skilled trades technical operationsepa 608hvacrefrigerationrooftop units
Complete evaluation framework
What to assess and how to score it
Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Hands-on competence
35% weight
Check hands-on range across split systems, rooftop packaged units, heat pumps and mini-splits: brazing, superheat and subcooling checks, EPA 608 Universal card, recovery and charging by weight.
Evidence to listen for
Names the equipment, materials, and tolerances they work to
Can describe a job start to finish without hand-waving the hard parts
Holds the tickets, licences, or certifications the work requires, and they are current
Knows what they are not qualified to touch
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot describe the work concretely; lacks required tickets or licences.
2
Needs Improvement
Basic familiarity; needs supervision on routine tasks.
3
Satisfactory
Competent on standard work; slower or unsure on unfamiliar jobs.
4
Very Good
Skilled and independent across the normal range of the role.
5
Excellent
Names equipment brands serviced, quotes target superheat ranges, holds EPA 608 Universal, and describes brazing and evacuation to micron levels.
02
Evaluation factor
Safety discipline
30% weight
Probe lockout/tagout on 480V rooftop gear, refrigerant handling under Section 608, combustion safety checks on gas furnaces, ladder and roof access rules, and PPE habits.
Evidence to listen for
Treats procedure as protection rather than paperwork
Can describe a time they stopped work and why
Knows the specific hazards of this trade and the controls for each
Reports near misses instead of hiding them
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Casual about safety; describes shortcuts with pride.
2
Needs Improvement
Follows procedure when watched; cannot name the hazards that matter.
3
Satisfactory
Sound safety habits; less certain on unfamiliar hazards.
4
Very Good
Safety is instinctive; can describe stopping work over a real concern.
5
Excellent
Describes tagging a disconnect before opening a panel, testing for CO and gas leaks, and refusing unsafe roof access without hesitation.
03
Evaluation factor
Fault finding
20% weight
Test diagnostic reasoning on no-cool calls: reading manifold gauges, megohm testing compressors, tracing 24V control circuits, board fault codes, and distinguishing TXV from restriction issues.
Evidence to listen for
Has a method for narrowing a fault rather than swapping parts
Reads schematics, manuals, or error codes and acts on them
Knows when to escalate rather than guess
Can describe a fault that took real work to find
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Parts-swapper; no diagnostic method.
2
Needs Improvement
Fixes symptoms; cannot explain how they found the cause.
3
Satisfactory
Solid on familiar faults; less structured on new ones.
4
Very Good
Clear systematic method with a real hard-fault story.
5
Excellent
Walks a full fault tree with pressures, temperature split and amp draw readings, and explains a misdiagnosis they later corrected.
04
Evaluation factor
Reliability and conduct
15% weight
Assess service call conduct: on-call rotation, work orders in ServiceTitan or similar, callback rate, customer explanations of repair versus replace, and truck stock discipline.
Evidence to listen for
Turns up, on time, prepared
Handles shift work, callouts, or travel as the role requires
Documents work so the next person can pick it up
Deals with customers or site staff professionally
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Unreliable attendance; unprofessional on site.
2
Needs Improvement
Inconsistent; documentation is an afterthought.
3
Satisfactory
Dependable; paperwork is adequate.
4
Very Good
Consistently reliable, documents well, professional with customers.
5
Excellent
Cites low callback numbers, documents findings clearly in the dispatch system, and handles upset customers without overselling equipment.
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