THE AIR HANDLING SYSTEMS INDUSTRY
Introduction
In order to provide an outline of the Air Handling Systems Industry this publication will provide a brief overview of some aspects of the industry.
- Types of Air Handling Systems.
- The Traditional AS1668 Air Handling System Designer.
- To-day’s Legislation.
- To-day’s Air Handling System Designer.
Types of Air Handling Systems
This publication will classify Air Handling Systems as being generally in two main groups.
- Mechanical Air Handling Systems whose primary requirement is to provide a comfort outcome.
- Non Comfort Outcome Mechanical Air Handling Systems.
Non Comfort Outcome Mechanical Air Handling Systems
This publication will classify the group of Non Comfort Outcome Mechanical Air Handling Systems into two main types.
- AS1668 Air Handling Systems.
- Air Handling Systems for transfer of product and Non AS1668 Air Handling Systems.
This publication will focus on AS1668 Air Handling Systems.
The Traditional AS1668 Air Handling System Designer
In order to design an AS1668 Air Handling System the Industry has traditionally relied upon the knowledge and skills of experienced mechanical engineers and other mechanical professionals to assess the functional requirements of the system and in turn develop a system design that will produce an outcome that would meet these functional requirements. For example, the function of dust and fume control systems is to control dust and fume, and the function of a stairwell pressurisation system is to pressurise the stairwell.
The sagacious traditional AS1668 Air Handling System designer could sense that AS1668 Air Handling System Legislation was to become more stringent.
However, we would appreciate the opportunity to meet with the designer that had predicted the complex network of legislation that regulates the industry to-day.
To-day’s Legislation
To-day’s legislation dictates that AS1668 Air Handling Systems are a legislative requirement. It is not the intent of this publication to provide a detailed road map through the complex network of legislation that regulates the industry to-day. Rather, it is the intent of this publication to engender awareness and discussion amongst those involved in the industry, of some of the legislative complexities that regulate the industry.
- Legislative definition of a Dust and Fume Control System.
- The CN941 Professional Engineer qualification.
- The Competent Person recognition responsibility of the Private Building Certifier.
Legislative definition of a Dust and Fume Control System
The legislative term for a Dust and Fume Control System is an AS1668.2 – 1991 Air Handling System.Refer AS1668.2 – 1991 Section 3.3.1 (a)
Air Handling System is a system that is required to remove the following effluents from a building:
| • Toxic gases | • Irritant gases | • Asphyxiant gases | |
| • Toxic dusts | • Irritant dusts | • Asphyxiant dusts | |
| • Toxic fumes | • Irritant fumes | • Asphyxiant fumes | |
| • Toxic vapours | • Irritant vapours | • Asphyxiant vapours | |
| • Offensive gases | • Flammable gases | • Explosive gases | |
| • Offensive dusts | • Flammable dusts | • Explosive dusts | |
| • Offensive fumes | • Flammable fumes | • Explosive fumes | |
| • Offensive vapours | • Flammable vapours | • Explosive vapours |
The CN941 Professional Engineer qualification
The CN941 Professional Engineer qualification is unique to Queensland.
It incorporates competency modules that relate to AS1668 Air Handling Systems.
It is the qualification that is recognised by legislation as being the technical qualification that academically recognises the holder as being competent for the unlimited design of mechanical ventilation and air handling systems.
The term unlimited design reads as being the design of mechanical ventilation and air handling systems that are not restricted by the following limited design technical qualification restrictions.
- The Limited Design Technical Qualification, recognises the holder as being competent to install systems, given that the design component of the holder is for a building that has not more than 3 storeys.
- The Limited Design Technical Qualification, recognises the holder as being competent to install systems, given that the design component of the holder is for a building that has a floor area not more than 2,000M2.
- The Limited Design Technical Qualification, recognises the holder as being competent to install systems, given that the design component of the holder is for a building for which the plant capacity for any one system for the building is not more than 18kW.
Refer to the Queensland Building Services Authority Regulation 2003 Part 44 and Part 45 legislation for confirmation of the above information.
One of the unique aspects of the CN941 Professional Engineer qualification is that it is the only qualification that academically recognises the competency of the holder in the aspect of AS1668 Air Handling Systems Codes and Regulations.
The Codes and Regulations competency recognition aspect of the qualification is referred to as Award Element M00 EB141.
Not all CN941 Professional Engineers have the M00 EB141 Codes and Regulations competency recognition aspect of their qualification.
Recognition of the Codes and Regulations academic competency of the AS1668 Air Handling Systems Engineer is a critical aspect of the Private Building Certifiers assessment of the competency of the AS1668 Air Handling System Engineer.
The Competent Person recognition responsibility of the Private Building Certifier
Legislation places an onerous responsibility of competent person recognition of the CN941 Professional Engineer to perform design/specification help upon the Private Building Certifier.
Refer to the Queensland Building Regulation 2006 sections 17 and 18 for confirmation of the above information.
This onerous responsibility is some what reduced if the engineer has the Codes and Regulations competency recognition aspect of their engineering qualification.
A large section of the CN941 Professional Engineers are qualified to design Air Handling Systems that provide a comfort outcome and therefore do not require the AS1668 Air Handling System Exhaust Systems Design competency recognition aspect of their engineering qualification.
The Exhaust Systems Design competency aspect of the qualification is referred to as
Award Element M00 EB142.
To-day’s Air Handling System Designer
In order to meet the complex network of legislative requirements that regulate AS1668 Air Handling Systems, today’s engineer requires a unique engineering qualification that includes Codes and Regulations academic competency recognition and also Exhaust Systems Design academic competency recognition, combined with the appropriate experience in the field of AS1668 Air Handling Systems design.
AS1668 Air Handling Systems Designs offers this unique expertise in the field of AS1668 Air Handling Systems Consulting Engineering.
Library of Some Relevant Qualifications and Some Relevant Legislation
Click on the prompts below to view our library of Some Relevant Forms and Some Relevant Legislation.
- CN941 Diploma of Engineering
- M00 EB141 Award Element List
- QBSA Regulation 2003
