BENEFITS of MEMBERSHIP | How do I join?

Commercial and Marketing Activities

Exhibitions
The Association, through F.E.T.A., is a sponsor of the national RAC exhibition. Additionally it works in association with the Institute of Refrigeration and the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board to influence UK area refrigeration exhibitions. It also organises joint ventures to overseas trade fairs and exhibitions, (notably IKK & ISH). It also works closely with the European trade associations through the joint organisation AREA, and with other associations throughout the world to promote refrigeration and improve standards.

Press and Public Relations
B.R.A. enjoys a close relationship with the trade press and obtains effective publicity for the industry and for Association members. Moreover, a very good commercial dialogue is maintained with many other professional and UK and EC governmental organisations.

Other Commercial Services

The Association works with UK government and EC commission to produce meaningful industry statistics. However, recognising that government statistics are unlikely ever to contain sufficiently detailed marketing information for members, the Association conducts its own surveys and market research in specific product areas and produces detailed statistics for participating members.

Topics of mutual concern to members such as credit control and terms and conditions of trade are regularly discussed and progressed.

Seminars and conferences are organised to promote commercial, technical and training opportunities and to assist members in improving their commercial efficiency overall.

Protecting the Industry

The Association fights to defend the industry's interests when these come under attack from ill-informed, although sometimes well-intentioned, pressure groups. Some recent examples of the Association's involvement are:

Refrigerants : the Ozone Layer and Global Warming. The Association has had a significant influence on the adoption by the UK and the European Community of a balanced and rational attitude towards limiting the production and emission of potentially harmful refrigerants whilst promoting the benefits or refrigeration and encouraging its growth.

Pressure systems and transportable gas containers. the Association succeeded in minimising the impact of HSE regulations on small pressure vessels as used in the air conditioning and refrigeration industries and thus drastically reduced the need for expensive testing.

Technical Activities

Of the many technical activities of the Association, one of the most important relates to work in producing Standards and Codes of Practice for the industry. Through the Association, and BSI, members influence European and International standard-making authorities: CEN, CENELEC, ISO and IEC. Members participate directly in the work of the British Standards Institution through the Association's representation on over 20 BSI Committees and the Federation's representation on over 90 BSI Committees. Members also serve on many International standards committees and working groups. When necessary the Association will itself produce and publish industry standards and codes of practice.

Quality assurance is another major area of activity. Three major schemes are run by BSI at FETA's request and they include a specific scheme for Refrigeration Equipment and Ancillary Components.

A technical newsletter is published regularly and the Association also publishes guidance and information on subjects such as:

• 'Fact Finders' containing advice on Refrigerants, Lubricants, Energy Efficiency and
  Temperature Control
• Task Procedure and Risk Assessment : Model Statements for Commercial Refrigeration
• Brazing Techniques

Some of these have become standard reference documents for the industry and new ones are published each year.

Research and development is carried out for members on a group basis.

Education and Training

The Association is exerting significant and growing influence in the fields of training and education for the industry. Working closely with the City & Guilds of London Institute, ACRIB (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board), the Institute of Refrigeration, Colleges and Training Centres, the Association has helped the successful development of S/NVQs for the industry and assists in monitoring the quality of awards through joint awarding bodies for Scotland and for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It has also been involved in the same forum with developing and upgrading skill tests of such basic competences as refrigerant handling.

What B.R.A. can do for you
The refrigeration industry, which supplies and services the equipment and systems fulfilling society's essential cooling and freezing needs, must have the backing of a strong trade association to represent its interests at national and international levels, since its interests usually coincide with the real needs of society.

B.R.A. provides this united and strong representation for the industry.

We can be contacted at our Registered Office:
Federation of Environmental Trade Associations Ltd
2 Waltham Court, Milley Lane, Hare Hatch, Reading, Berkshire, RG10 9TH United Kingdom
Tel No: + 44 (0)118 940 3416 - Fax No: + 44 (0)118 940 6258
E-mail: info@feta.co.uk