Refrigeration engineers install and service refrigeration systems for commercial buildings, delivery trucks, and homes. They may specialize in industrial-sized refrigeration systems, refrigerators, or household units. They typically complete a two-year training program and work as apprentices for up to four years before passing licensing and certification exams. Special certification is required for those who handle potentially hazardous refrigerants. Some engineers may specialize in refrigeration systems engineering for research and development institutions.
A refrigeration engineer installs and services refrigeration systems for commercial buildings, delivery trucks, and homes. He or she may specialize in working with industrial-sized refrigeration systems, refrigerators, or household units. Additionally, many engineers are certified to work on many different types of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Service engineers can enter the field after completing two-year training programs at vocational schools or community colleges, working as apprentices for up to four years, and passing licensing and certification exams.
Many refrigeration engineers install, maintain, and repair refrigerators and HVAC systems in homes and apartment buildings. Workers often follow blueprints and instruction manuals for installing new systems. They connect air ducts, water and coolant pipes, and electrical wires. When maintenance, repairs, or replacement parts are needed, a refrigeration engineer will usually troubleshoot a system, disassemble motors or electrical parts, and perform necessary services.
A refrigeration engineer can work on refrigerators, air-conditioned delivery trucks, commercial refrigeration units, or large industrial systems. To ensure safety, he or she must have expert knowledge of large-scale power supplies and electrical machines. It often takes a service engineer who maintains refrigerators and delivery trucks to work very quickly to preserve food or other supplies in cold atmospheres. Engineers often work in teams to install large pipes and air ducts in commercial buildings and industrial facilities.
To become a refrigeration engineer, a person must typically receive an HVAC technician certificate from a community college or vocational school. Some people, however, are able to obtain refrigeration engineer jobs with a high school diploma and a proven aptitude for mechanical systems. Most new engineers work as assistants or apprentices for about four years, receiving hands-on training from experienced professionals. Individuals may be required to pass licensing exams administered by their state or country, which test their understanding of basic job skills and safety measures.
Engineers who handle potentially hazardous refrigerants must obtain special certification. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency offers certification programs and tests that qualify individuals to work with different grades of refrigerants. Additional certification is generally not required, although many engineers choose to take the exams offered by organizations such as the Society of Refrigeration Service Engineers to improve their credentials and their chances of finding stable work.
An individual working in a research and development institution may specialize in refrigeration systems engineering. He or she is responsible for designing new or more efficient machines using computer models and design software. These professionals usually hold advanced engineering degrees and have extensive knowledge of the mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties of HVAC and refrigeration systems.
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