U.S. Trade Groups Developing R744 Curriculum for Colleges, Trade Schools

The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) and ESCO Group are developing a CO₂ refrigeration curriculum aimed at trade schools, and community colleges. The curriculum is expected to be ready for use in 2021.

The new curriculum, which will offer the opportunity for certification, is meant to help alleviate the shortage of technicians qualified to install and service natural refrigerant equipment, and increase the uptake of natural refrigerant technology in the U.S., said NASRC on its website.

In developing the curriculum, NASRC, which promotes the use of natural refrigerants in supermarkets, and ESCO Group, an HVAC&R training company, have formed a committee of CO₂ refrigeration stakeholders; the committee includes educators, contractors and technicians, equipment manufacturers, and school representatives.

The shortage of qualified technicians is caused by a shrinking workforce and limited training options, but in particular by a “lack of exposure to natural refrigerants during initial training because natural refrigerants have not been incorporated into school curricula at a national level,” NASRC said. 

“Technicians should be exposed to advanced refrigeration technologies, including natural refrigerants, as early as possible in their training,” said Danielle Wright, Executive Director of NASRC. “We’re pleased to be partnering with ESCO Group to ensure new technicians entering the field are prepared to expand on their natural refrigerant training and work on the latest technology innovations.” 

“As the industry shifts its focus to low-GWP and natural refrigerants, the ESCO Group is honored to be working with the NASRC on the development of a CO₂ curriculum,” said Randy Petit, CMHE, ESCO Group Vice President of Program Development.

“With a mission to improve the technical competency of the HVACR industry through standards, certification, and education, ESCO is excited to be part of developing a program that will provide a strong foundation for commercial refrigeration technicians of the future,” Petit added.

“Technicians should be exposed to advanced refrigeration technologies, including natural refrigerants, as early as possible in their training,”

Danielle Wright, Executive Director of NASRC