Short Course in Building Thermal Performance Assessment (Residential)

Course Content and Learning Outcomes

Module 1: Design and Construction Theory

Module 2: 2nd Generation Software Operation

Module 3: Professional Practice

Construction and Design Theory

Designed for

Current and future assessors who wish to increase their knowledge of thermal physics theory and those who may want to achieve the National Accreditation standard.

Design and building professionals who want to further their understanding of building thermal performance theory and incorporate this knowledge into the design and building process.

Learning outcomes

This training will provide participants with an understanding of:

• What is meant by the term building thermal performance.
• The relationship between building thermal performance and heating and cooling energy consumption.
• The main uses of energy in buildings and the proportion attributed to heating and cooling.
• Terminology used to describe energy use, including: power, energy, efficiency and primary energy source
• The cost and environmental impacts of energy use, including: resource depletion, greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
• Heat transfer: conduction, radiation, convection, evaporation.
• Ways that a building can lose and gain heat.
• What is thermal comfort – factors that influence thermal comfort, including temperature, humidity, radiation, air movement, age, activity, clothing.
• Sources of information on climate.
• Major Australian climatic zones.
• The impact of local climatic conditions on building thermal performance including temperatures, sunshine, shading, humidity and wind.
• Thermal properties of building materials including u value, r value, reflectivity, emissivity.
• Thermal performance of glazing units including u value, SHGC, VLT.
• The impact of building design elements on thermal performance including orientation, zoning/layout, insulation, mass, glazing, materials, ventilation, convection, shading, landscaping.
• The correct use and installation of materials (insulation, draught proofing, glazing, mass)

Course Length

12 hours, delivered over 1½ days or over three evenings

Assessment

In-class assessment and completion of a written examination paper.

Registration

2nd Generation Software Operation

Designed for

Current and future assessors who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in the use of second generation software tools (AccuRate, BERS & FirstRate, subject to release) and those who may want to achieve the National Accreditation standard.

Design and building professionals who want to further their understanding and skills in the use of second generation software tools and incorporate their use into the design and building process.

Learning outcomes

This training will provide participants with an understanding of / the skills to:

• Navigate assessment software and managing files
• Identify details on plans and specifications required for conducting the assessment
• Input data and understand procedures for doing so
• Assumptions used by assessment software when conducting an assessment including occupancy profiles, thermostat settings and climate data
• Understand assessment software outputs.
• Rating / non-rating modes
• Temperature histograms
• Identify and correct errors in data input and assessment
• Interpret output to identify strengths and weaknesses in a building’s thermal performance
• Apply knowledge of the thermal performance of buildings and materials to propose recommendations for improving performance.
• Use assessment software to compare alternate design and construction options

Course Length

16 hours, delivered over 2 days or over four evenings

Assessment

In-class assessment and completion of practical exercises and a written examination paper.

Registration

Professional Practice

Designed for

Current and future assessors who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in the areas of regulatory requirements and State variations, assessor rating procedures, and recommended professional practice issues, and those who may want to achieve the National Accreditation standard.

Design and building professionals who want to further their understanding of regulatory requirements and State variations, assessor rating procedures, and recommended professional practice issues.

Learning outcomes

This training will provide participants with an understanding of:

• Regulatory requirements for thermal performance assessments
• Information that is required to be provided to a client and/or consent authority
• An assessor’s legal responsibilities
• Assessor accreditation requirements including Code of Conduct and administrative requirements which must be followed when undertaking or reporting on a thermal performance assessment

Course Length

4 hours, delivered over half a day or one evening.

Assessment

In-class assessment and completion practical exercises and written examination paper.

Registration

For more information on course dates, locations, fees and Registration please click here.