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NEBB
Launches TAB Technician
Qualification Program
 NEBB
, along with the coordination of
member firms, in an effort to
improve quality, has implemented a
new program called the NEBB TAB
Technician program. Since 1971, it
has been the intent and purpose of
NEBB to certify firms and qualify
persons for the purpose of
performing necessary tests and
inspections of building
environmental systems.
The TAB program qualifies
supervisory personnel who possess
both management and field expertise
in this area.
The qualification program for
technicians has been established as
a natural progression of NEBB’s
original purpose.
This qualification program is
intended to enhance NEBB’s stature
with owners and designers, while
promoting the professional integrity
of NEBB’s certified firms.
It will also allow NEBB-
certified TAB firms, which employ
these technicians, to bid and
perform on projects that specify the
requirement for qualified
technicians.
A task force
developed the program in 2001. The
finished program included the
suggestions of a survey of NEBB
firms, the requirements of the Board
of Directors, TAB Committee and the
administrative requirements of
National NEBB staff. The technician
program is based on the following
NEBB publications: TAB Manual for
Technicians, Procedural Standards
for Testing, Adjusting, and
Balancing of Environmental Systems
and the TAB Technician Home Study
Course.
The following is a
generalized listing of differences
in skills and/or responsibilities
between a supervisor and a
technician:
Supervisors
 | Develop and
plan the work. |
| Handle report
preparation |
| Recommend
corrective action |
| Set overall
safety plan. |
| Maintain
instruments & calibration
program |
| Have experience
w/control strategies, sequence
of operation, control systems,
equipment and software. |
| Review, check,
sign & stamp final report. |
Technicians
| Implement and
perform the work. |
| Possess basic
knowledge of report forms. |
| Identify
problems. |
| Comply with
common safety practices. |
| Use
instrumentation properly. |
| Have a basic
knowledge of controls. |
Eligibility
requirements for a technician are:
| A TAB certified
firm, who is in good standing
with NEBB, must currently employ
the candidate. The candidate
must demonstrate competency,
reliability, cooperativeness,
sound judgment, high ethical
standards, and the ability to
work independently in a safe,
professional manner. The
candidate must satisfy one of
the following conditions: |
| Successful
completion of the NEBB TAB
Technician Home Study Course AND
must also have at least two
years employment with a minimum
of 1,000 hours of documented TAB
fieldwork experience each year
within the last two years. |
| Four years
employment with a minimum of
1,000 hours of documented TAB
fieldwork experience each year
within the last four years. |
| Provide
documentation of having
completed a program (other than
the NEBB program), which is
acceptable to NEBB on an
individually approved basis. If
a candidate has completed a
program other than the NEBB
previously approved programs,
the candidate must include all
relevant information concerning
that program with his
application. |
You can obtain the
appropriate forms from your local
chapter. The application must be
filed with the local NEBB chapter
with the application fees and the
appropriate forms and documentation.
The chapter will review your
application and if meets the
requirements they will contact you
with all the testing information you
will need. They may also ask for
more clarification.
There are both
written and practical examinations
for this program. The written
examination portion will consist of
three sections:
| Fundamentals
– 1 hour (closed book). |
| Air systems –
1 hour (open book). |
| Hydronic
systems – 1 hour (open book). |
The practical, or
“hands-on,” examination may
utilize test boards to simulate
actual test and balance procedure,
or it may consist of actual field
installations. The two sections are:
| Air systems –
1-½ hours. |
| Hydronic
systems – 1-½ hours. |
The closed book
section of the examination packages
will include “formula reference”
sheets.
Only a non-programmable
calculator may be used throughout
examination.
The administration
of the examinations is flexible.
The chapter may elect to
administer all of the written
sections simultaneously on one day
and administer the practical
hands-on sections on a different
day. The chapter will arrange the
location and assign “proctors”
to give the exam. If you are an
approved NEBB proctor, you cannot
administer the test to your own
employees or co-workers.
The Chapter will
contact you after the test to let
you know if you passed or failed. If
you fail the exam, you will need to
retake the section(s) you failed.
Once you’ve passed a section you
do not need to retake it. If you
fail one or more sections of the
examination, you must wait at least
90 days before you can retake the
failed section(s). If you fail the
first re-examination, you
will have to obtain and successfully
complete the NEBB Home Study
Course for TAB Technicians with
a passing grade of 70% or greater,
or you will have to wait one year
and re-apply.
If you pass, you
will receive notification and a
certificate from NEBB within 60 days
after (but not at) the examination.
You will be listed on NEBB’s
database and will be considered a
NEBB qualified technician provided
you continue to maintain your
qualification requirements.
Your Technician
Qualification is maintained by:
| Continued
employment with a certified firm
and having a minimum of 1,000
hours of documented TAB
fieldwork experience each year. |
| Keeping dues
current. |
Your TAB
supervisor will verify your
continued employment with the firm,
and document your TAB fieldwork at
the time of your firm’s bi-annual
re-certification.
If you fail to
maintain your qualification for more
than one year, but less than five
years, the you will be required to
attend a six-hour re-qualification
seminar approved by your local
chapter.
If you fail to
maintain your qualification for more
than five years, you will be
required to re-apply for
qualification, including
successfully completing the written
and practical exams.
You can be
disqualified if:
| You fail to
maintain your status as a
qualified technician in good
standing with the local chapter. |
| You falsify
balance reports and/or data. |
| You do not
adhere to NEBB Procedural
Standards. |
| You exhibit
willful disregard for safety and
safe work practices. |
| You fail to
renew your qualification or fail
to pay renewal fees. |
| Your firm loses
its NEBB certification. |
The national fees
for US firms are $100 to apply, $50
to transfer, and $25 annual
maintenance. Non-US firms receive a
25% discount.
Your local chapter will
determine its own fees for testing
and administration.
To pass the exam,
you should be proficient in all of
the following categories:
Mathematics
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Addition
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Subtraction
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Multiplication
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Square Root
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Cube Root
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Ratios
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Percentages
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Equations
w
Decimals
Fluid
Flow
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Pressure (static,
velocity and total)
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Resistance (friction
and dynamic loss)
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Velocity
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Density
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Quantity
Heat
Transfer
General
System Knowledge
Air
Distribution
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Know the purpose of
each component in an air system and
how these components interact as
related to system operating
pressure.
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Know the effect of
duct leakage on balancing.
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Know the function of
the fan laws, system effect and
V-belt drives
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Understand the
function of the components in
various types (constant volume, VAV,
dual-duct, terminal reheat, etc) of
air distribution systems.
Hydronic
Systems
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Know the purpose of
each component in a hydronic system.
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Know the effect on
balancing of system resistance.
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Be able to apply Pump
Laws, the effect on pumps when
balancing, and pump curves.
Automatic
Control Systems
Electrical
Systems
Instrumentation
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Air Measuring
Instruments
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Hydronic Measuring
Instruments
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Rotation Measuring
Instruments
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Temperature Measuring
Instruments
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Electrical Measuring
Instruments
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Computer – DDC
Controls
Preliminary
TAB Procedures
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Preliminary Procedures
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Air System Inspections
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Hydronic System
Inspections
Specific
Air & Hydronic Systems TAB
Procedures
Other
Considerations for Technician
Qualification
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Working Safely
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Data Gathering
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Effective
communication with the supervisor
The TAB Committee
is also considering developing a
hands-on training course that would
be held at a location(s) around the
US.
To
apply for this program, please
contact NEBB
or your local Chapter.
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