Call on EU governments to define heating and cooling services and manufacturing sites

Call on EU governments to define heating and cooling services and manufacturing sites as critical during the ongoing health crisis

ADC3R, ASERCOM, EHI, EHPA and EPEE, representing the heating and cooling industry (HVACR) together with ECSLA and Transfrigoroute International, representing the cold storage and temperature controlled logistics sector, call on EU Member State governments to consider their services and manufacturing sites as critical to maintain the health, safety, productivity and comfort of citizens whilst measures are taken to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

In these unprecedented times, our organisations support the measures governments are taking to guarantee the immediate safety and wellbeing of European citizens, drawing attention to the essential role of our sectors:

• For the continued distribution of heat-sensitive medicines and medical devices
• For the transport, delivery and storage of fresh food
• The operation of key facilities such as datacentres
• For the health and well-being of people with emergency air circulation, temperature regulation, and heating and cooling equipment

Our sectors produce, install, service and use systems for heating and cooling. Heating and cooling systems are even more essential today to ensure that health measures can be safely implemented, in hospitals, supermarkets, or caring homes, but also to ensure that citizens across Europe, staying at home, have functioning heating and cooling systems and hot water supply. Likewise, the cold storage and refrigerated transport industry continue to be critical services to ensure the continuity of the cold chain and allow for example shops and supermarkets to be replenished on a daily basis. For these reasons, it will be essential that HVACR technicians are allowed to intervene in case of required equipment installation, maintenance or failure, especially in critical infrastructures; and that the cold chain is able to work continuously.

We have now reached a crucial moment, when decisions are taken to define which facilities and services are critical for a country’s operation. HVACR services and manufacturing sites as well as the entire cold chain are part of such critical infrastructure and should therefore be allowed to keep running.

Through this difficult time, more than ever, our industries remain committed to maintain the health, safety, productivity and comfort of employees and all citizens.