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Professional Engineers Review Cold Storage Design
Following the fire at Icepak Coolstores, the Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand (IPENZ) has initiated a review of the design of cold storage facilities.
The following note outlines the scope and purpose of the review:
The purpose of the IPENZ review is to enquire into coolstore design with particular emphasis on refrigeration fluids, insulation techniques, sprinkler technology, appropriate structures, and other matters pertinent to the engineering design of coolstores.
To this end IPENZ is convening a group of engineers and others with expertise in these disciplines. The IPENZ working party expects to collaborate with and complement the Fire Service enquiry, but will concentrate on engineering design rather than fire fighting operations.
We have in mind a situation in which we are asked to begin design work on a new coolstore. What is the best practice? What refrigeration technologies are available and how should we select the most appropriate one? Similarly for insulation, electrical power, materials handling, fire protection, structure.
The output of the working party is yet to be decided, but may be an IPENZ Practice Note that discusses the known technologies, relevant standards and codes, capital and operating costs, and other engineering matters. Practice Notes are filed on the public part of the IPENZ website, and so the working party’s output would become a public document.
The following organisations are currently represented on the working party:
Gerry Coates, Chair and Wise Analysis Ltd
Greg Baker, Fire Protection Association (FPA) and BRANZ
Rachel Harvie, NZ Cold Storage Association
Alan Moule, Department of Building and Housing
Charles Willmot, IPENZ Director – Engineering
Cameron Smart, IPENZ Engineering Practice Manager
Ian Connor, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM)
Chris Mak , Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and Aon Insurance
Neil Gravestock, SFPE and Marsh Ltd
Dave Hipkins, FPA and Tyco Wormald Fire & Security
Graham Rundle, Redco Ltd
John Richards, Waikato Branch IPENZ
Mike Odey, International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR)
Murray Butler, Institute of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (IHRACE)
Mike Simpson, SFPE and MacDonald Barnett Partners Ltd
There is considerable interest in the review from many interested groups and individuals. As a member of the working party I have set up a communication group from members of the Association who may be able to assist in the documentation of the Practice Note. It is recognised that there will be a need to maintain a sensible balance across several disciplines to ensure that the final outcome does not place undue expectations on the design requirements of cold stores.
If you have an interest in the review and have not been contacted by me, please get in touch so that I can include you in the process. In particular, I would welcome involvement from cold store operators.
Email - nzcoldstorage@xtra.co.nz
The Future of Refrigerants
Notice of Meeting
The NZ National Committee of the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) is holding a meeting in Wellington to discuss the Future of Refrigerants as follows:
Date & Time: 12.30 - 2.30 pm on Friday 23 May 2008
Location: Engineers New Zealand, 158 The Terrace, Wellington
Refrigeration is a very important technology for NZ. Legislation and regulations, which affect the selection, safe use, and direct/indirect costs of refrigerants, are overseen by several Government agencies. The NZ National Committee of the International Institute of Refrigeration (NZNC of IIR) believes that it is important a holistic view is sought, so that policy, legislation and regulations affecting refrigerants is balanced and does not lead to inappropriate signals being sent to the industries that install, use and service refrigeration equipment.
The NZNC of IIR invites you, as a key stakeholder, to attend a meeting on Friday 23 May 2008 to discuss issues surrounding refrigerants, such as: health & safety, refrigeration efficiency, energy efficiency, refrigerant cost, environmental impacts (both ozone depletion and global warming), the emissions trading scheme, and training/education. We have asked individuals representing different stakeholder groups to give a 5 minute briefing on their perspective and will follow these with an open discussion period for all attendees to participate in.
The above invitation has been received by the Association and I will be attending. A number of Association members will also attend the meeting but if you have an interest and would like to join the meeting, please let me know.
Notes from the meeting will be provided in a future Newsletter.
Border Sector Review
Work has been underway for some months across the border sector agencies – the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, New Zealand Customs Service, Department of Labour (Immigration) and Ministry of Transport – to achieve greater streamlining of services to stakeholders, and to lift efficiency and effectiveness as a sector. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority and the Department of Internal Affairs are, where relevant, also involved.
As part of this process, industry stakeholders, including the Cold Storage Association, have been invited to join the Border Sector Industry Stakeholder Forum.
Incorporating the perspectives of stakeholders who have an interest in how agencies work "at the border", and thus the efficiency of border-related transactions and systems is, of course, a vital input to the decision-making processes.
The Border Sector Industry Stakeholder Forum comprises border sector chief executives personally, together with representatives of key stakeholder groups, at Chief Executive or Chairman level. This representation reflects the importance of the forum as a key avenue for high-level two-way dialogue with a strategic focus, and for ensuring industry and border agency interests and strategic directions are mutually understood
The forum will provide stakeholders with a brief update on sector developments to date and the emerging key sector priorities. This would include a discussion regarding where and how the border sector needs to engage with industry stakeholders.
The first meeting of the Forum is taking place in Wellington on Friday 9 May.
Ecert Batch Files - Further Reminder
Important information for E-cert users who submit batch files
As the industry sector representative on the NZ Food Safety Authority’s Electronic Certification Steering Group (ECSG), I have been asked to contact known E-cert users who submit batch files. This is in relation to the forthcoming transition to XML format batch files.
As outlined in the last Newsletter, the due date for completion of the transition is September 2008. From this date E-cert users will no longer be able to submit batch files using the current batch file format and must use the XML format.
This note is simply a reminder of the timeframe and to question whether you are adequately informed about the requirements.
The E-cert Help files on the NZFSA website have been updated to include information on XML format http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/ecert/animal-products/tutorials/help-files/index.htm
The following information will help you transition to XML format:
1. If you create batch files from text documents (eg Notepad)
AP E-cert has the capability to “translate” an existing batch file into XML format using the Data View button. A software release scheduled for June will make this more user-friendly. Full instructions can be provided.
2. If you submit csv batch files (cells in a worksheet are populated and a macro transfers the data entries into a batch file).
The macros will need to be updated.
3. If you utilize purpose built or “off-the-shelf” software to create batch files
Contact your IT group or your software supplier. The software will need to be updated. We have separately notified software developers that we know supply software that interface with AP E-cert and made them aware of the changes they may need to make to the software they have supplied you.
If you have any questions about this transition or need to know whether it will affect you or not, pleas contact me.
RWTA 2008 Conference and Exhibition
The Refrigerated Warehouse and Transporters Association (Australia) 2008 conference and exhibition is being held at another fabulous location - the Crowne Plaza Resort, Hunter Valley, Australia from Sunday 31 August to Tuesday 2 September.
The theme is "Frozen Links - Linking Suppliers, Retailers and 3PLs."
Programme and speaker details will be sent out via this Newsletter as they become available but you may want to contact RWTA if you have an interest in attending.
Refer to www.rwta.com.au or contact David Costelloe, Chief Executive RWTA - dcostelloe@rwta.com.au
For more information on anything contained in this Newsletter, please contact me.
Rachel Harvie
Chief Executive
nzcoldstorage@xtra.co.nz
04 563 8187
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