NEWS
IOR Industry Skills Alliance targets 100 to inspire next gen
T
he Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) Industry Skills Alliance has launched a new drive to engage
100 schools before the end of the year, aiming to spark interest in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Heat Pump (RACHP) careers among young people. Driven by an expanded network of volunteer STEM Ambassadors, the initiative uses interactive presentations and hands-on activities, including LEGO-based engineering challenges, to showcase the sector’s vital role in modern life. Having already reached nearly 50 schools, the Alliance is actively recruiting more industry professionals to step forward as ambassadors to help address ongoing skills shortages across the sector. ‘Our existing ambassadors are making a real diff erence, but with ongoing skills shortages, there is an even greater opportunity to raise awareness and inspire future talent,’ said Matt Harvey, IOR Education Outreach Project Manager. “That’s why we’re encouraging more IOR members to join us in reaching our target of 100 schools by Christmas.” Volunteering as a STEM Ambassador off ers professionals a platform to sharpen their
Bristol to host global natural refrigerants conference
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communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. The IOR provides full support to volunteers, off ering complete application guidance, promotional materials, and tailored engagement resources for school visits. Industry professionals interested in learning more are invited to attend an information webinar on 10 September. The session will cover the ambassador role, available IOR resources, and practical insights from current volunteers.
UKAS brings air-to-air heat pumps into MCS Installer Scheme
T
he United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) has approved updates to the redeveloped MCS Installer Scheme,
formally clearing the way for air-to-air heat pumps to be incorporated alongside other low-carbon technologies. The decision allows MCS to begin the next phase of implementation, supporting installer certifi cation bodies as they work towards UKAS accreditation for air-to-air certifi cation. NAPIT and Certsure (NICEIC) are the fi rst
certifi cation bodies to signal their intention to apply, with MCS working closely with both organisations and UKAS to progress assessments. As part of the process, each certifi cation body will be required to demonstrate its ability to certify air-to-air installations, including assessing a
10 October 2026 •
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completed installation delivered by an installer with the appropriate RACHP Level 3 competency. A number of MCS-certifi ed air-to-air products are
already listed on the MCS Product Directory and will be available for use once installer certifi cation is live.
Hamid Salimi, Residential Product Manager at Daikin UK, described it as “a welcome turning point for the sector”, adding that formal inclusion within MCS will give homeowners “wider choice, backed by the standards and confi dence that recognition under the Scheme provides”. MCS will continue to issue updates as
certifi cation bodies move through the accreditation process and the technology is fully implemented into the Scheme.
ristol has been selected to host the 18th IIR-Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Refrigerants in 2028, marking the
fi rst time the prestigious international event will be held in England. The offi cial handover took place at the close of the 2026 conference in Hamilton, New Zealand, where Dr Andy Pearson, Managing Director of Star Refrigeration Group, represented the UK’s Institute of Refrigeration (IOR). While the biennial event has previously visited Scotland — Glasgow in 2004 and Edinburgh in 2016 — the 2028 gathering brings the world’s leading forum for natural refrigerant research to an English host city for the fi rst time. During the New Zealand conference, Dr Pearson delivered a plenary address and presented new research evaluating risk mitigation and long-term system performance: ■ Whole-Life Risk Mitigation: His plenary speech, Reducing Risk in Refrigeration, highlighted that while volatile markets have seen fl uorine prices rise by up to 800% since 2017, investing in staff skills remains the single most eff ective barrier against operational risk.
■ Ammonia vs. Transcritical CO2 : Pearson
presented a case study comparing two UK warehouse systems in 2025. While both achieved 100% uptime with proactive maintenance, the low-charge ammonia system consumed signifi cantly less energy (22.63 kWh/m³ per year) than the transcritical CO2
system (33.5 kWh/m³ per year).
■ Total Cost of Ownership: Modelled against current electricity rates, the energy savings from the more effi cient system could yield payback in roughly 4.5 years, reinforcing that running costs can account for up to 85% of a system’s lifetime cost.
“The Gustav Lorentzen Conference is where the sector’s thinking on natural refrigerants is set, so bringing it to the UK is a signifi cant moment for our industry,” said Dr Pearson, emphasising that no single refrigerant fi ts every application and that decisions must rely on measured, real- world data.
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