To date, the most popular courses cover digital inverter (DI) and super digital inverter (SDI) splits, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems and controls, all of which underpin the company’s extended warranty scheme. Toshiba’s series of continuous professional development (CPD) modules have also proved popular since being uploaded in June.

Cameron Beech, manager of Toshiba’s online training, said: “It has been a great success and exceeded even our own expectations.

“Engineers like the ability to log-in at a time to suit them and work through training modules at their own pace to update their skills. It offers a very convenient alternative that supports our classroom-based training, and can now also be used by customers of our UK distributors.”

The portal uses a combination of instructional videos, pictures and easy to understand snippets of information that users can study and return to at any time. To ensure users have absorbed key principles and knowledge, courses conclude with an assessment quiz; if answered successfully, users can print a certificate of completion.

Toshiba offers an extended seven-year warranty on equipment based on the skills and competence of installers. Installers qualify for the extended warranty by successfully completing Toshiba courses, offered both online and in the classroom.

To access online training, installers must have attended one VRF installation and service classroom-based course in person. Users have their own training account that records courses they have completed, either online or in the classroom, with a unique identification number that is also used for equipment commissioning records. This provides automatic validation for warranty cover for equipment installed by each user.

Toshiba plans to develop the online training programme over time, with the addition of new courses on system design and application, as well as key technology topics such as compressors and related components.