ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has released a new training package aimed at making it simpler for contractors and others to certify new employees in the required U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on refrigerant handling.

Section 608 certification in refrigerant handling is required by the federal government for anyone who works on stationary air conditioning and refrigeration systems. To help make it easier for contracting businesses to ensure compliance with the law, ACCA released “Understanding Section 608: Refrigerant Handling in the Real World.”

According to ACCA, Understanding Section 608 is a new five-CD computer video training package that offers everything a technician needs to know to pass the required certification exam, and does so in an engaging, brief, and easy-to-understand manner. By bringing the training “down to earth” in a format that is available 24/7, Understanding Section 608 relieves employers of the need to send technicians and others out of the office for a day of training to ensure they pass the required test, says the association.

“We call this ‘608 Simplified’ because it really makes it easy for contractors to get new workers certified quickly,” said Kevin Holland, head of ACCA’s member services division. “All anyone has to do is sign up to become a proctor for ACCA testing, get one copy of this new training package for their shelf, and they will be ready to train and test new workers as needed.”

Holland noted, “Even if you use a test provider other than ACCA, this training package is the most comprehensive available and a valuable way to free up your time and money so you can focus on your business while taking care of your legal requirements.”

Each of the five CDs contains handouts, sample questions, and an answer sheet, as well as the video training module. The CDs include two parts covering the required core part of the exam, and one part each covering Type 1 (small appliances), Type 2 (high or very high pressure appliances), and Type 3 (low pressure appliances).

Understanding Section 608 can be purchased online at www.acca.org/epa (forms for becoming an ACCA proctor and information about the association’s EPA certification program can also be found there). Or, call the association’s fulfillment line toll-free at 888-290-2220.

Publication date: 03/24/2008