BPI Training Curriculum

House as a System Understanding

Health and Safety

• Indoor Pollutants
• Moisture Management
• Whole-House Mechanical Ventilation
• Air Conditioners and Dehumidifiers
• Pollutant Control Strategies

Material Safety Data Sheet

Principles of Energy

What is Energy?

• Thermodynamics
• Temperature and Heat
• Sensible and Latent Heat
• Energy Versus Power
• Pressure Versus Flow

Energy Transformation and Heat Flow

• Energy Transformation
• Energy Transport
• Types of Heat Flow
  • Conduction
  • Convection
  • Radiation

Energy, Comfort, Climate

• Temperature
• Humidity

Energy and the Building Shell

Building Construction

• Structural Design
• Single-family Home Construction

• Heat Transmission
• Air Leakage
• Fenestration

Building Inspection and Diagnosis

• Defining the Thermal Boundary
• Visual Inspection
• Building Diagnostic Procedures
• Calculating Building Heat Flows
• Calculating Heating Load
• Calculating Composite R-Value of a Building

Air Leakage

Air-Sealing Principles

• Air Pressure and Air Flow
  • Stack Effect
  • Mechanical Effect
  • Wind Effect
• Pressures Driving Air Leakage

Blower-Door Testing

• Prep and Set-up
• Blower-door Measurements
• Minimum Ventilation Requirement (MVR)
• Air Sealing Economic Limits
• House-pressure Limits

Finding Air Leaks

• Simple Air Leakage Diagnostic Methods
• Advanced Air-leakage Diagnostics
• Tracer-gas Testing
• Infrared Scanners

Duct Air Leakage and Testing Strategies

Construction Flaws and Air Leakage

Air-Sealing Methods, Materials and Strategy

Insulation

Insulation Characteristics and Thermal Performance Factors

Insulation Types

• Fiberglass
• Blown Cellulose
• Vermiculite and Perlite
• Foam Insulation: Sprayed and Injected

Defining R-Value and U-Value

Facings and Barriers

• Weather-resistant Barriers
• Air Barriers
• Vapor Retarders and Vapor Barriers
• Fire Barriers

Retrofitting Insulation

• Where to Insulate
• Blowing Loose-fill Insulation
• Sprayed and Injected Insulation
• Basement and Crawl Space Insulation
• Floor Insulation

Insulation in New Construction

• Improved Framing
• Structural Insulated Panels

Blower Door

• Terms and Definitions
• Blower Door Technology
• Blower Door Test Set-Up and Procedures

Introduction to Blower Door and Digital Manometer

Building Calculations

• Area Calculations

Area Calculations - Activity/Basic Area

Volume Calculations - Activity/Sample Home

Building Airflow and Ventilation

• Building Airflow Standard
• Mechanical Ventilation Requirements

Building Airflow Calculations - Activity

Mechanical Ventilation Scenarios - Activity

• Heat Loss through Building Leakage

Calculating Btu Savings from Air Sealing

Combustion Science

• Definition
• Elements of Combustion
• Draft
• Combustion By-Products
• Carbon Monoxide (risks, health effects, characteristics)

Heating Systems and Hot Water Heaters

Identify Heating Systems by:

• Fuel Type
• Distribution Type
• Venting Type
• General Condition

Combustion Safety

• The Importance of Combustion Safety
• Safe Venting of Combustion Appliances
• Inspections Before Combustion Safety Testing
• Gas Leak Detection
• Monitoring and Testing Ambient CO
• Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) Identification
• Base Pressure Measurement
• Elements of Combustion Safety Testing
• Combustion Safety Testing Conditions
• Worst Case CAZ Depressurization vs. Natural Conditions
• Indications of Spillage
• Draft Measurement
• Undiluted CO Measurement

BPI Combustion Safety Testing Protocols

Using the Digital Manometer for Combustion Safety

Logistics for Field Class

• 100 Question BPI Written Exam

• CAZ Field Test

• Blower Door and Pressure Diagnostics Field Test