APPRENTICE AIR CONDITIONING
 AND REFRIGERATION MECHANIC    

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

As an apprentice to operate, service, and maintain direct expansion and steam absorption air conditioning and refrigeration equipment; operate, service, and maintain associated heat transfer systems including chilled water pumps; piping and coils; cooling towers and condenser water pumps and piping; air handling units; pneumatic, electrical, DDC and electronic control systems; valves, instrumentation and auxiliary equipment.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Analyze and maintain air conditioning, refrigeration, and chiller plants including: control systems; pump distribution; chillers; cooling towers; condenser water systems; water treatment; refrigerant flow devices; control systems; fan systems, and terminal equipment.
Operate, service, and maintain chillers, cooling towers, chilled water and condenser water pumping systems, and control and instrumentation systems.
Service, install, and maintain refrigeration equipment including reach-in and walk-in coolers; air driers; self contained rooftop units; ice machines; ultra low temperature freezers; and other refrigeration equipment.
Establish system performance operating parameters and test to assure system performance parameters are being met.
Read, interpret and generate sequence of operation for HVAC equipment and systems.
Read and utilize DDC programming code.
Perform test and balance work.
Maintain and adjust fluids including, oils, refrigerants, and absorption chiller solutions.
Service and maintain air conditioning, refrigeration, and chiller plant systems including: disassemble units for repair; perform major overhauls of absorption and centrifugal chillers; service pumps, strainers and filters; test and rebuild vacuum pumps, damper motors, water and refrigerant coils; conduct eddy current testing; and other components in air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation distribution systems.
Read and interpret diagrams, sketches, and job specifications related to air conditioning and refrigeration systems, and apply information from technical literature such as manufacturer's equipment documentation and building operation and maintenance documentation.
Maintain and use records such as equipment logs as required to document system and work performance.
Maintain chemical levels for chilled and condenser water treatment systems.
Operate air distribution systems within buildings.

RELATED DUTIES 

Utilize refrigeration cycles and the proper use of various refrigerants.
Balance and treat chilled and condenser water systems, sequence chiller operations, clean tube bundles, manage chiller fluids and purge chiller.
Fill out log sheets relating to chemical treatment activities and take oil and refrigerant samples, and test for acidity and moisture content.
Drain and fill chilled water, hot water, and condenser water systems.
Be aware of and follow regulatory requirements.
Check and verify accuracy of thermometers and pressure gauges.
Clean cooling tower sumps, chiller water, condenser and evaporator coils; repair cooling tower water distribution headers and apply condenser water lay-up treatment.
Fill out refrigerant compliance forms, system log sheets, water treatment logs, and other necessary departmental paperwork.
Service and maintain thermostats, VAV boxes, TEC's, lab ventilation equipment, and fan coil units. Respond to HVAC complaints and provide customer service.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Supervision is received from a designated official.  

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

No supervisory responsibility.

QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from high school is necessary.