How to become a Canadian HVAC designer

What are the working conditions of HVAC design professionals in Canada? What kind of knowledge background and hardware must new immigrants have before they can enter the HVAC design industry in Canada? The following are the answers to these questions from Yu Hong, a teacher of HVAC in Toronto College of Civil Engineering and a registered engineer in Ontario. Q: What is the status of HVAC design in the whole civil engineering industry? What's the difference between China and Canada? What is the general situation of your company now? A: In the civil engineering industry, a complete architectural design includes four majors: architecture, structure, equipment (HVAC) and electricity. In China, these four majors are generally in the same company. It's different from China. Usually, they are independent companies. Generally speaking, a construction company looks for an owner to work, and after receiving the job, it subcontracts the structure, equipment and electricity to various professional companies. My company includes two majors: equipment and electricity, as well as construction supervision. Our company was established in 19 19, which should be quite famous in Toronto and even Ontario. Our company is famous for designing hospitals. Hospitals have higher requirements for HVAC. Because it includes operating room, rehabilitation facilities, positive and negative pressure isolation room, laboratory and so on, there are many requirements for the design of different rooms. Q: What is the completion process of each project? A: Generally, every project has a project manager. Responsible for HVAC, water supply and drainage, fire fighting and other majors. If the project is large, there will be 2 to 6 people in each project. Some small projects can be done by the project manager himself. Usually, the project manager is responsible for the whole design process, project cost and cycle, as well as the contact with employers, construction and other related majors. Q: Is the HVAC design here demanding? A: China people have many such backgrounds, so they should have more opportunities. However, if you have no professional experience in Canada, you can only enter the design field as a designer or draftsman before you have a license. After you have work experience, you can take the exam as an engineer and then become an engineer or a project manager. Q: What do you think is the biggest difficulty for students to enter this industry? What is the most needed help? A: I haven't had much contact with trainees, but the company I work for has introduced some new immigrants from China. I talked with them and learned that the design theories of the two countries are basically the same, but the design steps and standards of different projects are different. In addition, I find it difficult to communicate professional vocabulary and language. Q: At the beginning of entering the professional field, there must be a running-in period suitable for Canada. What was it like during this period? A: Every company has its own drawing standards. If you want to work in a new company, you must have a learning process. Usually start with a painter or a junior designer. Through drawing, familiar with the company's drawing standards, understand the design steps, methods and design specifications. Design codes, such as Ontario Building Code, Canadian Standards Association, National Fire Detection Association and ASHRAE American Heating Association (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers). These are different from those in China. The other is calculation method and software. My company's commonly used software for calculating cooling and heating load includes Autocool, Carrier's E-20 and so on. Q: The HVAC design course is about to begin. As an expert in HVAC design and a teacher of this course, what will you introduce to the students? A: The first part mainly introduces the HVAC industry in Canada (Toronto), including the potential employment market and some design consulting companies, the basic design procedures of general projects, the cooperative relationship between employers, professional design companies and construction companies, the basic elements to be tested in design, the main tasks of HVAC designers, and the commonly used design standards and specifications. The second part is the design of temperature and humidity and human comfortable environment. The heat and moisture treatment processes commonly used in air conditioning will be reviewed. The third part is load calculation, including heating load calculation, refrigeration (air conditioning) load calculation, and the software needed for calculation to introduce the air supply system; The fourth part introduces the air supply system; The fifth part introduces the composition and design points of hot water system; The sixth part introduces the cold water system and related design specifications; The seventh part introduces the selection of coil, including the form and structure of coil. The eighth part is the water supply and drainage system. The tenth part is an engineering example. Through the study of the above courses, students will have a more detailed understanding of the HVAC and water supply and drainage industries in Canada, so that they have strong confidence in job hunting, interview and entering the company, and can quickly adapt to and be competent for this job. Q: In Canada, apart from professional knowledge background, what hardware do you need to enter this industry? This is my ninth class. According to the 124 Act promulgated last year, all designers and engineers in the construction industry in Ontario must pass the relevant professional examinations of the Ontario Building Code 1 from this year before they can obtain the qualification for project approval. Now some companies are recruiting people. I hope you have passed the relevant professional examination of OBC (Ontario Building Code). For HVAC designers, they must pass at least two exams, namely "General Law/Technology" and "Building Services". Engaged in water supply and drainage major needs to pass "plumbing-all buildings". I have passed all these exams. I can tell my classmates about the general situation, exercises and precautions of these exams. Q: What is the salary level of HVAC design engineers in Canada? A: As far as I know, the salary of consulting companies is usually lower than that of construction companies and manufacturers. Generally speaking, the new immigrants just came in about 30 thousand to 40 thousand. Introduction: Yu Hong, a teacher majoring in HVAC design at Toronto Institute of Civil Engineering, has more than 20 years of experience in HVAC design. I got a bachelor's degree in HVAC in China and have worked in this field for more than 9 years. Then I got a master's degree in engineering from Asia Institute of Technology in Thailand, and worked as a HVAC energy-saving designer in a famous HVAC company in Thailand. 65438-0997 immigrated to Canada and joined H.H. Angus &; United co., ltd., working so far. In 2003, he became a registered engineer in Ontario and obtained the professional qualification of LEED (Leader of Energy Design). He is also a member of ASHRAE (Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers). The main projects handled are: peterborough District Health Center (Ontario), Canadian Embassy (Korea), Mike Du Fei Hospital (USA), Canary Wharf (London, UK), etc.