In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. “Board” means the State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors. “Contractor” means a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration contractor. “Cooling system” means a system in which heat is removed from air, surrounding surfaces, or both. “Cooling system” includes an air-conditioning system. “Forced air system” means a heating system that uses air being moved by mechanical means to transmit heat. “Heating system” means a system in which heat is transmitted by radiation, conduction, or convection, or a combination of any of these methods, to the air, surrounding surfaces, or both. “Heating system” does not include a fireplace or woodburning stove not incorporated into or used as a primary heating system. “Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration contractor” means an individual who provides heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services. “Hydronic system” means a heating and cooling system using liquids or steam to transmit or remove heat. “Independent agency” means an office, commission, board, department, or agency established as an independent unit of government that may receive budgetary or administrative support from the federal, State, or local government. “Journeyman license” means a license issued by the Board to provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration services while under the direction and control of a licensed contractor. “Journeyman restricted license” means a license issued by the Board to provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration services while under the direction and control of a licensed contractor, in only one of the following areas: heating - forced air systems; heating - hydronic systems; ventilation; air-conditioning; or refrigeration. “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to provide or to assist in providing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services. “License” includes, unless the context requires otherwise: a master license; a master restricted license; a limited license; a journeyman license; a journeyman restricted license; and an apprentice license. “Licensed apprentice” means an individual who is licensed by the Board to assist in providing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services while: under the direction and control of a licensed contractor; and in training to become a journeyman. “Licensed contractor” means a contractor who is licensed by the Board to provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services, but does not include a licensed apprentice or licensed journeyman. “Limited license” means a license issued by the Board exclusively to maintain or repair one or more of the following: heating systems, cooling systems, refrigeration systems, ventilation systems, or hydronic systems. “Master license” means a license issued by the Board to provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services. “Master restricted license” means a license issued by the Board to provide services in only one of the following areas: heating - forced air systems; heating - hydronic systems; ventilation; air-conditioning; or refrigeration. “Provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services” means to install, maintain, alter, remodel, or repair heating systems, cooling systems, refrigeration systems, ventilation systems, or hydronic systems. “Refrigeration system” means a system used to cool a surface or area below 55 degrees Fahrenheit or 12.9 degrees Celsius. “Self-contained appliance” means a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration device that is designed and manufactured: with its component parts contained within a single chassis; with a standard factory-installed electrical line cord that requires a plug-in device; with no additional external fuel source; and independent of an air distribution system. “Subdivision of the State” means any of the 23 counties in Maryland, the City of Baltimore, and any municipal corporation. “Ventilation system” means the natural or mechanical process of supplying air to, or removing air from, any space: whether the air is conditioned or is not conditioned; and at a rate of airflow of more than 250 cubic feet per minute.

The purpose of this title is to establish a licensing program for individuals who provide or assist in providing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration services to: protect the public; provide and maintain efficient and safe systems; promote high professional standards; and ensure that qualified individuals carry out subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section.

This title does not limit the right of: an individual owner of a single-family dwelling while that owner is practicing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services on or within a building or structure owned by the individual; an individual who is building a single-family dwelling in which that individual will reside while practicing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services on or within that dwelling; an employee of a public utility company regulated by the Public Service Commission, when engaged in: the development, construction, maintenance, or repair of electric or gas facilities located in the State; or the construction, maintenance, or repair of electric or gas appliances in the service area of the public utility; subject to § 9A-403(a) of this title, an employee of the United States government, the State government, a local government, or an independent agency while that employee is practicing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services on or within buildings or structures owned or solely occupied by the United States government, the State government, a local government, or an independent agency; an individual employed in the installation, maintenance, alteration, repair, or replacement of self-contained appliances requiring not more than 225 volts or 25 amperes of electrical current; an individual possessing a master electrician's license issued by the State or any county, when engaged in the installation, alteration, service, repair, or replacement of individually controlled electric resistance heat; an individual possessing a master plumber's license issued by the State, Baltimore County, or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission when providing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services on hydronic heating systems; an individual possessing a license to practice engineering when providing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services in connection with the practice of engineering; an individual who installs, alters, remodels, maintains, or repairs oil burners exclusively while employed by a supplier of home heating fuel; or an individual regularly employed by the owner of property, or the owner's agent, to engage in maintenance and repair work.