Refrigeration practitioner
Registration

Certificates of Conformity COC

There is a certain amount of confusion regarding the issuing of Certificates of Conformity COC. The Pressure Equipment Regulations (PER) require that a COC be signed off by the responsible person i.e. the ‘Authorised Refrigeration Gas Practitioner’ registered with SAQCC Gas. Clause 17(3) clearly states: ‘An authorised person or an approved inspection authority shall issue a certificate of conformity after completion of a gas installation, modification, alteration or change of user or ownership on the form’. A COC form has been designed specifically for refrigeration and air conditioning.

The guidance notes for the Pressure Equipment Regulations state that ‘A COC shall be issued by the SAQCC Gas registered gas practitioner responsible for the installation, repair or modification and/or maintenance of a refrigeration system’. This is all in terms of the PER, SANS 347 and SANS 10147.

When the refrigeration system’s size causes it to be in category II or higher, as defined by SANS 347, and Approved Inspection Authority (AIA) is required, examine and verify the certificate of conformity issued by the gas practitioner.

For air conditioning or refrigeration units with a cooling capacity of 18kW or less the COC may be signed by a Category A semi-skilled installer. Such air conditioning and refrigeration installations shall be designed, manufactured and installed to take into account all the relevant factors that influence safety during its intended lifetime. The equipment shall have operating instructions issued to the user for the safe use of the of the air conditioning or refrigeration units and shall carry the identification of the manufacturer and the contractor.

It is important to remember that a Category A semiskilled installer may only sign for equipment up to a capacity of 18kW cooling. For installations larger the 18kW cooling, a Category B practitioner must sign off the installation, repair and/or maintenance. Whereas, when the refrigeration plant pressure vessels and equipment fall into category 1, as defined in SANS347, then it is the responsibility of the manufacturer and contractor to ensure that the equipment and installation complies with Health and Safety standards and PER. The manufacturer and contractor shall issue a COC confirming that the equipment is manufactured and installed in accordance to refrigeration engineering standards and codes. A COC shall be issued by an Authorised Refrigeration Gas Practitioner, confirming that the equipment is installed in accordance with the applicable standards.

SAQCC Gas have highlighted the need for the secure safekeeping of COC books. Each of the four Gas Associations at SAQCC Gas have their own designated, gas specific COC and these are the only valid certificates for use in the gas industries. No other types of COCs will be recognised by the associations affiliated with SAQCC Gas. Authorised Refrigeration Gas Practitioners to whom COC books have been issued must be aware that any false declaration made in these books will make him or her liable to prosecution.

The COC books are available to Authorised Refrigeration Gas Practitioners from SARACCA at R380.00 inclusive of VAT. Each book has 50 certificates. In addition, if these books or individual COCs are misplaced, lost or stolen, the matter needs to be immediately reported to SARACCA. Failing to do so will be regarded as gross negligence on the part of the person to whom these books were issued and could lead to disciplinary action by SAQCC Gas.

Many contracting companies query why they should comply with the Pressure Equipment Regulations and register their installers and mechanics. This is not just a ‘nice to have regulation’! It’s all about safety and ensuring that workers know the safety risks and are able to put safe practices into their daily work environment and understand the consequences of noncompliance.

Having the right attitude to safety is to work in a positive way and do it right.

Risk assessment is part of planning and the action that is taken is required to mitigate undertaking a hazardous activity and the working with hazardous materials such as refrigerants. In all cases, a refrigerant is classed as a hazardous gas or liquid depending on its state. (See Grant Laidlaw’s RACA Journal April article on refrigerant burn i.e. frost bite). It is a serious safety issue.

It is also available under articles on ratraining web-site “SAFE HANDLING OF REFRIGERANTS – SAFETY TALK 12015