Science & ResearchISCO 2144

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer

A heating, ventilation and air conditioning engineer is a person who designs and develops heating, ventilation, air conditioning and sometimes refrigeration systems for homes, production sites, offices and commercial buildings. The design answers two things at once: what the client needs from the building, and what the building itself will allow.

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Rate 5 of the 28 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

advise on fitted ventilation systems

perform a feasibility study on district heating and cooling

assess heating and cooling systems

perform a feasibility study on electric heating

perform a feasibility study on heat pumps

About heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer

The architectural constraint shapes everything. A system has to fit the spaces that exist, through the routes that exist, in a building that was not drawn around it, so the engineer works out where plant, ducts and pipes can go before deciding what equipment to specify. Engineering fundamentals and mechanics are what make that judgement possible.

Design work proceeds system by system. The engineer designs the heat and cooling emission systems, conducts feasibility studies on heat pumps where one might replace a conventional source, performs assessments of heating and cooling systems already installed, and works through domestic cooling systems for residential projects. Computer-aided design software carries the drawings and the coordination with the other trades.

Energy is the measure the design is judged by. The engineer evaluates energy consumption in ventilation systems. Options are compared on running cost, not only on installed cost.

Do You Have the Skills for This Role?

Core competency requirements inferred from the occupation's skill profile. Take the free assessment to see how you match.

Supporting Skills

Problem SolvingIntermediate

CollaborationIntermediate

CommunicationIntermediate

Customer OrientationBasic

Self ManagementBasic

Sense MakingBasic

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European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (28)

engineering principlesengineering principlesThe engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.electric heating systemselectric heating systemsElectric heating systems contribute to indoor comfort and energy saving under the right conditions (low frequency use, or very highly insulated buildings). They include InfraRed and electric floor/wal...technical drawingstechnical drawingsDrawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.hydraulicshydraulicsThe power transmission systems that use the force of flowing liquids to transmit power.mechanical engineeringmechanical engineeringDiscipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.domestic cooling systemsdomestic cooling systemsThe modern and traditional cooling systems such as air conditioning, ventilation, or radiant cooling, and their energy saving principles.heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration partsheating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration partsThe different parts constituing heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems such as the different valves, fans, compressors, condensers, filters and other components.district heating and coolingdistrict heating and coolingDistrict heating and cooling exploits local sustainable sources of energy to provide heating and potable hot water to a group of buildings and contributes to improve the energy performance.mechanicsmechanicsTheoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.integrated designintegrated designApproach to design which includes several related disciplines, with the aim to design and build according to the Near Zero Energy Building principles. The interplay between all aspects of building des...advise on fitted ventilation systemsadvise on fitted ventilation systemsInvestigate and advise on a ventilation system that fits the energy demands but also guarantees good indoor air quality according to minimum indoor air quality levels. Consider alternative ways of ven...perform a feasibility study on district heating and coolingperform a feasibility study on district heating and coolingPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of district heating and cooling system. Realise a standardised study to determine the costs, restrictions, and the demand for heating and cooling...assess heating and cooling systemsassess heating and cooling systemsSelect heating and cooling systems, specifically in relation with the buildings' architectural design and building functions. Discuss the relation between architectural design and selection of heating...perform a feasibility study on electric heatingperform a feasibility study on electric heatingPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of electric heating. Realise a standardised study to determine whether the application of electric heating is appropriate under the given conditi...perform a feasibility study on heat pumpsperform a feasibility study on heat pumpsPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a heat pump system. Realise a standardised study to determine costs and restrictions, and conduct research to support the process of decision ...design heat pump installationsdesign heat pump installationsDesign a heat pump system, including calculations of heat loss or transmission, needed capacity, mono- or bivalent, energy balances, and noise reduction.adjust engineering designsadjust engineering designsAdjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.perform scientific researchperform scientific researchGain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.use technical drawing softwareuse technical drawing softwareCreate technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.design district heating and cooling energy systemsdesign district heating and cooling energy systemsDesign a district heating and cooling system, including calculations of heat loss and cooling load, determining of capacity, flow, temperatures, hydraulic concepts etc.design an electric heating systemdesign an electric heating systemDesign the details of electric heating systems. Calculate the needed capacity for space heating under given conditions complying with available electrical power supply.identify fitted source for heat pumpsidentify fitted source for heat pumpsDetermine available heat and energy sources choosing among different types of available heat sources, taking into account the influence of source temperature on energy efficiency.operate solar thermal energy systems for hot water and heatingoperate solar thermal energy systems for hot water and heatingUse solar tube collectors systems to generate and store domestic potable hot water and heating, in order to increase energy performance.assess energy consumption of ventilation systemsassess energy consumption of ventilation systemsCalculate and evaluate the total energy use of the ventilation system regarding electrical power consumption, heat loss of the system and the building, on a yearly base, in order to select a fitted co...execute feasibility studyexecute feasibility studyPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a project, plan, proposition or new idea. Realise a standardised study which is based on extensive investigation and research to support the p...design heating and cooling emission systemsdesign heating and cooling emission systemsInvestigate and select the appropriate system according to the heating and cooling generation system. Design and evaluate solutions for different types of rooms and spaces regarding square metres, hei...assess financial viabilityassess financial viabilityRevise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Asse...approve engineering designapprove engineering designGive consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.

Optional (41) — show

refrigerantsrefrigerantsThe characteristics and properties of the different fluids used in heat pump and refrigeration cycles.geothermal energy systemsgeothermal energy systemsLow temperature heating and high temperature cooling, generated by use of geothermal energy, and their contribution to energy performance.electrical engineeringelectrical engineeringThe field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.design principlesdesign principlesThe elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.combined heat and power generationcombined heat and power generationTechnology that generates electricity and captures the heat that would otherwise be wasted to provide steam or hot water, that can be used for space heating, cooling, domestic hot water and industrial...ventilation systemsventilation systemsThe types of mechanical ventilation systems that permits the exchange and circulation of air.thermodynamicsthermodynamicsThe branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy.fluid mechanicsfluid mechanicsThe characteristics and properties of fluids, including gases, liquids and plasmas, at rest and in motion, and the forces on them.domestic heating systemsdomestic heating systemsThe modern and traditional heating systems alimented by gas, wood, oil, biomass, solar power and other renewable energy sources and their energy saving principles.components of air conditioning systemscomponents of air conditioning systemsThe different components that constitute air conditioning systems such as condensers, compressors, evaporators and sensors.industrial heating systemsindustrial heating systemsHeating systems fuelled by gas, wood, oil, biomass, solar power, and other reneable energy sources and their energy saving principles, applicable specifically to industrial buildings and facilities.biogas energybiogas energyEnergy production for heating and potable hot water making use of biogas (the biogas is generated off-site), and its contribution to energy performance.energy conservationenergy conservationThe practice of reducing energy consumption and using fewer energy services. As a sustainable process, energy conservation is done by replacing used energy with alternative sources, using more efficie...distribution of heating cooling and hot waterdistribution of heating cooling and hot waterThe design principles of water distribution systems for heating, cooling and domestic hot water and the relation with insulation, energy saving by optimal hydraulic design. The nature of energy loss i...product data managementproduct data managementThe use of software to track all information concerning a product such as technical specifications, drawings, design specifications, and production costs.design a solar absorption cooling systemdesign a solar absorption cooling systemDesign an absorption cooling generation system with solar regeneration by heat tube collectors. Calculate accurate cooling demand of the building in order to select the right capacity (kW). Make a det...perform a feasibility study on solar absorption coolingperform a feasibility study on solar absorption coolingPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of the application of solar cooling. Realise a standardised study to estimate the cooling demand of the building, costs, benefits and life cycle ...lead a teamlead a teamLead, supervise and motivate a group of people, in order to meet the expected results within a given timeline and with the foreseen resources in mind.determine internal air quality parametersdetermine internal air quality parametersApply the knowledge of essential indoor environmental quality parameters to select the most appropriate ones for the Building Management System (BMS).design a solar heating systemdesign a solar heating systemDesign a solar thermal energy system. Calculate accurate heating demand of the building, calculate accurate domestic hot water demand in order to select the right capacity (kW, litres). Make a detaile...record test datarecord test dataRecord data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptiona...integrate biogas energy in buildingsintegrate biogas energy in buildingsDesign and calculate installations for heating and potable hot water (PWH) making use of biogas.perform test runperform test runPerform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, ...install heating boilerinstall heating boilerPlace heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration boilers, which heats up water and circulates it through a closed radiator system to distribute heat around a structure. Connect the boile...create technical planscreate technical plansCreate detailed technical plans of machinery, equipment, tools and other products.perform feasibility study on solar heatingperform feasibility study on solar heatingPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of solar heating systems. Realise a standardised study to estimate the heat loss of the building and the heating demand, the demand of domestic h...install heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration ductsinstall heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration ductsInstall ducts to deliver and remove air. Determine whether the duct should be flexible or not, and select the appropriate material based on projected usage. Waterproof and airproof the duct and insula...analyse test dataanalyse test dataInterpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.operate climate controloperate climate controlOperate climate control installations.advise on machinery malfunctionsadvise on machinery malfunctionsOffer advice to service technicians in case of machinery malfunctions and other technical repair tasks.draft design specificationsdraft design specificationsList the design specifications such as materials and parts to be used and a cost estimate.use CAD softwareuse CAD softwareUse computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.design prototypesdesign prototypesDesign prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.conduct performance testsconduct performance testsConduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditi...design passive energy measuresdesign passive energy measuresDesign systems that achieve energy performance using passive measures (i.e. natural light and ventilation, control of solar gains), are less prone to failures and without maintenance costs and require...advise architectsadvise architectsGive advise on design, safety issues, and cost reduction to architects during the pre-application phase.design ventilation networkdesign ventilation networkDraft ventilation network. Prepare and plan the ventilation layout using specialist software. Design heating or cooling systems as required. Improve efficiency of ventilation network to lower energy c...design a combined heat and power systemdesign a combined heat and power systemEstimate the heating and cooling demands of the building, determine the demands of domestic hot water. Make a hydraulic scheme to fit in the CHP unit with a guaranteed return temperature and acceptabl...design hot water systemsdesign hot water systemsDesign hot water distribution systems for uses such as heating and distributing potable water. Design insulation systems and solutions for heat recovery. Consider the influence of insulation on the to...install heating furnaceinstall heating furnacePlace a furnace which heats air to be distributed around a structure. Connect the furnace to a source of fuel or electricity and connect any air ducts to guide the heated air. Configure the furnace.design geothermal energy systemsdesign geothermal energy systemsDesign in detail a geothermal energy system. Determine construction site boundaries e.g., needed space, area, depth. Make detailed descriptions and drawings of the design.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer do?

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineers design and develop heating, ventilation, air conditioning and possibly refrigeration systems for usage in residences, manufacturing sites, offices, commercial buildings, etc. They strive for solutions that serve the needs of clients and respond to architectural restrictions of sites.

What skills does a heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer need?

A heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer needs 28 essential skills, including engineering principles, electric heating systems, technical drawings, hydraulics, mechanical engineering.

Will AI replace heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer jobs?

The AI disruption score for heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer is 23/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: record test data, product data management, analyse test data. Most resilient: install heating boiler, install heating furnace, install heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration ducts.