Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Mechanic (2 of 2)

Course Description

ACR0049 – Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Mechanic (2 of 2) is a Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) clock-hour course within the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Career Certificate program (FLDOE Program Code C400100). The course is the second half of the advanced HVAC mechanic content within the HVAC/R 2 program extension, paired with ACR0047 (HVAC Mechanic 1 of 2). Together, ACR0047 + ACR0049 deliver comprehensive advanced HVAC mechanic competencies — building on the foundational HVAC/R 1 program (ACR0041 + ACR0043 + ACR0044C, totaling ~750-850 hours of foundational training already in the corpus) and complementing the refrigeration-specialty content of ACR0045 (already in corpus this session).

The course sits within the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) under Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating > HVAC/R Technology Advanced and is offered at approximately 27 Florida public institutions. ACR0049 specifically focuses on the second half of advanced commercial HVAC content — including chilled-water systems at intermediate level, advanced controls and building automation, advanced load calculations and equipment selection, energy efficiency and decarbonization in commercial HVAC, advanced commissioning, and the systems-engineering thinking required to work on larger and more complex commercial HVAC installations. Where ACR0047 emphasizes commercial RTU service and basic commercial HVAC systems, ACR0049 emphasizes more complex chilled-water and advanced commercial systems plus the strategic and systems-thinking competencies for senior commercial HVAC work.

Successful completion of ACR0049, combined with prior completion of ACR0047, qualifies students for advanced commercial HVAC mechanic roles. Together with the HVAC/R 1 sequence (ACR0041 + ACR0043 + ACR0044C) and ACR0045 (Refrigeration Mechanic), ACR0047 + ACR0049 complete the corpus's coverage of the FLDOE HVAC/R extended program at approximately 1,350 contact hours. Graduates of the comprehensive HVAC/R Technology certificate are positioned for the broadest range of Florida HVAC/R career opportunities, from residential service through complex commercial work.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of ACR0049, students will be able to:

• Apply advanced HVAC safety practices in complex commercial environments: chiller-room safety; refrigerant safety in larger commercial systems (50+ pounds of refrigerant); cooling-tower safety; mechanical-room safety practices; safe work in critical-environment commercial buildings (hospitals, data centers, theme-park back-of-house); coordinated lockout/tagout in commercial multi-system environments.
• Apply principles of chilled-water system design and operation at intermediate level: chiller types in greater depth (air-cooled vs. water-cooled chillers; reciprocating, scroll, screw, centrifugal, magnetic-bearing); chilled-water plant configurations (single chiller, multiple chillers, primary-secondary, primary-only with VFDs); the relationship between chiller capacity and building load.
• Service and maintain commercial chillers: chiller maintenance procedures; oil management; refrigerant-charge management for larger chillers; common chiller faults; manufacturer-specific chiller service awareness (Carrier, Trane, York/Johnson Controls, Daikin/McQuay, AAON); the substantial role of chiller maintenance in critical Florida facilities.
• Service and maintain cooling towers: cooling-tower types (open, closed-circuit, hybrid); cooling-tower components (basin, fill, eliminators, fan); water treatment introduction (chemical, scale, biological, blowdown); cooling-tower preventive maintenance; Legionnaires' disease prevention in cooling-tower operation; the regulatory considerations for cooling-tower water treatment.
• Apply principles of variable-air-volume (VAV) systems: VAV terminal units (cooling-only, fan-powered, single-duct, dual-duct); VAV controls; the relationship between VAV terminal operation and central-air-handler operation; troubleshooting VAV systems; VAV commissioning at introductory level.
• Apply principles of commercial air-handling units (AHUs): AHU components and configurations; multi-zone AHUs; built-up systems; AHU controls and sequence of operation; AHU service and maintenance.
• Apply principles of building-automation systems (BAS) at intermediate level: deeper exploration of BAS architecture (field controllers, application-specific controllers, network controllers, supervisory devices, web-based interface); common Florida BAS platforms in greater depth (Honeywell, Johnson Controls/Metasys, Siemens, Schneider, ALC/Carrier, Trane Tracer, Distech); introductory BAS programming and graphic-display building.
• Apply advanced commercial-HVAC controls and sequences of operation: temperature-reset strategies (chilled-water reset, supply-air reset, hot-water reset); economizer strategies; demand-controlled ventilation; night setback and unoccupied modes; the relationship between control strategies and energy efficiency.
• Apply principles of commercial-HVAC commissioning: pre-commissioning activities; functional testing; commissioning documentation; the relationship between commissioning and long-term system performance; the increasing role of commissioning in commercial-construction projects.
• Apply principles of energy efficiency and decarbonization in commercial HVAC: high-efficiency equipment selection; the role of variable-speed equipment; heat-recovery strategies; the increasing role of electrified heating (heat pumps replacing gas-fired equipment) in commercial decarbonization; LEED awareness; ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager awareness; the substantial energy-cost considerations in Florida commercial buildings.
• Apply principles of advanced load calculations and equipment selection: ACCA Manual N at intermediate level; equipment selection for complex commercial buildings; oversizing/undersizing consequences; the relationship between accurate load calculations and long-term operational cost.
• Apply advanced commercial-HVAC troubleshooting: troubleshooting chilled-water systems (cooling capacity issues, hydronic-flow issues, chiller faults); troubleshooting BAS-controlled systems; using BAS trend data and historical data in troubleshooting; coordinating with controls contractors and equipment manufacturers in complex troubleshooting scenarios.
• Apply principles of commercial HVAC project management at introductory level: estimating commercial HVAC service and installation work; coordinating with general contractors and other trades; managing service-account relationships; the relationship between technical work and business operations.
• Apply codes and standards at advanced level: Florida Building Code commercial mechanical provisions; ASHRAE 90.1 (energy efficiency in commercial buildings); ASHRAE 62.1 (ventilation); ASHRAE 15 (refrigerant safety) in commercial chiller contexts; ASHRAE 188 (Legionellosis); the increasing regulatory pressure for energy efficiency and decarbonization.
• Demonstrate advanced professional behaviors and customer-service skills: managing relationships with commercial-account customers (property managers, facility managers, building owners); leading service calls in customer-facing situations; mentoring less-experienced technicians; documentation appropriate to commercial-account customer expectations.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis and equipment availability:

• Engage with specialty commercial HVAC environments: hospital and healthcare HVAC (substantial pressurization and IAQ requirements); data-center HVAC (substantial cooling-density requirements); theme-park HVAC (substantial behind-the-scenes infrastructure at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando); cleanroom HVAC at survey level.
• Engage with variable-refrigerant-flow (VRF) systems at intermediate level: VRF system design considerations; VRF commissioning; manufacturer-specific service (Daikin VRV, Mitsubishi City Multi, LG Multi V, Samsung DVM).
• Engage with geothermal HVAC at survey level: ground-source heat pump systems; the relationship between geothermal and other heat-pump systems.
• Engage with specialty refrigerants and emerging refrigerants: A2L low-global-warming-potential refrigerants in commercial applications; CO₂ in commercial chiller applications; the regulatory pathway driving refrigerant-transition.
• Pursue advanced industry certifications: NATE Senior HVAC Efficiency Analyst; HVAC Excellence Master Specialist; manufacturer-specific commercial-system certifications; building-commissioning-related credentials (BCxP through ASHRAE).
• Engage with HVAC business operations: introduction to HVAC service-business management; estimating and bidding; customer-relationship management; the path from technician to business owner or technical leadership role.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Advanced HVAC Safety in Complex Commercial Environments: Chiller-room safety; refrigerant safety in larger commercial systems; cooling-tower safety; mechanical-room safety; critical-environment commercial buildings (hospitals, data centers, theme-park back-of-house); coordinated lockout/tagout.
• Chilled-Water System Design and Operation (Intermediate): Chiller types in depth (reciprocating, scroll, screw, centrifugal, magnetic-bearing); plant configurations (single, multiple, primary-secondary, primary-only with VFDs); chiller capacity/building load relationship.
• Commercial Chillers Service: Chiller maintenance; oil management; refrigerant-charge management; common chiller faults; manufacturer-specific service awareness (Carrier, Trane, York/Johnson Controls, Daikin/McQuay, AAON); critical Florida facilities.
• Cooling Towers Service: Cooling-tower types (open, closed-circuit, hybrid); components (basin, fill, eliminators, fan); water-treatment introduction; preventive maintenance; Legionnaires' disease prevention; regulatory considerations.
• Variable-Air-Volume (VAV) Systems: VAV terminal units (cooling-only, fan-powered, single-duct, dual-duct); VAV controls; terminal/central-AHU relationship; troubleshooting; introductory commissioning.
• Commercial Air-Handling Units (AHUs): AHU components and configurations; multi-zone AHUs; built-up systems; controls and sequence of operation; service and maintenance.
• Building-Automation Systems (Intermediate): BAS architecture (field controllers, ASCs, network controllers, supervisory, web interface); common Florida BAS platforms in greater depth; introductory BAS programming and graphic-display building.
• Advanced Commercial-HVAC Controls and Sequences: Temperature-reset strategies (chilled-water, supply-air, hot-water); economizer strategies; demand-controlled ventilation; night setback and unoccupied modes; control-strategy/efficiency relationship.
• Commercial-HVAC Commissioning: Pre-commissioning activities; functional testing; commissioning documentation; commissioning/long-term-performance relationship; commissioning role in commercial construction.
• Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization in Commercial HVAC: High-efficiency equipment; variable-speed equipment; heat-recovery; electrified heating (heat pumps replacing gas); LEED awareness; ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager awareness; Florida commercial-building energy-cost considerations.
• Advanced Load Calculations and Equipment Selection: ACCA Manual N at intermediate level; equipment selection for complex commercial buildings; oversizing/undersizing consequences; load-calculation/operational-cost relationship.
• Advanced Commercial-HVAC Troubleshooting: Chilled-water troubleshooting (cooling capacity, hydronic-flow, chiller faults); BAS-controlled system troubleshooting; BAS trend-data and historical-data use; coordinating with controls contractors and manufacturers.
• Commercial HVAC Project Management (Introductory): Estimating service and installation work; coordinating with GCs and other trades; managing service-account relationships; technical work/business operations relationship.
• Codes and Standards (Advanced): Florida Building Code commercial mechanical; ASHRAE 90.1 (energy efficiency); ASHRAE 62.1 (ventilation); ASHRAE 15 (refrigerant safety in commercial chillers); ASHRAE 188 (Legionellosis); regulatory pressure for energy efficiency and decarbonization.
• Advanced Professional Behaviors: Commercial-account customer relationships (property managers, facility managers, building owners); leading customer-facing service calls; mentoring less-experienced technicians; documentation appropriate to commercial-account expectations.

Optional Topics

• Specialty Commercial HVAC Environments: Hospital and healthcare HVAC (pressurization and IAQ); data-center HVAC (cooling density); theme-park HVAC (Disney, Universal back-of-house infrastructure); cleanroom HVAC at survey level.
• Variable-Refrigerant-Flow (VRF) at Intermediate Level: VRF design considerations; commissioning; manufacturer-specific service (Daikin VRV, Mitsubishi City Multi, LG Multi V, Samsung DVM).
• Geothermal HVAC (Survey): Ground-source heat pump systems; geothermal/other-heat-pump-systems relationship.
• Emerging Refrigerants: A2L low-GWP refrigerants in commercial applications; CO₂ in commercial chillers; refrigerant-transition regulatory pathway.
• Advanced Industry Certifications: NATE Senior HVAC Efficiency Analyst; HVAC Excellence Master Specialist; manufacturer-specific commercial certifications; building-commissioning credentials (BCxP through ASHRAE).
• HVAC Business Operations: Service-business management introduction; estimating and bidding; customer-relationship management; technician-to-business-owner pathway.

Resources & Tools

• FLDOE Curriculum Framework: The authoritative reference is the FLDOE HVAC/R Career Certificate Program Framework (Program Code C400100).
• Most-adopted textbooks at Florida institutions: Continuation of textbooks used in HVAC/R 1 and ACR0047 — typically Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology by Tomczyk et al. (Cengage); Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by Althouse et al. (Goodheart-Willcox); Commercial Air Conditioning and Refrigeration by Wirz (Cengage); chiller and BAS-specific reference materials.
• Reference resources: ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook; ASHRAE Refrigeration Handbook; ASHRAE Systems and Equipment Handbook; ASHRAE Applications Handbook; ASHRAE Standard 90.1, 62.1, 15, 188 (institution-licensed); LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction; ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager documentation.
• Required tools (typical for advanced commercial work): Higher-capacity manifold gauge sets; commercial-grade recovery machines and vacuum pumps; commercial-grade refrigerant scales; combustion analyzers; air-balancing instruments at intermediate level (vane anemometer, hood anemometer, pitot-tube traverse); commercial-grade test instruments; introductory BAS-interface tools (laptop with manufacturer software for BAS access where institution provides).
• Lab and shop equipment (institution-provided): Chilled-water trainers (where institution can provide — substantial capital investment); BAS trainers (Honeywell, Johnson Controls/Metasys, ALC/Carrier — varies by institution); cooling-tower trainers (where available); cutaway equipment for instruction; commissioning-tool training.
• Industry credentials sought during/after the program: Continued EPA Section 608 Universal Technician Certification; NATE Senior HVAC Efficiency Analyst; HVAC Excellence Master Specialist; manufacturer-specific commercial-HVAC certifications (Carrier, Trane, York/Johnson Controls, AAON, Daikin/McQuay commercial); BAS-platform certifications (Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Schneider); awareness of building-commissioning credentials (BCxP through ASHRAE).
• Career and Technical Student Organization: SkillsUSA for HVAC students broadly.
• Online resources: ACHR News (industry trade publication); HVAC School podcast and resources (free, hvacrschool.com); ASHRAE Journal; AHRI resources; manufacturer commercial-system training portals; commissioning-related industry publications.
• Tutoring and support: Institution HVAC/R shop instructors; manufacturer-provided training events at commercial-HVAC distributor locations; commercial HVAC service company training programs (most major Florida commercial-HVAC service companies provide ongoing technician training); ASHRAE local chapter educational events.

Career Pathways

ACR0049 completion combined with ACR0047 prepares students for the broadest range of advanced commercial HVAC roles. Specific pathways include:

• Senior Commercial HVAC Service Technician — service of complex commercial HVAC including chilled-water systems; among the higher-paying HVAC roles in Florida.
• Building-Automation Technician / Specialist — focused work on building-automation systems; substantial demand at major Florida commercial buildings; among the highest-paying HVAC specialties.
• Chiller Specialist — focused work on commercial chillers; specialty often pursued at major Florida facilities and through manufacturer service organizations.
• Commissioning Technician (with additional commissioning-specific training) — supporting building-commissioning activities for new commercial construction.
• Energy-Efficiency Specialist / Building Performance Specialist — focused on building energy performance and decarbonization opportunities.
• Critical-Facility HVAC Specialist — hospitals, data centers, theme-park back-of-house, telecommunication facilities; substantial Florida demand.
• HVAC Service Manager / Lead Technician / Operations Manager — supervising other technicians and managing commercial-account service operations.
• HVAC Project Manager — managing commercial HVAC installation projects; coordinating with general contractors and other trades.
• Florida Licensed HVAC or Mechanical Contractor — long-term professional path through Florida CILB licensure (Certified Air Conditioning Contractor — Class A; Certified Mechanical Contractor — Class A for broader scope including process piping and large-scale commercial work).
• Florida Advanced Commercial HVAC Employer Landscape: Major mechanical contractors statewide (substantial commercial-HVAC service organizations); facilities-maintenance teams at major hospitals (AdventHealth, Orlando Health, BayCare, Lee Health, Memorial Healthcare, HCA Healthcare, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Mayo Clinic Florida), school districts, theme parks (Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld), hotels and resorts, data centers (Equinix, Digital Realty, NTT, others), telecommunication facilities; manufacturers' service organizations (Carrier, Trane, Johnson Controls, Daikin); national service providers (EMCOR Services, ABM, Service Logic, Comfort Systems USA) with substantial Florida operations.

Special Information

Program Position

ACR0049 is the second half of the advanced HVAC mechanic content within the HVAC/R 2 program extension, and the final course in the comprehensive FLDOE HVAC/R Technology certificate sequence. The full extended HVAC/R Technology certificate sequence as represented in this corpus:

• HVAC/R 1 (Foundation, ~750-850 hours): ACR0041 (Helper, 250 hr) + ACR0043 (Mechanic Assistant, 250 hr) + ACR0044C (Technician, 350 hr)
• HVAC/R 2 Refrigeration Specialty (350 hours): ACR0045 (Refrigeration Mechanic)
• HVAC/R 2 Advanced HVAC Specialty (500 hours): ACR0047 (HVAC Mechanic 1 of 2, 250 hr) + ACR0049 (HVAC Mechanic 2 of 2, 250 hr) — completes the sequence

Total comprehensive HVAC/R Technology program: ~1,350 contact hours. Graduates of the comprehensive certificate are positioned for the broadest range of Florida HVAC/R career opportunities. The corpus now contains complete coverage of the FLDOE HVAC/R extended program — a significant milestone for the floridacourserepo.com project's HVAC/R content.

Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)

For technicians completing the comprehensive HVAC/R Technology certificate, the long-term licensure pathway through the Florida CILB becomes more accessible. ACR0049 completion contributes to the substantial preparation needed for Florida CILB licensure (Certified Air Conditioning Contractor — Class A or Certified Mechanical Contractor — Class A); licensure requires substantial additional supervised work experience plus examinations. See the ACR0041 guide for the licensure-pathway overview.

Course Format and Hours

ACR0049 is a clock-hour PSAV course structured as approximately 250 contact hours per FLDOE framework — typically delivered over one semester (15-16 weeks at 16-17 hours per week, full-time PSAV scheduling) or two semesters (part-time scheduling). Day, evening, and weekend formats are available at most institutions. The course combines classroom theory, substantial shop laboratory practice on commercial-HVAC trainers (chilled-water trainers, BAS trainers), and (at most institutions) supervised field experience or paid internship at commercial-HVAC service companies.

Credits

ACR0049 is a 0-credit PSAV clock-hour course. Per Florida convention, PSAV courses are measured in clock hours rather than college credits.

Course Code Variations

Florida institutions consistently use ACR0049 for this course. The "2 of 2" naming convention paired with ACR0047 ("1 of 2") reflects the intended sequential progression. Programs are aligned to the FLDOE HVAC/R Curriculum Framework and consistent across Florida technical colleges, FCS technical centers, and adult-education centers, though specific equipment availability for advanced commercial-HVAC training (particularly chilled-water and BAS trainers) varies by institution due to substantial capital-investment requirements.