Category Archives: BPI Standards

A Compilation of Current Home Performance Standards

THIS ARTICLE WAS REVISED on 6-21-16 with more complete info on the table attached.

You may not be aware, but there are several Home Performance standards currently available to the public.

We have put together a table that compares the different diagnostics tests that each standard calls for.

Table comparing home performance diagnostic testing standards Rev 1

Further details on the following major categories of products may be found at the links below:

Combustion Analyzers

Ambient CO Meters

Gas Leak Detectors

Blower Doors

Duct Leakage Testers

AirFlow Meters

Thermal Imagers

Moisture Meters

Electrical Measurements

Here is a detailed listing of these standards:

ACCA Standard 12 (ANSI): Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement

Get a free copy here: www.bit.ly/ACCA-12

 

ACCA Standard 5 (ANSI): HVAC Quality Installation Verification Protocols

Get a free copy here: www. www.bit.ly/ACCA-5

 

BPI 1200 (ANSI): Standard Practice for Basic Analysis of Buildings

Get a free copy here: http://www.bit.ly/bpi1200

 

RESNET Advisory Standards: Chapter 8, Standard for Performance Testing and Work Scope

View here for free: www.bit.ly/RESNET-standards

(Will be updated by amendment with some reference to RESNET Standard 380, likely by Fall 2016.)

 

RESNET 380: Standard for Testing Air Tightness of Building Enclosures, Airtightness of Heating and Cooling Air Distribution Systems and Airflow of Mechanical Ventilation Systems

Get a free copy here: bit.ly/resnet380

Not yet in effect. This standard will likely supersede some parts of RESNET Chapter 8, likely by Fall 2016.)

 

 

 

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Filed under Airflow, Blower Doors, BPI Standards, Carbon Monoxide Testing, Combustion Analysis, Duct Leakage Testing, Energy Audit, RESNET

ACI/National Home Performance Conference 2105 App

Stay up to date at the 2015 ACI National Home Performance Conference with our app, sponsored byConservation Services Group. Get the latest information on sessions, presenters, and more by downloading the app to your smartphone. Visit the App Store or Google Play to begin and follow the steps provided here!

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See you in New Orleans!

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Filed under BPI CEUs, BPI Standards, Home Performance, The Future, Trade Shows, Training, TruTech Tools

Resources for IECC Infiltration and Duct Leakage Testing / BPI’s IDL Certification

THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS – CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES.

 

Energy code status: State by State: www.energycodesocean.org/

BPI’s NEW Infiltration and Duct Leakage Certification

SEE the video recording of the November 6, 2014 webinar HERE. (the video may have some synching issues that we are working on)

Deliver the tests that builders need to meet IECC codes for air infiltration and duct leakage.

Earning the IDL certification is a simple, comprehensive and affordable way for technicians of builders, remodelers, HVAC and insulation contractors to gain skills needed to offer duct leakage and blower door tests, in compliance with IECC codes for new home construction or existing home remodels.

Passing the exam (field exam only) verifies you can conduct duct leakage and blower door tests to the ASTM E1554-07 standard. Begin with this affordable, single measure credential and work your way up to BPI’s “house-as-a-system” certifications using real-time field experience.

Contact any BPI Test Center for the hands-on training you may need to prepare for BPI’s IDL field exam.

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Filed under Blower Doors, BPI Standards, Duct Leakage Testing, Energy Audit, Energy Codes, Training, Uncategorized

What can I do with IAQ?

What Can I do with IAQ? (SLIDES)

Indoor air quality remains a major opportunity for companies doing whole house auditing and retrofit work. Yet despite growing health concerns amongst consumers, and increasing incidences of asthma, the challenges of capturing IAQ leads, testing homes affordably and converting to comprehensive solutions are as vexing as ever. In this webinar, industry veteran and tools expert Bill Spohn discussed his vast experience in the field, including how to affordably test homes, what homeowners are looking for and how to develop retrofits that solve air quality issues.

Points covered

1. Understand the key parameters of IAQ measurement;

2. Learn about cost effective tools and approaches to test indoor air quality affordably;

3. Learn about mitigation measures that address specific indoor air quality problems.

Presenter:

Bill Spohn,
President & CEO
TruTech Tools, LTD

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Filed under ASHRAE 62.2, BPI Standards, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Monoxide Testing, Energy Audit, Home Performance, HVAC, IAQ, The Business of Home Performance Contracting, Training

ASHRAE 62.2-2013 Ventilation Standard Webinar by Rick Karg (slides)

See a VIDEO recording: HERE

SLIDES : The Past and Future of Ventilating Dwellings – ASHRAE 622-2013

Learn  how to better use the new ASHRAE 62.2-2013 Standard, Ventilation and Acceptable indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings. There is a focus on existing dwellings and coverage of the details of the ventilation standard that will soon be adopted by BPl. The steps of sizing ventilation, both local and whole-building, are addressed in detail using the free web app by Residential Energy Dynamics (REDCALC).

The BPI Building Airflow Standard (based on ASHRAE 62-1989) and ASHRAE 62.2-2010 is addressed, giving historical context for the latest ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2013. The 3 versions are compared, however, the major focus is on 62.2-2013.

Those who will benefit: building performance and HVAC contractors, low-income weatherization analysts, code enforcement officers, or anyone interested in learning more about 62.2-2013.

karg* Rick Karg, President Residential Energy Dynamics , LLC , Bethel, Maine.
Rick has worked in the residential energy business since 1980 with home performance contractors, low-income weatherization programs, and utilities, as a trainer, writer, researcher, and building scientist. He managed the Maine Home Performance Program from 2006 to 2009, has been a member of the ASHRAE 62.2 committee since 2007 (he leads the existing dwellings group), is an editorial advisor for Home Energy magazine, and is a member of the “ask the experts” group for the Weatherization Assistance Program Technical Assistance Center (www.waptac.org). He serves as a volunteer advisor to the Department of Energy and the Building Performance Institute on dwelling ventilation and has served as a BPl trainer, proctor, and mentor.
Within the last year, Rick has started a new business, RED with Charlie Holly. RED’s first line of web-based applications is RED Calc Free, on-line tools for residential energy professionals: http://www.ResidentialEnergyDynamics.com

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Filed under Airflow, ASHRAE 62.2, BPI Standards, Education, Home Performance, HVAC

Mechanical Ventilation and ASHRAE 62.2-2013 Webinar (slides, recording and more)

GET THE SLIDES HERE–> Trutech Ventilation Webinar 1013

PRESENTED LIVE on 9-17-13 and 10-8-13

VIDEO RECORDING OF SESSION: HERE

Paul’s  quick guide to testing Range hood air flow:Range hood testing using a duct tester

As homes become increasingly tight, mechanical ventilation increases in importance. National building codes, standards and programs are requiring the design, installation, testing, and documentation of ventilation systems. Participants in this course will come away with a better understanding of the science behind and mechanical ventilation technologies. Topics will include using the latest ASHRAE 62.2 Standard for sizing the systems for the right airflow for whole house and local ventilation, use of the infiltration credit, selecting the system, differences between ERVs and HRVs, use of controls, and installed system testing and documentation.

Intended Participants: building performance & HVAC contractors, and those interested in building science or becoming better building performance contractors

Trainer’s Biography:
Paul H. Raymer
Author of the Residential Ventilation Handbook
Member of the ASHRAE 62.2 SSPC since 2002
Chief Investigator, Heyoka Solutions, LLC
Falmouth, MA

Paul H. Raymer has been working with building science for more than thirty years. He is the author of the Residential Ventilation Handbook (McGraw-Hill, 2010) and writes a regular tool column in “Home Energy Magazine”. Formerly the IAQ liaison for the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI), he has developed more than twenty ventilation related product lines and served as a consultant for a wide array of ventilation product manufacturers including Broan-NuTone, Air King, Panasonic, APV Vent Axia, Greenwood Airvac, and Fantech. He has designed ventilation systems for home builders including Acorn Homes, Deck House, Continental Homes, Ryan Homes, K Hovnanian, and Beazer Homes. He has taught ventilation courses across the country at weatherization programs and conferences, at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. He is BPI Envelope, Building Analyst, Heating Professional and AC/Heat Pump certified, a BPI Super Proctor, and a certified HERS Rater, and a member of the Society of Building Science Educators (SBSE). He is also a Certified IREC/ANSI Assessor.

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Filed under Airflow, ASHRAE 62.2, BPI CEUs, BPI Standards, Education, Home Performance, HVAC

NEW SPEC on RETROTEC US-1000 Blower door featuring a Touchscreen Digital Manometer

US1000 with DM32

 

get the details: Spec-Blower Door US 1000

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Filed under Blower Doors, BPI Standards, Energy Audit, Home Performance, New Product Release

New Low Level CO-Alarm

Defender LL6070

Details here: LINK

Instruction manual here:  Defender Low Level CO Alarm

 

 

 

 

Defender LL6070 Low Level Carbon Monoxide Monitor ( Call for quantity pricing! )

The Defender LL6070 Sealed Lithium Battery Powered low level carbon monoxide monitor continuously displays CO levels detected of 5 PPM or more.

Visual alert signals are activated when 10 PPM of CO is detected, and visual and audible alarm signals at 15 PPM.

The factory sealed lithium batteries are non-removable, and warranted to power the monitor for minimum of 3 years

Accurate, Reliable Electrochemical Sensor
Integrated Filter for Removing Nuisance Gases
Extra-Large Alpha Numeric LCD Readout
Samples for Carbon Monoxide Every 5 seconds
Auto. Displays Current CO Levels of 5 PPM or more
Intuitive Alarm, Power and Service LED’s
Low Level Alert: 4 Red LED Flashes per minute
10 PPM 10 mins., reset suspends for 24 hrs.
Low Level Alarm: 4 Beeps/Flashing LED per minute
15 PPM 60 mins., mute silences for 12 hrs
Mute is auto. overridden if CO rises to 25 PPM
Mid-Hi Level Alarm: 4 Beeps/Flashing LED per 5 secs
25 PPM 30 mins, mute silences for 5 mins.
50 PPM 15 mins, mute silences for 5 mins.
100 PPM 5 mins, no mute
150 PPM 3 mins, no mute
Manually Displays Peak CO Level from 5 to 500 PPM
Manually Displays Peak Duration from 0-999 minutes
Separate Test and Memory Buttons
Integrated Battery Activation/Deactivation Switch
Self Diagnostic Circuitry and Sensor Life Monitor
Secure-Lock Mounting System
Three Year Ltd Factory Warranty for Alarm Batteries

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Filed under BPI Standards, Carbon Monoxide Testing, Combustion Analysis, Home Performance, Insulation, Uncategorized

Thermal Imaging applications notes from Fluke

Fluke has put together a couple of good applications notes for current and prospective thermal imaging practitioners.

(click on the images to get the downloads)

Fluke Thermal Imaging Testimonial

Read how a seasoned pro answers questions like:

• What is your line of business?
• How did you originally learn about thermal imaging?
• Describe how thermal imaging fits in your business or as part of your services.
• What % of your business uses thermal imaging?
• Why did you choose Fluke and why did you choose that particular model?

Fluke basics for Thermal Inspection of buildings

This 12 page guide covers key topics like:

What is thermal imaging?
The benefits of thermal imaging
Thermal imaging applications
Best practices for performing
a residential infrared inspection
Choosing the right thermal imager
Checklist for choosing a thermal
imager for building inspections

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Filed under BPI Standards, Energy Audit, Thermal Imaging, Training

Introduction to Home Performance for Heating Contractors

UPDATED: 12-14-12

Hap Haven just delivered an OUTSTANDING webinar on the topic of An Introduction to Home Performance for Heating Contractors.

You can watch a recording HERE or download a copy of the slides here-> INTRO TO HP – HVAC.

Fasten your seatbelts and take this fast-paced ride into the newest billion dollar industry. Home Performance is uniquely suited for the heating & AC contractor. That’s because you have already mastered many of the most important components. Come learn how Home Performance and HVAC overlap, how to expand your business in a flat market and how to position yourself for the future.

As part of this webinar you will:
1) See a brief history of Home Performance and whole house thinking
2) Understand how an Energy Audit leads to more sales
3) Get an overview of the cool tools used in the industry
4) Learn how to talk to a heater

FOR more webinars by TruTech Tools, LTD go to http://www.TruTechTools.com/webinars

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Filed under A/C and Heat Pump Products, Airflow, Blower Doors, BPI Standards, Carbon Monoxide Testing, Combustion Analysis, Customer benefits, Duct Leakage Testing, Energy Audit, The Business of Home Performance Contracting, Thermal Imaging, Training