Refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians, sometimes known as building services technicians, design, install and maintain systems, which control temperature, humidity and air quality in domestic, retail, commercial and industrial premises.

Refrigeration work covers sectors such as:

• food production
• transport
• storage and distribution services
• hospital medical services.

Some typical tasks include:

• surveying proposed installation sites
• assessing the feasibility and implications of plans
• producing estimates for installation and equipment costs
• organising craftspeople, work schedules and materials
• supervising work through to completion
• inspecting and testing systems.

In most cases, technicians work as part of a team. For a major project, the team works under the direction of a qualified engineer, but technicians may supervise smaller jobs.

Hours and Environment

Technicians work 38 hours a week, but this is flexible depending on the type of work and deadlines. Overtime may be available.

Conditions vary depending on the building or site. Technicians use personal protective equipment for some jobs.

Maintenance or installation technicians move from job to job and can be based anywhere in the UK or overseas for many months at a time. A driving licence is helpful.

Skills and Interests

As a refrigeration or air-conditioning technician, you should:

• have good numeracy skills for calculations and costing
• have good communication skills
• be able to explain technical matters in clear terms
• be able to read technical drawings, cabling plans and basic circuit diagrams
• have a polite, pleasant manner
• have normal colour vision
• keep up to date with national and European directives on refrigerants
• be aware of health and safety issues.

Entry

If you are under 24, you can train as a technician apprentice, through the Apprenticeship and Advanced Apprenticeship scheme. You will need four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3), including maths and science or technology, or an appropriate equivalent.

Courses such as the BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Building Services Engineering, which contains units covering refrigeration and air conditioning, are open to all age groups and available at local colleges. Check with them for details.

The following is a list of organisations with an outline of the information they offer about this career:

• the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers' website contains a list of colleges offering relevant entry and training qualifications
• the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB) has details of entry and training for this sector
• the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association website has information about this career together with careers publications for the building services engineering sector
• SummitSkills has details about careers and apprenticeship routes into refrigeration and air-conditioning.

Training

As a trainee technician, you can work towards NVQ/SVQ Mechanical Engineering Services - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (Small Commercial Referigeration and Air Conditioning Systems) at Level 2.

The Level 3 NVQ/SVQ follows on from this and has the following options:

• Commercial and Industrial Air-conditioning Systems
• Non-Ammonia Commercial and Industrial Air-conditioning Systems
• Ammonia Refrigeration Systems.

Note: New regulations state that anyone handling ozone depleting substances (ODS) must hold minimum qualifications as proof of competency. The City & Guilds (2078) Safe Handling of Refrigerants and the Construction Industry Training Board's Safe Handling Certificate are accepted as proof. All workers must be qualified by April 2007. For more details, see the ACRIB website below.

Several other awards contain optional units covering this job role, including:

• NVQ Engineering Maintenance levels 2 and 3
• NVQ Installation and Commissioning Level 3
• City & Guilds Certificate in Engineering Level 3.

You can move on to higher level courses including BTEC HNC/HND or foundation degree in Building Services Engineering (refrigeration and air conditioning). These are available at colleges throughout the country.

With experience, you can work towards the qualification EngTech. To achieve this you must register formally with The Engineering Council as an engineering technician. For details of registration requirements, contact the Engineering Council below.

The Institute of Refrigeration has various membership grades from student level onwards. Membership allows access to a variety of workshops and training courses run by the Institute.

Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Apprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland

Opportunities

Refrigeration and air-conditioning is an expanding industry in the UK and abroad. Rapid economic development means there are many opportunities to work overseas.

Technicians can specialise in particular areas such as transport refrigeration. With experience, they can progress into supervisory management positions. Technicians who undertake further training can become fully qualified engineers. See the profile for Building Services Engineer.

Annual Income

This section is intended as a guideline only.

New technicians earn between £12,000 and £16,000 a year.
Experienced technicians average about £20,000 a year.
Senior technicians with supervisory responsibilities can earn over £25,000 a year.

Further information

ESCA House
34 Palace Court
London
W2 4JG 222 Balham High Road
Balham
London
SW12 9BS
Tel: 020 8675 5211 76 Mill Lane
Carshalton
Surrey
SM5 2JR
Tel: 020 8647 7033 Tel: 08000 688336