The propane (R290) training program offered by Technical And Further Education (TAFE) New South Wales (NSW) is growing in Australia and Fiji in preparation for what is expected to a much greater role for the refrigerant, according to Glenn Marsh, its Head Teacher for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.
Marsh took part in the “Fridgies of the Future” panel discussion at ATMOsphere Australia 2019, sharing information on how TAFE is faring with its natural refrigerant training, particularly hydrocarbons like R290.
TAFE NSW is a government-run training provider that offers more than 1,000 courses, including a multitude of HVAC&R programs. It has trained nearly 3,000 apprentices in refrigeration and has offered hydrocarbon system training since 2010.
Marsh has been in the industry for 26 years and has a big passion for hydrocarbons, he explained at ATMOsphere Australia, held in May. He believes that the training sector needs to be ahead of the curve when it comes to changing over to natural refrigerants. “We need to be in readiness for the tides of change that are coming,” he said.
He echoed the words of his colleague Steve Smith, Head of Skills Point Team – Refrigeration, who is of the firm opinion that “natural refrigerants will be the sole remaining option in 15 to 20 years. Evidence points that synthetics will be non-existent or at best – extremely expensive.”
“I worry that people are going to blame the substance, rather than the person working on it.”
Glenn Marsh, TAFE
Read this article in its entirety in the October 2019 issue of Accelerate Magazine
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