31.12.2004 p. 6 http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2004/l_390/l_39020041231en00060020.pdf

The implications of Europass for the open EU labour market and, ultimately, as a milestone on the road towards the Lisbon aims are quite obvious: Europass will make it a lot easier to directly communicate learning achievements across different European countries. But the launch of the initiative has both implications and potential positive spin-off effects for many countries beyond the boundaries of the current European Union. The European Training Foundation helps prepare future Member States for the adoption of the set of documents, but also sees a potential for Europass as a model solution to a regular 'brain twister' in many of its partner countries: national or cross-border transparency in vocational qualifications. Europass has been on the drawing board for two years and will initially consist of a set of documents, commonly referred to as the Europass, that will help people throughout the European Union interpret achievements made in other European countries.

It contains a CV in a standardised format, records language skills, competences attained through work experience and formal learning, and so on. Its strength is that it stops short of providing the actual interpretation of the qualifications it describes. The Europass is an accreditation tool, not a formal accreditation itself. Accreditation and recognition of training is still a hot potato throughout Europe, and the project would have been doomed if it had dared to tread this area. But its seemingly unassuming nature – 'just' translating national achievements into a common format and

international language – is its strength. This also applies when it comes to serving as a model for countries in other parts of the world, because the Europass is unprecedented internationally in both scale and scope. Other documents have been developed on the back of Community programmes such as Leonardo, or together with other international organisations, such as UNESCO and Council of Europe, and pioneered by agencies such as Cedefop (the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Education). From the outset, the European Commission has made it very clear that the Europass is meant to be a framework model. It covers five documents now, but nothing stands in the way of expanding or extending it in the future. The new Europass framework The Europass should be conceived as a framework whose exact composition can be adjusted over time. Initially, the Europass will embraces five documents. The European CV: the backbone of the portfolio The European CV is a slightly improved version of the common European CV format established through a Commission Recommendation in March 2002. Improvements only concern the terminology; all other features remain unchanged. Like all CVs, this is a personal document completed by the person concerned. The European Language Portfolio: recording language skills The European Language Portfolio adapts a model previously agreed within the Council of Europe and based on the Common Framework for Languages. It is a document where citizens can record the linguistic and cultural skills they have acquired. It contains in particular a Language Passport, where holders can give details on their proficiency in languages. Countries can adapt the common model, for instance to better gear it to the needs of specific target groups. The Diploma Supplement: transparency in higher education The diploma supplement concerns higher education: it is the document jointly developed with the Council of Europe and UNESCO, to make higher education degrees more transparent. The Certificate Supplement: transparency in vocational education and training The certificate supplement concerns vocational education and training. This proposal does not make any change to the common format agreed informally by the Member States and used by national authorities to prepare the actual supplements for each certificate. This document has a different nature from the others, as it does not refer to its specific holder: a certificate supplement clarifies the vocational qualification to which it refers, and is the same for all those who hold that qualification. The Europass Mobility: making mobility visible The current Europass-Training document will be replaced by the MobiliPass. The MobiliPass is

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meant to record European learning pathways – periods of learning in another country that satisfy certain quality criteria. Importantly, this learning needs be linked neither to work nor to Community programmes. Access to all information related to Europass will become available through a Europass portal, accessible in 25 European languages. The portal will become operational in 2005. The websites set up by National Europass Centres will provide additional vocational guidance and support to those seeking employment in another European country.

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Leonardo da Vinci

The Refrigeration Craftsman project

Important message from the Project Coordinator (January 12) Dear Partner, Herewith you receive the final version of the portfolio that has been developed as a result of the questionnaire we held in 2003 and your input and comments. Now we are at the point of dissemination. You as partner of this project are responsible for the dissemination in your country. It is important that as much organisations as possible get to know this portfolio so it will become a well known standard in Europe, it is not a problem if organisations get this information more than once. In the attachment you will find an example letter that you could translate and send to the organisations in your country, for example: • Vocational Education Training (VET) Bodies; • Schools who organise courses and trainings in the field of refrigeration; • Commercial institutes who organise courses and trainings in the field of refrigeration; • Trade associations, especially those involved in refrigeration education; • Consultants involved in refrigeration and air-conditioning; • Governmental policy makers for instance ministries of educational and or environmental matters. As you all know the European Community emphasizes on good dissemination and valorisation of the projects they support. The last part of the grant (€ 36,596.-) is depending on good dissemination results. With your help we can make this portfolio successful. Therefore we are sure we can count on your vital support. Please send us an address list of the organisations that you contacted and a copy of the letters. Also we want to receive their reactions and comments. If they don not react, please send them a reminder. In April, during the CQC meeting in Nice we will discuss the results of this dissemination action. To give third parties the possibility to respond it is important that you spread the

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attached example letter in your own language as soon as possible. Send us the address list and a copy of the letter ultimately 15 February. Send through the comments as soon as you receive those. Kind regards, Jan Reijmers Project Co-ordinator The portfolio is available at the secretariat on request

*** Some more pictures about the Leonardo Maastricht Conference on December 15-16, 2004 :

The AREA stand

Published in STEK INFORMATIE in November 2004 :

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*** Answering the Leonardo da Vinci Call for Proposals 2005-2006? This is a question to be examined in Nice on April 29-30. To prepare yourself, you may want to visit (and print the 28 page – instructions) : http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/leonardo/new/leonardo2/call/call2005_en.pdf

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Technical & Environment Committee Minutes of the TEC (Technical and Environment Committee) meeting held in Brussels on November 12, 2004 (by Mr. Philippe Roy, SNEFCCA). The secretariat added in blue new information on the concerned subjects.

1) WEEE Directive (Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment)

As agreed during the last meeting on September 8, 2004 , a letter has been sent to DG Environment explaining that stationary commercial and industrial air conditioning and refrigeration equipment to be assembled in buildings by refrigeration specialists are not covered by the Directive. About RAC equipment (big domestic appliances), equipment that can be installed only in professional offices are excluded of the scope of the directive. DG Environment replied a short and polite answer, but AREA members must be careful with the national transposition. AREA could get in touch with Ms PASSERA from DG4 who handles this matter. Another letter has now been sent to DG Environment (see AREA January 2005 Newsletter page 18) but no answer received yet. We learned, from Ms. Michelle O’Neill of Honeywell (who has made of WEEE one of her priorities) that DG Environment intends to publish guidelines, for the Member States, on the treatment of “grey area” products.

2) EPB Directive (Energy Performance of Buildings) The main questions about AC Equipment are : - who inspects ? - how to calculate a good energy efficiency ? As the Member States are not still ready this question will be taken stock in the next meeting with the different pieces of information from AREA members. You will read, a few pages below, information about a new European project on this subject : AUDITAC. Hill & Knowlton indicated that the Directive is seen as a “framework” Directive by the Commission. It means that it is left to the Member States to set up a national methodology, calculation guidelines, minimum requirements, the concept of an energy efficiency certificate (2 possibilities : based on demand calculation or on actual energy consumption) and the sanctions. Please do not forget that the implementation date is January 4, 2006. On January 24, the secretariat sent to the Members the revised draft of CEN/TC 156/WG 10 N 22 (dated 15 October 2004) : “Ventilation for Buildings – Energy Performance of Buildings – Guidelines for inspection of air-conditioning systems”. This document is available on request (pdf format).

3) Guarantees

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The main problems about this item are : - The difference between the durations of the guarantee (suppliers/ contractors and contractors/ end users). One of the ways to manage this is the existence of maintenance contracts. - When a contractor must repair an installation because of a failing component : who pays the labour cost and the travelling expenses ? The TEC decides to get in touch with manufacturers, which are European or International companies, perhaps through EPEE, and to propose to them an agreement (on the same lines as the code of practice drawn up in U.K.) about those different matters and also a statement backed by suppliers about the advantages of systems installed by qualified/certified contractor. This contact should happen before the meeting in Nice. In the meantime, it could be useful to look at what is done for the repairs of guaranted cars, the garage owner repairs, but he is probably paid back by the car manufacturer. Please see letter sent to Asercom and Eurovent-Cecomaf here below.

4) Explosive atmosphere Directive Theoretically, refrigerating and AC equipment are only concerned when they are installed in a local with explosive atmosphere. So the criteria is the local not the equipment. It could be useful to get information from members about the situation in every state.

5) F. Gas Regulation The report is going to be done during the G.A. by Robert BERCKMANS.

*** Guarantees Letter sent on January 3 :

Mr. Friedrich BUSCH, Director General of EPEE Mr. Georg MAGER, President of Eurovent-Cecomaf

and Mr. Michael van der Horst, Secretary Mr. Jochen WINKLER, President of Asercom Dear Sirs, We are writing to you, the European Representatives of the refrigeration and air conditioning manufacturing industry (partially, when speaking to EPEE). As you know, AREA represents the RAC installers and contractors. Our Technical and Environment Committee is interested in meeting your organizations to discuss the question of the guarantees associated with the sale of equipment. A first meeting would be exploratory and if possible, followed by mutual working sessions. Our motivation is to find out if a European code of good practice could be drawn up on this topic between the manufacturing and the installation sub-sectors of our common RAC

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industry. It would be an advantage to all parties concerned because it would bring harmonization into the Internal Market and certified equipment will be better served when installed and maintained by certified technicians. Thanks to the F-gas Regulation, RAC installation companies and personnel will have to be certified in the future (Article 5 of the proposed legislation). We would like to investigate with you the advantages that the suppliers of equipment will have when the RAC systems are installed by qualified and certified contractors. As Asercom, Eurovent and AREA are members of EPEE, it could be convenient to meet on the occasion of a coming EPEE event, for instance during a couple of hours before. Of course we could meet on a special occasion. There is no urgency, but as our next General Assembly will take place on April 29-30, 2005, it would preferable to see each other earlier. We thank you in advance to give us your feedback on our initiative; if positive, we shall enquire about a place and possible dates. Yours sincerely,

Robert Berckmans Graeme Fox Secretary General Chairman Technical and Environment Committee EPEE Technical meeting, Brussels, January 20, 2005 Mr. Graeme Fox (HVCA RACG – UK), Chairman of the Technical & Environment Committee, and the Secretary met the EPEE Technical Working Group in Brussels (as requested after the last TEC meeting in Brussels on November 12, 2004). The meeting was chaired by Mr. Martin Dieryckx. ASERCOM was present and expressed a sincere interest in the matter. Unfortunately, Eurovent-Cecomaf had no representative. EPEE asks to be kept informed but has no direct interest. Representatives of Daikin and Trane expressed concerns about the many difficulties : different laws and treatments in the Member States, individual commercial decisions, legal constraints at the European level, earlier unsuccessful attempts. Anyway, encouraged by Mr. Jochen Winkler of ASERCOM, the secretariat will organize a 3 party meeting in Brussels, ASERCOM, EUROVENT-CECOMAF and AREA, to further explore the subject.

*** EPB Directive Interesting information supplied by FETA on January 19 : it concerns a new European project focusing on the implementation of the EPBD European Project AUDITAC (Auditing of air-conditioning systems) A background note Roger Hitchin January 2005

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This two-year project, largely funded by the European Commission through its Intelligent Energy, Europe programme has just started. It has participants from France (the project coordinators), UK, Slovenia, Austria, Belgium, Portugal and Italy. Eurovent is also a participant. The main UK participant is the Welsh School of Architecture, supported by BRE and the Association of Building Engineers. As it has only just started, details of the work-plan are still being developed. This note is to explain the general scope of the project and to invite comment (and, if desired, more active involvement) from FETA and its members. The overall objective is to increase the take-up of system and building energy efficiency upgrades. This will be done by developing, and encouraging the use of energy auditing procedures for air-conditioning systems and case studies that demonstrate the achievable benefits. The project currently identifies three types of procedure:

1. Inspection. This is essentially the regulatory requirement of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, and is likely to mostly identify easy to implement, low-cost “quick-fix” measures. The project will review procedures and plans as a baseline for more thorough audit procedures.

2. General Audit This is likely to be the main focus of the project: procedures that can identify improvements to buildings (for example reducing loads by improved shading), systems and their operation beyond those accessible through inspection. It is intended to develop good practice procedures for this.

3. Investment grade audit In order to convince investors – whether building owners or ESCOs – to invest in building or system upgrades, more specific costs and savings projections than can be provided by a general audit are necessary. These will be specific to each building, but the project aims to develop guidelines on how this should be done. As part of the project, it is intended to hold a workshop in each participating country and, eventually, to provide training and dissemination material Suggestion for case studies, for workshop opportunities that would engage the HVAC industry, and for any other support are welcome.

For more information, contact Ian Knight at the Welsh School of Architecture ([email protected]) Roger Hitchin at BRE ([email protected] 01923 664773) or Gavin Dunn at the Association of Building Engineers ([email protected] 01604 404121). The participants in the Auditac project are : CEP-Armines, France (project coordinators and leaders) Eurovent certification University of Liege, Belgium INEGI (Unversity of Porto), Portugal

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Energieverwertungsagentur, Austria Politecnico di Torino, Italy Welsh School of Architecture, UK BRE, UK (subcontractor) Association of Building Engineers, UK (subcontractor) University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The Secretary has called Mr. Hitchin of BRE and AREA was be included in the target groups of the project and will be informed in due time about the results. Standardisation

EN 378 IMPORTANT : a new Working Group will study how the use of Hydrocarbons could be extended in some applications. It is an answer to a complaint from the HC industry (Calor Gas). Some other parties apparently consider their use as restrictive : TÜV (D), TNO (NL), a Swedish body were mentioned in an EPEE meeting. ASHRAE has also this topic on its agenda.

***

Harmonized Standards "New Approach" directives and references of harmonised standards

Text of

Directive and Amendments (1)

Directive -

Consolidated version

(2)

Short title of Directive

Summary lists of references of harmonised standards and general information (3)

73/23/EEC 93/68/EEC

73/23/EEC Low Voltage

87/404/EEC 90/488/EEC 93/68/EEC

Simple Pressure Vessels

88/378/EEC 93/68/EEC

88/378/EEC Safety of toys

89/106/EEC 93/68/EEC

89/106/EEC Construction products

89/336/EEC 92/31/EC 93/68/EEC

89/336/EEC Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

98/37/EC 98/79/EC

Machinery

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89/686/EEC 93/68/EEC 93/95/EEC 96/58/EC

89/686/EEC Personal protective equipment (PPE)

90/384/EEC 93/68/EEC

Non-automatic weighing instruments

90/385/EEC 93/42/EEC 93/68/EEC

90/385/EEC Active implantable medical devices

90/396/EEC 93/68/EEC

90/396/EEC Appliances burning gaseous fuels

92/42/EEC 93/68/EEC

92/42/EEC Efficiency requirements for new hot-water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels

93/15/EEC Explosives for civil uses

93/42/EEC 98/79/EC 2000/70/EC

Medical devices

94/9/EC Equipment explosive atmospheres (ATEX)

94/25/EC Recreational craft

95/16/EC Lifts

97/23/EC Pressure equipment

98/79/EC In vitro diagnostic medical devices

1999/5/EC Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment and the Mutual Recognition of their Conformity

2000/9/EC Cableway installations designed to carry persons

2004/22/EC Measuring instruments

Other directives based on the principles of the "New Approach" or the "Global Approach",

but which do not provide for CE marking

Text of

Directive and Amendments (1)

Directive -

Consolidated version

(2)

Short title of Directive

94/62/EC Packaging and packaging waste

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96/48/EC Interoperability of trans-European high-speed rail system

96/98/EC 98/85/EC

96/98/EC Marine equipment Web site at http://www.mared.org/

2001/16/EC Interoperability of trans-European conventional rail system

Other "New Approach" directives based on some principles of the "New Approach" or the "Global Approach"

Text of

Directive and Amendments (1)

Directive -

Consolidated version

(2)

Short title of Directive

96/57/EC Energy efficiency requirements for household electric refrigerators, freezers and combinations thereof

1999/36/EC Transportable pressure equipment

2000/14/EC Noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors

2000/55/EC Energy efficiency requirements for ballasts for fluorescent lighting

***

Mr. Martin Dieryckx presented a list of the Technical Committee dealing with RAC matters :

ISO Committees TC CATEGORY 1

TC 86 Refrigeration and air-conditioning TC 135 Non-destructive testing TC 205 Building environment design TC 163 Thermal performance and energy use in the built environment TC CATEGORY 2

TC 43 Acoustics TC 207 Environmental management TC 59 Building construction

20TC 199 Safety of machinery

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TC CATEGORY 3

TC 146 Air quality TC 117 Industrial fans TC 144 Air distribution and air diffusion - STAND BY TC 203 Technical energy systems Link with "Natural refrigerants”

TC 92 Fire safety CEN TC TC CATEGORY 1

CEN/TC 113 Heat pumps and air conditioning unit (ELD for AC) CEN/TC 182 Refrigerating systems, safety and environmental requirements (EN378!!!) CEN/TC 156 Ventilation for buildings (requirements for ducts and EPB) CEN/TC 89 Thermal performance of buildings and building components TC CATEGORY 2

CEN/TC 114 Safety of machinery CEN/TC 138 Non-destructive CEN/TC 211 Acoustics CEN/TC 247 Building Automation, Controls and Building Management TC CATEGORY 3

CEN/TC 110 Heat exchangers CEN/TC 195 Air filters for general air cleaning CEN/TC 264 Air quality CEN/TC 131 Gas burners using fans CEN/TC 228 Heating systems in buildings (EPB) CEN/TC 88 Thermal insulating materials and products

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CEN/TC 299 Gas-fired sorption appliances and domestic gas-fired washing and drying appliances CEN/TC 319 Maintenance CEN/TC 330 Qualification of construction enterprises CEN/TC 348 Facility Management Link with "Natural refrigerants"

CEN/TC 127 Fire safety in buildings CEN/TC 137 Assessment of workplace exposure to chemical and biological agents CEN/TC 305 Potentially explosive atmospheres - Explosion prevention and protection CEN/TC 44 Household refrigerating appliances and commercial refrigeration equipment IEC TC61 C (AC eqt EN60335-1) TC61 D (AC eqt EN60335-2-40) TC77(SC77A) (EMC) TC86(SC1)(safety R eqt, ISO5149) TC86(SC6)(rating standards) TC86(SC8)(classification refrigerants)

CENELEC TC61 (AC eqt EN60335-2-40 harmonized with LVD) BTTF 116-3 (WEEE) BT173

European Commission The Commission informs that an estimated 5,000 lobbying organisations employing 15,000 persons are based in Brussels. Their role is generally recognized as constructive although lobbying is still considered as politically incorrect in some countries/cultural environments. A majority of the Members of the European Parliament finds that these organisations are needed to complete their information.

***

Does such an expense really make sense?

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Despite the fact that the Commission has limited to three languages, English, French and German, the working sessions and conferences, it has spent 807 million EUR in translations in 2004 (549 million EUR in 2003)!

*** Improved communications … Some Commissioners have launched their BLOG! Margot Wallström gives some personal opinions after the Tsunami or about the Luxembourg Presidency : you may visit : http://europa.eu.int/comm/commission_barroso/wallstrom/weblog/index.htm European Directives and Regulations EPEE made a list of the pieces of legislation concerning the refrigeration and air conditioning sector (product related). Safety Machinery Directive MD Low Voltage Directive LVD Pressure Equipment Directive PED Construction Products Directive CPD Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive EMC Electromagnetic Fields Directive EMF General Product Safety Directive GPSD CE Marking Directive Restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances Environment Directive on disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Waste WEEE Energy Performance of Buildings Directive EPB Directive on Eco-design requirements for Energy Using Products EUP Directive on the Restriction of the use of Hazardous Substances RoHS Energy Labelling Directive ELD EC 2037 Coming F-gas Regulation Packaging and packaging Waste Directive PWD Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals REACH The secretariat would add : Equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres ATEX

23Proposal of Energy Service Directive

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European Council NEW PRESIDENCY : LUXEMBOURG Information received from Hill & Knowlton / EPEE – Mr. Philipp Brüchert on January 6, about the EU Presidency of Luxembourg which will last until the end of June this year. “One of the most important topics that the Luxembourg Presidency will have to deal with is the Mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy whose goal is to make Europe's economy the most competitive one by 2010. At the Competitiveness Council in March, Member States will examine a report drafted by a high level group chaired by the Dutch ex-Prime Minister Wim Kok on the progress made in achieving this goal. The key message of this report is that while the 3 pillars of the Lisbon strategy - economic, social and environmental- remain valid, the priority for Europe is now to boost its economic growth rate and to create the necessary framework to achieve this. However, among the recommendations given, the report states that eco-innovations should be developed and promoted. A road map should also be set for the implementation of an Environmental Technology Action Plan defining concrete measures and deadlines. Finally, one should note that F-Gas proposal will not be on the Presidency's agenda. It is more likely to be picked up during the 2nd half of the year during the UK Presidency.” European funding programmes Message from the Secretary : We discussed in Paris, on December 21, about the advantages of planning one (or more) European funded project(s) in 2006, after the end of the current Refrigeration Craftsman Leonardo project (December 2005). Indeed such a project brings not only funds and a widespread recognition, but it raises the efficiency of the project team and partners thanks to the fact that experts are paid and expenses reimbursed. Voluntary work is needed but you will never get the same results when working on an assignment. It would make sense to follow up on the current Leonardo project (implementation of the F-gas Regulation in 2007-2008, introduction of the EUROPASS Certificate, complementary topics : other levels of competence, other refrigerants, and so on). But there are other non-VET topics of importance to AREA : safety issues, codes of good practices, implementation of PED, … That is why the choice of one or more potential projects (which subjects? which partners?) will be a major point on the agenda of the Nice meetings on April 29-30. Therefore I was asked to look into the opportunities of EU funding. There are more than 450 EU funding and lending programmes!

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By skimming through various websites, I came to these preliminary conclusions : 1. it makes sense to capitalize on our project Leonardo I, 2. we need first to decide (in Nice) about topics / subjects to be handled through possible projects, 3. only then I shall be able to efficiently check with the European bodies responsible for the grants what is our probability of being successful when applying for a specific project.

Possible sources of funding : LEONARDO DA VINCI (in particular strand 1 MOBILITY and strand 5 REFERENCE MATERIALS) : for VET subjects. Financed actions are : international mobility of VET trainees/trainers; pilot projects based on trans-national partnerships to promote VET; trans-national networks for the exchange of experience and good practice; trans-national actions to promote and use information and communication in VET; development of reference tools and comparable data; production of innovating products and methods. Pre-proposals to be submitted by September 30, 2005! These programmes are the pathway to the continuation or extension of the AREA Leonardo I current project. If we go that way, preliminary contacts with the EC Officers in charge of our project, are a first step. ENTERPRISE DG (in particular the following domains : Industry, New Technologies, SME Policy) : each year (in January, normally) the Enterprise Directorate General publishes a list of themes under which it is prepared to offer a limited number of grants; it also reserves the right to consider spontaneous applications that do not fall under one of the published themes but fall within the priorities and actions in its work programme for the year in question. Financed actions are : exchange of good practices, organization of seminars, for instance. The first step for AREA is to decide about a particular project title. In the meantime, waiting for the Nice meetings, I shall approach a good contact, Wolfgang Hehn, in DG Enterprise for some hints. LIFE III (in particular LIFE Environment for innovative methods and techniques, Preparatory Actions for special projects supporting environmental policies and LIFE+ from 2007 aiming at combating climate change a.o.) : grants for innovating environment projects that contribute to the strengthening of the EU environment policy; qualifying activities are : trans-national cooperation, dissemination of information, mobility actions, pilot projects, applied research, creation of tools, exchange of know how. This possibility could maybe be used for any development project starting from the F-gas issue or addressing natural refrigerants. Again, we need to choose a project title first and then I can check with DG Environment. GRANTS IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT : qualifying activities are : trans-national cooperation, dissemination of information, teaching and training, organization of events, creation of tools, exchange of know how. Same comment as for LIFE. Unfortunately EURYDICE programme expires on December 31, 2004. It focused on the production and dissemination of information on educational systems, reforms, research results and innovations in the field of education. I checked with OSHA European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, and there is no call for project for the time being (we had applied in 2003). Robert Berckmans

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December 28, 2004

*** Emails sent by the Secretary to DG Environment, Mr. Peter Horrocks, and DG Enterprise, Mr. Wolfgang Hehn, on January 7 : “AREA is grateful for your constructive cooperation and is more motivated than ever to play a European role. 1) I learnt that DG Environment offers grants in the field of Environment to some qualifying activities : trans-national cooperation, dissemination of information, teaching and training, exchange of know how, mobility actions, pilot projects, ... As you know, AREA represents the European Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors, mostly composed of SME. AREA has in mind several possible projects; I can mention, for instance : - the implementation of the Article 5, Training and Certification, of the coming F-Gas Regulation; training in the scope of mobile refrigeration and air conditioning; - similarly, minimum requirements for training and certification when it comes to natural refrigerants (CO², NH³, HC); - informing about the new EUROPASS CERTICATE; - safety issues linked to natural refrigerants. Do you think that an AREA project along the lines mentioned here above, has a chance to compete for a DG Environment's grant? This question is not urgent. We would appreciate your thoughts on the subject whenever convenient. 2) I learnt that DG Enterprise publishes, each year, a list of themes under which it is prepared to offer a limited number of grants. As you know, AREA represents the European Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors, mostly composed of SME. AREA has in mind several possible projects; I can mention, for instance : - the implementation of the Article 5, Training and Certification, of the coming F-Gas Regulation; - similarly, minimum requirements for training and certification when it comes to natural refrigerants (CO², NH³, HC); - informing about the new EUROPASS CERTICATE; - safety issues linked to natural refrigerants; - or specific codes of good practices (PED, guarantees on equipment sold, ...). Do you think that an AREA project along the lines mentioned hereabove, has a chance to compete for a DG Enterprise's grant? This question is not urgent. We would appreciate your thoughts on the subject whenever convenient. BOTH DG HAVE CALLED AND CONSIDERED THE MATTER POSITIVELY.

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News from our Members AKB The secretariat regrets that Mr. Teddy Hansen has stopped working for our Danish Member association. We thank him for his active support. His successor, Mr. Lau Voers will start on May 1, 2005. AKB’s Chairman, Mr. Jan-Erik Larsen, will assist in the interim period.

***

SNEFCCA EXPO

Our French Member has launched an attractive concept of local/regional RAC exhibitions. The two first ones took place in Rennes and in Montpellier. These events are specially designed for small RAC contracting companies, regional distributors, related businesses and students (potentially interested in the sector). These visitors would not take time or invest to go to a main fair in Paris and they are very pleased to meet their colleagues, business partners and competitors in their region. President Jacquin also insists on the importance of making the communications easy between the Snefcca members.

The visitors (700-800) and the exhibitors are very satisfied following a recent survey. The average visitor spends between 2 and 4 hours in the exhibition and is mainly interested in meeting his suppliers and colleagues to get acquainted and discuss, which is not possible in every day’s busy professional life.

Sister Associations Information received from FETA / BRA : “The International Association of Cold Storage Construction (was Contractors) started in the US but has a European Division IACSC run from UK part-time by Mr. Jimmy Bittles (formerly EUCRAR). Mr. Bittles knows ECSLA and was the past director of the UK Cold Storage & Distribution Federation (when they were members of ECSLA). They issue industry standard guides on the construction of temperature controlled buildings, have developed vocational qualifications, are introducing an approved contractors scheme and generally want to raise standards across their industry.” AREA will establish a contact in the coming weeks.

*** ECSLA European Cold Storage and Logistics Association organizes a Convention in Spain in 2005. For more information, please contact [email protected] For general information :

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Events CLIMATIZACION 2005 will take place in Madrid (Parque Ferial Juan Carlos I) on 23-26 February 2005.

For more information, please visit www.climatizacion.ifema.es.

***

HHEEAATT TTRRAANNSSFFEERR IINN CCOOMMPPOONNEENNTTSS AANNDD SSYYSSTTEEMMSS FFOORR SSUUSSTTAAIINNAABBLLEE EENNEERRGGYY TTEECCHHNNOOLLOOGGIIEESS

HHeeaatt--SSEETT 22000055 55--77 AAPPRRIILL 22000055,, GGRREENNOOBBLLEE,, FFRRAANNCCEE

This three day conference is dedicated to : - Heat transfer in the process, refrigeration and transport industries - Heat transfer for building and residential applications - Heat transfer in advanced energy technologies The conference will consist in keynote lectures, oral and poster presentations.

For further information, please contact GRETh

• Fax: +33 4 38 78 51 61 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web site: www.greth.fr/heatset2005

***

The International Conference Ammonia Refrigerating Systems, Renewal and Improvement will be held on May 6-8, 2005 in Ohrid, Macedonia. Keynote speakers are: Forbes Pearson: "Ammonia Refrigeration – Yesterday, Today and For Ever" Anders Linborg: "Large Ammonia Refrigeration Systems - The necessity, Risks and 130 Years of Operation" Predrag Hrnjak: "Charge Minimization in Ammonia Refrigeration Systems" Herman Halozan: "Heat Pump Systems with Ammonia as Refrigerant" Special guest, Ronald Vallort, President of ASHRAE: "Refrigeration -Technology for Survival"

Conference web site: www.mf.ukim.edu.mk/web_ohrid2005/ohrid-2005.html Anders Lindborg, Risto Ciconkov

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President of the Scientific Committee President of the Organizing Committee

***

INTERSOLAR 2005 will take place in Freiburg, Germany on 23-25 June 2005 (www.intersolar.de). In parallel ESTEC 2005, the European Solar Thermal Energy Conference will take place on 21-22 June (www.estec2005.org). Fax +49 (0)7231 58598 28; [email protected]

***

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