North Carolina State Board of Refrigeration Examiners

Get your golf clubs and competitive spirit ready for some action. The annual SBRE Scholarship Golf Tournament is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2009 at the prestigious Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation. Magnolia Greens is rated 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest and hosted the 1998 and 1999 PGA Tour Qualifying. The website for Magnolia Greens is www.magnoliagreensgolf.com.

You do not want to miss this exciting and challenging event. The tournament begins with a shotgun start at 10:30 a.m. on April 2nd. Any proceeds from the tournament will go to the SBRE Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund is set up to benefit students enrolled in either an Associate in Applied Science Degree of Study in HVAC/R or an Associate in Applied Degree Program in Commercial Refrigeration Technology at one of the State’s Community Colleges.

The tournament consists of a scramble format of four person teams. The fee is $75 per person ($300 per team) which includes 18 holes of golf, golf cart, beverage cart and lunch. We will also accept individual registrations to make up a team. Mulligans are available for $5.00 per person or $20.00 per team. A maximum of two mulligans per person or $40.00 per team.

Tournament rules and other important information may be found here. A Registration Form for the tournament is here.

Mark your calendar now for April 2 and 3, 2009 and plan on attending the annual Refrigeration Up-Date and Scholarship Golf Tournament. Take advantage of these networking opportunities to meet with key contractors and suppliers who can help you in your business. The Up-Date registration form is here.

Plan now to attend Refrigeration Up-Date 2009 scheduled for Friday, April 3, 2009 at the Coastline Inn and Conference Center in Wilmington, NC. Continuing with past years’ format the Up-Date will offer a technical workshop on ice machines and an exciting array of exhibits. A list of vendors as of February 17th may be found here. The exhibits will be open between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

The ice machines workshop will be presented by representatives from Hoshizaki, Ice-O-Matic, Manitowac and Scottsman and will begin at 9:00 a.m. Each representative will present four 30-minute seminars giving an overview of the operations and general maintenance of their machine.

This annual event is an tremendous opportunity for you to further your skills and knowledge. Thanks to the vendors, the Board is able to bring you the Up-Date at no charge. A registration form for the Up-Date may be found here.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Coastline Inn for the evening of April 2nd aat a rate of $119+ tax. Attendees are responsible for making their own reservations by calling the hotel direct at 800-617-7732. Room cut off date is March 3rd.

GOT QUESTIONS ??? About Hoshizaki, Ice-O-Matic, Manitowac or Scottsman Ice Machines? Attend this workshop scheduled during Refrigeration Up-Date 2009 and have your questions answered. The Up-Date will be held on Friday, April 3, 2009 at the Coastline Inn and Conferene Center in Wilmington, NC beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Equipment representatives from Hoshizaki, Ice-O-Matic, Manitowac and Scottsman will present four 30-minute technical seminars giving an overview of operations and general maintenance of their machines. This format will allow attendees to visit with each of the four representatives. Please come prepared with any specific questions you may have about Hoshizaki, Ice-O-Matic, Manitowac or Scottsman Ice Machines.

The seminars will be held in the exhibit area and will begin on the hour leaving plenty of time to ask questions and visit all exhibits. A registration form for the Up-Date may be found here.

The 2009 application forms for license renewal or reinstatement of the Refrigeration Contractor License have been mailed to all licensees. If you did not receive your form, please contact the Board office at 919-779-4711.

The State Board of Refrigeration Examiners recently awarded scholarships to Jared Scott McLamb and John J. Wynn. Mr. McLamb attends Wake Technical Community College and is enrolled in the HVAC/R curriculum. Mr. Wynn is attending Martin County Community in the Commercial Refrigeration curriculum.

Scholarships are available to persons enrolled in or interested in enrolling in an Associate in Applied Science Degree Program of study in HVAC/R technology as well as those interested in enrolling in or enrolled in an Associate in Applied Degree Program of study in Commercial Refrigeration.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify for a scholarship:

1. Be a resident of N.C.;
2. Be enrolled (or intend to enroll) in an Associate in Applied Science Degree of Study in Commercial Refrigeration or HVAC/R Technology;
3. Maintain a grade point average at or above the level required for graduation; and
4. Continue for the duration of the scholarship at the college where he or she was enrolled at the time of the scholarship award.

Two or more scholarships are awarded annually depending on available funds. A copy of the scholarship application may be found here. Scholarship applications are due in the Board office no later than February 1 of each year.

The contractors and others in allied trades who visited Refrigeration Up-Date 2008 in Hickory last month stated the show was a success and the credit goes to our speakers and exhibitors. The speakers did an excellent job and left the attendees with a wealth of knowledge concerning mechanical codes, the importance of hoist safety and how it relates to OSHA, leak detection and why compressors fail. Hats off to Inficon, Inc., Coffing Hoists, and Emerson Climate Control for leading educational programs. Special thanks to Janie Sutton with the Department of Insurance and Rebecca Israel, NC Department of Labor, for the parts they played in helping educate our contractors in safety and codes.

The exhibitors outdid themselves and touring the exhibit floor made the trip worthwhile for all who travelled to Hickory. A list of the exhibitors and their products/services may be found
here.

Up-Date 2009 is scheduled for April 2nd in Wilmington, NC. Mark your calendar now to attend.

Workshops have been scheduled at the March 12th Refrigeration Up-Date to cover a wide range of topics.

Janie Sutton with the State Property Plan Review Section of the NC Department of Insurance will cover Chapter 11 of the North Carolina Building Code and associated sections from the N. C. Building Code and Fire Code. She will focus on the major life safety requirements of the codes, such as system, equipment and machinery room requirements.

Jason Stash, Sales Engineer-Service Tools, with Inficon Inc., has a presentation that will encompass leak detection for HVAC & R technicians to include the background on “Why Leak Check?”; the sensing technologies available, the advantages and disadvantages; tips on using electronic leak detectors; and leak detection in the future.

The Importance of Hoist Safety, lever hoist (come-alongs), chains & slings and how they relate in to OSHA will be presented by Rebecca Israel and Tom Bricker. Rebecca is with the NC Department of Labor. In 2007 she joined the Consultative Services Bureau with the NC Star Program where she works with companies to achieve and maintain “Carolina STAR” status. She is considered a crane subject matter expert for the Department of Labor and conducts virtually all training for new Compliance Officers joining OSHA.

Tom Bricker is District Sales Manager for Coffing Hoists and brings a unique and interesting presentation of each facet of hoisting to include: lever, hand chain, electric, wire rope and air hoists, along with their related safety issues.

Does your safety or even your LIFE depend on the hoist or lever hoist you are using? How about that chain or sling you are using to lift, pull or tie the load with? At times …. you bet it DOES! Just how much attention do you pay to that come-along or sling thrown in the back of your service vehicle right now, or even lying around in your house?

Join Rebecca and Tom for this information filled session specifically tailored towards the construction end of the refrigeration industry. Follow it thru with some “hands on” solid information you can actually take back to YOUR facility and use.

This is a two part session which reveals the interaction of the manufacturer (Tom) and OSHA (Rebecca) along with how ANSI standards and OSHA standards both apply. The session will close with a “Mock OSH Inspection” of some hoists, lever hoist, chains and slings and end with an OSH Update from Rebecca regarding “What is New for 2008″ and some changes in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that you need to know about.

“Why Compressors Fail” presented by Richard D’Aversa of Emerson Cllimate Technology will be combined with a compressor breakdown class. Students will actually tear down a compressor to trouble shoot the compressor problems.

Refrigeration Up-Date 2008 is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at the Park Inn Gateway Conference Center, 909 Highway 70 SW, Hickory, NC. As in the past, there will be no charge for attendees.

Seminars will include leak detectors, system evacuation and system efficiency, an up-date on the NC mechanical code and a hoist safety seminar. Once again this year there will be a wide array of exhibits and the exhibit hall will be open from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Park Inn Gateway Conference Center for the evening of March 11th. Individuals are responsible for making their own room reservations by calling the hotel direct at 1-800-789-0686. Please make reference to the NC State Board of Refrigeration Examiners when making reservations. The cut-off date for reservations is February 19, 2008.

A registration form for the Up-Date may be found here.

2008 applications for license renewal or reinstatement of the Refrigeration Contractor License have been mailed to all licensees. If you did not receive your form, please contact the Board office at 919-779-4711.

Each year the Board sponsors two or more scholarships for students enrolled in either an Associate in Applied Science Degree Program of Study in Commercial Refrigeration Technology or an Associate in Applied Science Degree Program of Study in HVACR Technology.

To be eligible for a scholarship, a candidate must meet the following criteria as well as be enrolled in one of the above programs.

1. Be a resident of North Carolina.
2. Maintain a grade point average at or above the level required for graduation.
3. Continue for the duration of the scholarship at the college where he or she was enrolled at the time of the scholarship award.

A copy of the scholarship application may be found here. Students should submit their completed applications to the Financial Aid Officer at their community college no later than January 1st.

Please advise the Board office should you have any questions.