Irhace HVAC&R Summit

The already successful HVAC&R Hub at Facilities Integrate NZ expands in 2026 to include a full learning and development programme, the HVAC&R Summit.

Delegates can expect presentations from leading international and local technical experts, offering fresh insights, case studies, and thought-leadership discussions. The programme will highlight emerging technologies, smart solutions, and sustainable practices transforming the built environment.

For attendees, this means more than just an event — it’s a chance to gain practical knowledge to apply in their businesses, see innovations before they hit the mainstream, and engage directly with the people driving industry progress. Across two full days, the Summit will feature industry seminars, technical talks, new product showcases, panel discussions, education sessions, a member breakfast, and dedicated training opportunities.

Registration for the HVAC&R Summit is separate from your free entry to Facilities Integrate; both are required to attend.

Full Schedule & Summit Registration

9:00 am - 9:15 am

Wed 15 Jul

Clean air for workshops, risks, regulation and mitigation options. Discussions on welding fumes and diesel fumes’ harm to human health.

Ash Gandhi

Fantech

9:15 am - 9:30 am

Wed 15 Jul

Optimising building performance, enhancing indoor air quality and energy efficiency through life cycle cost analysis.

John Brock

Camfil

9:30 am - 9:45 am

Wed 15 Jul

Commercial kitchen ventilation: Key points to consider

Brendon Shiels

SIMX

9:45 am - 10:00 am

Wed 15 Jul

NZS 4303 Review update

Update on the current review by Standards Committee on NZS4303:1990 Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality.

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Wed 15 Jul

HVAC built for what’s next in New Zealand: The global shifts that are reshaping HVAC design and delivery and how these trends translate into practical considerations for the New Zealand market.

Dominik Filkweert

Systemair

11:15 am - 11:30 am

Wed 15 Jul

Lifecycle refrigerant management in achieving immediate, scalable and cost-effective climate mitigation.

Mitch Williamson

A-Gas

11:30 am - 11:45 am

Wed 15 Jul

Product evolution into low GWP A2L refrigerants and the limitations and expectations for contractors.

Philip Hitchins

Patton

11:45 am - 12:00 pm

Wed 15 Jul

Update on electricity safety regulations.

Raymond Tancrel

Trade Master

12:00 pm - 12:15 pm

Wed 15 Jul

A major change for HVAC&R is that AS/NZS 5149:2016 Parts 1–4 are now explicitly cited under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations, alongside the 60335 appliance standards

Rudi Zettler

Mitsubishi Electric New Zealand / BDT

12:15 pm - 12:30 pm

Wed 15 Jul

CO₂ Natural refrigerant transcritical plant use in New Zealand

Chris Gibbons

SCM Ref NZ

1:00 pm - 1:15 pm

Wed 15 Jul

Current G4 applications of the NZ building code and the revisions proposed for the revised NZS4303 Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality.

Robert Mannes

22 Degrees

1:15 pm - 1:30 pm

Wed 15 Jul

From Zones to Intelligent Spaces

Modern homes are no longer used as a single space, yet many are still heated and cooled as though they are. The future of residential comfort lies in intelligent spaces—rooms that understand how they are used, their occupancy patterns and comfort requirements, and increasingly interact with the wider home to deliver a more personalised and efficient experience.

Clinton Lloyd

Category Manager

Polyaire Air Conditioning AirTouch

1:30 pm - 1:45 pm

Wed 15 Jul

Noise control solutions for modern buildings.

Peter Lutkic

Price Holyoake

1:45 pm - 2:00 pm

Wed 15 Jul

How IoT technologies are defining HVAC systems.

Kyle Rafter

General New Zealand

2:00 pm - 2:15 pm

Wed 15 Jul

Beyond preventative maintenance: The rise of the self-diagnosing HVAC fan.

Thomas Heine

Sales Manager

ebmpapst Australia

2:15 pm - 2:30 pm

Wed 15 Jul

Delivering Indoor Air Quality through smarter HVAC product selection.

Lorna Kerrigan-Hall

National Sales Manager

Smooth-Air

9:30 am - 10:30 am

Thu 16 Jul

Industry-led approach essential for navigating change and shaping the future of HVAC&R in Aotearoa

Tawera will challenge attendees to rethink collaboration within companies, worksites, and industry associations. His session will reinforce why an industry‑led approach is essential for navigating change and shaping the future of HVAC&R in Aotearoa.

Tawera Nikau

Celebrity Speaker

10:30 am - 11:00 am

Thu 16 Jul

Competenz Interactive Session

An interactive session on education programmes for the HVAC&R industry.

Competenz

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Thu 16 Jul

Trade Master Session

Deep dive into the standards and regulations change and the impacts on electrical workers.

Raymond Tancrel

Trade Master

12:15 pm - 12:45 pm

Thu 16 Jul

Systemair EPDs and product sustainability: The role of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in advancing sustainability goals and supporting more informed decision-making across building projects

Dominik Filkweert

Systemair

12:45 pm - 1:00 pm

Thu 16 Jul

Balancing Cost with Residential Building Performance for Comfort and Health: A Look at Moisture and Ventilation:

This talk will objectively look at the importance of looking at whole of building performance to navigate cost, comfort, and health in a residential building context. The main focus will be on how BRANZ research data sets are shaping how we look at managing indoor moisture to improve occupant outcomes. Early insights of how people use their homes are shaping guidelines and risk matrices to support good design choices by industry that are both pragmatic and cost effective. We'll share some recommendations for industry around mechanical ventilation and managing moisture, as well as notes on warm rooves and interstitial moisture.

Stephen McNeil

BRANZ

1:00 pm - 1:15 pm

Thu 16 Jul

EECA’s involvement in data centres and hot water heat pump technology.

Brian Fitzgerald

Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority

1:15 pm - 1:30 pm

Thu 16 Jul

Energy efficient mechanical heating and cooling systems

Maksim Manko

Heatwave Mechanical Services

1:30 pm - 1:45 pm

Thu 16 Jul

Liquid cooling for AI & high performance data centres – Why and How?

As AI workloads drive unprecedented power density in data centres, traditional air cooling approaches are reaching their limits. This session explores why liquid cooling is becoming essential for high‑performance and AI‑ready data centres, outlining the key technologies, design considerations, and integration points between cooling and electrical infrastructure. Attendees will gain practical insight into when and how liquid cooling should be applied.