Ana María García Gascó_CONAIF: Installers are key players in the energy transition
Installers of air conditioning and refrigeration systems are essential figures in the energy transition in Spain, says the Director General of the Spanish National Confederation of Associations of Energy and Fluids Installation and Maintenance Companies (CONAIF) in this latest interview. She also highlights the positive evolution of quality, safety and transparency standards in the sector and the growing professionalisation of personnel.
How have quality and safety standards progressed in air conditioning and refrigeration installations?
In recent years we have witnessed a steady increase in the standards of air conditioning and refrigeration installations, sometimes driven by technical progress and sometimes by regulatory progress, seeking to maximise comfort while minimising consumption. In this type of facility, the focus is no longer just on quality, but on excellence.
In relation to safety, manufacturing standards are becoming increasingly stringent to minimise the likelihood of incidents in facilities that are increasingly complex and involve a greater number of subsystems. On the other hand, the market transition from inert (in terms of flammability, not environmental) cooling alternatives to alternatives with certain degrees of flammability has led to increased demands for safety measures at occupied sites.
What can you tell us about progress in terms of transparency?
In terms of transparency, it should be noted that more and more installations are operating with interconnected and fully compatible equipment from different manufacturers, which is a major step forward for users. It is also now possible to know and control the consumption of installations and even predict it using AI.
What role does the increasing professionalisation of installers play in this?
Installers have always been competent professionals. It is true that today the trend is no longer towards specialising in one area of knowledge and dedicating oneself to a specific type of installation; the market demands diversified companies and professionals with a wide range of knowledge (electricity, basic programming, hydraulic and thermal calculations, etc.) to be able to execute the installations of today and the future, which are increasingly related to each other.
How can installers become essential figures in the energy transition in Spain?
They're already essential figures. This process could not be carried out successfully without installers. Their work is key to achieving the decarbonisation targets set in Spain. Reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency requires professional installers to act on existing installations in homes and buildings, replacing old equipment with more efficient ones and replacing fossil sources with cleaner ones. They are a key element in implementing the change from the current energy model to a more efficient and sustainable one.
And what are the current needs of these professionals?
The main one right now is to attract more manpower into the sector, for the installation companies struggling to find the talent they need.