Date and Time:
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Location:
Tower Room 405
Central Maine Community College
Auburn, Maine
Fees:
$95 MIAQC Members ($42.50 with Alfond Scholarship);
$139 Nonmembers ($69.50 with Alfond Scholarship)
Scholarships available for Workforce Compact Members. Click here to learn more.
Program Overview
Blower door tests to measure air leakage in buildings are an incredibly useful tool that can tell you a lot of different things about new and existing homes. Without a blower door test, architects, builders, weatherization professionals, code enforcement officers and other key residential construction professionals can only guess about what is happening within the built environment. Blower door tests determine air leakage rates to meet Maine’s building codes and other standards, as well as air flow, pressure differentials, system performance, and more. And, especially important for the health of the occupants, blower door tests help determine the need for additional ventilation to exhaust out indoor pollutants that can make occupants sick.
This half day program will provide you with detailed information on how blower door tests can be used to improve building performance, as well as assess a variety of issues for the long-term health and energy efficiency of the building. This is not a training on how to set up testing equipment, but equipment will be set up and available so you can see and discuss it directly with other users on strategies to use them to meet your building goals.
What you’ll learn:
- Why uncontrolled air leakage is a problem for the health of the building, the health of the occupants, and the overall building performance
- How to use a blower door test to determine the need for added ventilation following weatherization
- How to use a blower door test to determine ventilation rates
- How to use the test results to determine the building’s air leakage rate to meet Maine’s building code
- Other things you can do with blower door tests: more accurately size HVAC systems, combustion safety, and more
- Troubleshooting moisture and air leakage problems that can lead to mold problems, ice dams, and other building failures
Who Should Attend: builders, architects, engineers, code enforcement professionals, home inspectors, building weatherization and restoration professionals, real estate professionals, and anyone interested in healthy, productive, environmentally-sustainable construction.
About the Presenters:
About Claire Betz
Claire Betze is the owner of BuildingWorks LLC, a residential energy consulting firm, specializing in a holistic and integrative approach to improve the performance of existing and new homes and their mechanical systems. She is a licensed professional engineer, RESNET certified HERS Rater, and BPI certified Building Analyst Professional. Claire is also a Registered Maine Guide and loves to spend time outside enjoying all that Maine has to offer!
About Colin McCullough
Colin McCullough is the owner of All-Around Home Performance, specializing in home energy audits, comprehensive air sealing, and home performance testing. Colin worked as a home energy auditor for years in the MassSave program and for Efficiency Maine as a quality assurance inspector, he is also a building science trainer/proctor for Build Green Maine. He is currently renovating his 1915 home in Farmingdale to be a high-efficiency, net-zero house.
Program Schedule
8:15 a.m. Registration & Networking
8:45 a.m.: Introduction
9:00 a.m.: What is a Blower Door Test (BDT)?
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- Overview
- Set up of building, equipment, winter conditions, safety considerations
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9:30 a.m.: Quantifying Building Air Leakage
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- The Numbers: CFM50, ACH50, CFM50/SF enclosure area
- BD first impressions: general rules of thumb for putting CFM50 into context
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9:45 a.m. How Can BDT Tests Be Used and Why Are They Important?
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- House as a System
- Weatherization and Retrofits
- Code Compliance for New Construction
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10:30 a.m. Break
10:50 a.m. Using a Blower Door to Understand Ventilation Needs
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- ASHRAE 62.2 and RedCalc
- Case studies
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11:25 a.m. Other Uses
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- Guided Air Sealing
- Zone Pressure Diagnostics
- Pressure Pan
- QA testing for spray foam with zone pressure diagnostics and IR camera
- Heating and Cooling Load Troubleshooting and identifying problem areas
- Use with a duct blaster to find Leakage to Outside
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Continuing Education Credits
Type of Credit | # Credits |
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BPI | Approved for 1.5 CEU Program #21132 |
Code Enforcement | Approved for 3 CEU’s in Residential Energy |
USGBC | Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance |
Engineers | Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance |
ACAC | Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance |
CSI | Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance |
Cert. Energy Auditors | Use BPI credits. |
AIA (Architects) | Approved for 3 LU Course # 8.2024.28 |
Maine Real Estate Professionals | Approved for 3 Hours Prog. #CN276C061LE |
Home Inspectors (ASHI) | Approved for 3 credits |
Questions?
Have specific questions you want answered during the seminar? Consider submitting them to the presenter in advance! Email your questions to: christy@maineindoorair.org no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 28, 2024.
Questions about registration and donations can be directed to the office of the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council. Call 207-626-8115 or e-mail christy@maineindoorair.org.