Lakhasly

The 19th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, in September 2007, deciding to accelerate the phase-out schedule of Annex C Group I substances, HCFCs, (Decision XIX/6) and directing the Executive Committee to assist Article 5 countries implement their management plan for an accelerated HCFC phase-out;

Each Party to the Montreal Protocol has a National Ozone Unit (NOU) that manages and implement the action plans of the government towards their commitment to accelerate the phase-out of HCFCs in a manner that will lessen the impact of phase out in the economic stability of the country particularly the refrigeration and air conditioning industry and all sectors related and affected by refrigeration industry such as food chain industry, establishments, hospitals, buildings, offices among others.

The refrigeration and air conditioning Sector plays a vital role in the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan as the technicians are one of the contributors if not the biggest, in the emission of either ozone depleting substances or greenhouse gases through intentional emission, poor workmanship, lack of information and awareness on environmental and safety issues of refrigerants, possession “ old technology” and non-commitment to work, environment and other people.

One of the action plans of the NOU is to cooperate with other government agencies and private industries to capacitate the skills, knowledge and attitude of refrigeration and air conditioning technicians towards their workmanship and work habits in performing installation, maintenance service and repair of refrigeration and air conditioning units. The training for technicians focuses on the updates on the development in Montreal Protocol that Depletes the ozone Layer, government policies and regulations related to the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, new technologies, new refrigerantsits applications, limitations, usage and the safety aspects of it.

Trainers from Technical Institutes with refrigeration and air conditioning courses are usually trained first to be the multiplier of the NOU to capacitate the technicians, service-providers and other practitioners of the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry with the cooperation of international experts thru the facilitation of the country’s implementing agencies such as UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, WB and other bilateral countries of the NOU.

The trained trainers will be selected and requested by the NOU to train the technicians if possible, nationwide to spread the application of “Good Practices in Refrigeration”. The NOU will support the trained trainers as well as their institution by providing required tools, instrument, equipment, supplies, materials and training documents (videos, PowerPoint presentations, posters) and other logistical support necessary to conduct the training. NOU will assist the trainers by presenting the Phase out schedule of the country, updates in the Montreal Protocol as well as the government policies related to the phase out and commitment of the country to the Montreal Protocol. The NOU as lead agency will collaborate with the trainers in selecting the technicians to attend the said trainings.

To help the practicing technician to be aware of the bad effects of emitting refrigerants in the atmosphere, to be updated with the latest innovations in refrigeration and air conditioning systems and application of good practices in the servicing field, this training package on the application of good practices has been developed to guide the trained trainers in conducting technician training.
Sample of a suggested concept note, agenda and budget allocation computation for a three (3) day technician training