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Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
An HVAC/R program was recently added to the curriculum at Mercy Vocational High School. After a year in the Electricity Shop, students are now offered the option to branch off into the HVAC/R program. This program includes classrooms and laboratories in Mercy East to prepare students for entry-level positions in this growing field. Master Plumbers of Philadelphia renovated the first floor of Mercy East into a HVAC/R classroom and laboratory. Mercy Vocational will hold classes there during the day and the Master Plumbers will utilize the space for professional training in the evenings. This arrangement represents a mutually beneficial partnership between the business community and Mercy Vocational High School.
The program includes instruction in basic electricity and wiring techniques, and on the operation of the refrigeration cycle, system components and controls. Students practice soldering, brazing and piping using refrigeration gauges and electric meters, and are taught how to safely and legally handle refrigerants. Opportunities to work with residential and commercial systems for installation, troubleshooting and servicing is also provided. The program’s goal is to prepare graduates for technician certification for the Environmentally Responsible Use of Refrigerants. Aspiring HVAC/R technicians can receive their EPA Core Curriculum Certification in equipment use.
For the 2006-2007 school year, Mercy Vocational High School has 19 students enrolled in the HVAC/R shop (9 Seniors and 10 Juniors).
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