Training

Training qualified professionals is an essential prerequisite for successful Passive House construction.   Training can be toward becoming a Certified Passive House Consultant or a Certified Tradesman.   Specialized technical training is also available.   Below is an outline of training options currently available.


Image: PHCA members tour the workshop at Wooden Window, Dec., 2011
Consultant Training Organizations and Programs

The Passive House Institute has developed a core curriculum aimed at preparing trainees to become PHI Certified Passive House Consultants or Designers. In order to pass the qualifying exam, candidates must be knowledgeable of topics including:

  • Basic Passive House concepts
  • Passive House criteria
  • Principals of thermal insulation
  • Airtight building design and construction
  • Glazing system issues including thermal transfer mechanisms, solar heat gain, and installation thermal bridges
  • Basic ventilation concepts as well as issues related to mechanical and passive ventilation and system design.
  • Heat recovery systems
  • Heating systems
  • Summer comfort factors
  • Electrical energy concepts and requirements
  • Heat loss and energy use modelling using PHPP software
  • Cost efficiency
  • Construction documentation and coordination
  • Construction site management and quality assurance
  • Building systems operations
  • Energy efficient building retrofitting
  • Units of measurement and the different physical characteristics they represent, ie: work, power, temperature, heat.
  • Application of Passive House to non-residential building types.
  • Knowledge of the Passive House related literature 

The PHI recognizes training organizations internationally that  deliver curriculum aimed at preparing candidates to become PHI Certified Passive House Consultants or Designers. Training organizations active in North America include:

Canadian Passive House Institute (CanPHI)
www.passivehouse.ca



PHA_logo

Passive House Academy 


The training program used by PHIUS is aimed at preparing to trainees to  become North American Certified Passive House Consultants. Topics covered include:
  • Heat transfer
  • Airtight building design and construction
  • Thermal insulation
  • Heat loss and energy modelling using PHPP software
  • Mechanical systems
  • Heat recovery ventilation
  • Passive House construction
  • Passive House materials
  • Quality assurance
More information about North American Passive House Consultant training, including prerequisites, is available on the PHIUS website.
Specialized Training


THERM

THERM is a two-dimensional heat-transfer modeling software. For Passive House design, THERM is used for linear thermal bridge analysis. Tutorial videos are available on the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory website. 

PHA Thermal Bridge Class, NY 2011
PHA Thermal Bridge Training, NY 2011

Training for Thermal Bridge Calculations is available from:
PHIUS


WUFI is a family of softwares for modeling heat and moisture transfer through building enclosure systems. They are used as design and diagnostic tools for improving building energy performance and increasing resistance to moisture damage.

WUFI training is available from:

National Building Science Corporation
www.section08.com

PHIUS CPHC Training, Berkeley CA, 2009
See Calendar for listings of upcoming trainings available across the US.
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