HPB 101: The Basics of High Performance Building

Unit I: Think Like Air, Think Like Water: Building Science Principles Related to the Enclosure

 

Unit Description

TA follow-up to The Big Picture, this course gives students an introduction to specific strategies used to achieve durable and energy efficient enclosures.

Students will take away

  1. skills to describe the air tightness strategy used in a specific high-performance system and
  2. the ability to discuss strategies for proper moisture management given real world examples

The course will be taught by professionals in the field and will emphasize real-world applications. Classroom learning will be balanced with hands-on experience, and evaluations will reflect these methods.

Course Topics and Competencies

 

  • Explain the concept of heat transfer (convection, conduction and radiation)
  • Explain/identify the drainage plane system on doors and windows.
  • Explain the moisture transport of liquid
  • Identify transitions between water and air
  • Explain convective air transport due to pressure differences from the three basic sources or forces that drive this: stack effect, wind, and fans of any sort (spot exhaust, unbalanced ventilation, leaky forced-air space conditioning.
  • Identify proper material selection (IAQ, thermal mass, moisture)
  • Identify assembly drying potential
  • Identify air sealing and framing sequencing
  • Control layers and the flow of heat, vapor, water air and solar gain through building components
  • Understand hygrothermal analysis and the ability to predict the flow of heat and moisture across enclosure assemblies using computer software.
  • the knowledge necessary to compare and contrast high-performance homes with code minimum conventional construction.

Learning Objectives

 

  • Distinguish among the 3 energy flows and how they express in buildings
  • Distinguish among the 4 moisture flows and how the express in buildings
  • Identify how WRB and flashings must be connected for water and air control layer continuity
  • Select building assembly components for material compatibility and drying potential
  • Conduct a vapor profile on representative building assemblies
  • Use the hygrothermal building assessment tool on existing home projects.

Unit II: The Big Picture: Integration of the Whole Building System

 

Unit Description

This course gives participants an overview of the building as a whole system.
Students will take away:

  1. skills to identify components of high-performance homes
  2. the knowledge necessary to compare and contrast high-performance homes with code minimum conventional construction

The course will be taught by professionals in the field and will emphasize real-world applications. Classroom learning will be balanced with hands-on experience, and evaluations will reflect these methods.

Topics and Competency Levels
  • Apply knowledge of the thermal envelope by identifying on plan sets
  • Demonstrate understanding of simultaneous consideration of energy, durability, comfort, and IAQ
  • Convey understanding of integrated design and construction
  • Identify air barriers and explain their importance. Identify and explain for each of the three basic barriers: air, thermal, and water. Reference the “pen test” as a way of thinking of/addressing continuity of these three barriers.
  • Identify the various heating plants and explain impact on the system including where it penetrates the envelope.
  • Identify ventilation systems
Learning Objectives
  • Develop your own definition of high performance building, based on course concepts:
    – Master the interplay among energy, durability, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality
    – Apply the “pen” test to continuous control layers: water, air, vapor, and thermal
    – Recognize space conditioning systems and how they integrate for high performance with the building enclosure
  • Be able to explain why mechanical spot and whole-building ventilation represent high performance rather than just added expense
If you are interested in scheduling a class with us, please contact Guy Payne: admin@buildingscience.org

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