Contractors
Class Code 5537: Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems—Installation, Service and Repair, Shop, Yard & Drivers — Workers' Comp Insurance
Covers HVAC contractors installing, servicing, and repairing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems, along with shop, yard, and driver operations. It's the standard classification for residential and commercial HVAC work.
- Risk level:
- elevated
What code 5537 covers
Class 5537 applies to HVAC contractors performing installation, service, and repair of heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration systems, covering technicians working on packaged and split-system units, ductwork, refrigerant lines, and mechanical equipment, along with shop and yard staff who prepare equipment and drivers who transport crews and materials. The work spans both new construction installation and ongoing service and maintenance calls, and includes handling refrigerants, sheet metal ductwork, and attic or exterior-unit access in varied conditions. This classification covers the shop and yard side of the business — where equipment is staged, fabricated, or stored — in addition to field installation and service work, reflecting the full scope of a typical HVAC contracting operation. Sheet metal fabrication performed at a larger, standalone scale beyond what supports the HVAC installation business may be evaluated under a separate sheet metal classification.
Included operations
- Installation of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems
- Refrigerant handling and refrigeration system service
- Ductwork installation and sheet metal work supporting HVAC installs
- Shop and yard equipment staging and preparation
- Drivers transporting crews, tools, and equipment
Assigned elsewhere
- Standalone sheet metal fabrication shops not tied to HVAC installation — see code 5538 (Sheet Metal Work)
- Plumbing installation and repair — see code 5183
- Electrical wiring connecting HVAC equipment performed by a separate electrical contractor — see code 5190
- Commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturing, evaluated under the applicable manufacturing classification
Businesses that typically carry 5537
- Residential HVAC contractors
- Commercial HVAC contractors
- HVAC service and maintenance companies
- Small, owner-operated contracting businesses
- Regional trade contracting companies
- Subcontractors working for general contractors
- Design-build contracting firms
Common misclassifications
Code 5538
HVAC contractors that also run a substantial sheet metal fabrication operation may need that portion of the business evaluated under the separate sheet metal classification.
Code 5606
An HVAC company's owner or project manager who is purely supervisory may qualify for the lower-hazard executive/supervisor classification instead of the field technician code.
Compare up to 10 carriers in minutes.
One application goes out to every carrier we can access for your class of business. You get a ranked comparison you can review and purchase online — with a licensed agent available whenever you want one.
Mon–Fri, 8:00am–6:00pm ET · Independent agency licensed in 23 states
What drives the cost of code 5537
- Total payroll for employees performing the classified work, not gross receipts
- Experience modification factor built from claims history
- State-specific base rates and loss costs filed for this class code
- Use of subcontractors and whether they carry their own workers' comp coverage
- Safety programs, jobsite supervision, and documented training
- Payroll properly split across multiple classifications when work crosses trades
What underwriters look for
- Years in business and prior workers' comp loss history
- Types of jobs typically performed (new construction, remodel, residential vs. commercial) and average job size
- Whether subcontractors are used and certificates of insurance are collected and tracked
- Total payroll for employees actually performing the classified work
- Safety program, training documentation, and any OSHA history
Eligibility
State differences
This entry uses standard NCCI class code phraseology, which applies in most NCCI-governed states. Pennsylvania (PCRB), Delaware (DCRB), California (WCIRB), New Jersey (NJCRIB), Michigan, New York (NYCIRB), and Massachusetts maintain their own classification manuals, and code numbers or phraseology can differ there. Our agency confirms the correct classification for your state before quoting.
Where code 5537 fits
Quote class code 5537.
One application goes out to every carrier we can access for your class of business. You get a ranked comparison you can review and purchase online — with a licensed agent available whenever you want one.
Mon–Fri, 8:00am–6:00pm ET · Independent agency licensed in 23 states
Class code 5537 questions
Does this code cover our shop and yard staff, not just field technicians?
Yes, 5537 is written to include shop and yard operations along with field installation and service work.
What about sheet metal fabrication we do for our HVAC installs?
Sheet metal work supporting your HVAC installations is included; a large standalone sheet metal fabrication operation may need separate evaluation.
Does this cover refrigeration work, not just heating and cooling?
Yes, refrigeration system installation and service is part of this classification.
Are our delivery/service drivers included?
Yes, drivers transporting crews, tools, and equipment are part of this classification.
Last reviewed · Reviewed by Provident Financial Group licensed agents