Corporate Training By Zack Academy - DOE Weatherization Installer 1 and 2 Training

Why Shoudl You Take This DOE Weatherization Installer 1 and 2 Training Course?

This DOE Weatherization Installer 1 and 2 Training course provides a basic understanding of building science as it relates to airflow, heat flow and moisture flow, combustion safety and testing, communication skills and an introduction to multifamily and mobile home fundamentals. Upon completion of the course, you should have the skills necessary to both identify problems and provide a solution to correct the issue.

Designed in accordance with guidelines specified by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program Installer Curricula, this course is divided into two parts: Weatherization Installer Fundamentals and Weatherization Installer Intermediate.

After completing this course, students will be qualified to work as professional air sealing technicians and insulation installers. Successful graduates of the course will be prepared to take the BPI exam for Residential Building Envelope Whole House Air Leakage Control Installer Certification.

Prerequisites:

• OSHA 1 Construction Safety Course
• EPA Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, Painting (RRP) Course

Course Benefits:

• 24 hours of classroom instruction
• 3 hours field demonstration videos
• 8 hours of hands-on field training

Course Objectives:

• Determine where the thermal boundary should be in any typical single family residence and identify potential air leakage points in that barrier using a blower door.
• Seal all typical leakage points with the most efficient and effective use of time and materials
• Apply air-sealing and duct sealing techniques in compliance with relevant building and fire code requirements.
• Identify appropriate insulation materials for any given application
• Install standard insulation materials in a manner that assures maximum practical insulating value, minimal damage to the property, occupant health and safety, and compliance with all relevant building and fire codes.
• Install house ventilation components as directed.
• Ensure their own safety and the safety of job-site residents and property.

Syllabus

Introduction to Weatherization

• Gain historical perspective of the Weatherization Assistance Program.
• Understand characteristics of the client base served by the program.
• Recognize that building science guides the selection of measures installed with program dollars.
• Understand the principles of cost-effectiveness and the savings-to-investment ratio (SIR).
• Recognize modern weatherization measures.

Communication Skills

• The ways feelings and attitudes are expressed.
• Appropriate behavior and communication techniques to use at client homes.
• The importance of treating clients and their property with respect.

House as a System

• Understand the basic interrelation of home components.
• Understand that changes made now can create issues that emerge as damage years later.

Building Science Basics

• Understand the difference between thermal and air barriers.
• Know the proper location of thermal and air barriers.
• Recognize the driving forces of air leakage.
• Understand the connection between air leakage, energy waste, and moisture problems.
• Understand how air ducts affect pressure balances within the home.
• Understand the principle behind the blower door as a tool for measuring air leakage.

Blower Door Basics

• Name and understand the natural driving forces that cause pressure differences.
• Understand units of pressure and the measurement of air leakage.
• Be able to set up and operate a blower door to measure air leakage and conduct zonal pressure diagnostics.
• Understand the meaning and importance of minimum ventilation requirements (MVR).
• Be able to convert blower door readings to the total size of opening in square inches, and to cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air leakage under natural conditions.
• Understand the relationship between CFM50, CFMnatural, and air changes per hour (ACH).

Pressure and Thermal Boundaries

• Understand the difference between the thermal boundary and the air or pressure boundary, and the behavior and function of each.
• Know the proper location of the pressure and thermal boundaries.
• Know common sites for breaks in the pressure and thermal boundaries.
• Understand what is meant by inside and outside in terms of an air barrier, and how a blower door is used to determine that.

Combustion Safety

• Understand the health and safety issues related to combustion equipment.
• Know the basics of combustion equipment inspection.
• Recognize that different vent pipe materials are required for different appliances.
• Understand worst case combustion appliance zone (CAZ) testing.
• Understand and be able to conduct duct inspection.

Worker Safety

• Understand the purpose of OSHA regulations.
• Know where to find guidelines for working with lead, mold, and asbestos.
• Know which homes require Lead Safe Weatherization practices and Certified Renovators.
• Know what a Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is and why it is important to keep nearby.

Materials, Tools, and Equipment

• Recognize the various tools and equipment associated with typical weatherization measures.
• Understand the importance of equipment maintenance and its effect on production.
• Understand the importance of a well-organized trailer and job site for productivity and safety.

Typical Weatherization Measures

• Recognize typical weatherization measures and associated guidelines.
• Know where to find a list of all measures approved in the program.
• Be able to name various building shell and mechanical measures, the tools required, and the purpose of those measures.
• Understand when incidental repairs are allowed.
• Understand the connection between pressure diagnostics and duct modifications.
• Know the guidelines for insulating gas and electric water heaters.
• Understand what is meant by base load measures.

Mobile Home Basics

• Discuss construction details and materials related to mobile homes.
• Learn the differences in pre- and post-1976 mobile homes.
• Explore standard weatherization priorities and order of operations for mobile homes.
• Discuss the design of mobile home forced air distribution systems.
• Hear about duct belly return modification.
• Learn about belly, wall, and roof insulation retrofit methods.
• Discuss diagnostic techniques to assess the integrity of ducts.
• See duct sealing and repair techniques.
• Explore where mobile home appliances differ from single-family versions.

Multifamily Basics

• Understand what qualifies as multifamily (MF) housing.
• Be introduced to basic differences in diagnostics and modeling compared to single-family homes.
• Learn about differences in energy use between single-family (SF) and MF housing.
• Be introduced to common, cost-effective multifamily weatherization measures.

Aligning Pressure and Thermal Boundaries

• Understand the difference between thermal and air barriers.
• Know the proper location of thermal and air barriers.
• Recognize common locations and signals of gaps in pressure and thermal barriers, and know how to repair these gaps.
• Recognize typical construction details that lead to gaps in pressure and thermal boundaries and know how to treat them.
• Understand treatment options for walk-up attics.
• Recognize use of blower door pressure diagnostics to locate and evaluate air boundary.

Air Sealing and Attic Prep

• Understand basic principles of air leakage.
• Recognize typical air leakage sites in attics.
• Be familiar with the various tools and materials used in air sealing and attic preparation.
• Understand high-temperature issues and how to treat them.
• Understand safety concerns related to wiring.
• Know how to prepare an attic for air sealing and insulation.

Spray Foam Insulation

• Understand the use of spray foam in weatherization.
• Identify foam product options and their uses.
• Become aware of advantages and limitations of different spray foam products.
• Understand the need for proper ventilation and personal protection equipment.

Mechanical Ventilation

• Understand the importance of maintaining healthy IAQ and combustion air, and the role of mechanical ventilation.
• Recognize that leaving homes leaky is not proper ventilation.
• Recognize and be familiar with appropriate ASHRAE guidelines.
• Understand how to calculate building volume.
• Understand static pressure and how to account for it when sizing fans.
• Be able to name guidelines of proper duct installation.

Attic Insulation

• Learn the importance of following cost-effectiveness guidelines when insulating attics.
• Recognize that proper attic treatment can save up to 20% of home heating and cooling bills.
• Understand that, combined with air sealing, attic insulation reduces the likelihood of structural damage due to condensation on the roof deck.
• Learn the process for insulating attics with blown-in cellulose.

Dense-Pack Sidewall Insulation

• Learn the importance of achieving uniform density at the targeted R-value throughout the cavity.
• Become familiar with typical tools for the job, including safety equipment.
• Become familiar with basic equipment maintenance protocols.
• Learn the proper order of operations for blowing in dense-pack sidewall insulation.

Dryer Vents

• Learn guidelines for dryer vent installation.
• Become familiar with proper vent materials and connections.
• Learn the importance of proper materials and installation as related to moisture and fire hazards.
• Understand guidelines for exterior exhaust hoods.

Basements and Crawl Spaces

• Identify various foundation types.
• Understand basement and crawl space moisture dynamics.
• Learn criteria for placement of thermal and pressure boundaries.
• Become aware of basement and crawl space retrofit options.
• Identify techniques for basement and crawl space retrofits.
• Identify diagnostic procedures associated with weatherizing basements and crawl spaces.

Windows and Doors

• Gain an understanding of window terminology.
• Understand how windows lose and gain heat.
• Become aware of the savings-to-investment ratio for window and door replacement compared to other building shell retrofits.
• Identify various methods and materials for window and door treatments.
• Understand recommended window and door replacement criteria.
• Identify methods and techniques for replacing windows and doors.