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Foundation & Safety

Where every HVAC career starts: jobsite safety habits, the physics of heat and pressure, trade math and the vocabulary of the industry.

12 skills in 4 sections · listed in learning order

Tiers Foundation · Core · Advanced · SpecialistSafety-critical required before Journeyman on any role that lists it

Jobsite safety

  1. PPE and jobsite hazards

    Choose and wear the right protective equipment, spot common jobsite hazards and know why OSHA rules exist.

    FoundationSafety-critical No courses yet

  2. Ladders and fall protection

    Set up, inspect and climb ladders safely; use fall protection on roofs, attics and lifts.

    FoundationSafety-critical No courses yet

  3. Lockout / tagout

    Isolate and verify every energy source before touching equipment, and document it so nobody re-energises it on you.

    FoundationSafety-critical No courses yet

  4. Emergency first aid

    Respond to shock, burns, cuts, falls and heat illness on site until help arrives.

    FoundationSafety-critical No courses yet

  5. Refrigerant and nitrogen handling safety

    Store, move and connect refrigerant and nitrogen cylinders without hurting yourself or anyone nearby.

    FoundationSafety-critical No courses yet

  6. Rigging, hot work and confined spaces

    Recognise the hazards of lifting equipment, cutting and welding, fire prevention and entering tight or excavated spaces.

    CoreSafety-critical No courses yet

HVAC fundamentals

  1. Heat, matter and pressure

    The physics under everything: states of matter, heat transfer, latent versus sensible heat, and gauge versus absolute pressure.

    Foundation No courses yet

  2. Hand tools and instruments orientation

    Name, carry and use the hand tools and basic meters an entry-level technician is handed on day one.

    Foundation No courses yet

Trade math & measurement

  1. Trade math basics

    Whole numbers, fractions, decimals and simple equations as they show up in HVAC work.

    Foundation No courses yet

  2. Measurement and unit conversion

    Measure length, area and volume in both inch-pound and metric units and convert between them, including temperature differences.

    Foundation No courses yet

Industry literacy

  1. Industry orientation

    Who the industry's organisations, agencies and energy sources are, and how a contracting business fits into the picture.

    Foundation No courses yet

  2. Efficiency ratings literacy

    Read SEER2, EER, HSPF, AFUE and COP on a nameplate and explain what each one means to a homeowner.

    Foundation No courses yet