MBH (Thousand BTUs per Hour)
MBH is a measurement used in the heating and cooling industry to describe how much heating or cooling power equipment has. It stands for "Thousand BTUs per Hour" (BTU means British Thermal Unit). Think of it like measuring a car's horsepower - the higher the MBH number, the more powerful the heating or cooling system is. For example, a furnace rated at 100 MBH can heat a larger space than one rated at 50 MBH. This term frequently appears in job descriptions for HVAC technicians, building engineers, and heating specialists when they need to work with or select equipment.
Examples in Resumes
Installed and maintained commercial boilers ranging from 50 to 400 MBH
Sized and specified MBH requirements for multi-story building heating systems
Performed efficiency testing on MBTUH rated equipment
Managed upgrades of heating systems from 200 MBTU/hr to 500 MBH
Typical job title: "HVAC Technicians"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find HVAC Technicians
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Online Communities
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you determine the proper MBH rating needed for a 20,000 square foot commercial building?
Expected Answer: A senior technician should explain the process of calculating heat loss, considering factors like building insulation, window area, climate zone, and occupancy patterns to determine the correct heating capacity needed.
Q: What factors would you consider when upgrading a system to a higher MBH rating?
Expected Answer: Should discuss evaluating existing ductwork/piping capacity, ventilation requirements, fuel supply limitations, and building code requirements for the new system size.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you explain MBH ratings to a client who doesn't understand HVAC terminology?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate ability to explain technical concepts in simple terms, perhaps using analogies like car horsepower or comparing it to home appliance power ratings.
Q: What's the relationship between MBH and energy efficiency?
Expected Answer: Should explain that higher MBH doesn't always mean higher energy bills, and discuss how proper sizing and modern efficiency ratings work together.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What does MBH stand for and how is it used in HVAC work?
Expected Answer: Should explain that MBH means thousand BTUs per hour and is used to measure heating/cooling capacity of equipment. Should give basic examples of common equipment sizes.
Q: How do you convert BTUs to MBH?
Expected Answer: Should explain that you divide the BTU number by 1,000 - for example, 100,000 BTUs equals 100 MBH.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of MBH ratings and equipment sizing
- Reading equipment specifications
- Basic maintenance of standard heating equipment
- Following installation guides for rated equipment
Mid (2-5 years)
- Calculating building heating requirements
- Selecting appropriate equipment sizes
- Troubleshooting capacity issues
- Understanding efficiency ratings and their relationship to MBH
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex system design and sizing
- Commercial and industrial applications
- Energy efficiency optimization
- Training and supervising junior technicians
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain basic BTU calculations
- No experience with commercial-sized equipment
- Lack of knowledge about local building codes related to heating capacity
- No understanding of heat loss calculations
- Cannot convert between different measurement units
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
Cutting HR Costs Without Sacrificing Quality: A How-To for Savvy Executives
The Cryptic Secrets of Data-Driven HR: Metrics that Actually Matter (and Some That Might Make You Laugh)
Why Machine Hiring?
