Association membership supports TECA's development of training programs and other initiatives to meet the needs of residential heating, ventilating and cooling industry professionals. At the board level, the dedicated industry involvement of member volunteers keeps TECA at the forefront of technological advances, changes in policy, and other issues affecting the trade. Our members rely on TECA as a voice for their concerns at the provincial and federal level, and their input directs TECA's development of and participation in projects that satisfy our mandate.

Here are some of the initiatives currently underway.

Certified Heating Technician (CHT)

TECA is excited to announce that all modules of the Certified Heating Technician (CHT) course are being offered in part-time studies format during 2009-10 at BCIT. Thank you to all the industry contractors who expressed interest and are participating in the CHT/CGT program. To date, more than 150 individuals have registered to earn their CHT.

Please visit the CHT page of the TECA website for more information.

Options To Earn Your Designation

• Traditional In-School Technical Training and Apprenticeship Program
  A block release model, 6-8 weeks of full-time school depending on module then go back to work between modules to gain work experience hours. Most appropriate for high school graduates wanting to enter the trades and/or someone with no experience in the industry.
  
  
• Partial Challenge and Apprenticeship Program
  Obtain credit for parts of the CHT program through industry training programs such as the Quality First programs. This process allows existing workers in the field to earn certification and gain the technical knowledge necessary. Most appropriate for someone who already has some work experience in the industry, but requires technical training.
  
  
• Certificate of Qualification Challengers Program
  An option to challenge the certification by writing a comprehensive exam. If successful, you earn your CHT. Only appropriate for contractors that have substantial work experience (10 years plus) and have taken industry-training programs such as Quality First™.

For program and registration process information, please click here.

New Basics of Air Course and Training Manual

After years of delivering Quality First™ Forced Air Guidelines and Ventilation Guidelines courses, TECA is excited to offer contractors who are new to the trade a solid foundation in Basics of Air. If you are interested in obtaining a registered Forced Air Guidelines number or Ventilation Guidelines certification, and have a minimal technical background, this course is a stepping stone to success in those technically demanding courses.

Learn how to properly move air in light today's higher volume forced air heating equipment. The course explains terms like flow rate, velocity, duct aspect ratio, static and velocity pressure, density, and temperature rise, and covers power requirements (transport energy) and fan laws. It also applies this knowledge to design quiet draft free systems. Basics of Air uses plain language, practical math and a fully instrumented scale model of a forced air furnace to teach these important principles.

This course will equip the HVAC designer/installer to explain convincingly why duct sizing matters and why cost and space required for custom fittings are important to final comfort.

The course fee includes 12 hours of instruction with exam, the Quality First™ Basics of Air manual, and a certificate of completion for successful participants. This course is recommended as a prerequisite for Forced Air Guidelines or Ventilation Guidelines.

Hydronic Systems Design Manual Revisions

A new 5th Edition of the Quality First™ Hydronic Systems Design manual is in the works for release this fall, bringing it up to date with current technologies and best practices. The new edition will consolidate the BC and National versions.

Also in development are updates to both the Hydronic and Combo Guidelines, to be released in a comprehensive CD format with over 400 drawings, and the Hydronic System Design software.

UPCOMING COURSES

TECA MEMBER BENEFITS