Annual Report of ACRIB Activity - 26/9/2007
What is ACRIB?
Whilst each sector of the diverse refrigeration and air conditioning industries is well represented by its specialist trade association or professional institute, there are many areas where a single industry voice is needed. This is the role of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board – better known as ACRIB.
In reality of course there is often not one voice but many views to be represented. So ACRIB exists to bring together these specialist views, share technical information across the sector, and provide a central point of contact for communications both with the authorities and with the trade press. In this way it attempts to keep industry well informed of developments whilst at the same time providing expert input into these developments.
ACRIB is a company limited by guarantee with directors drawn from its membership of:
- Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Equipment
- Associated Air conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
- British Frozen Food Federation
- CSDF the Cold Storage and Distribution Federation
- Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
- Cambridge Refrigeration Technology
- Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (incorporating the trade associations British Refrigeration Association and Heating and Ventilating Manufacturers Association),
- Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association.
- Institute of Refrigeration
What does ACRIB do?
Many people and companies within the sector are probably using ACRIB’s services fairly regularly. These include:
The ACRIB register – a database of personnel who have taken refrigerant handling assessments. Each registrant is issued with an ACRIB card as proof of their competence, and the cards are renewed every three years. Over 5,000 individuals are now on the register.
Guidance on legislative and technical issues – a series of authoritative guidance notes are in wide use such as the F Gas Regulation sheet and Hydrocarbon booklet. All are available free of charge from the website at www.acrib.org.uk
Communications with press on key developments – ACRIB issues regular updates on new legislation or technical issues which are featured in the trade press.
How does ACRIB work?
ACRIB carries out its activities through regular Board meetings where all members are represented. Its administrative secretariat is run from the offices of the Institute of Refrigeration. Most work is carried out in the four key committees
Environment and Energy chaired by Richard Alger
Technical Safety and Standards chaired by Robert Heap, CRT
Education & Training chaired by Mel Bridges, IDS
F Gas Regulation Implementation chaired by Mike Nankivell, Space Air Conditioning
Key issues being dealt with at the moment are:
- F Gas Regulation implementation – communications with industry and assistance to UK government in Commission negotiations
- NVQ review of occupational standards - developing underpinning occupational standards framework and encouraging industry to contribute to the revisions
- World Skills competitions and Skill Fridge – ACRIB is responsible for organising the UK competitions and ensuring the UK refrigeration industry puts forward strong representation at the World Skills events.
- Waste Regulations – holding regular negotiations with the Environment Agency and DEFRA on changing requirements
- Building Regulations – partner in the DIAG group responsible for the implementation of the Part L of the Building Regulations as related to air conditioning efficiency inspection.
- ACRIB Register – promoting and managing of the register of refrigerant handlers and liaising with City and Guilds on assessment standards.
The development of Refrigerant Handling qualifications for carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon refrigerants – these new units for the C&G 2078 should be available during 2007.
Many other issues on the agenda too including revisions to EN378, energy using products directive, ODS regulation implementation, development of sector skills agreement; health and safety issues, WEEE, and many others.
ACRIB represents the views of industry at groups such as:
- SummitSkills sector skills council which is the lead body for developing national training initiatives such as S/NVQs
- City and Guilds call regularly on ACRIB for technical advice relating to qualification development
- DEFRA and DTI Global Atmosphere Division have stakeholder and communications meetings and liaise closely with ACRIB.
- The Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive also have direct contacts with ACRIB in matters regarding waste regulation and accident investigation.
- Consultations are received regularly from the Carbon Trust, Food Standards Agency, European Commission, DEFRA, BERR (DTI), and other UK and European bodies.
How does ACRIB communicate with industry?
- www.acrib.org.uk has a wide range of information, news and free downloads. You can also register to get news updates.
- ACRIB makes good use of links with free and subscription trade press and regularly feeds information to the press.
- Members on the ACRIB register of refrigerant handlers are contacted with occasional updates and key news relating to refrigerant handling qualifications.
- Information about all of ACRIB activities is made available to the trade association and professional institution representatives for circulation to their members. You should contact your relevant body if you would like to find out more.
Financial Report
In the year ending 31st March 2007 ACRIB generated income of £20,430 from membership organisation subscriptions and a further £29,255 net surplus from the operation of the ACRIB register of refrigerant handlers. There was some additional income of £885 from bank interest.
Operation of the registration scheme
- The ACRIB register of qualified refrigerant handlers has been in operation for over 15 years. It provides a voluntary card scheme for those holding current City and Guilds 2078 or CITB equivalent qualifications. The ACRIB register continues to grow in strength and now holds nearly 5,000 names. Income to ACRIB this year was generated by 1,500 new registrations and renewals during the 12 month period. Operatives on the register were mailed with information about how the forthcoming F Gas Regulations will affect them during the year.
- Costs of running ACRIB. ACRIB’s operating costs amounted to £32,159 which were expended in Secretarial and Administration costs. Directors contribute their time and travelling expenses at no charge to the organisation. ACRIB employs a part time Secretary to represent the organisation at meetings, support Committee work and manage associated administration. ACRIB shares offices with the Institute of Refrigeration in order to keep other costs to a minimum.
- Improving communications Investment was made in the development of a new, more easy to navigate website, which can also be used by committee members to keep up to date with activity. The cost of this was £5,000 and the site has already proved a popular resource for those wanting guidance on regulations.
- A further £1,000 was spent on consultancy to develop a communications plan for ACRIB’s role in helping to implement the F Gas Directive over the coming months.
Financial performance and future reserves
Due to a successful year ACRIB’s reserves were increased from £16,394 to £28,637 placing it in a much stronger position for future work related to forthcoming legislation and the associated education and training requirements. This includes a small designated reserve held for SkillFRIDGE to assist training of the UK National Representative to the World Skills events.
In recent years ACRIB has come to rely more heavily on income from the ACRIB register, following the withdrawal of income from NVQ Certification by City and Guilds. This income is not considered to be secure in the long term due to uncertainties around future UK legislation related to refrigerant handling requirements and ACRIB will be budgeting prudently for the next two to three years to reflect this and to ensure the long term security of the organisation through the development of alternative income sources.
ACRIB officers
Directors (as at 12th August 2007): GE Garner (Chairman), J Ellis (IOR), I Farley (BFFF), J Gartshore (IOR), EA Gittoes (FETA), SC Gill (IOR), RD Heap (CRT), J Hutchings (CSDF), G Keller (HVCA), S MacConnacher (AMDEA), A MacWhirter (ARC), NC Mitchell (HVCA), CE Sloan (FETA), M Smith (CIBSE), P Wenden (FETA), N Yates (HVCA), R Alger (ex officio), M Bridges (ex-officio).
Secretary: Miriam Rodway
Registered office: Kelvin House, 76 Mill Lane, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 2JR
Registered number: 03136325
A Company Limited by Guarantee