Upcoming Training Schools:
See below for all class descriptions. To register, call (800) 933-5656 or fax completed registration form to (360) 671-0947
Date Location Class Name Reg form/Announcement
Feb 13-17 Atlanta, GA TRN-101 Home Performance Boot Camp Click Here
Feb 27-28 Portland, OR TRN-102 Duct Performance Boot Camp Click Here
Feb 29-Mar2 Portland, OR TRN-501 Sales & Marketing Boot Camp Click Here
April 16-20 Fairfax, VA TRN-101 Home Performance Boot Camp Click Here
CI’s group training has been reformatted into three distinct technical classes, and a new dedicated 2.75 day Sales class.
TRN-101: Home Performance Boot Camp
This four day intensive class teaches the fundamentals of home performance and building science. It is designed primarily for HVAC Contractors "going beyond the box." It is the recommended first technical class for new CI Members and staff. The class also prepares attendees to take the optional Building Performance Institute Building Analyst and Envelope Professional Written Exams on Day 5.
*This class is eligible for 14 BPI continuing education credit units.
What You'll learn:
• Building science fundamentals
• House as a system interactions
• Rules of air, heat and moisture flow
• Six air infiltration driving forces
• Infiltration/duct leakage impacts on dust, humidity, comfort, utilities, CO & IAQ
• Fundamentals of heat transfer, gain and loss
• Construction, pressure, & energy terminology
• Hands on Blower Door, Ductester/Manometer use
• How to interpret Blower door test results
• How to calculate BPI building airflow standard
• How to determine Thermal/Pressure boundaries
• How to perform Series Pressure Diagnostics
• Hands on Infrared camera use and interpretation
• Air infiltration repair prioritization, materials and techniques
• How to measure building envelope area/volume
• How to remove contaminated attic insulation
• Insulation properties, R-values and U-factors
• How to perform BPI CO, spillage, CAZ depressurization & draft testing
• Basic duct leakage and airflow evaluation
• Utility bill disaggregation
• Baseload electrical savings opportunities
• BPI Building Analyst and Envelope Professional Standards
TRN-102: Duct Performance Boot Camp
This two day class builds on the Home Performance Boot Camp and focuses specifically on advanced duct performance diagnostics and repair. Usually held in conjunction with TRN-103.
* This class is eligible for 7 BPI continuing education credit units.
What You'll Learn:
• Impacts of duct leakage, poor duct insulation & low airflow on efficiency/comfort
• Why modern high efficiency equipment is most affected by bad ducts
• Six ways to measure and demonstrate duct leakage
• Duct sealing materials and techniques
• How to measure static pressure
• How to measure air velocity
• How to use a flow hood
• How to interpret and use the test results
• The implications of low or high total airflow
• All the possible duct renovation solutions to low air flow, poor distribution
• Basics of duct design, common mistakes to avoid
• Truth about common misconceptions about airflow, static pressure and air balancing accuracy
TRN-103: Advanced Building Science Class
This two and a half day high level class builds on the Home & Duct Performance Boot Camps by adding advanced building science, real world applied psychrometrics, mechanical ventilation, crawlspace renovation and mold/humidity control solutions. Usually held in conjunction with TRN-102.
* This class is eligible for 9 BPI continuing education credit units.
What You'll learn:
• Effects Of Excessive or Low Indoor Humidity
• Real World Applied Psychrometrics
• Why Ducts and Air Handlers Sweat and How To Stop It
• Why Windows Sweat & How To Stop It
• Moisture Transport Mechanisms Explained
• Moisture Sources, From Inside & Out
• Effects Of Outside Air Infiltration & Ventilation
• Moisture Source Inspection Procedures
• How To Measure Humidity, Short & Long Term
• Known Problems With Current High Efficiency AC Models and Controls
• How Poor Dehumidification Leads To Higher Energy Bills and Mold Growth
• Why High Efficiency AC Often Doesn’t Save What Is Promised
• How To Maximize AC Dehumidification
• How Air Balancing Can Lead To Increased Mold
• The Pros and Some Cons Of Variable Speed Blowers, and How To Avoid Them
• How To Pick & Install The Right Residential Ventilation Systems
• How To Select, Sell & Install De-humidifiers
• Do Duct Cleaning, Filters and UV Help?
• Why Floors Cup & Warp
• Wet Attics and Ice Dams
• Why Crawlspace Vents Should be Closed
• How To Retrofit Closed Dry Crawlspaces
• Health Effects Of Live and Dead Mold
• Why Mold Testing Is Usually Bogus
• Dust Mite Causes and Solutions
• Controlling Dust, Particles & Black Soot
TRN-501: Performance Sales & Marketing Boot Camp
This 2.75 day class teaches how to generate Home & Duct Performance Test sales leads, how to implement CI marketing and pre-appointment positioning systems, and prepares the comfort consultant to incorporate home performance into the in-home sales process, with role-play opportunities.
What You'll learn:
• The recommended “flow” from when the phone rings to your follow up after you leave the home
• The best ways to incorporate Diagnostics into a replacement sales call
• Ways to sell a whole house checkup/testing/load calc to replacement equipment prospects
• Step by step best way to “tell the smoke story”
• How to get the customer involved and SELL REPAIRS
• What to say and show to sell duct, attic and crawlspace renovations
• Role playing of suggested word tracks
• Five ways to use a flow hood in sales
• When to know if you should go for one call vs. two call
• How to use diagnostic testing to get both buying parties together
• How to use diagnostic testing to be the last one in
• Load calc issues: when to do one before giving the quote, how to do it after they buy, whole house vs. room by room
• How to easily and profitably price high labor repair jobs
• Ways to handle common objections or keep them from coming up
• How to explain to homeowners why new high efficiency AC is more affected by infiltration and duct leakage
• How to use all the CI consumer education tools in the home
• What to say to “torpedo” the competition who isn’t testing
• How to use the CI Duct Leakage Reduction Guarantee
• How to use emergency cooling loaner units to put good leads on ice
• Basic closing and objection handling
• Ways to pre-book labor intensive repairs for the fall
• How to finance labor intensive repairs
• How to motivate your techs to complete the Comfort and IAQ Surveys
• How to sell Checkups off of service tech static pressure checks
• How to use the CI Referral Request system to ask for referrals, and send direct mail to friends and neighbors
• Tips to convert duct cleaning and IAQ accessory call-ins into sold performance tests
• How to implement the CI Marketing Systems available exclusively to CI members and how to get the most out of them: web site streaming video link, member positioning letters, CIAQ survey cards, brochures, fact sheets, TV ads, and more
Frequently asked questions
Why did the classes change in 2011?
The new CI class structure will reduce repetition, streamline the training process and get all CI Member employees up to speed as quickly as possible. It inherently makes it easier to prepare for BPI certifications.
I have attended other CI Classes in previous years, do I need to go to these new classes?
While much of the information being provided in the new classes has been presented in older versions of training classes, new content will also be provided, especially in the new TRN-101, and the TRN-501 sales camp.
Should I get Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certified?
We recommend that all CI Members companies have at least one certified BPI Building Analyst on staff. At a minimum, it’s another third party certification that adds to your credibility. Consumers are also starting to recognize and look for contractors with BPI certification credentials.
Although “Homestar” is probably not going to happen soon on a federal level, getting BPI Certified is still becoming very important. Many state, federal and utility programs require BPI Building Analyst Certification for qualification in auditing, rebate and low interest loan programs. BPI certification makes you eligible to participate in the new Home Energy Score audit program.
Some programs require two certifications, and some do not. Obtaining BPI “Company Accreditation” requires two certifications. It is your responsibility to determine what the requirements are for your program. We recommend getting both certifications, as more programs are requiring two.
If I pass the BPI written exam(s) am I certified?
Not on its own. Full BPI Building Analyst or Envelope Profession Certification requires both a written and field exam. Field exams require a separate three hour on-site exam and BPI fee, payable to CI, scheduled following the TRN-101 class to allow needed practice time between the class and the field exam.
Field exams are normally obtained by coming to a later group field exam event. After evaluating where the attendees are from, group field exams are scheduled to occur within four to six weeks of the class, $425 for BA only, $650 for BA and EP. A centrally located host is needed to volunteer a test house.
Alternatively, you can have a CI trainer/proctor come to you, at a higher cost, or as part of a two day field training. Contact Janet at CI for details on scheduling and fees for field exams at (800) 933-5656.
Who should attend these classes?
• Comfort Consultants/Auditors who will be performing the initial testing in and making recommendations should attend all the classes, and get at least BPI BA certified.
• Installation manager/crew chiefs who will be managing repair work should attend all the classes, and get at least BPI EP certified.
• Owners of small to medium sized companies should at least attend TRN-101, 102 and 501 in order to manage the implementation.
• Service techs will of course benefit from all the technical classes, however eight and a half days is a big investment. The most beneficial class for techs is TRN-102 Duct Performance Boot Camp.
• Sales Lead Coordinators will benefit from the first day of the TRN-501 Sales class.