For purposes of sections 18-2301 to 18-2315, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Air conditioning air distribution means the control of any one or more of the following factors affecting both physical and chemical conditions of the atmosphere within a structure: Temperature, humidity, movement and purity;

(2) Furnace means a self-contained, flue-connected or vented, appliance intended primarily to supply heated air through ducts to spaces remote from or adjacent to the appliance location as well as to the space in which it is located;

(3) Contractor means a holder of a valid certificate of competency for air conditioning air distribution;

(4) Ventilating system means each process of removing air by natural gravity exhauster or mechanical exhaust fan from any space; and

(5) Kitchen exhaust system means a duct system or air passageway for removal of kitchen air contaminates by mechanical means.

In any city or village, there may be a board for the examination of air conditioning air distribution contractors for the issuance of certificates of competency and for such other duties and responsibilities as may be prescribed by sections 18-2301 to 18-2315. Such board shall consist of not more than five members all of whom shall be appointed by the mayor, the chairperson of the village board of trustees, or the city manager with the approval of the city council or village board of trustees. All vacancies occurring on the air conditioning air distribution board by reason of death, disability, or inability of a member to serve shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The qualifications for members of the air conditioning air distribution board may be prescribed by the city council or village board of trustees.

Members of the air conditioning air distribution board shall, within ten days after their appointments, meet in their respective city or village building or place designated by the city council, city manager, or village board of trustees and organize by the selection of one of their members as chairperson, one as vice-chairperson, and one as secretary. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep full, true, and correct minutes and records of all meetings, applications for examinations, examinations given and results thereof, and certificates issued, which records shall be open for free inspection by all persons during business hours.

The appointment of the air conditioning air distribution board shall be for staggered terms of three years as provided by the city council or village board of trustees with the appointments to be made in December of each year. Compensation shall be determined by the city council or village board of trustees.

The air conditioning air distribution board shall meet at least once a month at a fixed time as determined by the city council or village board of trustees. The board shall adopt rules for the examination at such times and places of all persons who desire a certificate of competency to engage in the business of designing, installing, altering, repairing, cleaning, or adding to any air conditioning air distribution system, furnace, restaurant appliance hood and duct system, or other exhaust or intake ventilating system within the city or village and also within the area of extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of cities of the metropolitan class.

The air conditioning air distribution board, subject to the approval of the city council or village board of trustees, may adopt rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of the state or the ordinances of the city or village, for the designing, installing, altering, inspecting, or repairing of an air conditioning air distribution and ventilating system placed in or in connection with any building in such city or village or within the area of extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of cities of the metropolitan class describing the kind and size of materials to be used in such systems and the manner in which such work shall be done. All plans and specifications for any such system to be placed in a building shall be first submitted to the board or other body designated by the city council or village board of trustees for its approval before such system shall be installed.

(1) Any person desiring to engage in business as an air conditioning air distribution contractor in a city or village which has established an air conditioning air distribution board or within the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of cities of the metropolitan class if such city has such a board, shall secure a certificate of competency. Any person desiring to engage in the business, or to proceed to install, alter, repair, clean, or add to or change in any manner any air conditioning air distribution system or any furnace, restaurant appliance hood and duct system, or other exhaust or intake ventilating system within such city or village or within the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of cities of the metropolitan class shall be the holder of a certificate of competency or in the direct employ of a person, firm, or corporation holding such certificate.

(2) The air conditioning air distribution board shall, upon written application, examine the applicant at its next meeting or at an adjourned meeting as to his or her practical and theoretical knowledge of the designing and installing of residential, commercial, and industrial air conditioning air distribution and ventilating systems and, if found competent, deliver to the applicant a certificate of competency.

Nothing contained in sections 18-2301 to 18-2315 shall be construed to prohibit a homeowner from personally performing air conditioning air distribution work on the property in which the homeowner resides, and the homeowner will not be required to have a certificate of competency to do such work, but the work must conform to the rules and regulations set forth by the city council or village board of trustees for such work as provided by sections 18-2301 to 18-2315.

All applicants who have successfully passed an examination may, prior to receiving a certificate of competency, be required by the air conditioning air distribution board to furnish a corporate surety bond in the penal sum of not more than ten thousand dollars conditioned that the applicant shall, in all material furnished by the applicant and in all work performed by the applicant and performed within the city or village or within the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of cities of the metropolitan class, in installing, altering, and repairing any air conditioning air distribution system or ventilating system, strictly comply with all regulations of the air conditioning air distribution board and ordinances of the city or village related thereto.

All original certificates of competency may be renewed and all renewed certificates of competency may be renewed by the air conditioning air distribution board before the dates of their expiration. Such renewal certificates shall be granted without a reexamination upon the written application of the certificate holder filed with the board and showing that the certificate holder's purposes and condition remain unchanged unless it is made to appear by affidavit before the board that the certificate holder is no longer competent or entitled to such renewal certificate, in which event the renewal certificate shall not be granted until the applicant has undergone the examination required by section 18-2307.

All original and renewal certificates shall be good for one year from their dates, but any certificate may be revoked by the air conditioning air distribution board at any time after a hearing upon sufficient notice after sworn charges are filed with the board showing the holder of the certificate to be then incompetent, guilty of willful breach of the rules, regulations, or requirements of the board or of the laws or ordinances relating thereto, or of other causes sufficient for the revocation of the certificate as determined by the city council or village board of trustees of which charges and hearing the holder of such certificate shall have written notice.

It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as an air conditioning air distribution contractor or to engage in the business of installing, altering, repairing, cleaning, adding to, or changing in any manner any air conditioning air distribution system or any furnace, any restaurant appliance hood or its duct system, or any other exhaust or intake ventilating system within a city or village having an air conditioning air distribution board or within the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of cities of the metropolitan class having such a board unless such person holds a certificate or is employed by a person, firm, or corporation holding such a certificate.

Fees for the original certificates, renewal certificates, and permits shall be fixed by the city council or village board of trustees of each city or village having an air conditioning air distribution board. The fee for the original or renewal certificate shall in no event be more than fifty dollars.

Any city or village having an air conditioning air distribution board shall be authorized to employ inspectors who shall inspect all parts of any air conditioning air distribution system or ventilating or exhaust system in process of construction, alteration, or repair within the respective jurisdiction of such city or village. Any such system found not to comply with the regulations of the air conditioning air distribution board or ordinances of the city or village shall be reported to the board and if not corrected in accordance with requirements of the rules and regulations of the board and ordinances of the city or village shall be removed, if, after notice to the owner or contractor or certificate holder doing the work, the board shall find the work or any part of such work to be defective or not in compliance with such rules and regulations or ordinances.