Print version Recommend this page Press release
17/ 2010
Bonn, 27.04.2010
Reducing greenhouse gases from car air-conditioning systems - BIBB recommends standardised training courses
Any driver who has it in their car enjoys its benefits: air conditioning. However, car air-conditioning systems are currently the largest single source of fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions. In terms of the greenhouse effect, car air conditioners in Germany alone put 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere in 2008. Aiming to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, the EU requires in a regulation that after 4 July 2010 only "competent" personnel be allowed to perform tasks connected with the recovery of refrigerants from car air-conditioning systems. Workers in this sector could acquire the skills and knowledge that are required for such tasks by attending a training programme, according to a current recommendation from the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).
Working on behalf of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the Federal Environmental Agency, BIBB examined whether the training regulations that currently apply to technical occupations in the automotive field are sufficient to ensure that trainees acquire the skills and knowledge that the EU calls for. For this, BIBB compared German training regulations, framework curricula and syllabuses for inter-company vocational training with the minimum standards that the EU regulation lays down for vocational training programmes.
The result: BIBB found that because training regulations and curricula in Germany are often formulated in general terms with an eye to coming technical advances the skills and knowledge needed for tasks involving the recovery of refrigerants from car air-conditioning systems are not necessarily a required part of vocational training programmes. Final examinations have not covered work with air-conditioning systems to date.
To ensure compliance with the minimum standards called for by the EU, BIBB recommends a standardised, one-day course with theoretical and practical content that is based on the EU requirements. This training course should, according to BIBB, include a final test which covers the content taught during the course. Marks would not have to be given. Course participants who pass the test would then be issued the requisite attestation confirming that they have the required skills and knowledge. The Federal-State Working Group for Chemical Safety has also decided that in future workers who perform maintenance work on air-conditioning systems in any type of vehicle should also have the skills and knowledge required by the EU regulation.
The BIBB report on the "Abgleich der Mindestanforderungen nach der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 307/2008 mit den Aus- und Fortbildungsregelungen in den fahrzeugtechnischen Berufen" (Comparison of Minimum Requirements Under Regulation (EC) No 307/2008 with the Initial and Continuing Vocational Training Regulations in Automotive Occupations) can be accessed at www.bibb.de/de/5042.htm
Point of contact at BIBB:
Barbara-Ch. Schild; Tel.: +49 (0) 228 107-2229; E-mail: schild@bibb.de
