COOLING | NEWS Grand Mosque ready to reopen The Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, has been temporarily closed during the pandemic and Johnson Controls York HVAC systems was involved in cleaning the site and preparing it for re-opening. The chillers at Al Shamiyah and Ajyad cooling plants and the air handling units were shut down, inspected, and the filters, ducts, drain pans and cooling coils were cleaned and sterilised. Only 10% of the total cooling capacity was turned back on, but this helped to achieve the correct relative humidity to maintain the Mosques structural integrity. Aermec becomes CIBSE patron Air handlers, chillers and heat pumps manufacturer Aermec UK has become a CIBSE patron. The firm is looking forward to exchanging information and collaborating on multidisciplinary projects with CIBSE partners, while supporting future generations of engineers. F-Gas licence renewals and checks must go on Companies should ensure engineers are not holding expired registrations Mandatory checks of equipment under the F-Gas regulations must continue, despite the lockdown restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 crisis, according to UKs F-Gas register Refcom. Refrigeration and air conditioning engineers are also being urged to renew expiring F-Gas registrations during the lockdown, so they can continue doing this work. Head of Refcom Graeme Fox said clients must be reminded of their legal obligations to let scheduled testing and checks go ahead. But he added that engineers would not be held accountable if a client refused to allow access to their site, as long as they keep a record. Make sure you have your own copy of the F-Gas logbook for the equipment in question, he told the daily Covid-19 update webinar hosted by BESA, which manages Refcom. You should also note that you will attend to the work as soon as it is possible and safe to do so. Fox confirmed that F-Gas registration renewals would continue during the lockdown period, despite the closure of training centres, which is making it difficult for engineers to update their qualifications. The peak renewal period in the threeyear F-Gas cycle is fast approaching and a number of engineers hold expiring CITB J11/12 qualifications, which were issued five years ago. Refcom is encouraging companies to renew their licences early so the qualifications will still be valid. It has assured them that they will not be penalised for renewing early, as any unused time from the existing registration will be added on to the new one. MINIPACK PRESSURISATION UNITS Intelligent, high quality, wall or floor mounted pressurisation units with a capacity of up to 5,000 litres designed to maintain the water pressure in chilled water systems for small domestic and commercial situations. All supplied with a 24/7 two year warranty. Call 01206 215121 www.aquatechpressmain.co.uk Aquatech Pressmain is an AGM Plc brand. 40 June 2020 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE_Jun20 pp40 Cooling News.indd 40 22/05/2020 17:42