Chicago’s new TAB lab sets the gold standard

By: Austin Keating, originally published in SNIPS

As wave of workforce demand sweeps the United States, the need for highly skilled, certified HVAC testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) techni­cians has reached a critical point. In response, Chicago’s SMART Local 73 has opened a newly certified TAB lab — one of just 11 nationwide — to meet the industry’s most rigorous and current standards, and to provide a lifeline for both local apprentices and experienced technicians.

The lab’s recent certification by the International Certification Board (ICB) — under the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) — ensures that more candidates can now complete their hands-on perfor­mance exams in Chicago, rather than traveling out of state. It’s a significant boost for the pipeline of certified TAB professionals, a group in high demand as older technicians retire and the complexity of building systems continues to climb.

From hall of famers to the next generation

For Leo Thier, a JATC instructor at Local 73 and a veteran of nearly four decades in the trade, the new lab is both a point of pride and a natural next step in a storied local tradition.

“I started my apprenticeship in 1987, and I was lucky enough to have the best instructors ever for TAB — John Christie and Gene Kennedy. They’re literally TAB Hall of Famers,” Thier recalled. “Now, our school has absolutely everything a sheet metal worker could come across, from architectural welding to a fully equipped TAB lab that just got certified.”

The facility features a clean room, fire damper walls and an array of both modern and legacy equipment — so students learn to balance everything from cutting-edge digital controls to the pneumatic systems still found in older buildings.

“We want to show both ends of the spectrum,” Thier said. “We’re adding new stuff to keep it current, but we keep the old controllers too, because that stuff’s still out in the field.”

Setting a national standard — and sharing it

Cassandra Kline, director of certification for ICB, empha­sized the broader impact: “Certifying labs like the one at Local 73 is a critical part of our mission. It guarantees that candidates are tested in facilities that meet rigorous, consistent requirements nationwide.”

The ICB/TABB certification process is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17024 standard, and it has recently been updated to reflect industry and regulatory benchmarks. As part of the transition to updated standards, previ­ously certified labs are undergoing recertification, with Local 73 being one of the first to meet the new benchmarks.

The lab’s reach extends beyond its own members.

“We had some members from other locals — 265, 20 — who wanted to take the test but didn’t have a school available because theirs was being rebuilt,” Thier explained. “We offered to help those members out as well. As far as TAB, you can test at any certified TAB school.”

Training for megaprojects, data centers and the future

The surge in demand for TAB technicians is driven not just by retirements, but also by a boom in projects like battery plants, high-tech manufacturing and data centers.

“This is where our trade is going,” Thier said. “Fire/ smoke damper technician, indoor air quality, building envelope — all those classes are getting more popular every day. Indoor air quality, especially, is a huge future for sheet metal workers.”

Certification is rigorous: Candidates must pass a five-hour written exam and a practical test at an ICB-approved lab, with pathways for advanced super­visor roles. Local 73’s program includes night classes, hands-on labs and, as Thier notes, a commitment to ensuring “everybody that takes the class gets the chance to pass the written test and then take the practical.”

The human side of certification

Thier credits his own mentors with sparking a passion for sharing knowledge.

“I can’t say enough about the instructors I had,” he said. “I picked their brains for every bit of information I could get. I’m just happy to pass it along. That’s what all members should be doing — sharing this information. The more we know, the better off we are.”

The curriculum at Local 73 goes beyond balancing airflows.

“We teach about commissioning, controls, everything,” Thier said. “Owners are hiring third-party commis­sioning agents to check building performance before letting in occupants. It’s all about integrity, and balancing is a big part of that. Owners should be able to trust our reports — they know these are certified people.”

Building trust, building the trade

For both Kline and Thier, the stakes are more than tech­nical; they’re about credibility and opportunity.

“I’m passionate about this because it’s about fairness for the candidates and trust for the industry,” Kline said. “By choosing a certified TAB technician, building owners can be confident the job is done right and meets the highest industry standards.”

With a certified lab now open in Chicago and more facilities upgrading across the country, Thier hopes the next generation will be equipped to meet this moment.

“The best way to build a reliable pipeline is to invest in new talent and make sure the standards are rock solid,” he said.