| Cover Story Are your technicians Section 609 certifi ed? By David A. Kolman, Editor If it’s hot outside, chances are there’s a work order in your shop that says: “A/C won’t blow cold air.” When you hand off that job ticket to a technician, he or she needs to be certifi ed under Section 609 of the Clean Air Act, which specifi cally addresses the servicing of motor vehicle air conditioners. “Most shop managers know that technicians need to be Section 609 trained and certifi ed,” says Scott Watson, aftermarket account manager for Red Dot Corp. (www.rdac. com), a company that supplies HVAC units and all-makes parts for heavy duty vehicles. “But they’re not always sure they can prove it.” It’s worth fi nding out. Any person who services a mobile A/C system must be certifi ed. “Servicing” includes repairs, leak testing and “topping off” systems, as well as any other repair that requires opening the air conditioner. Having an uncertifi ed technician can subject shop owners to fi nes up to $37,500 a day by the U.S. EPA. “Section 609 certifi cation training is a way to make sure techs are compliant and also up-to-date on how to handle various refrigerants, especially now that they may be dealing with refrigerants R-134a and R-1234yf,” Watson says. NOT A FORMALITY Technicians must pass a 25-question written test at the conclusion of a training session. It is available in English and Spanish and the fee is nominal – around $50, depending on who administers it. The test is open-book and it can be taken online or in a classroom. When a technician passes (the minimum score is 72 percent), they receive a certifi cate and wallet card to show employers and EPA auditors. If they fail, they can take the test again. Section 609 training should not be viewed as just a formality, Watson says. “The training focuses on the properties of mobile A/C refrigerants and the environmental consequences of venting them into the atmosphere. It is important for technicians to be aware of their responsibility to legally and safely handle refrigerant.” BEYOND COMPLIANCE Certifi cation has benefi ts that extend beyond compliance, observes Watson, and notes that there are many reasons for maintenance managers to support Section 609 training and certifi cation for their technicians. Chief among them: 1. A much-needed refresher. Section 609 certifi cation can be the start of a larger conversation about how A/C works, including proper service intervals and best practices for detecting leaks and safely recovering and handling refrigerant. For this reason, it’s an advantage to have an instructor conduct the course in person, he says. “Certifi cation is good for a lifetime but I know techs who sit in on courses every spring because they want a refresher on basic A/C concepts, components and service techniques before the summer hits,” says Watson. 2. R-1234yf awareness. As more vehicle manufacturers adopt R-1234yf, Section 609 training can help technicians understand and manage the switch. “People know it’s bad to leak refrigerant into the atmosphere but they aren’t fully aware of the harm that ozone depletion can do,” says Watson. “R-1234yf is expected to reduce automotive greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent.” Then there’s the dollars-and-cents rationale for properly recovering R- 1234yf. At roughly $30 an ounce, “you want to capture the maximum amount of refrigerant possible for warranty reimbursement,” he says. Certifi cation training also can help technicians recognize illegal modifi cations that would convert A/C systems and service equipment from R-1234yf to R-134a. 3. Vehicle uptime. Watson says everyone is happier and more productive when they’re in a comfortable work environment, drivers included. “When the A/C is performing as it’s supposed to, drivers will treat the vehicle better and you’ll get more uptime as a result,” he notes. “Talk to your drivers about A/C performance and take care of routine maintenance now, before it turns into a repair that takes the truck out of service. “Make sure your techs are Section 609 certifi ed and that you have copies of their certifi cates on fi le. That way you can match them up with A/C work orders in the event of an audit. The EPA is watching.” Advanced Engine Performance, L2 Electronic Diesel Engine Diagnosis Specialist and L3 Light Duty Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Specialist.” All of the certifi cations hold the same value, but technicians may get more out of a test series that directly relates to an area they encounter on a regular basis. “Focusing on the areas/systems on the vehicles the technician is repairing should be weighted,” advises Arrants. “Th is provides the technician, employer and customer with an increased comfort level of this individual’s ability and knowledge.” WyoTech’s Tegels says independent shops and small fl eets have the largest challenges with gaining access to training and certifi cations, which makes ASE a good resource for their technicians. “ASE is recognized on all levels of the industry for assisting with technician growth and certifi - cations,” he says. “ASE has a path for students in pre- and post-secondary schooling, along with certifi cations a technician can gain aft er attaining two years of experience.” “ASE certifi cation is the only industry-wide certifi cation that the technician can take from job to job,” adds UTI’s Conte. “Shops should only hire certifi ed technicians as a way to demonstrate their commitment to excellence and concern for their customers.” OTHER CERTIFICATIONS Vehicle manufacturers have training for their dealer organizations and some large fl eets, which provides progressive training and certifi cation, WyoTech’s Tegels explains. Th is allows them to essentially grow their technicians’ confi dence and abilities. “Manufacturers may have diff erent names for levels of technicians,” says Tegels, “but the ultimate goal is to have a highly trained and educated technician representing their brand in hopes of gaining market share through the best customer experience.” Mike Rossetti, director of service for Isuzu Commercial Truck of America – the distributor of Isuzu commercial trucks in the U.S. (www. IsuzuCV.com), points out when technicians are not certifi ed, familiar or trained on a vehicle, it takes much longer for them to make a repair. “But more important is accurately repairing the vehicle to ensure the vehicle is fi xed the right time. “Today, uptime on our vehicle is critical. If the vehicles are down, and they’re not producing revenue for the customers, then everyone is losing – the end customer that would be receiving the goods and our customer who is actually utilizing our truck as a tool for their business,” adds Rossetti. To improve familiarity with its vehicles, Isuzu allows all of its fl eets to gain access to its Isuzu Truck University website. “We have base training modules that are available for fl eet’s technicians to take,” explains Rossetti. “If there are special, more advanced classes – like hands-on classes – they can attend our training centers. Or, at that point, we also ASE is the only certifying body that is recognized across the entire industry. However, there are additional certifi cations available through manufacturers, OEMs and other industry associations. Photo from iStock 12 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ JULY 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com
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