"If you're yearning for the good old days, just turn off the air conditioning."
Next time you are having a bad day and sweating in the hot sun, just remember something important. There was once a time cooling down was not so easy. Take a moment to sit in a cold room and allow that cool air to make your world a little more comfortable. Taking it one-step further, remember Willis Carrier, "The father of Air Conditioning". In 1902, Carrier developed engineering drawing that address air condition functions like temperature control and air circulation. The air conditioner is considered by many one of the most important inventions of modern times.
Today's modern HVAC industry maintains comfortable temperature in commercial offices, data centers, hospitals, laboratories, nursing homes, refrigeration units in restaurants, residential homes, schools, factories and numerous other facilities. They allow mankind to store and transport food, medicine, and other perishable items.
The US is by far the largest user of air-conditioning across the world. Only 11 percent of households in Brazil use air-conditioning and 2 percent in India. Compare these numbers to 87% of households in the US that use air-conditioning. Obviously, there is great demand for technicians to keep heat and air flowing, which we cover more in-depth below. It also means there is a great demand in ensuring these worker stay safe, which we cover more in-depth too.
Where you live plays a big part in either keeping a building hot in cold weather or cool in summer months. Some parts of the country require more cooling, whereas other requiring more heating. See the department of energy's climate zoning below to the right. You can also find the Department of Energy guide for more information.
Keep in mind though; controlling temperatures is not a new concept. Modern people are only fortunate to have electricity powering the air we can't live without. People for centuries have been cooling and heating their homes.
Even though Carrier developed the modern day version of HVAC, circulating a room's air temperature has been with us since antiquity. The Roman's maintained a furnace system that heated the air. The floor was elevated above the ground by pillars called pilae, allowing hot air to circulate under it. This in turn would keep home residents warm during cold winter months, essentially, what our modern day HVAC units provide today. History repeats itself, only repeating itself today with electrical based systems.
Here are some other clever ways A/C has been produced over the years:
Roman Hypocaust
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration installers, mechanics and technicians are those working professionals that control the temperature and air quality in buildings. Across the US there are roughly 332,900 HVACR technicians working on heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration systems. According to the (BLS) Bureau of Labor Statistics, HVACR technicians are expected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026.
You will find HVACR technicians working on HVAC systems in commercial, industrial and residential establishments. These can be located in residential construction, homes, hospitals, hotels, research laboratories, schools, office buildings, and factories. With weather conditions different across the US, as shown above, some technicians may find themselves working in hot areas or extreme cold areas.
The HVAC industry is provides a skilled trade for many and equipment manufacturing for numerous companies. Each January, over 49,000 people attend the AHR Expo, a testament that there are lot of people working across the HVAC industry.
Around 64% of all HVACR occupations are Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors. Here is a breakdown of HVAC workers:
| Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors | 64% |
| Self-employed workers | 9% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 4% |
| Retail trade | 4% |
| Wholesale trade | 3% |
Here are some common job titles within the industry:
You will find HVAC installers, mechanics and technicians performing a wide range of tasks. Here are some everyday activities HVAC occupations perform:
HVAC technician installing and mounting Equipment
HVAC Wiring
HVAC technicians use a wide range of tools and equipment. Here are some of their everyday equipment and tools:
HVAC technician cutting material
"Don't learn safety rules by accident!"
HVAC hazards exist, which means the above safety rule is one you do not want to learn the hard way. US industries average 3.2 recordable cases for every 100 employees. HVAC contractors working under NAICS code 23822 experience 15% more recordable cases, with 3.8 per 100 workers. HVAC installers and technicians must always be on guard against a variety of hazards, covered more in-depth below.
At MCR Safety, We Protect People. Let us help keep you safe when installing or servicing HVAC systems.
For more information on HVAC systems, the Department of Defense has an entire manual that is helpful for those wanting more information.
Find the right MCR Safety product that protects you against these common hazards.
Metal is used all over HVAC units, which means pipes and surfaces easily rust in wet conditions. Combine that with general maintenance and insulated tubing, abrasive conditions are ever present.
Refrigerant runs throughout copper. When brazing copper, high temperatures are reached. Makes sense to keep some hand protection nearby.
Chemical treatment of water for cooling and heating systems requires some protection. Moreover, chemicals can easily squirt out of a cylinder. Our Predastretch is flexible and chemical resistant, the perfect solution for handling refrigerant.
Learn More About Chemical Protection
HVAC workers most times find themselves working in confined spaces. Operating powered pneumatic and hydraulic equipment will quickly injure hands during maintenance activities around sharp metal.
Learn More About Cut and Crush Protection
Commercial filters have to be changed every 90 days. Replacing dusty filters requires sealing your eyes.
Learn More About Dust Protection
Excellent grip is required, since slippage when handling materials and tools greatly increases the potential for injury. Check out our lightweight FLT and BNF breathable coated gloves with Nitrile coatings for superior grip!
Learn More About Grip Protection
Anyone maintenancing a heat exchanger knows that heat protection is required due to an increased possibility of burns. Hot components while performing regular maintenance is a definite concern. Check out our blog on ITC Lab’s Heat resistance.
Learn More About Heat Protection
When installing equipment, repairing parts, and fabricating material is always hazardous. A lifetime eye injury can easily occur when HVAC system’s fastener comes off and hits your eye. Combine that with splashing chemicals and refrigerants; HVAC workers definitely require some protective eyewear.
Learn More About Impaired Vision Protection
HVAC units may control a part of what Mother Nature does, keeping the climate cool. However, it does not control when Mother Nature decides to rain or snow. Rainwear is essential and a set should always be close by.
Learn More About Inclement Weather Protection
Keeping restaurant refrigerators and coolers operating is an everyday part of the job.
Learn More About Insulation Protection
The CL4 eyewear style is equipped so earplugs serve as the eyewear lanyard. Click below to download instructions on how to insert earplug cord onto eyewear temples.
Learn More About Noise Protection
Construction sites are hectic and busy. Be sure to stay seen.
Learn More About Overall Visibility Protection
As one technician told us, "I've got to be able to feel my screws". Most HVAC workers prefer featherweight protection when electrical wiring and holding small parts . Did you know we make featherweight cut protection?
Learn More About Sense of Touch Protection
Working with a duct take off exposes a workers hands to sharp metal. Servicing contractor’s hands can easily get sliced up around sheet metal. Duct work exposes workers to extreme cut hazards and replacing filters can easily cut up one’s hands. Cut resistant gloves should be worn when handling anything that could lacerate you such as sheet metal.
Learn More About Sharp Objects Protection
Why MCR Safety Products? MCR Safety manufactures and supplies Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Simply put, WE PROTECT PEOPLE! We are known world-wide for our extensive product line depth surrounding gloves, glasses, and garments spanning across numerous industries. We offer the total package of safety gear encompassing industrial gloves, safety glasses, protective garments, welding gear, industrial boots, Flame Resistant (FR) gear, face shields, and much more. From a glove standpoint alone, MCR Safety manufacturers and supplies over 1,000 different style gloves. Here are some of the many reasons MCR Safety is your go to source for PPE:
MCR Safety is recognized as a global manufacturer stretching across six countries, with both distribution and manufacturing facilities. Our core competency and specialty is manufacturing and supplying protective gloves, glasses, and garments. The information shown and provided on MCR Safety’s website, its safety articles, industry resource pages, highlighted hazards and safety equipment should be used only as a general reference tool and guide. The end user is solely responsible for determining the suitability of any product selection for a particular application. MCR Safety makes no guarantee or warranty (expressed or implied) of our products’ performance or protection for particular applications.
