ACA/NE is  Working For

You at the Legislative and

Regulatory Level!

July 2021

On July 8th, ACA/NE submitted testimony to the Massachusetts Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure in opposition to legislation that would require residential HVAC contractors to obtain a refrigeration license to perform work on refrigerant systems under ten-tons.

In the written testimony ACA/NE argued that It does not make sense to require that residential HVAC contractors obtain a commercial refrigeration license. This license would not cover the scope of work residential HVAC contractors undertake – including the construction, reconstruction, installation, maintenance, repair, or removal of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment..

Click here to read the full testimony.

March 2021

HVAC Construction Supervisor License (CSL)
  • ACA/NE has submitted a proposal to the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) to create an HVAC Construction Supervisors License (CSL).
  • The BBRS has created a Study Group to resolve issues identified by several Boards.
  • Manny Chaves from Chaves Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., and Government Affairs Committee Chairman, is representing ACA/NE on the Study Group.

Duct Testing
  • ACA/NE has submitted proposed amendments  with the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS)  to revise the provisions that allow only HERS Raters and BPI Certified professionals to conduct duct testing and testing of mechanical systems.
  • While the provisions are currently not in effect, ACA/Ne has learned that this issue could be resolved  as updates are made to the 2021 Energy Code.
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Refrigeration License Legislation
  • ACA/NE continues to work to defeat legislation to require that residential HVAC contractors obtain a refrigeration license. Currently, the license is required for work or over 10 tons.
  • The bill has been refiled for 2021.  Click here to read House Docket, No. 1255.

Request to Amend Adoption Of 2021 Editions of IECC & IRC, Chapter 11, Energy
  • During the Final Public Comment Hearing on the 2019 Proposed Changes to the International Codes (“Group B”), the ICC membership approved proposed changes that (a) deleted “Exception 1,” which exempted ducts located within the thermal envelope from being leak tested, and (b) added a leak test criteria and tolerances for such ducts.
  • The proposed changes were opposed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the National Association of Home Builders, and the National Multi-Family Housing Council, among others. Despite their comments and testimony, the proposals were narrowly approved for publication in the 2021 editions of the above codes, which are pending publication by ICC.
  • ACA/NE will file an amendment to the Massachusetts Building Code that if passed will not require that a duct air-leakage test be conducted where the ducts and air handlers are located entirely within the building thermal envelope.
 
ACCA Form Redesign
  • ACCA, the national HVAC association, has designed a new simplified form that HVAC companies can use when submitting an application for HVAC work.
  • ACA/NE will introduce the form to the BBRS.
  • The new form will be helpful to both contractors and building inspectors, as the simplified document is designed to make the process of obtaining a permit less cumbersome. Since every city and town has its own process, this simplified form could standardize permitting.
ACA/NE Membership Testimonial
"ACA/NE is a wonderful association to be a part of. Membership with ACA/NE has helped me grow my professional network and stay informed with what is happening within the HVAC industry.” 
Don Chaisson | APA, LLC.