International Training and Certification Standards for RACHP: Advancing Energy Efficiency and Preventing Emissions.
Held during the 47th Meeting of the OEWG in Bangkok, this side event brought together key experts and institutional stakeholders to discuss the critical role of training and certification in ensuring sustainability and performance in the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump (RACHP) sector.
As global demand for cooling continues to grow, it is vital to ensure that RACHP systems are installed and maintained by properly trained professionals. Even the most efficient equipment can fail to meet expected performance if poor servicing leads to refrigerant leaks or excess energy use. That’s why harmonised training frameworks and certification schemes are essential tools for achieving climate targets and energy goals.
The event addressed existing international training models, the value of certification in skills recognition, and how technician training supports energy efficiency throughout the system lifecycle—from installation to maintenance and end-of-life management.
Speakers included:
- Opening Remarks & Welcoming Speech by Marco Buoni
- Stephen Andersen – Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD) – “USA technicians Certification”
- Marco Buoni – Centro Studi Galileo, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration European Association of Contractors (AREA) and Associazione Tecnici del Freddo (ATF) – “European Experience in Certification of RAC Technicians”
- Marco Duran – International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) – “Training and Certification – International Perspective”
- Baolong Wang – Chinese Association of Refrigeration (CAR) and IIR – “Technician’s training and certification in Refrigeration and AC sectors in China”
- Youssef Hammami – NOU Tunisia – “Certification Scheme, Case study: Tunisia”
The session closed with a Q&A discussion and networking coffee break, underlining the importance of coordinated international efforts to scale up technician skills in support of low-emission, high-efficiency cooling technologies.