Building Science Principles – NC CE

Description

Course Number: CEC693
CE Hours: 4

Questions? Call one of our Continuing Education Specialists at 888-391-4359.

Course Details:
This 4 CE hour course orients learners to the building science principles behind controlling moisture movement in a residential building, via an understanding of water movements and how water infiltrates into, through, and around building envelopes.

We begin by establishing a base of knowledge regarding water, water management, and building envelopes. This section of the course calls out the items a home inspector must understand in order to evaluate water and moisture issues in a building, and reviews the types of inspections needed to ensure these items are effectively addressed. It considers common wall systems in a building envelope, and the five main ways water can migrate through them. It then reviews how a house acts as a system – built up of many components, all of which must work together to stay free of unwanted water and moisture – and looks at air flow’s impact on this system in particular. Finally, it addresses general practices for water management.

We move on to barriers to moisture in the next section of the course, addressing air barriers vs. vapor barriers, sealing and weather-resistive barriers, and the specific considerations that apply to crawl spaces, with attention to the North Carolina Building Code’s requirements and defect recognition throughout.

We then address air and moisture management over windows and doors, again with attention to the North Carolina Building Code’s requirements and defect recognition throughout.

Finally, we look at examples and case studies from the field, covering both defect recognition and report writing.

Course Outline:

Section 1: Understanding Water, Water Management, & Building Envelopes

1. Background
   1. Types of Inspections
   2. Wall Systems for the Building Envelope
   3. Water Movement
2. Houses as Systems (From Advanced Energy’s SystemVision)
   1. Recent History
   2. Air Flow Basics

• General Practices for Water Management
• Quiz 1

Section 2: Understanding Air Barriers & Vapor Barriers

1. Air Barriers
2. Vapor Barriers
3. NC Building Code
4. Sealing
5. Proper Weather Resistive Barriers
6. Crawl Spaces
   1. Vented vs. Closed
   2. Defect Recognition
7. Quiz 2

Section 3: Air & Moisture Management over Exterior Windows & Doors

1. Quiz 3

Section 4: Examples & Case Studies

1. Quiz 4

Final Exam