International Institute of Refrigeration calling industry “essential” in time of COVID-19
April 15, 2020 | By Doug Picklyk
The European-based organization is calling on national governments world-wide to consider the various services of refrigeration and air conditioning as “essential services” in the context of the spread of COVID-19 in countries around the world.
The Paris-based International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), an independent intergovernmental science and technology-based organization which promotes knowledge of all refrigeration fields, is calling on national governments to consider the various services of refrigeration and air conditioning as “essential services” in the context of the spread of COVID-19 in countries around the world.
According to the IIR, over 15 million people are employed worldwide in the refrigeration sector – including air conditioning – which consumes about 20% of the overall electricity used worldwide.
The various stakeholders in the refrigeration sector – producers, installers, engineers and technicians responsible for equipment servicing and maintenance – all play a major role in insuring the ongoing operation of refrigeration equipment. This is essential in particular in hospitals, nursing homes for the elderly who are more vulnerable to COVID-19, as well as food retail and industries.
For these reasons, the IIR supports the measures governments are taking to guarantee the safety and health of their citizens. However, through its statement, the IIR draws attention to the essential role of refrigeration stakeholders. It calls on governments to allow the ongoing operation of essential services provided by refrigeration stakeholders.
