Dear Mr. Cochran (The United States Conference of Mayors), Mr. Chase (National Association of Counties), Mr. Buscaino (National League of Cities), Ms. Burlingame (American Association of Code Enforcement), Ms. Imo (National Association of Towns and Townships), and Mr. Sims (International Code Council):
On behalf of America’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) industry, we strongly oppose decisions by municipalities that have indicated suspension of HVACR installation inspections during the spread of the coronavirus.
As an industry, we understand the unique circumstances that code officials and inspectors currently face, particularly with home and building owners who are concerned about coming into close contact with others. However, HVACR contractors continue to work in peoples’ homes and buildings every day, and in so doing, are implementing the appropriate protocols to ensure they can serve customers and simultaneously provide peace of mind.
During this national health emergency, heating, cooling, water heating, and indoor air quality (IAQ) products are in very high demand, and contractors are being called to provide and maintain these essential services to millions of Americans. We are concerned that the local governments’ decisions to limit or stop HVACR inspections could have serious health, safety, and air quality consequences for consumers. We fear that unqualified and unlicensed “installers” will take advantage of consumers who are rightly concerned about pollutants, bacteria, and other harmful items in their homes. Local governments should be doing everything they can to protect consumers from health and safety consequences of nonexistent or improper installations.
With these thoughts in mind, we are hopeful that all code officials and building inspectors continue to be leaders in their community and enforce local code and permitting regulations.
If we can be of any assistance, please contact ACCA’s vice president of public policy and industry relations, Todd Washam.
Sincerely,
- Barton James, president & CEO, ACCA
- Timothy J. Brink, CEO, MCAA (Mechanical Contractors Association of America)
- Thomas W. Jackson, CEO, Jackson Systems
- Stephen R. Yurek, president and CEO, AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute)
- Mark Stevens, executive director, AMCA (Air Movement and Control International Inc.)
- Talbot Gee, CEO, HARDI (Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International)
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