Butte College

Course Outline

2026-2027 Catalog

HVAC 12 - Basic HVACR Systems

Catalog Description

Transfer Status
CSU
Corequisite
ITEC 55, HVAC 11, HVAC 13
Unit(s)
4.00
  • Lecture: 34.00 Contact hours/68.00 Out of class hours/102.00 Total hours/2.00 Unit(s)
  • Lab: 102.00 Contact hours/0.00 Out of class hours/102.00 Total hours/2.00 Unit(s)
  • Total: 136.00 Contact hours/68.00 Out of class hours/204.00 Total hours/4.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course is designed to teach the functions of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) systems and where they are used in the industry. Emphasis will be placed on developing safety skills, heating and cooling system types, equipment categories, air distribution, components of a system, and the different types of tubing used in the industry. These areas of instruction will be applied in several hands on performance lab exercises. This course is part of the National Center For Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning curriculum qualification.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Practice safety skills that are required on job-sites.
  2. Explain the fundamental concepts of heating and combustion.
  3. Identify common refrigerants and their unique characteristics.
  4. Describe the mechanical equipment and materials used to create air distribution systems.
  5. Recognize and identify different types of plastic, copper, and carbon tubing and their related fittings.
  6. Describe and demonstrate the safe process of soldering copper tubing.
  7. Describe and identify the various types of steel pipe and fittings.

Course Content

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

Lecture topics and suggested hours
TopicsLec Hrs

Introduction and Safety

2.00

Types of Heating

5.50

Types of Cooling

5.50

Basic Air Distribution

5.50

Types of Equipment

5.00

Introduction to System Components

5.00

Introduction to Types of Plastic, Copper, and Carbon Tubing

5.50
Total Hours:34.00

Lab

Lab topics and suggested hours
TopicsLab Hrs

Introduction and Safety

2.00

Types of Heating

18.00

Types of Cooling

18.00

Basic Air Distribution

16.00

Types of Equipment

16.00

Introduction to System Components

16.00

Introduction to Types of Plastic, Copper, and Carbon Tubing

16.00
Total Hours:102.00

Methods of Instruction

  1. Demonstrations
  2. Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
  3. Laboratory Experiments
  4. Lecture
  5. Multimedia Presentations

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Exams/Tests
  2. Quizzes
  3. Homework
  4. Lab Projects

Examples of Assignments

Reading Assignments

  1. Read the introduction to the various types of heating and be prepared to discuss in class.
  2. Read assigned trade journal article and be prepared to discuss in class.

Writing Assignments

  1. Write an order of operations for the mechanical equipment that is required for a particular air distribution system.
  2. Write a two-page essay, explaining how the trade journal article can be implemented in workplace safety and how it relates to the class.

Out-of-Class Assignments

  1. Research online the proper fundamental concepts of heating and combustion using manufactures' publications and be prepared to discuss in class.
  2. Research OSHA publications for the use and safety of power tools properly and write a one-page essay.

Recommended Materials of Instruction

National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). (2018). Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning - Level 1. Pearson Education INC.

Other Learning Materials

All tools listed in the HVACR Program Guide.

Minimum Qualifications

Air Cond,Refrig,Heating

Industrial Technology