Introduction to Passive House Trades Sessions

Module 1

• Describe the five key principles of Passive House projects.
• Summarize typical materials and methods used for insulation and air barriers on Passive House projects.
• Explain common problem areas relating to the building envelope along with ways to avoid those problems.
• Identify thermal bridge locations and recommend products that could be used for mitigation.

Module 2

• Identify the typical wall system types used in wood framed construction.
• Explain challenging details seen on wood and steel framed construction projects and propose solutions on how these can be overcome.
• Describe the common approaches for air barrier application and insulation installation on residential and commercial projects.
• Summarize the components of high-performance windows and proper installation techniques.

Module 3

• Explain systems that can be used to provide space conditioning and ventilation on Passive House projects.
• Describe the importance of well sealed ductwork and other components needed to achieve a properly working ventilation system.
• Identify the types of domestic hot water systems available and how these can be optimized during the design phase of the project.
• Describe how lighting selections and lighting controls impact electrical energy usage on a project.

Module 4

• Summarize the differences between quality control vs. quality assurance, along with attributes of each concept.
• Identify defects from construction site photos and propose solutions for correction.
• Explain how blower door testing is conducted and identify the air tightness limits required for Passive House.
• Describe the documentation requirements needed for Passive House certification and identify how it overlaps with the overall quality assurance process.