Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
- Vacancy on Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Advisory Board
- TDLR revoked the license of a North Richland Hills air conditioning contractor for failing to properly install and service an air conditioning system at a Dallas residence
- TDLR issues six Cease and Desist orders
- Commission Fines Air Conditioning Contractors $20,000
- New Member Appointed To TDLR A/C Advisory Board
- Texas Railroad Commission revises rule affecting Class A or B Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
- Air Conditioning Contractor Code Classes
Vacancy on Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Advisory Board
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation announces a vacancy on the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Advisory Board established by Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302. The pertinent rules may be found in 16 TAC §75.65. The purpose of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Advisory Board is to advise the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in adopting rules, administering and enforcing this chapter, and setting fees.
The Committee is composed of six members appointed by the presiding officer of the Commission, with the Commission’s approval. The Committee consists of one official of a municipality with a population of more than 250,000; one official of a municipality with a population of not more than 250,000; and four full-time licensed air-conditioning and refrigeration contractors, as follows: one member who holds a Class A license and practices in a municipality with a population of more than 250,000; one member who holds a Class B license and practices in a municipality with a population of more than 250,000; one member who holds a Class A license and practices in a municipality with a population of more than 25,000 but not more than 250,000; and one member who holds a Class B license and practices in a municipality with a population of not more than 25,000. At least one appointed advisory board member must be an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor who employs organized labor and at least two appointed members must be air conditioning and refrigeration contractors who are licensed engineers. The executive director and the chief administrator of this chapter serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the advisory board. Members serve staggered six-year terms. The terms of two appointed members expire on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
This announcement is for the position of an official of a municipality with a population of not more than 250,000.
Interested persons should request an application from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation by telephone (512) 463‑6599, FAX (512) 475‑2874 or Email advisory.boards@license.state.tx.us. Applications may also be downloaded from the Department website.
Applicants may be asked to appear for an interview; however any required travel for an interview would be at the applicant's expense.
The Railroad Commission of Texas has revised Section 9.13 of the LP Gas
Safety Rules to allow for registration of licensed master or journeyman
plumbers and Class A or B Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
effective September 1, 2005. Prior to this change these individuals
were required to obtain a license and/or request an exam exemption.
The registration fee is $50 and $20 to renew annually.
Questions regarding the registration process should be directed to the
Licensing Section of the RRC at 512-463-6931 or via email at
LPLicense@rrc.state.tx.us.
Air Conditioning Contractor Code Classes
If you are an air conditioning contractor and you have agreed to take an AC code class as part of a settlement of a TDLR complaint against you, please contact the following individuals about your class:
Tommy Poindexter, HVAC Consultants, 817-444-4390 or 817-201-4188 cell, tommy.poindexter@hvacconsultants.net. Classes are scheduled throughout the year in Ft. Worth. Class schedule is 9am-5pm and lunch is provided with the course. This class also covers the most recent code requirements. Class locations vary. Contact Mr. Poindexter for class locations.
Berry Smith, Mechanical/Energy Inspector, City of Galveston, 409-797-3623 (o), 281-204-7768 (c), bersmith@sbcglobal.net. Mr. Smith schedules AC code classes in the Houston/Galveston area. Class time is from 8 am-5 pm. Contact Mr. Smith for class location information.Frequently Asked Questions regarding code classes:
Q. I took a code class as part of a settlement with TDLR. If another mechanical integrity complaint is filed against me, will I have to take another code class?
A. Yes, if the allegations are substantiated.
Q. How much do the classes cost?
A. TDLR does not control course cost. Contact the instructor for that information.
Q. Can anyone attend these classes?
A. Yes, you don't have to be a involved with a TDLR complaint to take these classes.
Q. Will these classes count as continuing education?
A. No. These classes are part of your settlement with TDLR's Enforcement Division. They have been approved by TDLR's Enforcement Division, not by TDLR's Licensing Division as continuing education courses.
Q. How will TDLR verify that I took the course?
A. Usually, the instructors will provide TDLR's Enforcement Division with your completion information. You are responsible for making sure that the course completion information gets to the Enforcement Division.
Q. How long is the class?
A. 1 day.
Q. Are there any other 1 day courses available?
A. Not to our knowledge. We have been approached by others who want to provide a course, but they have not submitted their courses for approval. Check with your local building officials, trade schools, colleges, or association to see if they know of any other courses.
Q. Will an AC licensing exam prep course satisfy the code class requirement?
A. No.
Q. What codes are covered by these classes?
A. The most recent editions of the Uniform Mechanical Code, the International Mechanical, or the International Residential Code.
Q. Will TDLR let people know about my code class, too?
A. Yes. Once a course is approved, TDLR will put your course information on its web site. All you have to do is let us know when and where you'll be teaching the course.
The TDLR Air Conditioning Enforcement Task Team will meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 17. The meeting will be conducted in the Seventh Floor Conference Room of the E.O. Thompson State Office Building, 920 Colorado Street in Austin.
All interested individuals are invited to attend.
The purpose of the task team is to bring together air conditioning contractors, suppliers, municipal officials, and TDLR staff for the purpose of improving awareness and enforcement of the Air Conditioning statute. At the task team meetings, municipal officials and TDLR staff provide reports about current enforcement activities at their respective levels, and sometimes seek information and assistance with particular investigations. The meetings also allow an opportunity to discuss new methods of discovering violations occurring in the field, and improvements to existing enforcement processes at the state and municipal levels.
AGENDA
1. Introductions by Chairman - David McMillan
2. Review of minutes of last meeting held November 10, 2005
3. Mission of Task Force - Jeff Rinard
4. Enforcement Update - Jeff Rinard
5. Sting Operations - Jeff Rinard
6. Municipal Update by City Officials - Municipal Officials
7. General Discussion
8. Next meeting date/Adjourn
Google Maps location of TDLR Headquarters in Austin
Directions to TDLR from ABIA Airport
Exit from ABIA, turning left onto Hwy. 71. Merge onto Hwy. 71 West. Continue on Hwy 71 West, passing Hwy. 183. As approaching IH-35, stay to the right, taking the IH-35 access road, heading north. Merge onto IH-35 North. Continue on IH-35 North to Exit 234C (6th-12th Streets). Take Exit 234C. On the northbound access road, go to E. 11th Street. Turn left and continue down E. 11th Street to Colorado. The building is on the corner of E. 10th & Colorado.
Directions to TDLR from Dallas
Take I-35 South to Austin. Take Exit 234C (12th-11th Sts / State Capitol). Turn right onto E. 10th St. Turn left onto Colorado Street.
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program regulates contractors who install, repair, or maintain systems related to air conditioning, refrigeration, or heating. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is reminding the owners of flood-damaged homes and businesses that contracting with an unlicensed individual for air conditioning and heating repairs can be hazardous.
For more information about air conditioning and refrigeration contractors, e-mail TDLR at air.conditioning@license.state.tx.us.