IoR signs MoU with Australian institute

UK/AUSTRALIA: The Institute of Refrigeration has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH).

The agreement, signed at the ASHRAE conference in Atlanta last week, is said to be aimed at “furthering a more effective and beneficial exchange of knowledge and ideas in the HVAC&R industry”.

In practical terms, the two bodies say it will provide members of both organisations access to each other’s technical resources, foster global collaboration on research projects, and provide shared training opportunities.

The two organisations have also agreed to give full support to International Refrigeration Day, slated for June 26. The day will see refrigeration-themed celebrations taking place in the UK and Australia to raise the profile of the industry.

AIRAH president Ian Harwood, F.AIRAH, says the MoU is a perfect move for both organisations, and specifically supports AIRAH’s strategic aims.

“We are always looking to highlight the importance of the ‘R’ in AIRAH,” said Harwood. “Our agreement with the Institute of Refrigeration will help us achieve that. It will also allow HVAC&R professionals on opposite sides of the globe to access each other’s knowledge and best practices, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.”

IoR president Kevin Glass, FInstR, commented: “Our organisations have a long and proud history in their respective countries, with the IoR founded in 1899 and AIRAH in 1920,” says Glass. “A century later, the challenges we face are more intrinsically linked than ever, especially with the HFC phase-down driving major change all over the world, and the growing focus on sustainability – a focus that we share.”