Building Science Fundamentals for RFI Certification

RESNET Approved for RFI Certification

Building science is the study of interactions within a building that impact efficiency, comfort, building durability, indoor air quality, and occupant health.  Building Science Fundamentals provides a high-level overview into this field of study.  You will learn some of the terminology, how energy is used in a residence, and what components make up a building envelope.  You will also learn about the flow of heat, air, and moisture through the building envelope and how those energy flows impact the building and its occupants.  This course has been approved as the Building Science course to meet the certification requirements for Rating Field Inspector (RFI).

Registration Fee: $120.00

Course Outline

Module 1 The Building Envelope and the Language of Energy

This module will define the building envelope and cover some history of home construction and how the building envelope has changed over the years. We will also dive into some terminology and energy terms.

Unit 1 Building Science Fundamentals - Course Materials
Unit 2 Residential Energy Use
Unit 3 Residential Energy Use Quiz
Unit 4 Building Envelope Terminology and History
Unit 5 Building Envelope Terminology and History Quiz
Unit 6 The Language of Energy
Unit 7 The Language of Energy Quiz
Module 2 Heat Transfer, Air Transfer, and Moisture Transfer through the Building Envelope

Heat, air and moisture are always moving or transferring from one place to another.  Air can transport heat and moisture and impact the durability of a building.  Heat transfer can impact air movement as well as cause moisture vapor to become bulk moisture.  These three elements impact and affect each other and play a large role in our understanding of building health, safety, comfort, and durability.  This module explores all these concepts.

Unit 1 Building Science Fundamentals - Course Materials
Unit 2 What is Energy?
Unit 3 What is Energy Quiz
Unit 4 Heat Transfer
Unit 5 Radiant Heat Transfer
Unit 6 Heat Transfer Quiz
Unit 7 Heat Transfer Practice
Unit 8 Air Flow
Unit 9 Air Flow Quiz
Unit 10 Moisture Movement and Human Comfort
Unit 11 Moisture Movement and Human Comfort Quiz
Module 3 Building Science Fundamentals Summary

In this module we will put it all together and see how the concepts learned all interact with each other.  Students will make observations regarding heat/air/moisture flow impacts and their relationship to comfort, durability and indoor air quality.

Unit 1 The Tell-Tale House
Unit 2 Final Exam: Building Science Fundamentals

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