Certified Passivhaus Designer

Teaches you how to understand the principle of thermal envelopes, including a good perception of the heat insulation qualities required for a Passivhaus. This covers both the insulation thickness and quality and the prevention of thermal bridges as well as the relationship between extensive and complex thermal envelopes and the respective building costs.

Learn all facets of airtightness in Passivhaus such as:

• Choosing suitable lightweight and solid structures in terms of airtightness.

• Suitable airtight joints for lightweight, solid and mixed constructions.

• Air sealing solutions in case of leakages at intersections.

• Common potential weak spots.

• The significance of the planning for a minimum level of “airtightness”.

• Test procedures (airtightness test) and requirements.

• Causes of basic leakages (e.g. holes from nails, power sockets, window connection joints, unrendered exterior wall surfaces, loose foil, unsealed openings, unsealed downpipes).

• Permanent solutions for fixing these simple leakages.

• How to assess difficult leakages (e.g. timber floor).

• How problematic leakages can be avoided.

Gain an understanding of the principle of thermal envelopes, including a good perception of the heat insulation qualities required for a Passivhaus in terms of both the insulation thickness and quality and the prevention of thermal bridges as well as the relationship between extensive and complex thermal envelopes and the respective building costs.

Thermal bridging aspects you’ll cover include:

• Understand the link between U-values and internal surface temperatures.

• Gain familiarity with typical U-values of opaque building structures for Passivhaus in cool temperate climates.

• Learn about the typical lightweight and solid structures suitable for Passivhaus’ in cool temperate climates.

• Become aquatinted with thermal bridge coefficients (exterior and interior dimensions) and qualitative analyses of building envelopes in terms of potential thermal bridges.

• Understand the principle of thermal bridge-free construction.

• Quantitative evaluation of basic thermal bridges.

• Gain knowledge of suitable insulating materials and their main characteristics.

In this unit, you’ll become acquainted with Ug, Uf and Ψg values, and the installation-based thermal bridge coefficient (Ψmount). You’ll cover:

• Differences between “Certified Passivhaus windows” and “approved (window) connection details”.

• Understanding of the thermal quality parameters for curtain wall systems.

• Understanding of the comfort criterion (interior surface temperature of Passivhaus suitable windows).

• Estimation and determination of frame ratios.

• Understanding of triple low-emissivity (low-e) glazing systems and knowledge of the main heat transfer mechanisms in windows (heat conduction through the filling gas, radiation of heat and low-e coating, convection).

• Understanding of the design and purpose of a window’s glass edge system.

• Why thermally optimised glass edge systems (warm-edge) are important.

• Solutions for reducing the thermal bridge coefficient at the edge of the glazing (warm-edge, deep glazing rebate).

• The properties required for a Passivhaus window (knowledge of all specific values and, if necessary, compensating radiators).

• Acquaintance with the PHPP window sheet.

In this unit, you’ll learn about the most important air contaminants in buildings. In particular, you’ll cover:

• Knowledge of the CO2 criterion.

• Determination of fresh air flow rates for adequate ventilation.

• The relationship between the relative indoor air humidity and sources of humidity inside the building, the rate of fresh air supply and the external temperature.

• The importance of limiting air flow even during winter. What can be done when higher ventilation rates are required for other urgent reasons?

• The driving forces of natural (non-mechanical) ventilation (qualitative understanding).

• Knowledge of types of natural ventilation such as joints and cracks, tilted windows, and open windows.

• The factors that will influence natural ventilation effects, i.e. typical air change rates (qualitative understanding).

• Why non-mechanical ventilation isn’t suitable for Passivhaus’ located in regions with a considerable amount of heating degree days (i.e. unreliability and heat losses).

Knowledge of the g-value definition according to EN 410, g-values expressed to two significant figures

• What is the difference between the g-value and light transmittance (ISO 9050)

• Knowledge of typical values for different types of glazing

• What other factors reduce the solar energy gain - (Angle of incidence, dirt, frame ratio, shading, reflection)

• Estimation and determination of frame ratios

• Simple examples of energy transmission through windows (cold day, heating period, summer)

• Knowledge of the energy criterion for glazing (Ug - 1.6 W/(m2K) · g ≤ 0) and its application;

• Knowledge of the influence of a building’s orientation on the solar energy supply

• Knowledge of typical self-shading effects of buildings on their solar energy supply

• Acquaintance with the PHPP shading sheet

• Knowledge of the heating load criterion; what is the difference between “heating load” and “space heating demand”

• Knowledge of the thermal comfort requirements [ISO 7730]

• What is the “operative temperature”

• How significant are draughts

• What is the maximum difference between the air temperature and average surface temperature in a Passivhaus (ability to calculate a simplified example and make qualitative estimations)

• Why is thermal comfort in a Passivhaus largely independent of the means of heat/cold distribution?

• Knowledge of typical heating loads

• Knowledge of typical heat distribution systems suitable for Passivhaus

• Under what conditions are radiators required beneath windows

• Ability to sketch a heat distribution system in the floor plan of a Passivhaus

• What factors need to be taken into account when considering air heater coils - (effective heating capacity based on the air flow rate; downstream duct insulation)

• Why can’t the supply air flow rate be increased

• How does the PHPP deal with heating loads

• What factors need to be taken into consideration when designing the heat distribution system and the central heat generator? (the total heating load must be accounted for)

• How and to what extent can temperature differences be achieved within a Passivhaus

• To what extent is the maximum heating load influenced by the following factors: large leakages, constantly tilted windows, temporary opening of windows, opening of the front door

• Knowledge of the limitations of supply air heat distribution systems (disconnected rooms, extract rooms); solutions for these cases

• Correct positioning of a thermostat within a dwelling unit

In this unit, you’ll gain a more in-depth understanding of various construction systems and quality assurance processes.

In particular, you’ll cover:

• Initial instructions for craftsmen.

• Special requirements concerning the work itinerary (e.g. application of interior plaster before installation of building services, application of screed after internal plaster).

• Materials and services to be inspected and quality assurance methods.

• Airtightness of surfaces and connection details/intersections.

• Thermal bridge-free design, avoiding penetrations that do not figure in the plans.

• Window installation, including frame and glazing qualities.

• Thermal insulation, thermal conductivity of insulation materials, elimination of joints, and application without air gaps.

• Air ducts: no leakages, layout / dimensions in accordance with plans, insulation, prevention of condensation and protection against construction dirt (antistatic).

• Ventilation unit: installation according to plans, flow rate check /adjustment.

• Space heating system: installation according to plans, complete insulation of heated pipes (including fixtures, pumps, etc.), running times of pumps, test run

• Hot water system: installation according to plans, complete insulation of heated pipes (including fixtures, pumps, etc.), running times of pumps, and test runs.

• Required quality assurance procedures (pressure test [appropriate timing], specific dates for the quality assurance for the window installation, airtight layer, insulation, air ducts, inspection of the ventilation unit).

• Handing over the building at an appropriate interior temperature (warm in winter and cool in summer periods).

Learn about the payback period, present value method, and application of the annuity method in simple examples. Other topics include:

• Correct determination of excess investment.

• Life cycle assessment.

• Cost-effective insulation levels.

• Advantages of calculating the price of each kilowatt-hour saved (independent of energy prices).

• Familiarity with the metric system and decimal units.

• Acquaintance with standard symbols, quantities and units—in particular, the consistent use of units throughout the calculation process for the purpose of self-monitoring.

• Making a clear distinction between different physical quantities such as work and power, temperature and heat, etc.

In the online course, participants will learn how to use the PHPP for residential building design and certification. Participants will be guided step-by-step through the relevant worksheets while learning the correct conventions for measurements and calculations.

Proper documentation will also be covered in detail. A case study will provide participants with practical experience in completing and documenting PHPP calculations for building certification. This course is equivalent to the three-day in-class course, and you will have 3 months of access.

• Learn the structure, inputs, and outputs of PHPP software.

• Select and input appropriate climate data sets in PHPP.

• Measure and record building characteristics (areas, volumes, etc.).

• Specify building assemblies and components.

• Model HVAC systems.

• Assess building heat loss, energy demand and summertime overheating risk.

• Understand proper sourcing of performance data.

• Gain practical experience in completing a PHPP assessment for a residential development.

The ex­am is based on the fol­low­ing learn­ing tar­gets and in­cludes mul­tiple choice ques­tions, con­struc­tion de­tails draw­ings, cal­cu­la­tions, as well as a Pass­ivhaus design ex­er­cise.

Once accredited, your certificate will be valid for 5 years and is internationally and nationally recognised.