The heat is on…become July 2010 compliant with ATA Air conditioning
The Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) scheme is reminding employers and technicians that there is now only one year to go before new European legislation regarding the handling of refrigerant gases comes into force in July 2010.
Last year in response to the forthcoming legislation, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) which regulates the ATA scheme introduced the air-conditioning route to the accreditation scheme and all three levels within the discipline satisfy the minimum requirements set out in the regulation.
Ian Gillgrass, Accreditation Manager at the IMI said:
“This is an important piece of legislation that all technicians who handle refrigerant gases and the businesses that employ them need to be aware of. The air-conditioning route offered through the ATA scheme is one of the routes that have been approved by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and any technician who wishes to take an assessment should contact their nearest assessment centre in time to achieve their accreditation before July of next year.”
Accreditation in this discipline includes practical assessments related to the evacuation, recharge and leak testing of a vehicle’s air-con system and the handling of refrigerant gas cylinders, as well as an online knowledge test. Technicians considering ATA accreditation can take a self-assessment on the ATA website.
At present, there are sixteen independent centres approved to run assessments, technicians wishing to find out more can log onto the website www.automotivetechnician.org.uk to find their nearest centre.
With over 16,000 ATA registered technicians across the UK, the IMI has launched a consumer campaign, ‘You know you’re OK with ATA’, to help motorists search on-line for their nearest business employing ATA registered technicians, at www.OKwithATA.com