PICAC's development
Work continues apace at PICAC to make it a world class demonstration and training facility. Truly a world first: making change through example, and change through giving the industry the skills they need.
The adjoining property to our current site was purchased in May 2010. The additional space for the facility is currently being developed into a Centre of Excellence (COE) for sustainability training and will also incorporate a complete geo thermal system for heating and cooling of the building.
The latest developments at PICAC include:
A trigeneration system is being created by linking the cogeneration plant to a recently purchased absorption chiller. Both the trigeneration and solar systems will be added to the building management system to provide three separate heating and cooling systems for demonstration and training.
A domestic geo-thermal plant has been installed. This new technology is available for training plumbing practitioners on the installation of geothermal heating, cooling and hot water.
The Centre for Excellence for Fire Service is currently being constructed to house the latest technology and provide training on fire services. Once complete, the training courses will also be available for the Melbourne Fire Brigade. A research and development project includes a new technology which removes sludge (present in the black steel pipe) used in fire testing, and prevents it from entering the storm-water system.
PICAC is being used as an industry focus to host events including the National Plumbing Regulators Forum Industry Day held on 12 November 2009, and an industry breakfast for the inaugural World Plumbing Day held on 11 March 2010. The next World Plumbing Day will be hosted again at PICAC on 7 March 2011.
To date, $13 million has been committed to PICAC by the Industry and the State and Australian Governments.