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Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning Engineer

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning engineers design and supervise the building, installation, maintenance and repair of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and equipment.

Tasks & duties

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning engineers may do some or all of the following:

study the requirements for heating and cooling systems or equipment
investigate existing systems and prepare reports based on findings
supervise the installation, repair and replacement of systems
design new heating and cooling systems
select and size the necessary equipment for a system
calculate how much the work will cost
prepare the drawings and instructions for building systems
help set safety standards and ensure they are met

Skills & knowledge

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning engineers need to have:

knowledge of thermodynamics, physics and maths
knowledge of mechanics and electronics
knowledge of different gases
knowledge of mechanical engineering
knowledge of relevant legislation such as the Resource Management Act, the New Zealand Building Code, local by-laws and town planning regulations
skill in analysing and interpreting information such as client requirements, plans and designs
problem-solving skills
planning and organisational skills
good communication skills
writing skills for producing reports
computer skills, including the ability to use computer-aided design (CAD) software

Entry requirements

To become a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning engineer, you can complete a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), or enter the job as an apprentice and complete a National Certificate in Heating and Ventilation and Air Conditioning (Level 4) while working.

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning engineer apprenticeships come under the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme (for 16 to 21 year olds).

Competenz website – information about the national certificate.

Secondary education

Bursary or NCEA equivalent English, maths, physics, chemistry and technical drawing are preferred for entry to a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) degree. School Certificate or NCEA equivalent maths and science are recommended for those seeking an apprenticeship.

Training on the job

Skills are gained on the job. Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning engineers may also keep up to date with changes in the industry by reading relevant industry literature and attending seminars.

Registration

In November 2007, the Licensed Building Practitioners Scheme was introduced to encourage greater co-ordination in the design and construction of New Zealand buildings. The scheme is being phased in over four years. Under the scheme, some heating, ventilation and air-conditioning engineers will be required to have a specialist licence (be registered).