With the publication in Portugal of Decree-Laws no. 78, 79 and 80 of April 4th, 2006, which establish, respectively, the National Buildings Indoor Air Quality and Energy Certification System, Buildings Air Conditioning Energy Systems Regulation (RSECE) and Buildings Thermal Performance Regulation (RCCTE), the industry has new technician qualification needs.

APIRAC (Portuguese Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Association) has participated in the development of these regulations from the start and its experts were present in the first expert training group. Soon it will offer training programmes internally prepared which will provide technicians with the necessary compulsory qualification, reveals the association’s newsletter.

Therefore, the “Indoor Air Quality Complementary Course”, addressed to intermediate technicians with proven professional experience, will be starting at the beginning of September. Successful participants will receive “IAQ Technician” certification. The association will also be offering an “IAQ Expert Course”, which will be compulsory for all level III technicians, as well as “Technicians Responsible for Operation”. Soon it will also start giving RSECE Energy and RSECE IAQ Expert Courses, for which the Association has already asked permission to ADENE (Agency for Energy).