10 Important HVAC Organizations & Associations

The AMCA is designed to provide education, legislative protection, and standards for businesses and individuals who work in the air control industry. They are a huge influencer of national standards for designing and installing air conditioning units, having created documentation that covers benchmarks from duct-sizing to air conditioning sound levels. Members must sell AMCA scope products, so this is an organization perfect for HVAC/R professionals who also sell full units.

To be eligible for membership as an AMCA member, applicants must be involved in the designing, fabricating, assembling, and selling of product(s) that fall under the AMCA product scope as a regular public offering. They should submit a completed application which will then be reviewed by AMCA staff. The staff member will also visit the applicant’s location to verify whether the applicant manufactures AMCA scoped products. The application is then finally reviewed by the AMCA Board of Directors for approval.

The AMCA publishes more than 60 standards and publications, including application guides, testing methods, safety guides, educational texts, and a Certified Rating Program (CRP). The CRP assures that ‘a product line has been tested and rated in conformance with AMCA International’s test standards and rating requirements’.

• Who Should Join: Membership is open to all companies that manufacture or hold the design of a product falling under the scope of AMCA. Members are mostly manufacturers, but this organization also welcomes resellers as affiliates and suppliers as associates.
• Benefits of Membership: Members enjoy a host of benefits such as member discounts, membership meetings discussing issues of interest concerning the industry, maintaining industry relations with other organizations, attending periodic engineering conferences, AMCA testing laboratory access, and more.

Since 1933, RSES has been the authority for refrigeration training in the US. That focus has resulted in an incredible depth of knowledge for the organization, exhibited by the monthly RSES Journal. The organization also encourages cutting-edge research and promotes training on well-understood methodologies. The RSES conference is one of the major industry events and draws thousands of HVAC/R professionals annually.

Apart from delivering educational programs, RSES also publishes several industry training materials for benefiting HVAC/R professionals throughout their careers. The training provided by RSES covers all aspects of this HVAC/R industry.

It also provides several certifications such as NATE, EPA Section 608, R-410A certification, and many more. These certifications signify that HVAC professionals have the technical knowledge, skills, and other requirements for installing and servicing today’s complex HVAC/R systems effectively.

• Who Should Join: All individuals actively engaged in the HVACR industry. This includes contractors, engineers, instructors, sales, students, service technicians or installers, and operations or maintenance personnel.
• Benefits of Membership: Apart from training, certification preparation, timely information, and education, RSES members enjoy reduced rates on a variety of goods and services for themselves and their family members.

This is the gold standard in professional associations for those focusing on energy-efficient systems and designs. The CEE was developed by a group of Canadian and US energy efficiency managers to create energy-effective products, services, and buildings. Their main goal is to change policies relating to energy efficiency and is a great place to grow for those seeking to participate in sustainable HVAC/R practices.

The CEE not only develops or implements the programs delivered at the local level, but it also influences national players such as manufacturers, government agencies, and stakeholders to maximize the impact of efficiency programs. The association also supports cross-cutting tendencies in behavioral programs and evaluations.

Members of the CEE work together to advance the market availability of efficient services and products.

• Who Should Join: CEE members include municipal or investor-owned utilities, provincial or state energy offices, nonutility program administrators, and government agencies. Apart from program administrators, non-profit organizations focusing on energy efficiency may also join.
• Benefits of Membership: Through Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), program administrators regularly get the attention of manufacturers for moving markets forward. CEE also has the process and relationships for delivering market access.

This nonprofit organization is dedicated to advancing the science of mechanical engineering to improve the quality of life. Many of ASME’s key leaders are influential builders and researchers on HVAC/R systems, making this an excellent organization for getting the most cutting-edge information. ASME is also the leader in developing codes for safety in mechanical engineering and provides training opportunities and awards for HVAC/R technicians that develop new processes and procedures that enhance science.

Established in 1880, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers consists of more than 90k individual ASME members, over 23k student members, and has more than 135 countries with ASME members. This association trains around 5,000 individuals annually.

Members of ASME always stay updated with the latest trends in this field through the ME Magazine and other weekly and daily newsletters. They can also take advantage of other resources for enhancing their professional development through journals, discounted courses, AccessEngineering (an online technical reference tool), papers, and more.

• Who Should Join: ASME offers professional as well as student members. The community is composed of engineers, researchers, academics, and others interested in mechanical engineering.
• Benefits of Membership: Several benefits come along with the membership. Some of these benefits include access to the ‘Mechanical Engineering Magazine’- an award-winning flagship publication of ASME, several discounts on merchandise, ASME branded products, and travel, and special pricing for online learning courses, books, journals, conferences, and proceedings. Additionally, ASME has collaborated with McGraw-Hill Education to provide AccessEngineering, an online reference tool containing hundreds of titles embedded with interactive graphs and calculators.

One of the two organizations that represent contractors for radiant heating, the RPA is focused on building the skills of its independent contractor membership. Members have access to radiant heating research, cutting-edge installation and fitting techniques, and collaboration with other professionals.

The association also sponsors Radiant Living Magazine, the Radiant Comfort Guide, and the Radiant Hydronics Report, which support those in the “radiant heating & cooling and snow-melting fields.” Please note that the RPA also offers training for the ASSE Standard 19210 Hydronics Heating and Cooling Professional Qualification examination. This comprehensive three-day course covers all aspects of hydronic and radiant system installation.

Manufacturing members of the RPA are involved in producing the tubing, heat sources, valves, emitters, and controls used in walls, ceilings, and radiant floors. Architects and engineers are designing efficient radiant hydronic systems for commercial and residential applications, including in-floor heating, space cooling, and snowmelt. Contractor members of the RPA install heating/cooling systems throughout Canada and the US.

• Who Should Join: Membership categories include: Contractors and dealers, distributors, manufacturers, design professionals, non-profit or educational organizations, associates (such as independent sales representatives, utility companies, and trade associations), students, and IAPMO associates interested in the industry.
• Benefits of Membership: RPA members will connect with other members who have several years of experience. They will learn smart business tactics from successful members who are not their competitors. The certification program provided by RPA proves that its members possess top-notch skills through which they can make a big difference.