Events at this location

Course Description:

This ONLINE Blower Door and Pressure Diagnostics* course is a 1-day (6 hour) training designed to provide new and current Building Analysts with the information needed to complete building envelope diagnostics in accordance with the Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst Technical Standards and the Washington State Department of Commerce Weatherization Specifications. Instruction will include introduction and review of building science concepts, use of required equipment, and procedures required for proper diagnostic testing.

Reference Material:

• WA State Diagnostic Results Form

• WA State Department of Commerce Specs

Course Description:

This Combustion Safety (CS) for Weatherization* course is a 1-day (6 hour) training focusing on basic safety testing of combustion appliances. It is designed to provide new and current Building Analysts the knowledge of and procedures included in the Building Performance Institute (BPI) 1200 standard and Washington State Department of Commerce Weatherization Specifications.  Instruction will include introduction and review of CS concepts, identification of combustion appliances and parts, use of required equipment, and procedures required for proper combustion safety testing.

Reference Material:

• ANSI/BPI 1200 Standard – with focus on Section 7
• WA State Combustion Safety Form and Technical Support Doc – WA DOC Specs 9.4A and B
• WA State Department of Commerce Specs

Course Description:

This Combustion Safety (CS) for Weatherization* course is a 1-day (6 hour) training focusing on basic safety testing of comb

The class is designed to provide Weatherization Technicians the information and practice to complete high quality energy retrofit work. Each attendee will participate in classroom work and laboratory work that will align with the Washington State Department of Commerce Policies and Procedures Manual and the Standard Work Specifications Field Guide for Single Family and Manufactured Homes created by Washington Department of Commerce.

Attendees must come prepared for classroom work and laboratory work. Please be prepared to work, bring your calculator, coveralls, respirator, hand tools and flashlights.

Specific tasks in the classroom will include:

• Review Health and Safety responsibilities.
• Review EPA RRP jobsite requirements.
• Review OSHA jobsite safety requirements.
• Learn Building Science concepts.
• Practice area and volume calculations.
• Practice estimating for weatherization projects.
• Practice reading work-scopes.  
• Practice using relevant field guide or operations manual.
• Learn and understand the importance of communication with the homeowner.
• Learn and understand the importance of communication between Energy Auditors, Crew Chiefs and Quality Control Inspectors.
• Learn air sealing and duct sealing principles.
• Learn about loose fill insulation.
• Learn about dense pack insulation.

Specific tasks in the laboratory will include:

• The proper treatment of attic access panels. 
• The proper treatment of combustion appliance vents in attics. 
• Installation of weather-stripping for doors.
• Installation of air sealing materials to seal a recessed light, a dropped soffit, an open wall plate and typical plumbing, electrical and heating penetrations. 
• Properly install a roof vent for attic ventilation or an exhaust fan.
• Properly install ducting for an exhaust fan in an attic space. 
• Properly install and support dryer exhaust ducting in a crawlspace.
• Properly install insulation batts in a floor over a crawlspace.
• Properly install pipe insulation.
• Properly install water heater insulation.
• Properly install duct insulation. 
• Properly install duct mastic on heating/cooling ducts.
• Properly identify the pressure and thermal envelope. 
• Execute the blower door test.
• Execute a pressure pan test.
• Evaluate existing insulation levels.
• Install dense pack insulation.
• Identify relevant SWS’s from the field guide for the tasks in the laboratory.

Course Description:

The Healthy Home Evaluator assesses and characterizes home based environmental health and safety hazards by integrating qualitative observations with quantitative diagnostics to determine and prioritize recommendations that address existing and potential hazards.

The Healthy Home Evaluator communicates the identified risks and hazards to the occupant with the goal of improving health and quality of life.

For more information regarding Healthy Home Evaluator, please visit the following links:

Building Performance Institute

Class topics to include:

8 Principles of a Healthy Home
Data Collection
Analysis and interpretation
Recommendations and scope of work
Communication and client education
Personal safety, Insurance and Liability

Course Description:

The Energy Auditor Field Procedures Review course is a 1-day training designed to review the Building Performance Institute Energy Auditor (BPI EA) field guide contents and procedures for candidates preparing for the Home Energy Professional Energy Auditor field test. Attendees will use the BPI Energy Auditor Field Guide, BPI Energy Auditor Certification Scheme Handbook, and combustion standards associated BPI ANSI/BPI-1200-2017.

Course contains aspects of BPI Energy Auditor Job Task Analyses, but it is not intended to be a comprehensive training on all individual items. 

*This online class, though covering hands on elements, is not a substitute for in-person hands on training.

Reference Materials:

• ANSI/BPI 1200 Standard Practice for Basic Analysis of Buildings

• BPI Energy Auditor 2019 Field Guide

• BPI Energy Auditor Certification Scheme Handbook

• BPI Combustion Appliance Safety Inspection for Vented Appliances

Course Description:

Successful completion of the course will lead to EPA Certified Renovator certification. HUD requirements are also covered during this training. This class is approved for certification for the Renovator, Repair and Painting Program pursuant to Section 402 of the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA)(15U.S.C. 2682) and WAC Code 365-230 (Washington State).

Module 1 – Objectives for Lead Safe Work Practices TrainingModule 2 – Objectives for Lead Safe Worker Protection

Module 1

Objectives for Lead Safe Work Practices Training

1) To understand why it is important to minimize and control the generation of lead dust when doing Renovation, Remodeling, Rehabilitation and Maintenance work.

2) To gain a working knowledge of tools and techniques required to achieve those objectives.

3) To understand the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development , Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and Washington State Department of Commerce rules and regulations regarding the disturbance of lead-based painted surfaces during renovation, remodeling, and rehabilitation in target housing.

4) To gain a working knowledge of the regulations governing worker protection from hazards created by the disturbance of lead based painted surfaces.

Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to perform renovation, remodeling, and rehabilitation in a manner that minimizes creation and dispersal of lead contaminated dust and protects residents, especially children, from possible lead exposure.

This module will show contractors how to perform their work in a manner that creates the least amount of dust possible, and how to contain and clean up dust that they do create so that it does not spread throughout the house or to neighboring properties.

The techniques discussed in this module apply to work performed by a variety of contractors and employees, including plumbers, electricians, residential renovators, remodelers, and painters.

Module 2

Objectives for Lead Safe Worker Protection

1) To gain a thorough understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (insert Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act for Washington State trainings) standards and requirements for protecting workers from harmful levels of lead in construction.

2) To gain familiarity with the use of equipment used to monitor and protect workers from exposure to harmful levels of lead in construction.

3) To understand what is needed to implement a worker protection program that complies with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (insert Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act for Washington State trainings).

Upon completion of this module, participants will have been provided with the information necessary to able to implement a Lead Safe Worker program that complies with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration standards and requirements to prevent lead exposure in construction.

Course Description:

This ONLINE Blower Door and Pressure Diagnostics* course is a 1-day (6 hour) training designed to provide new and current Building Analysts with the information needed to complete building envelope diagnostics in accordance with the Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst Technical Standards and the Washington State Department of Commerce Weatherization Specifications. Instruction will include introduction and review of building science concepts, use of required equipment, and procedures required for proper diagnostic testing.

Reference Material:

• WA State Diagnostic Results Form

• WA State Department of Commerce Specs

Course Description:

This Combustion Safety (CS) for Weatherization* course is a 1-day (6 hour) training focusing on basic safety testing of combustion appliances. It is designed to provide new and current Building Analysts the knowledge of and procedures included in the Building Performance Institute (BPI) 1200 standard and Washington State Department of Commerce Weatherization Specifications.  Instruction will include introduction and review of CS concepts, identification of combustion appliances and parts, use of required equipment, and procedures required for proper combustion safety testing.

Reference Material:

• ANSI/BPI 1200 Standard – with focus on Section 7
• WA State Combustion Safety Form and Technical Support Doc – WA DOC Specs 9.4A and B
• WA State Department of Commerce Specs

Course Description:

This Introduction to Weatherization and Building Science course is a 1-day training designed to introduce weatherization and building science principles. Students will participate in classroom instruction referencing the Building Performance Institute’s Building Science Principles Reference Guide.

Resources:

• BPI Building Science Principles Guide – ($$)
• NREL Standard Work Specifications

Course Content & Objectives:

• Describe both the background and major principles of weatherization
• Identify all ways of energy movement and the basics of each
• Summarize building science and describe pressure and thermal concepts
• Describe interrelation and affects of “house as a system”
• Identify mechanical systems and their main purposes
• Describe the audit process and recognize the required importance and data for energy modeling
• Identify appropriate weatherization measures based on Washington state guidelines
• Perform a basic blower door test and describe the basics of combustion safety

Course Description:

This in-person Intro to Home Energy Auditing course is a 1- day (6 hour) training designed to instruct and guide students through the comprehensive process of a weatherization audit. Pre-visit, home visit, and post visit procedures and documentation will be both discussed and practiced on BPC test houses. The class will use individual agency documents to conduct a typical home audit.

Resources:

· ANSI/BPI 1200 Standard

· NREL Standard Work Specifications

Course Content & Objectives:

· Describe the audit process

· Perform a complete weatherization audit

· Identify all components for a home requiring evaluation during an audit

Course Requirements:

· Technology

· Ability to download documents or access documents as needed

· BPC provided online Learning Management System – Moodle link to be sent by BPC

· Expectation of attendance and class participation

Prerequisites and Work Experience:

· None necessary