In the race toward sustainable cooling and climate resilience, one seemingly small skill plays an outsized role: brazing.
This week marked an important milestone for our refrigeration students, as we hosted our very first one-day Brazing Techniques for Refrigeration Systems course at the ACES, Clean Cooling Academy in Kigali. With a room full of bright, enthusiastic trainees, we lit the torches both literally and figuratively on a vital skill that underpins the safety, reliability, and environmental integrity of every refrigeration system.
More than just a skills workshop, this training directly supports safe system design and operation in line with EN 378 – the European standard for safety and environmental requirements in refrigeration systems. EN 378 places strong emphasis on leak prevention, material compatibility, pressure resistance, and risk management, all of which start with how components are joined, especially through brazing.
Why Brazing Matters
In refrigeration, a system is only as strong as its weakest joint. Brazing creates leak-free, corrosion-resistant connections that must endure high pressures and demanding thermal conditions. A poor joint can lead to catastrophic refrigerant leaks, reduced efficiency, and especially with flammable natural refrigerants, which pose serious safety risks.
As Kigali and other African cities adopt next-generation refrigerants and greener technologies, we must ensure that the technicians on the ground are equipped to handle them properly. That begins with the torch.
Practical, Hands-On Learning
Our day began with a safety briefing and theoretical introduction, followed by live demonstrations of best-practice brazing techniques. After suiting up in PPE and donning blue overalls, the students rotated through workstations equipped with torches, copper tubing, and nitrogen purging setups.
The hands-on exercises were where the real learning happened. Participants practiced heating and joining copper tubes, understanding flame control, joint preparation, and post-braze inspection. For many, it was their first time working with gas cylinders and torches an experience that built not just skills, but confidence.
Lessons and Opportunities
The enthusiasm in the room was contagious. While some struggled with torch angles or overheating early on, each student showed noticeable improvement and by the end of the session. We saw great teamwork, careful attention to safety, and the beginnings of real craftsmanship.
A Spark for the Future – Powered by the Clean Cooling Academy
What stood out most was the sense of pride as students completed their first brazed joints test pieces, especially knowing that this technique helps protect the environment by preventing leaks of harmful gases.
At the heart of this initiative is the Clean Cooling Academy, a regional skills hub based at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES) in Kigali. The Academy is dedicated to building national and regional capacity in clean cooling, through practical training, certification programs, and industry partnerships. This brazing course is just one of many hands-on offerings aimed at upskilling Africa’s refrigeration workforce for the future.
By Craig Girdlestone, Kigali, 24 June 2025
Apply Now – Ignite Your Career
If you're a student, technician, or aspiring refrigeration professional looking to advance your skills, join us for the next round of the Brazing Techniques for Refrigeration Systems course.
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications online by the designated deadline to ACES through [email protected], with the subject line:
" Brazing Techniques for Refrigeration Systems Course Application – [Your Name]"