Source: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/acr/acrrules.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 20:30:45+00:00

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75.20. Contractor Licensing Requirements--Application and Experience Requirements.
75.23. Contractor Licensing Requirements--Temporary Licenses.
75.24. Contractor Licensing and Registration Requirements--Renewal.
75.27. Technician Registration Requirements--Initial Application.
75.28. Technician Registration Requirements--Certified Technician Designation.
75.71. Responsibilities of the Contracting Company.
75.73. Responsibilities of the Technician/Registrant.
75.90. Administrative Penalties and Sanctions.
75.120. Certified Technician -- Application and Eligibility Requirements.
75.122. Certification Training Program Requirements.
75.123. Certification Training Program Providers Responsibilities.
The sections in this chapter are authorized by Texas Occupations Code, Chapters 51 and 1302.
(1) Act--Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.
(2) Advertising or Advertisement--Any commercial message which promotes the services of an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor.
(3) Air conditioning and refrigeration subcontractor--A person or firm who contracts with a licensed air conditioning contractor for a portion of work requiring a license under the Act. The subcontractor contracts to perform a task according to his own methods, and is subject to the contractor's control only as to the end product or final result of his work.
(4) Air conditioning or heating unit--A stand-alone system with its own controls that conditions the air for a specific space and does not require a connection to other equipment, piping, or ductwork in order to function.
(5) Assumed name--As defined in the Business and Commerce Code, Title 5, Chapter 71.
(6) Biomedical Remediation--The treatment of ducts, plenums, or other portions of air conditioning or heating systems by applying disinfectants, anti-fungal substances, or products designed to reduce or eliminate the presence of molds, mildews, fungi, bacteria, or other disease-causing organisms.
(7) Biomedical Testing--The inspection and sampling of ducts, plenums, or other portions of air conditioning or heating systems to test for the presence of molds, mildews, fungi, bacteria, or other disease-causing organisms. The term does not include performing any type of treatment or remediation.
(8) Boiler--As defined in Chapter 755 of the Health and Safety Code.
(9) Business affiliation--The business organization to which a licensee elects to assign his license.
(10) Certification training program--A program of education and training, further addressed in §75.122, consisting of a combination of classroom instruction and supervised practical experience.
(11) Certification training program provider--A person providing or offering to provide a certification training program.
(12) Certified technician--A person granted an air conditioning and refrigeration technician certification by the department pursuant to §75.120, and §1302.5036 and §1302.5055 of the Act.
(13) Certified technician (legacy)--A person granted a certified technician designation by the department pursuant to §75.28, and §1302.508 of the Act, as continued by House Bill 3029 §18, 85th Leg., R.S. (2017).
(14) Cheating--Attempting to obtain, obtaining, providing, or using answers to examination questions by deceit, fraud, dishonesty, or deception.
(D) 209.69 degrees R to 0 degrees R.
(16) Department--The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
(17) Design of a system--Making decisions on the necessary size of equipment, number of grilles, placement and size of supply and return air ducts, and any other requirements affecting the ability of the system to perform the function for which it was designed.
(C) reviewing an inspection report of the job made by a municipal mechanical inspector.
(19) Employee--An individual who performs tasks assigned by an employer, and who is subject to the employer's control in all aspects of job performance, except that a licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor remains responsible for all air conditioning work he or she performs. An employee's wages are subject to deduction of federal income taxes and social security payments. An employee may be full time, part time, or seasonal. Simultaneous employment with a temporary employment agency, a staff leasing agency, or other employer does not affect an employee's status for the purpose of this chapter.
(20) Executive Director--The executive director of the department.
(21) Full time employee--An employee who is present on the job either 40 hours a week, or at least 80% of the time the company is offering air conditioning and refrigeration contracting services to the public, whichever is less.
(22) Licensee--An individual holding a contractor’s license of the class and endorsement appropriate to the work performed under the Act and this chapter.
(23) Offering to perform--Making a written or oral proposal, contracting in writing or orally to perform air conditioning and refrigeration work, or advertising in any form through any medium that a person or business entity is an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor, or that implies in any way that a person or business entity is available to contract for or perform air conditioning and refrigeration work.
(24) Permanent office--Any location, which must be identified by a street address, or other data identifying a rural location, from which a person or business entity conducts the business of an air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company. A location not open to the public, or not located within the state, may serve as a permanent office so long as the department and consumers have access to the licensee required by §1302.252 of the Act to be employed in each permanent office.
(25) Portable--Able to be easily transported and readily used as an entire system, without need for dismantling or assembly in whole or in part, or addition of parts, components, or accessories.
(26) Primary process medium--A refrigerant or other primary process fluid that is classified in the current ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34 as Safety Group A1, A2, B1, or B2. Safety Groups A3 and B3 refrigerants are specifically excluded.
(D) all requirements for safety and the proper performance of the function for which the equipment or product was designed.
(28) Registrant--A person who is registered with the department as a technician under the Act and this chapter.
(29) Repair work--Diagnosing and repairing problems with air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, or process cooling or heating equipment, and remedying or attempting to remedy the problem. Repair work does not mean simultaneous replacement of the condensing unit, furnace, and evaporator coil.
(30) Self-contained--Constructed so that all required parts, components, and accessories of the air conditioning or heating system are included within the same enclosure.
(31) System balancing--A process of adjusting, regulating or proportioning air distribution equipment or any activity beyond system testing.
(33) Total replacement of a system--Simultaneous replacement of the condensing unit, the evaporator coil, the furnace, if applicable, and the air handling unit, or replacement of a package system.
(6) complete all requirements, including passing the exam, within one year of the date the application is filed.
receive credit for the amount and type of practical experience claimed by the applicant.
(a) A person must satisfy the requirements of Texas Occupations Code §1302.255 based on the date the application is filed with the department, prior to taking an examination.
(b) A passing grade is 70%.
(c) A person taking an examination must comply with the department’s examination requirements under, Chapter 60, Subchapter E of this title.
(d) Cheating on an examination is grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of a license and/or an administrative penalty.
(a) The term of an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor’s license is one year.
(b) A license is not transferable.
(1) License numbers will have the following form: Title/Class/Number/Endorsement code-TACL/A/000000/C.
(c) A holder of a Class B license with the proper endorsement may perform air conditioning and refrigeration work in a building or a complex of buildings having more than one air conditioning or heating unit. The combined cooling capacity of the units may exceed 25 tons and heating capacity may exceed 1.5 million Btu/h, as long as each complete individual unit does not exceed the capacities stated above.
(d) Any contractor who has a Class B license with one or combined endorsements may upgrade an endorsement(s) by passing the Class A examination for that endorsement.
(e) A contractor who has endorsements of different classes will be issued a separate license number for each endorsement. The licenses will have concurrent expiration dates and will be printed on a single document.
(f) A contractor who hold two licenses may have only one endorsement per license. Both licenses must have the same business affiliation and permanent and business addresses.
(g) The insurance requirement for separate licenses may be met with a single policy with limits at least as high as those required for a Class A license. A waiver of insurance for one license automatically applies to both licenses.
(h) Any violation of the law or the rules and regulations resulting in disciplinary action for one license may result in disciplinary action for the other license.
(a) A company owner or officer whose only license holder is no longer available due to death or disability may request a temporary license.
(b) The temporary license request shall be made by an owner or partner who was affiliated with the firm at the time the license holder became unavailable. The person who will hold the temporary license shall be an owner, partner, or employee already associated with the firm.
(5) include a new certificate of insurance covering the company and the temporary license holder.
(d) A non-renewable temporary license shall be valid for a period of 30 calendar days from date of issuance.
(e) A temporary license number assigned by the department must be shown on company vehicles, and must appear on invoices and proposals. The number may be taped to vehicles or applied by any other temporary methods. The temporary license shall be numbered by the department as follows: Title/Class/Number/Endorsement code/Temporary Designation.
(3) complete eight (8) hours of continuing education as required under §75.25.
(b) To renew an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302, Subchapter F, a licensee must complete eight hours of continuing education in courses approved by the department, including one hour of instruction in Texas state law and rules that regulate the conduct of licensees.
(e) A licensee must retain a copy of the certificate of completion for a course for one year after the date of completion. In conducting any inspection or investigation of the licensee, the department may examine the licensee’s records to determine compliance with this subsection.
(2) submit the required fee.
(b) The term of an air conditioning and refrigeration technician’s registration is one year.
(c) A registration is not transferable.
(2) pays the required fee.
75.28. Registered Technician--Certified Technician Designation Legacy Designation.
(a) This section applies only to a person who submits an application for a certified technician designation on or before August 31, 2018.
(b) A registered technician may use the designation “certified technician” after obtaining a certified technician designation from the department.
75.29. Registered and Certified Technician Requirements--Renewal.
(2) submit the required fees.
(4) persons who install, repair, or remove a vent hood of the type commonly used in residential and commercial kitchens, as long as the person does not install, repair or remove any other part of the exhaust system.
(D) a residential refrigerator, freezer, or ice machine.
(6) a student enrolled in a certification training program who is either younger than 18 years of age or is enrolled at a secondary school.
(b) Unlicensed general contractors may bid or contract for a job that includes air conditioning or refrigeration if the job does not consist solely of work requiring a license under the Act.
(3) of at least $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.
(3) of at least $100,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.
(c) Insurance must be obtained from an insurance provider authorized to sell liability insurance in Texas pursuant to the Texas Insurance Code.
(d) A license applicant or licensee must file with the department a completed certificate of insurance or other evidence satisfactory to the department when applying for an initial license, changing a business name or affiliation, and upon request of the department.
(2) contain a detailed explanation of the conditions under which the waiver is requested.
(f) A licensee who has received a waiver of insurance cannot perform or offer to perform air conditioning and refrigeration contracting under his license with the general public.
(g) A licensee or an air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company must furnish the name of the insurance carrier, policy number, name, address, and telephone number of the insurance agent with whom the licensee or company is insured to any customer who requests it.
(a) The purpose of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Advisory Board is to advise the commission on adopting rules, enforcing and administering the Act, and setting fees.
(2) must be limited to those allowed by the State of Texas Travel Allowance Guide, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation policies governing employee travel allowances, and the General Appropriations Act.
(C) The name of the business under which the applicant’s work was performed.
(3) the licensee is ultimately responsible to the customer for all work performed by the subcontractor.
(d) A licensee who subcontracts to perform work requiring a license under the Act for an air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company is responsible to the company and the department for the mechanical integrity of all work performed by the subcontractor.
(e) The licensee is responsible for all work performed under the licensee’s supervision, regardless of whether the owners, officers, or managers of the air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company allow the licensee the authority to supervise, train, or otherwise control compliance with the Act.
(f) A licensee may not allow another individual to use the licensee’s license for any purpose.
(g) A licensee may not allow any air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company with which the licensee has no business affiliation to use the licensee’s license for any purpose, except as otherwise allowed by this chapter.
(2) provide a revised insurance certificate to the department within thirty (30) calendar days of a change in the name of the company to which the license is assigned.
(i) Failure to maintain insurance or failure to provide a certificate of insurance when requested is grounds for imposition of administrative penalties and/or sanctions.
(j) Altering a license in any way is prohibited and is grounds for imposition of administrative penalties and/or sanctions.
(6) make available to the department in Austin, Texas, or other location designated by the department, the records relating to the business of the air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company conducted through a permanent office for a period of at least three years after completion of a job.
(3) not make a fraudulent promise or false statement to influence, persuade, or induce an individual or a company to contract for services.
(3) the assigned licensee is ultimately responsible to the customer for all work performed by the subcontractor.
(d) The design of a system may not be subcontracted to an unlicensed person, firm or corporation.
(e) Each air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company must have a licensee employed full time for each permanent office. All work requiring a license must be under the direct supervision of the licensee for that office.
(f) If an air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company uses locations other than a permanent office, those locations must be used only for air conditioning and refrigeration workers to receive instructions from the permanent office on scheduling of work, to store parts and supplies, and/or to park vehicles. These locations may not be used to contract air conditioning sales or service.
(g) Each air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company must display the license number of its affiliated licensee and company name in letters not less than two inches high on both sides of all vehicles used in conjunction with air conditioning and refrigeration contracting. When an unlicensed subcontractor is at a job site not identified by a marked vehicle, the site must be identified either by a temporary sign on the subcontractor’s vehicle or on a sign visible and readable from the nearest public street containing the contractor’s affiliated license number and company name.
(7) signs located on the contractor’s permanent business location.
(3) a sign prominently displayed in the place of business if the consumer or service recipient may visit the place of business for service.
(j) An air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company may not use a license that is not assigned to that company.
(k) An air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company may only use licensed contractors, registered technicians, certified technicians, or students meeting the requirements of §75.30(a)(6) to perform maintenance work.
75.73. Responsibilities of Registered and Certified Technicians.
(5) not use the designation “certified technician” unless designated as certified by the department pursuant to §75.28, or granted an air conditioning and refrigeration technician certification by the department pursuant to §75.1250.
(b) A registrant or certified technician may not allow another individual to use a registration or certificate for any purpose.
(c) A registrant or certified technician may not allow any air conditioning and refrigeration contracting company or any air conditioning and refrigeration contractor with which he or she is not employed to use a registration or certificate for any purpose, except as otherwise allowed by this chapter.
(d) A registrant or certified technician must notify the department, in writing within thirty (30) calendar days of any change in permanent mailing address or telephone number.
(e) Altering a registration or certificate in any way is prohibited and is grounds for imposition of administrative penalties and/or sanctions.
(f) A registered technician is not required to be certified by the department, and may perform the same tasks as those performed by a certified technician.
(a) All application fees are non-refundable.
(b) Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.
(1) Contractor license application fee is $115.
(2) Contractor license renewal application fee is $65.
(4) The application fee for adding an endorsement to an existing contractor license is $25.
(c) Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technicians.
(1) Registered technician application fee is $20.
(2) Registered technician renewal application fee is $20.
(3) Certified technician application fee is $50.
(4) Certified technician renewal application fee is $35.
(5) Certified technician (legacy) designation application fee is $15.
(d) The application fee for approval or renewal of a certification training program is $90.
(e) Late renewal fees for licenses and registrations issued under this chapter are provided under §60.83 of this title (relating to Late Renewal Fees).
If a person or entity violates any provision of Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302, this chapter, or any rule or order of the executive director or commission, proceedings may be instituted to impose administrative penalties, administrative sanctions, or both in accordance with the provisions of Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302; Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 51; and any associated rules.
The enforcement authority granted under Texas Occupations Code, Chapters 51 and 1302 and any associated rules may be used to enforce Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302 and this chapter.
(1) On new construction of environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, and process cooling or heating systems, licensees may connect the appliance to the electrical line or disconnect that is provided for that purpose.
(2) Licensees may replace and reconnect environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, process cooling or heating systems, or component parts of the same or lesser amperage. On replacement environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, process cooling or heating systems where the electrical disconnect has not been installed and is required by the applicable National Electrical Code, the licensee may install a disconnect and reconnect the system.
(3) Control wiring of 50 volts or less may be installed and serviced by a licensee. Control wiring for commercial refrigeration equipment of any voltage may be installed by a licensee with the commercial refrigeration endorsement as long as the control wiring is on the equipment side of the disconnect installed for that purpose.
(4) All electrical work shall be performed in accordance with standards at least as strict as that established by the applicable National Electrical Code and the International Residential Code, where applicable.
(1) Fuel gas piping for new or replaced environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, or process cooling or heating systems may be installed by a licensee. Fuel gas piping by a licensee is limited to the portion of piping between the appliance and the existing piping system, connected at an existing shut-off valve for such use. Existing piping systems, stops, or shut-off valves shall not be altered by a licensee.
(2) Drain piping associated with environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, or process cooling or heating systems shall be installed by a licensee if it terminates outside the building. If the piping terminates inside the building, a licensee may make the connection if the connection is on the inlet side of a properly installed trap. Such drain piping shall be installed in accordance with applicable plumbing and building codes.
(3) Other piping, fittings, valves and controls associated with environmental air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, or process cooling or heating systems shall be installed by a licensee.
(D) the only disassembly of any part of the system is opening or removal of return and supply air grilles, or registers that are removable without cutting or removing any other part of the system.
(2) Biomedical testing may be performed by a person or entity that does not hold a contractor license under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302.
(3) Biomedical remediation requires a contractor license under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302.
(d) Process Cooling and Heating.
(1) Process cooling and heating work does not include cryogenic work.
(2) Process cooling and heating work is limited to work performed on piping and equipment in the primary closed loop portions of processing systems containing a primary process medium. Once a primary closed loop process system has been deactivated and rendered inert by a licensee, a person or entity that does not hold a contractor license under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302 may perform maintenance, service and repairs on the secondary open loop components including piping, heat exchangers, vessels, cooling towers, sump pumps, motors, and fans.
(1) The standard for the practice of air conditioning and refrigeration in a municipality is the code the municipality adopted by ordinance that is consistent with the standards established under the Act and this chapter.
(ii) the applicable editions of the International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code and International Energy Conservation Code.
(f) System Testing and Balancing.
(1) System testing may be performed by a person or entity that does not hold a contractor license under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302.
(2) System balancing requires a contractor license under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302.
(2) 2012 editions of the International Mechanical Code, the International Residential Code, and other applicable codes.
(b) The 2012 codes shall remain in effect through December 31, 2017. All air conditioning and refrigeration work permitted or started before January 1, 2018, may be completed in accordance with the 2012 code editions.
(2) 2015 editions of the International Mechanical Code, the International Residential Code, and other applicable codes.
(d) The 2015 codes shall be effective January 1, 2018.
75.120. Certified Technician--Application and Eligibility Requirements.
(b) An applicant must submit the proper documentation as prescribed by the department to receive credit for the claimed amount and type of classroom instruction and practical experience.
(d) A certification issued under this section expires on the first anniversary of the date of issuance.
(a) A person must satisfy the requirements of Texas Occupations Code §1302.5036, based on the date the application is filed with the department, prior to taking an examination.
(a) A certification training program provider must receive approval from the department before offering or providing a certification training program.
(5) provide the names and license numbers of all air conditioning and refrigeration contractors supervising program participants.
(d) The department may deny approval or renewal of a certification training program if a provider is past due on the payment of any administrative penalties, or provides false information on an application.
(e) To determine whether a provider is complying with the requirements of this chapter, department employees and representatives may conduct audits of a provider and any certification training program offered by a provider.
(f) Upon a finding that the certification training program provider has not complied with the requirements of this chapter, or that a certification training program does not meet the requirements of this chapter, the department may rescind approval of a certification training program.
75.123. Certification Training Program Provider Responsibilities.
(4) name of the participant.
(3) the full name of each participant who completed the program.
(c) A certification training program provider must retain participant completion records for a period of two years after completion of a program.
(d) Upon request, a certification training program provider shall provide information, including copies of specified records, to the department within ten (10) days of the date of the request.
(e) A certification training program provider shall cooperate fully with the department in the investigation of a complaint or performance of an audit.
(f) A certification training program provider may not publish false or misleading advertisements.
(g) Certification training program providers are responsible for the administration of their programs, including the verification of participant attendance and performance. Providers shall ensure that their programs are administered in substantially the same manner as represented in the application for approval.
(h) Certification training program providers must maintain current contact information on file with the department. This includes, at minimum, a mailing address, phone number, and license numbers of all supervising air conditioning and refrigeration contractors.

References: §75
 §75
 §1302
 §1302
 §75
 §1302
 §18
 §1302
 §1302
 §75
 §75
 §75
 §75
 §60
 §1302