2023 Maryland Statutes › Business Regulation › Title 9A - Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors › Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions › Section 9A-101 - Definitions

(a)    In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    “Board” means the State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors.
(c)    “Contractor” means a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration contractor.
(d)    (1)    “Cooling system” means a system in which heat is removed from air, surrounding surfaces, or both.
(2)    “Cooling system” includes an air-conditioning system.
(e)    “Forced air system” means a heating system that uses air being moved by mechanical means to transmit heat.
(f)    (1)    “Heating system” means a system in which heat is transmitted by radiation, conduction, or convection, or a combination of any of these methods, to the air, surrounding surfaces, or both.
(2)    “Heating system” does not include a fireplace or woodburning stove not incorporated into or used as a primary heating system.
(g)    “Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration contractor” means an individual who provides heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services.
(h)    “Hydronic system” means a heating and cooling system using liquids or steam to transmit or remove heat.
(i)    “Independent agency” means an office, commission, board, department, or agency established as an independent unit of government that may receive budgetary or administrative support from the federal, State, or local government.
(j)    “Journeyman license” means a license issued by the Board to provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration services while under the direction and control of a licensed contractor.
(k)    “Journeyman restricted license” means a license issued by the Board to provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration services while under the direction and control of a licensed contractor, in only one of the following areas:
(1)    heating - forced air systems;
(2)    heating - hydronic systems;
(3)    ventilation;
(4)    air-conditioning; or
(5)    refrigeration.
(l)    (1)    “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to provide or to assist in providing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services.
(2)    “License” includes, unless the context requires otherwise:
(i)    a master license;
(ii)    a master restricted license;
(iii)    a limited license;
(iv)    a journeyman license;
(v)    a journeyman restricted license; and
(vi)    an apprentice license.
(m)    “Licensed apprentice” means an individual who is licensed by the Board to assist in providing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services while:
(1)    under the direction and control of a licensed contractor; and
(2)    in training to become a journeyman.
(n)    “Licensed contractor” means a contractor who is licensed by the Board to provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services, but does not include a licensed apprentice or licensed journeyman.
(o)    “Limited license” means a license issued by the Board exclusively to maintain or repair one or more of the following: heating systems, cooling systems, refrigeration systems, ventilation systems, or hydronic systems.
(p)    “Master license” means a license issued by the Board to provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services.
(q)    “Master restricted license” means a license issued by the Board to provide services in only one of the following areas:
(1)    heating - forced air systems;
(2)    heating - hydronic systems;
(3)    ventilation;
(4)    air-conditioning; or
(5)    refrigeration.
(r)    “Provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services” means to install, maintain, alter, remodel, or repair heating systems, cooling systems, refrigeration systems, ventilation systems, or hydronic systems.
(s)    “Refrigeration system” means a system used to cool a surface or area below 55 degrees Fahrenheit or 12.9 degrees Celsius.
(t)    “Self-contained appliance” means a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration device that is designed and manufactured:
(1)    with its component parts contained within a single chassis;
(2)    with a standard factory-installed electrical line cord that requires a plug-in device;
(3)    with no additional external fuel source; and
(4)    independent of an air distribution system.
(u)    “Subdivision of the State” means any of the 23 counties in Maryland, the City of Baltimore, and any municipal corporation.
(v)    “Ventilation system” means the natural or mechanical process of supplying air to, or removing air from, any space:
(1)    whether the air is conditioned or is not conditioned; and
(2)    at a rate of airflow of more than 250 cubic feet per minute.