The EPA is now allowing the RRP REFRESHER course to be taken 100% online every other recertification.

On February 17, 2016 EPA completed changes to the Lead-based Paint Program. The Lead Renovation, Repair & Painting (RRP) Refresher Course, will no longer require a hands-on component and can be completed 100% online every other recertification. Renovators who take the online training will be certified for three years, while renovators who take the class room with hands-on training will be certified for five years.

Benefits:

– If allowed to expire you will have to take an 8-hour course to regain your certification.
>> It’s Convenient
– Take the class in the comfort of your own home.
– May start and stop as you wish.
>> Saves you time and money
– Train without losing production time. Cost is just $124, less than the classroom version, and includes the $25 WA State Department of Commerce fee.

The accreditation is good for 3 years. WA and OR residents and any EPA regulated state may use this course. To qualify for EPA RRP Re-certification using this method, the following criteria must be met:
Must not live in any of the following states: AL, DE, GA, IA, KS, MA, MS, NC, OK, RI, UT, or WI.
Your current RRP Renovator Certification must be valid.
You must COMPLETE the online course before it expires.
You must provide a copy of your most recent RRP Certificate (PDF files only)
You must provide an uploaded photo of yourself (JPG files only)

The cost is $124.

Our trusted training partner (ProTech) is working with us to provide you access to this course.

Prerequisites: Must not live in any of the following states: AL, DE, GA, IA, KS, MA, MS, NC, OK, RI, UT, or WI. Your current RRP Renovator Certification must be valid.

Materials: Computer with internet connection.

BPI CEUs: tbd

Instructor: Online

Location: Online Anytime

This training is designed for those who have had no lead training. 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).

Here’s how it works:

1) Sign up for the classroom portion of the training through a State-approved online provider (cost for the online course is $100.00).  A link will be emailed to you within 48 hours for access to the online training.

2) Once registered for the online course, you will be sent a link for access to the online training.

3) After successful completion of the online classroom training, you are ready to sign up for the 3-hour hands-on training at the BPC or one of our affiliates in Olympia or Spokane (the RRP Certification Exam will follow the hands-on training).  You will need to bring proof of successful completion of the online class your hands-on class.  Scheduled Hands-On dates can be found on our Courses page.

We plan to offer the hands-on training and exam every month for $250.00. This fee includes the $25.00 WA State Certification Fee. We recommend you take the hands-on training and Certification Exam as soon after completing the online learning as possible.

Prerequisites: None.

Materials: Computer & internet connection.

BPI CEUs: n/a

Instructor: n/a

Location: Your Computer

Prerequisites: None

Materials:

BPI CEUs: N/A

Instructor: Allen Carbert

Location: Bellingham, WA

This training will cover the DOE-required ASHRAE 62.2 Ventilation Standard (Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings).

Tighter houses require a strong understanding of moisture sources and their control in order to minimize potential for mold and building durability problems. In this session participants will learn the relative strength of various moisture sources and moisture movement mechanisms.

This session will also explore how to determine ventilation needs of a building using estimates of natural air-change, and pressure diagnostics. Exhaust only, heat recovery ventilators, balanced ventilation, and combination heating/ventilation systems will be addressed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the health and durability issues associated with moisture in buildings.

1. Know the most common and largest moisture sources in residential housing.

1. Understand moisture movement (liquid flow, capillary draw, air movement, and vapor diffusion).

1. Be able to explain how to control or eliminate various types of moisture sources and/or moisture movement in residential housing: fix leaks, install ground cover, vapor barrier, air barrier, warm up condensing surfaces, lower %RH, sill seal, water proof foundation etc.

1. Understand the limits of natural ventilation (sometimes too little, sometimes excessive).

1. Be able to measure tightness of the house using single point blower door test and record as cfm50.

1. Relate measured cfm50 to recommended ventilation levels established by ASHRAE standard 62.89 (15cfm/person or .35ach/hr).

1. Calculate Building Airflow Standard (BAS) aka Minimum Ventilation Level (MVL) and Building Tightness Limit (BTL).

1. Understand sizing method established for ventilation by ASHRAE 62.2 in new construction.

1. Learn the different types and appropriate use of source and whole house ventilation: exhaust only, balanced, heat and energy recovery systems.

1. Know the relative installed cost and operating cost of various ventilation systems.

1. Understand the critical components effecting airflow: duct size, configuration, and termination.

1. Understand best practices for occupant acceptance: simple control strategies, low vibration, low noise, low energy use, low maintenance.

1. Understand the various methods used to measure performance and airflow of ventilation systems.

Required Tests:

1. Single point blower door
2. Exhaust flow measurement using pressure pan

• One-day review in preparation for the QCI exams.
• Training lab and classroom components
• Review the inspector skills and test-taking strategies
• This training is scheduled immediately prior to the QCI certification exams at BPC.

Prerequisites:

• Students should already have received written approval from Building Performance Institute (BPI) to take the QCI Certification Exams.
• Students should be familiar with the following QCI diagnostic tests: CFM50, duct pressurization tests (“total leakage” or “leakage to outside”), and Combustion Safety Tests per BPI’s Technical Standards for the Building Analyst Professional.

Course Summary: This one-day training serves as a final review of technical skills for the BPI Quality Control Inspector certification exams. The refresher takes place in the training lab and the classroom, students will review the inspector skills and test-taking strategies needed during the QCI certification exams. Instructors for this course will incorporate hands-on practice, class discussion, and student assessment. For the convenience of those taking the QCI exams, this refresher is scheduled back to back with the QCI written and field certification exams occurring at the BPC.

Course will Review:

• Blower Door, zonal pressures and pressure pan testing
• Duct Leakage Testing: total leakage and leakage to outside
• Combustion Safety Tests
• Pressure Diagnostics: zonal pressures, pressure pan testing, and fan flow measurement
• Inspection workflow, including file review and on-site visual inspection of completed projects
• Test-taking strategies for the Field Exam

Learning Objectives:

After this course students will be able to:

• Conduct diagnostic tests as required by QCI Field Exam
• Use the BPI QCI Field Guide as a resource during the QCI certification Field Exam
•  Apply time management and a typical inspection workflow to strategize their QCI Field Exam effort

Prerequisites: Students should already have received written approval from Building Performance Institute (BPI) to take the QCI Certification Exams. Students should be familiar with the following QCI diagnostic tests: CFM50, duct pressurization tests (“total leakage” or “leakage to outside”), and Combustion Safety Tests per BPI’s Technical Standards for the Building Analyst Professional.

Materials: None

BPI CEUs: TBD

Instructor: Chris Clay

Location: Bellingham, WA

Interested in taking the Quality Control Inspector (QCI) Exam? You must be approved by BPI to take the QCI exam. The link to the instructions, prerequisites and application can be found here.

***The written portion of the exam is also available on a separate testing day (usually one day prior to the Field exam date). Please see our Courses list for more details.***

Quality Control Inspector Initial Certification

Initial Exam (Field and Written) – $975.00

Initial Exam – Field ONLY (including Re-Tests) – $650.00

Initial Exam – Written ONLY (including Re-Tests) – $325.00

Knowledge and Skill Areas for QCI Testing

• Fourteen (14) calendar days or more prior to date: 25% of fees
• Thirteen (13) calendar days to 72 hours prior to date: 50% of fees
• Less than 72 hours prior to exam date: 75% of fees

Please note: Circumstances beyond control of the candidate will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Prerequisites: Students should already have received written approval from Building Performance Institute (BPI) to take the QCI Certification Exams.

Materials: None

BPI CEUs: n/a

Instructor: Multiple Proctors

Location: Bellingham, WA

The Blower Door and Pressure Diagnostics one day class is designed to provide new and current Building Analysts with the information needed to complete building envelope diagnostics in accordance with, the BPI Building Analyst Technical Standards and the Washington State Department of Commerce Weatherization Specifications.

Each attendee will participate in classroom work and hands on work in the lab using blower doors and manometers to complete building envelope diagnostic testing. Each attendee will participate in the diagnostic testing in order to complete a Diagnostic Test Report (required by Washington State Dept of Commerce) for the test house.

Attendees must come prepared for classroom work and for crawling and climbing in confined spaces. Please bring your calculator and flashlights.

Specific tasks in the classroom will include:

1. Review Basic Building Science Principles

2. Review the use of manometers and pressure.

3. Learn about what information a blower door can provide.

4. Understand how the blower door relates to the ventilation standards, ASHRAE 62.89 and 62.2010.

5. Be able to turn a CFM50 into ACH@50, ALA and CFM”n”.

6. Be introduced to the house depressurization chart and learn how to use it for predicting outcomes of house tightening.

Specific tasks in the Lab will include:

1. Using a manometer to measure pressure.

2. Using a blower door to measure house leakage.

3.Using zonal pressures to determine zone connectedness to inside and outside.

4. Use a pressure pan to determine duct system connectedness to outside.

5. Take dominant duct leak test and all doors closed effect test to determine HVAC interaction with the building envelope.

6. Measure fan flows to determine ventilation effectiveness in relation to building tightness.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite: Some previous experience using the blower door.

Materials: Bring a calculator

BPI CEUs: 4

Instructor: Chris Clay

Location: Bellingham, WA

This workshop focuses on basic safety testing of combustion appliances. Procedures to determine appliance drafts will be reviewed. Proper use of the digital manometer, draft gauges, chemical smoke and techniques for resolving pressure problems will be emphasized. This is not a combustion appliance repair course, this course is about identifying existing problems and predicting how house tightening or duct repair will cause problems, or make existing problems worse.

Learning Objectives

1. Review products of complete combustion and incomplete combustion.
2. Understand the effects of carbon monoxide and other products of combustion on home and occupants.
3. Know where to reference carbon monoxide levels and the appropriate action to take for protection of technician and occupant health.
4. Be able to inspect and identify problems with exhaust pipe: corrosion, configuration etc.
5. Be able to inspect and identify problems with the wiring of the appliance: melted, corroded etc.
6. Be able to identify the combustion appliance zone.
7. Be able to identify the type of combustion appliance (furnace, water heater, space heater etc.) and it’s venting type (atmospheric, induced, direct).
8. Understand the effects of building tightness, exhaust ventilation, and duct leakage on the ability of an appliance to draft.
9. Obtain a working knowledge of solutions available to correct to pressure-induced drafting problems.
10. Obtain a working knowledge of methods used to lower carbon monoxide levels in the exhaust of appliances.
11. Be able to make appropriate recommendations from information gathered according to established standards. 

Be able to conduct the following tests

1. Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ), worst-case set up
2. Measurement of depressurization in the CAZ
3. Measurement of draft in the exhaust pipe or flue under worst-case and best-case conditions
4. Measure carbon monoxide levels in ppm in ambient air and undiluted exhaust
5. Know where and how to test for spillage
6. Know where and how to test for gas leaks

Prerequisites: none

Materials: pen and paper suggested

BPI CEUs: 4

Instructor: Chris Clay and Jim Harmon

Location: Bellingham, WA

Re-Certifying for Building Analyst*?

BPI recently introduced a NEW Renewal Policy for Certified Home Performance Professionals.  Please click here for more information.

*Building Performance Institute recently announced the Standard and Field Guide for Building Analyst has been updated.  The new Standard is titled, BPI-1200-S-201x Standard Practice for Basic Analysis of Buidlings.  This Standard can be viewed and downloaded on the BPI website here.  The new Field Guide can be found here.

!! Please Note:  The Ticket Type, “Building Analyst Initial Exam – Wx Staff ONLY” is reserved for those currently employed at one of the 26 Washington State Weatherization Agencies (as recognized by the Washington State Department of Commerce).  The list of Weatherization Agencies can be found here !!

Building Analyst 1 (1200 – Auditor) Initial Certification

Initial Exam (Field and Written) – $850.00

Initial Exam (Field and Written) – Weatherization Agency Staff – $412.50

Re-Test Initial Exam – Written – $275.00

Re-Test Initial Exam – Field – $575.00

Building Analyst 1 (1200 – Auditor) Certification – Re-Certification

Field Exam Only (30+ CEU Credits) – $575.00

Short Exam (Field AND Written – Between 10 – 29 CEU Credits) – $750.00

Short Exam (Written ONLY – Between 10 – 29 CEU Credits) – $175.00

Full Exam (Field AND Written – Less than 10 CEU Credits) – $850.00

Knowledge and Skill Area Testing for Building Analyst 1200 Testing

• Health and Safety Diagnostics: health and safety of client and crews, familiarity with indoor air contaminants and moisture-induced problems, knowledge of building codes and OSHA standards and National Fuel Gas Code venting standards, must perform comprehensive combustion safety tests ( CO, spillage, draft, CAZ depressurization, and identify IAQ/moisture issues and recommend remediation strategies
• Intermediate Building Science: building construction, materials, and knowledge of interaction of zones found within the structure, basic math, determination of R- and U-values of building components.
• Air Flow Diagnostics: use of blower doors to determine air leakage locations in the thermal envelope, pressure pan tests for duct leakage evaluation, calculation of air-tightness limits and appropriate applications, basic pressure diagnostics
• Construction Management: client education and management skills, ability to accurately document measurements and diagnostic results, specification of appropriate shell and heating measures for subcontractors, work-scope development including prioritization of measures.

Cancellations: In the event of cancellation the following fees apply:

• Fourteen (14) calendar days or more prior to date: 25% of fees
• Thirteen (13) calendar days to 72 hours prior to date: 50% of fees
• Less than 72 hours prior to exam date: 75% of fees

Please note: Circumstances beyond control of the candidate will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

***IMPORTANT:  Once you are registered for the Building Analyst, you will be emailed Study Packet documents, including the BPI technical standards, sample test questions and recommended study materials for the Building Analyst certification. The orientation packet will provide you with the information you need to prepare for the certification exam and an overview of BPI’s standards and code of conduct. It is strongly recommended candidates review combustion safety testing and action levels before the exam.***

Prerequisites:

Materials:

BPI CEUs: N/A

Cost: See Description

Instructor: N/A

Location: Bellingham, WA

If you visit homes to provide health or inspection services of any type, you will benefit from the Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners Course. The training will help you understand the connection between health and housing and how to take a holistic approach to identify and resolve problems that threaten the health and well-being of residents.

Everyone from a public health nurse visiting a client to an environmental health professional doing a rodent inspection will gain insight into how housing and health are related and actions they can take to improve the health of their clients. This two-day course brings together professionals with a variety of perspectives and experiences in a series of exercises — keeping the training lively and engaging.

The training complements hazard-specific training in lead-based paint, radon, mold, pests, and asbestos. It identifies root causes of health problems in a home and links them to seven principles of healthy housing: keep it dry; keep it clean; keep it pest-free; keep it ventilated; keep it safe, keep It contaminant-free; and keep it maintained. Course participants will have a better understanding of how to collaborate to make healthy homes a reality in their community.

Prerequisite:  Candidate must hold either the BPI Building Analyst or BPI Quality Control Inspector credential before taking the Healthy Homes Evaluator exam.

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 risksand hazards to the occupant with the goal of improving health and quality of life.

Prerequisites: Candidate MUST hold either the BPI Building Analyst or BPI Quality Control Inspector credential.

Materials:

BPI CEUs: N/A

Instructor: Proctor

Location: Bellingham, WA