Co-financed by the EU's funding instrument for the environment and climate action, the REAL Alternatives 4 LIFE project recently published a set of newly updated material on its e-learning platform.
With the aim of addressing climate change and supporting the rapid move to alternatives from high GWP refrigerants, English versions of nine low GWP alternative refrigerant learning modules were developed by a team of international experts.
The fifteen organisation strong team of project partners – trainers, universities and trade associations across the EU – carried out a thorough review of the contents of existing learning materials that were originally developed in 2014. Identifying a need in the market, this review led to the introduction of a new module focusing on Safety and Risk Assessment to highlight precautions needed when handling flammable, toxic and high pressure low GWP refrigerants.
The materials now include the following booklets:
- Introduction to Alternative Refrigerants - safety, efficiency, reliability and good practice
- Safety and Risk Management
- System design using alternative refrigerants
- Containment and leak detection of alternative refrigerants
- Maintenance and repair of alternative refrigerant systems
- Retrofitting with low GWP refrigerants
- Checklist of legal obligations when working with alternative refrigerants
- Measuring the financial and environmental impact of leakage
- Tools and guidance for conducting site surveys
The new set of learning materials are available to download free from the REAL Alternatives 4 LIFE website at www.realalternatives.eu
To help raise skills levels and awareness across the whole of the EU, the materials will be translated into an additional 12 different EU languages over the coming months and will be supported by a free e-learning site, which will have more interactive resources and links.
About REAL Alternatives
REAL Alternatives 4 LIFE promotes best practice in training for low GWP alternative HFOs, R32, hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide and ammonia across Europe – ensuring they are used safely, efficiently, reliably and cost-effectively. It addresses critical barriers currently preventing more widespread uptake in the industry by increasing awareness, experience and knowledge levels. The project is also spreading knowledge on the availability of training for low GWP refrigerants with a presence at some of the most important national, EU and global environmental summits, conferences and events.
Contact Project Manager Raluca Sisiu, Institute of Refrigeration UK, at raluca@ior.org.uk or visit the project website at www.realalternatives.eu for updates.
