LibGuides: Heating, Ventilation &amp; Air Conditioning/Refrigeration: Codes + Standards

CODES + STANDARDS

NOTE: Pennsylvania does not have requirements for HVAC licensing. However, HVAC and refrigeration technicians are required to apply for local certifications to perform specific jobs. See certification info under "Careers/Jobs" tab.

Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute
Developed under a process composed of multiple levels of development, review, and approval by industry experts and other stakeholders. The AHRI standards process is accredited by both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Standards Council Canada (SCC), which means that AHRI standards can be further approved as American National Standards (ANS) and/or as National Standards of Canada (NSC).
American National Standards Institute
Facilitates the development of American national standards by accrediting the procedures of developing organizations and approving their documents.
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
A standards review database with open forum for comments.
Code of Federal Regulations
Divided into 50 sections called "titles" that represent the broad areas subject to federal regulation.
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation + Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician: Classification of Instructional Program
State standards for education in this field.
International Code Council
Codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.
International Organization for Standardization
ISO standards are well-known and cover a wide range of activities, including making a product, managing a process, delivering a service or supplying materials.
MADCAD
Database containing building codes―provides cross-referenced collections of building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire, and maintenance codes from BOCA, SBCCI, ICBO, ICC, and NFPA. Database updates vary depending on publication of new codes. Contact the library for off-campus access.
National Fire Protection Association
Virtually every building, process, service, design, and installation is affected by NFPA’s 275+ codes and standards―all are available for free access. These codes reflect changing industry needs and evolving technologies, supported by research and development, and practical experience.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
An A-Z list of OSHA regulations and standards.
Pennsylvania Building Codes
A consolidated, searchable platform for published state codes and regulations relating to buildings.
Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin
State regulations and other documents filed with the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Uniform Construction Code
Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code. Enforcement of this code began in April 2004.

What are standards, specifications, and codes?

A standard is an approved set of criteria defining the performance or design of a product or defining the process of constructing a product.
A specification is a set of conditions and/or requirements used primarily for procurement and manufacturing purposes. Standards may be referenced or included in specifications.
Codes are organized collections of mandatory standards that have been made into law by a governmental authority.

Who produces standards?
Scientific and professional organizations, trade organizations, and governments create standards, both nationally as well as internationally. In the United States, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) coordinates many standards producing organizations.

What types of standards exist?
Different standards-granting organizations publish different types of standards, e.g.:

ANSI: basic, design, management systems, process, product, test methods, and others
ASTM: specification, test method, terminology, practice, guide
ISO: product, test methods, codes of practice, guideline, management systems