9 Oct 2023
Taking place on 14 November in Birmingham, the event will look at how we need to change how we plan, design and maintain RACHP systems to adapt for challenges to system resilience caused by climate changes being experienced now in the UK. Technical difficulties of larger design envelopes, higher load demands, balancing environmental objectives and adapting existing stock of systems will be discussed at this one-day event.
A panel discussion will look at what practical steps those in the RACHP sector should adopt. This discussion will emphasise the significance of maintaining net-zero objectives when planning for more challenging design conditions.
Book your place here.
Programme
10:00 Welcome from Conference Chair Andy Pearson, Chair of the International Refrigeration Committee
Keynote presentations
10:10 Adapting industry to withstand rising temperatures and future heatwaves. Laura Kent, IMechE and Ruth Shilston, Mott MacDonald
10:40 The economic impact of extreme heat. Leyla Sayin, Centre for Sustainable Cooling, University of Birmingham
Lessons from hot places - What can the UK learn?
11:10 The development of Jordan's national cooling strategy. Sawan Baaresh, Royal Scientific Society
11:40 Designing refrigeration equipment for warmer climates. Yosr Allouche, International Institute of Refrigeration
12:10 Lunch
13:00 What practical measures can businesses take to mitigate extreme heat?
Discussion chaired by Andrew Bowden, Managing Director of J&E Hall.
Adapting to extreme heat - paving the way forward
14:00 New blend refrigerants for higher ambient temperatures. Koura Global
14:30 How refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump equipment design will need to adapt to cope with climate change. Kashif Nawaz, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
15:00 The Heat Action Platform - reducing the human and economic impacts of extreme heat. Owen Gow, Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center.
15:30 Conference Close - Lessons from the Briefing. What happens next?
Optional post-conference site tour of the Mondelez-Cadbury UK factory at Bourneville. The tour will include a visit to the refrigeration plant and an explanation of the manufacturing process.
2 Mar 2026
Fully Booked - wait list open. The launch of the IOR's Industry Skills Alliance for individuals interested in shaping the future of the skills agenda for the RACHP sector. Find out more about the event and the role of the Skills Alliance here.
24 Feb 2026
A review of the IOR Constitution has been carried out to ensure it complies with current Charity Commission guidance and improve the wording for clarity. Open for consultation and comment by members until 30th April 2026.
23 Mar 2026
The IOR Skills Alliance's first meeting in Milton Keynes is at capacity, but there are still many ways to take part in the alliance's work.
23 Mar 2026
Congratulations to Steve Benton FInstR and Craig Girdlestone FInstR for this well‑deserved recognition for their dedicated, often behind‑the‑scenes contributions to the industry.
9 Mar 2026
The recording for the IOR TechTalk on “Unscrambling the Refrigerant Clutter for the Future” on 5th March is now available from the IOR Webinar Channel.