Your Guide to HVAC Industry Associations

With HVAC systems having become an essential part of modern homes, there’s never been a better time to be an HVAC tech. The industry is growing and the demand for top-notch HVAC services is booming. 

As a result, there are tonnes of great HVAC professionals out there who have formed associations to promote the trade and all that comes with it — from best practices to new technologies. Here’s a look at the latest, greatest, and most popular HVAC industry associations around the world!

If you want to learn more about running an HVAC business, check out our Behind the Tools resource centre!

Short on time? Skip ahead!

• 1. USA & Canada
• Air Conditioning Contractors of America
• Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Insitute of Canada
• 2. United Kingdom
• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
• The Institute of Refrigeration
• 3. Australia
• Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating 
• Australian Refrigeration Council
• 4. New Zealand
• New Zealand Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association
• Climate Control Companies Association of New Zealand
• 5. The best tool for growth

1. USA & Canada

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)

Representing more than 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses, ACCA is one of the most popular US-based associations in the industry. ACCA members get access to a whole range of resources that can be used to upskill and improve, from training sessions to accreditation programs.

Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI)

This Canada-based not-for-profit association has a thousands-strong community of HVAC experts and businesses. HRAI provide a heap of useful training programs, certification opportunities, and resources for HVAC techs looking to learn more about their trade. With a focus on creating a more sustainable industry, RHACI is the go-to association for climate-conscious contractors.

2. United Kindom

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)

CIBSE accommodates the entire building services engineering industry, including HVAC. Despite it being a UK-based association, CIBSE has over 22,000 members worldwide, and for good reason. They provide top-of-the-line HVAC-related training, reports, certification, and research opportunities to its members.

The Institute of Refrigeration (IOR)

The Institute of Refrigeration is a great association that focuses on the air conditioning and refrigeration side of the industry. The association helps technicians to further their industry education through easy-to-access training programmes and provides plenty of technical resources to its members.

3. Australia 

Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH)

The AIRAH is a non-profit HVAC organisation with over 10,000 members. They focus largely on helping to provide easily accessible training and education programmes to Australian HVAC professionals. Alongside their support of individual contractors, they aim to elevate the industry as a whole, advocating for improved standards and regulations within the industry.

Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC)

The ARC is a brilliant association for HVAC professionals, especially those who specialise in refrigeration. They offer a wide range of resources, including training programmes and the opportunity to gain refrigeration certifications. They’re also a great source of HVAC research and information.

4. New Zealand

Institute of Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning Engineers (IRHACE)

IRHACE is one of the leading HVAC associations in New Zealand. They represent a mixture of HVAC businesses and professionals looking to find ways of delivering better work to their customers. From training and certification to the sharing of knowledge, NZRA is the place to go if you want to elevate your HVAC skills and be part of a growing community.

Climate Control Companies Association of New Zealand (CCCANZ)

CCCANZ is an association that genuinely cares about the future of HVAC in New Zealand. The association focuses heavily on advancing the skills of HVAC techs and helping them to grow, learn, and share their knowledge with each other.

5. The best tool for growth

If you’re an HVAC professional looking for industry associations that can help you do your job even better, then you’re likely to be keen on job management software like Tradify too. 

Tradify is a cloud-based platform that can streamline your business, make it more efficient, and ultimately easier to run. By saving you 10+ hours a week on admin, Tradify can get you away from the desk and back behind the tools. Try it free for 14 days or see the app in action in one of our live demo webinars.