Refrigeration Engineer

Refrigeration engineers design, install, repair and maintain refrigeration equipment in industrial and commercial buildings where food and other perishable goods are stored at a constant low temperature.

The Work

You could be:

• visiting and surveying the premises


• producing an estimate for the cost of constructing and installing the refrigeration system


• planning the layout of pipes and controls


• ordering and buying in materials – copper, plastic and steel


• organising the craft workers and supervising them


• diagnosing and fixing faults if equipment does not work properly


• when installation is complete, carrying out quality inspection and testing of the system


• doing regular service checks of the system.

Conditions

• You could be working in food production units, food sales outlets, hotels and refrigerated transport systems or in hospitals.


• You work at a desk for some aspects of your work but travel to building sites for others.


• You work on installations in hospitals, factories, schools, shops and offices.


• You may work overtime, particularly in summer, and answer emergency calls out-of-hours.


• You have to wear protective gear: goggles, hard hat, safety boots and overalls.


• You work in different parts of the country, spending long periods away from home.

Getting In

• As a rule, you combine training as a refrigeration engineer with training as an air conditioning engineer.


• You can enter by a three-year Modern Apprenticeship, combining on-the-job training and experience and off-the-job study.


• Most employers look for Standard grades (1-4) including English, Maths, a science and a technological subject.


• A driving licence is usually essential.
• There is normally a pre-entry test.

What Does It Take?

You need:

• practical and technical skills


• the ability to calculate figures and costs


• the ability to read plans and technical drawings


• an understanding of electricity


• communication skills in speech and writing


• computer skills


• the ability to meet deadlines


• a responsible attitude to safety issues


• team working skills.

Training

You normally start by working towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 2 in Mechanical Engineering Systems: Small Commercial Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems. As part of this you take a Technical Certificate or RVQ exam covering basic principles of refrigeration, energy and environment, technology, brazing, essential calculations, electronics and controls. You also take a refrigeration handling assessment leading to the Safe Handling of Refrigerants Certificate.

After completing Level 2, you can choose from either of the following Level 3 specialisms in Mechanical Engineering Services:

• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems (Commercial and Industrial Air Conditioning Systems)


• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems (Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Systems Non Ammonia).

Getting On

• This is a growing field. Throughout the UK, demand for this skill exceeds supply.


• It is possible to progress to become a building services engineer by taking further qualifications at Higher National Certificate (HNC) and beyond.


• With experience you could set up in business on your own.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work


• the size of the company or organisation you work for


• the demand for the job.

More Information

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.