The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) has opened registration for five free natural refrigerant training events scheduled between December 2026 and June 2027. Organized through NASRC’s R-TRADE workforce development initiative, the events will provide practical training in CO2 and propane refrigeration technologies for technicians at all experience levels.
The program includes one workshop and four summits featuring classroom sessions, hands-on equipment training, exhibits, and networking opportunities. The schedule begins with a workshop in Stockton, California, on December 2–3, 2026, followed by summits in Miami, Florida, on February 9–10; Atlanta, Georgia, on March 24–25; Irwindale, California, on April 20–22; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 22–24, 2027.
Training content will address regional differences in CO2 system adoption and technician experience. The Irwindale and Pittsburgh summits will emphasize CO2 controls, while the Stockton workshop will focus on full-system integration and troubleshooting. Pittsburgh will also include a dedicated CO2 fundamentals track for retailers and end users responsible for operating and maintaining refrigeration systems.
“The transition to natural refrigerants depends on a workforce prepared to install, service and maintain these evolving systems,” said Danielle Wright, NASRC executive director. “Through R-TRADE, NASRC is expanding access to practical training that helps technicians build proficiency with natural refrigerant technologies and prepares them for success as the industry changes.”
The 2026–27 training series is free through sponsor support. The Stockton and Irwindale events also receive funding from the California Air Resources Board’s F-gas Reduction Incentive Program (FRIP) Workforce Development program. Registration and event information are available at nasrc.org/training.
