Heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineers design and develop heating, ventilation, air conditioning and possibly refrigeration systems for usage in residences, manufacturing sites, offices, commercial buildings, etc. They strive for solutions that serve the needs of clients and respond to architectural restrictions of sites.

The following job titles also refer to heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer:

HVAC systems engineer
HVAC service engineer
HVAC support engineer
air conditioning engineer
building services engineer
HVAC site engineer
ventilation engineer
heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration engineer
HVAC engineer
refrigeration engineer
HVACR engineers
heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration engineer
services engineer
HVAC project engineer
HVACR engineer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer.

agricultural engineer
precision engineer
robotics engineer
naval architect
rolling stock engineer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer.

Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.
Hydraulics: The power transmission systems that use the force of flowing liquids to transmit power.
Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
Mechanical engineering: Discipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.
Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration parts: The different parts constituing heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems such as the different valves, fans, compressors, condensers, filters and other components.
Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills are necessary for the role of heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer.

Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
Use technical drawing software: Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.
Execute feasibility study: Perform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a project, plan, proposition or new idea. Realise a standardised study which is based on extensive investigation and research to support the process of decision making.
Assess financial viability: Revise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Assess if the agreement or project will redeem its investment, and whether the potential profit is worth the financial risk.
Approve engineering design: Give consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Refrigerants: The characteristics and properties of the different fluids used in heat pump and refrigeration cycles.
Electrical engineering: Understand electrical engineering, a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
Design principles: The elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.
Ventilation systems: The types of mechanical ventilation systems that permits the exchange and circulation of air.
Thermodynamics: The branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy..
Fluid mechanics: The characteristics and properties of fluids, including gases, liquids and plasmas, at rest and in motion, and the forces on them.
Domestic heating systems: The modern and traditional heating systems alimented by gas, wood, oil, biomass, solar power and other renewable energy sources and their energy saving principles.
Components of air conditioning systems: Know the different components that constitute air conditioning systems such as condensers, compressors, evaporators and sensors. Identify and repair/replace malfunctioning components.
Industrial heating systems: Heating systems fuelled by gas, wood, oil, biomass, solar power, and other reneable energy sources and their energy saving principles, applicable specifically to industrial buildings and facilities.
Product data management: The use of software to track all information concerning a product such as technical specifications, drawings, design specifications, and production costs.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Lead a team: Lead, supervise and motivate a group of people, in order to meet the expected results within a given timeline and with the foreseen resources in mind.
Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
Install heating boiler: Place heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration boilers, which heats up water and circulates it through a closed radiator system to distribute heat around a structure. Connect the boiler to a source of fuel or electricity and to the circulation system. Connect it to the water supply if it features an automatic filling system. Configure the boiler.
Create technical plans: Create detailed technical plans of machinery, equipment, tools and other products.
Install heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration ducts: Install ducts to deliver and remove air. Determine whether the duct should be flexible or not, and select the appropriate material based on projected usage. Waterproof and airproof the duct and insulate it against temperature influence to ensure maximum efficiency and prevent contamination with mould. Make the correct connections between the ducts and endpoints.
Analyse test data: Interpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.
Provide advice to technicians: Offer help and advice to service technicians in case of machine malfunctions and other repair tasks.
Draft design specifications: List the design specifications such as materials and parts to be used and a cost estimate.
Use cad software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
Design prototypes: Design prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.
Conduct performance tests: Conduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditions.
Advise architects: Give advice on design, safety issues, and cost reduction to architects during the pre-application phase.
Design ventilation network: Draft ventilation network. Prepare and plan the ventilation layout using specialist software. Design heating or cooling systems as required. Improve efficiency of ventilation network to lower energy consumption.
Install heating furnace: Place a furnace which heats air to be distributed around a structure. Connect the furnace to a source of fuel or electricity and connect any air ducts to guide the heated air. Configure the furnace.

2144 – Mechanical engineers

 

 

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References

1. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer – ESCO