Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Environmental Control Technology (AIRE)
100 Basic Refrigeration Theory - 4 hours lecture, 4 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 103.
This course is a study of elementary thermodynamics
as applied to heating, air conditioning and
refrigeration (HVACR) systems, including molecular
theory of temperature, pressure and heat. Emphasis is
placed on the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle,
HVACR system components, their thermal
performance and applications. Discussions include
historical to modern systems, with emphasis placed
on new energy-saving technologies and methods
being employed in this dynamic industry. This course
is intended for students pursuing certificates or an
associate degree in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
and Environmental Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
103 Basic Refrigeration Lab - 6 hours lab, 2 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 100.
This course is a hands-on, project-oriented study of
the tools, materials, methods and equipment used in
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and
Refrigeration (HVACR). Emphasis is placed on projects
related to heat transfer and the refrigeration cycle,
system evacuation, charging, recovery and leak
testing as they apply to normal HVACR industry
activities. This course is intended for students
pursuing certificates or an associate degree in Air
Conditioning, Refrigeration and Environmental
Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
122 Construction Drawings and Estimating - 3 hours lecture, 3 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, And
Environmental Control Technology 123 with a grade
of "C" or better, or equivalent.
Advisory: Mathematics 38 with a grade of "C" or better,
or equivalent or Assessment Skill Level M30.
This course is a study of the generation, reading and
interpretation of construction drawings from initial
concepts to actual building construction. Emphasis is
placed on how the Heating, Ventilation and Air
Conditioning (HVAC) systems are integrated into the
structure by architects, engineers and ultimately the
construction contractors and subcontractors. Course
content includes architectural, mechanical, electrical
and plumbing drawings, and also covers job planning,
sources and use of pricing guidelines, municipal,
county, state and federal codes, energy codes and
standards, specifications and computer software
programs used in the development of construction
drawings and used for construction estimating. This
course is intended for students pursuing certificates or
an associate degree in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
and Environmental Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
123 Construction Drawings and Estimating
Lab - 3 hours lab, 1 unit
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, And
Environmental Control Technology 122 with a grade
of "C" or better, or equivalent.
Advisory: Mathematics 38 with a grade of "C" or better,
or equivalent or Assessment Skill Level M30.
This laboratory course provides practice in the reading
of construction drawings and plans for structures and
building components. Students use pricing guides for
Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC),
computer-aided drafting software, engineering and
architectural scales, and elementary sketching and
drawing techniques to complete laboratory projects.
This course is intended for students pursuing
certificates or an associate degree in Air Conditioning,
Refrigeration and Environmental Control Technology. AA/AS; CSU.
124 Control Systems Theory - 3 hours lecture, 3 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 125.
Advisory: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in:
Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Environmental
Control Technology 100 and 103, each with a grade of
"C" or better, or equivalent.
This course is a study of electricity and electrical
controls for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
and refrigeration (HVACR). Subjects include Ohm's
Law and Kirchoff's Law for direct current (DC) and
alternating current (AC) circuits, series and parallel
power and control circuits, electrical schematic and
wiring diagrams, and motor theory. Emphasis is
placed on the operational theory and application of
components commonly encountered in modern
HVACR systems, electrical control and circuits,
compressor, pump and fan circuits. This course is
intended for students pursuing certificates or an
associate degree in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
and Environmental Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
125 Control Systems Lab - 6 hours lab, 2 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 124.
Advisory: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in:
Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Environmental
Control Technology 100 and 103, each with a grade of
"C" or better, or equivalent.
This course utilizes a series of laboratory projects that
provide hands-on student training with test and
measuring tools, benchtop trainers and actual
heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration
(HVACR) systems. Projects include use of digital-voltohm-
meters (DVOM), in-circuit and clamp-on
ammeters, meggers, etc. in analyzing HVACR power
and control circuits. Logical troubleshooting and
diagnosis methods are demonstrated and utilized
with computer simulation software and in the
laboratory projects. This course is intended for
students pursuing certificates or an associate degree
in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Environmental
Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
126 Fluid Flow Dynamics - 3 hours lecture, 3 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in
Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Environment
Control Technology 127 with a grade of "C" or better,
or equivalent.
Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to
students with credit for Environmental Control
Technology 126.
Fundamental laws governing air flow in ducting
systems; fans, system curves, fan curves, common
methods of air distribution; friction losses in ducts; use
of system calculators; laws of hydronics; pipe sizing,
pump sizing; pressure losses in hydronic systems; air
psychrometries; water treatment and air filtration
fundamentals. AA/AS; CSU.
127 Fluid Flow Dynamics Lab - 6 hours lab, 2 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environment Control Technology 126.
Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to
students with credit for Environmental Control
Technology 127.
This laboratory course provides practice in fluid
measuring methods and instrumentation. Emphasis is
placed on working with instruments such as pitot
tube devices and velometers to illustrate the
interaction of fluid systems curves. Course content
also includes air psychometries, air and hydronic
system balancing and measurement of sound. AA/AS; CSU.
128 Comfort Heating Systems Theory - 4 hours lecture, 4 units (Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Environmental Control Technology 129.
Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for Air Conditioning,Refrigeration and Environmental ControlTechnology 112.
This course engages in the study, identification, and understanding of the safe operation of comfort heating equipment and systems. Instruction includes the use of combustion analyzers to evaluate the combustion process of various fuels, their heat output, analysis of bi-products, equipment capacity and combustion efficiency. The course includes discussions on equipment design, installation and maintenance in common types of comfort heating systems, including forced-air fuel-fired furnaces, boilers, heatpumps and airhandlers, hydronic heating and integrated conventional and alternative energy systems. This course is intended for students pursuing certificates or an associate degree in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Environmental Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
129 Comfort Heating Systems Lab - 6 hours lab, 2 units (Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Environmental Control Technology 128. Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Environmental Control Technology 113. This course involves a series of demonstrations and lab projects to provide identification, knowledge and understanding of the safe operation of comfort heating equipment and systems. Readings from combustion analyzers are used to evaluate the combustion process of various fuels, their heat output, analysis of bi-products, equipment capacity and combustion efficiency. The course includes design, maintenance training and practice on common types of comfort heating systems, including forced-air gas-fired and oil-fired furnaces, boilers, furnaces, heatpump fancoils, hydronic heating and integrated conventional and alternative energy systems. This course is intended for students pursuing certificates or an associate degree in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Environmental Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
132 Advanced Refrigeration Theory - 3 hours lecture, 3 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 133.
Advisory: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 100 and 103, each
with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent.
This course is a comprehensive thermodynamic
analysis of air conditioning and refrigeration systems
using Mollier diagrams and mathematical system
process calculations. Topics include heat exchanger
design, condensers, evaporators, cooling towers,
evaporative condensers, metering devices,
compressor design and performance, system piping
and lubrication. Studies include multi-evaporator
vapor-compression, cascade, cryogenic, and absorption systems. This course is intended for
students pursuing certificates or an associate degree
in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Environmental
Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
133 Advanced Refrigeration Lab - 6 hours lab, 2 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 132.
Advisory: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 100 and 103, each
with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent.
This course is a rigorous series of projects in the
functioning and service of heating, ventilating, air
conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems.
Projects include taking pressure, temperature and
airflow readings on normal and malfunctioning
systems, thermodynamic analyses using Mollier
diagrams, troubleshooting, diagnosis and repair. Tasks
involve the use of various refrigerants and secondary
control devices such as pressure regulators and head
pressure controls and the use of modern industrystandard
tools and test equipment. This course is
intended for students pursuing certificates or an
associate degree in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
and Environmental Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
138 HVAC/Refrigeration System Design - 3 hours lecture, 3 units
(Grade Only)
Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to
students with credit for Environmental Control
Technology 138.
An intensive course on the theory of design for
heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, and solar
energy systems. Includes building envelope heat load
calculations, equipment selection criteria, system
selection and optimization. Energy conservation
techniques in design and hydronic system design
applications are included. AA/AS; CSU.
139 HVAC/Refrigeration System Design Lab - 6 hours lab, 2 units
(Grade Only)
Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to
students with credit for Environmental Control
Technology 139.
Applied design techniques for the development of
complete “HVAC” refrigeration and solar designs in an
occupationally similar environment. A series of design
projects includes applied heat load estimation;
applied psychrometries; system and equipment
selection criteria; and use of design manuals, tables,
and manufacturers catalogs. Applied energy
conservation techniques are included. AA/AS; CSU.
144 Direct Digital Controls Theory - 4 hours lecture, 4 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 145 with a grade
of "C" or better, or equivalent.
Advisory: Computer Business Technology 161 and 180,
each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent.
This course is a study of Direct Digital Control (DDC)
theory: rationale, DDC system design, DDC system
sensors, DDC controllers and advanced heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controls,
network architecture, Internet protocol (IP) addressing
and interoperation, open and non-proprietary
systems, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration
and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) BACnet, and
the LonWorks platform. The course examines BACnet
DDC hybrid control strategies using various analog
and binary system actuators. Specific emphasis is
placed on developing student skills using networks
that are built into the AIRE Program DDC lab
equipment and utilized throughout the world,
including the SDCCD campuses and buildings. This
course is intended for students pursuing certificates or
an associate degree in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
and Environmental Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
145 Direct Digital Controls Lab - 6 hours lab, 2 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 144 with a grade
of "C" or better, or equivalent.
Advisory: Computer Business Technology 161 and 180,
each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent.
This course applies Direct Digital Control (DDC) theory
to laboratory projects: system design, American
Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Engineers (ASHRAE) BACnet DDC controller selection
and integration with heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) system components, BACnet network architecture, development of graphical views
and hierarchical database tree, logical BACnet
program development, and construction of DDC
system operator machine interface graphics. Course
projects include the development of a facility
graphical view and control hierarchy tree, setup of a
control logic diagram using blocks, symbols and wires,
and construction of an operator graphical interface.
Laboratory training simulations are compared to
actual DDC HVAC control strategies used by the San
Diego Community College District's BACnet DDC
system, and throughout the world. This course is
intended for students pursuing certificates or an
associate degree in Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
and Environmental Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
160 Solar Energy Utilization Theory - 3 hours lecture, 3 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 161.
Advisory: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 100 and 124, each
with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent.
This course studies solar-thermal and photovoltaic
(PV) systems, siting considerations, types of collectors
and systems, operating efficiencies, building codes
and solar rights. Topics include: passive and active
solar thermal systems; residential and commercial
systems for water heating, space heating, space
cooling, process heating, swimming pool heating, and
hybrid systems. Study of photovoltaic technologies
includes the solar cell, independent and gridconnected
systems and electric bill reduction
strategies. This course is intended for students
pursuing certificates or an associate degree in Air
Conditioning, Refrigeration and Environmental
Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
161 Solar Energy Utilization Lab - 6 hours lab, 2 units
(Grade Only)
Corequisite: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 160.
Advisory: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and
Environmental Control Technology 100 and 125, each
with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent.
This course includes a series of solar thermal and
photovoltaic (PV) laboratory projects. Solar collector
and system performance data are recorded and
analyzed and efficiencies calculated. Topics include
collector/module azimuth and tilt, thermal open and
closed loop systems, freeze protection, stagnation;
stand-alone and grid-connected photovoltaic systems
are studied. This course is intended for students
pursuing certificates or an associate degree in Air
Conditioning, Refrigeration and Environmental
Control Technology. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
270 Work Experience in Air Conditioning,
Refrigeration, Environmental Control
Technology - Hours by Arrangement (One unit of credit is earned
for each 75 hours of paid employment or 60 hours
of volunteer work.), 1-4 units
(Grade Only)
Limitation on Enrollment:
Must obtain an Add Code
from Work Experience Coordinator for registration. A
program of on-the-job learning experiences for
students employed in a job related to their major or
their educational goals. The combined maximum
credit for all work experience courses from all
disciplines may not exceed 16 units. AA/AS; CSU.
290 Independent Study in Air Conditioning,
Refrigeration, Environmental Control
Technology - Hours by Arrangement, 1-3 units
(Grade Only)
Limitation on Enrollment:
Must obtain an Add Code
from instructor for registration. This course is not open
to students with credit for Environmental Control
Technology 290.
For students who wish to study special problems. This
course may be taken four times with different content
for a maximum of six units. AA/AS; CSU.
This discipline may offer specialized instruction in
one or more of the following areas: Supervised
Tutoring (044), Experimental Topics (265),
Independent Study (290), Individualized Instruction
(296), Service Learning (277), or Work Experience
(270). Detailed course descriptions are listed on
page page 120. Please refer to the class schedule
and/or see the dean or department chair for
availability.