ACCA President and CEO Presents to AHRI Certification Subgroup

Posted on:

August 16, 2022

Barton James, ACCA president and CEO, had the pleasure of representing ACCA’s members at an Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Working Group meeting on August 9, 2022.

The group was formed to look into the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic that are affecting the industry. Within this working group, a subgroup was formed to consider what product certification programs might be desired based on the experiences of the pandemic. Barton James was asked to share what ACCA members are hearing from their customers and if there is a need for an industry certification.

The heart of the questions dealt with product certifications and whether they are needed or need to be improved. ACCA’s message was a reminder of the frontline challenges that HVACR contactors face in the field and when working with customers. Such challenges include securing and maintaining the skilled/technical workforce, equipment and parts shortages, price increases, explaining the latest refrigerant transition to A2Ls, lack of focus on the need for service and maintenance, proper sizing of equipment, and the continued challenges associated with so few states having an HVACR licensing and continuing education requirement. It was clear from their conversation that there is a continued need for contractors to share these real-world challenges.

ACCA extends a special thanks to Working Group Chairman, Anuj Mistry, manager of technical services at ACCA Corporate Partner, Daikin US Corporation, Bill McQuade, vice president, sector services at AHRI, and Benjamin Heyser, P.E., senior program engineer, applied sector at AHRI for including Barton James in this conversation.