BPI Building Science Principles
Chapter 1:Introduction Questions With
Complete Solutions
/. What are "The Big Three" - moving into, out of, and around the space you are in? -
Answer-✅-Heat
-Air
-Moisture
/.What is the systematic approach to home performance? - Answer-✅Improving:
-comfort
-health
-safety
-energy efficiency
-durability (of materials)
Also includes: IAQ
/.What are the three (3) building science principles? - Answer-✅-Physics
-Chemistry
-Thermodynamics.
/.Examples of components in the home that interact with each other - Answer-✅-
Heating and cooling systems
-Mechanical ventilation (such as exhaust fans)
-Doors and windows.
**Also, differences in temperature and humidity play a role.
/.Another name for 'house-as-a-system' - Answer-✅'whole-house' approach
/.Any type of work done on the house such as air sealing, adding insulation, replacing a
door or window, or installing mechanical ventilation will impact on the 'system' and how
it functions? True or False - Answer-✅True.
If you change something you have to make sure something else doesn't need adjusted
or added (ie. ventilation) for a tight house. You can actually cause more damage by
trying to make a house more efficient if you do not think of the 'house-as-a-system or
have a 'whole-house' approach when doing retrofit work.
BPI's motto: First, do no harm!
, /.The components of a house fall into four (4) general categories: - Answer-✅-Building
-Mechanicals
-Environment
-Occupants
/.Building examples: - Answer-✅-foundation
-roof
-doors
/.Mechanicals examples: - Answer-✅-heating
-cooling
-ventilation
-electrical (lighting & appliances)
-plumbing
/.Environment examples: - Answer-✅-interior temperature
-interior relative humidity
-indoor air quality: bringing in fresh air and reducing or eliminating pollutant
concentrations
/.Occupant examples: - Answer-✅-The importance of occupant behavior cannot be
understated (ie. use of lighting, exhaust fans, and DIY improvements
-Occupants are the beginning and end of the system
/.Interacting relationships are very important! What are some examples of interacting
relationships and what can happen when not looking at the house-as-a-system? -
Answer-✅-Air leakage left unaddressed means we have to heat and cool more often
and energy bills go up.
-Looking beyond energy impacts... moisture in the home cause paint to peel and mold
and mildew to form.
-In winter, warm escaping into the attic can cause ice dams on the roof which can
potentially damage the roof and other materials.
/.A good understanding of building principles and 'house-as-a-system' approach must
be used when doing any improvements to a house. Why? - Answer-✅Simply air sealing
an attic may fix one problem but may lead to other issues down the road... such as too
much moisture in the attic and creating mold on the rafters.
**Home performances involves: testing AND verification
**BPI motto: First, do no harm!
/.Interacting relationships: Mechanical ventilation
Bath exhaust fan purpose is to vent steam from the shower directly outdoors. However,
when you use the fan, it creates air pressure differences between the inside and outside
Chapter 1:Introduction Questions With
Complete Solutions
/. What are "The Big Three" - moving into, out of, and around the space you are in? -
Answer-✅-Heat
-Air
-Moisture
/.What is the systematic approach to home performance? - Answer-✅Improving:
-comfort
-health
-safety
-energy efficiency
-durability (of materials)
Also includes: IAQ
/.What are the three (3) building science principles? - Answer-✅-Physics
-Chemistry
-Thermodynamics.
/.Examples of components in the home that interact with each other - Answer-✅-
Heating and cooling systems
-Mechanical ventilation (such as exhaust fans)
-Doors and windows.
**Also, differences in temperature and humidity play a role.
/.Another name for 'house-as-a-system' - Answer-✅'whole-house' approach
/.Any type of work done on the house such as air sealing, adding insulation, replacing a
door or window, or installing mechanical ventilation will impact on the 'system' and how
it functions? True or False - Answer-✅True.
If you change something you have to make sure something else doesn't need adjusted
or added (ie. ventilation) for a tight house. You can actually cause more damage by
trying to make a house more efficient if you do not think of the 'house-as-a-system or
have a 'whole-house' approach when doing retrofit work.
BPI's motto: First, do no harm!
, /.The components of a house fall into four (4) general categories: - Answer-✅-Building
-Mechanicals
-Environment
-Occupants
/.Building examples: - Answer-✅-foundation
-roof
-doors
/.Mechanicals examples: - Answer-✅-heating
-cooling
-ventilation
-electrical (lighting & appliances)
-plumbing
/.Environment examples: - Answer-✅-interior temperature
-interior relative humidity
-indoor air quality: bringing in fresh air and reducing or eliminating pollutant
concentrations
/.Occupant examples: - Answer-✅-The importance of occupant behavior cannot be
understated (ie. use of lighting, exhaust fans, and DIY improvements
-Occupants are the beginning and end of the system
/.Interacting relationships are very important! What are some examples of interacting
relationships and what can happen when not looking at the house-as-a-system? -
Answer-✅-Air leakage left unaddressed means we have to heat and cool more often
and energy bills go up.
-Looking beyond energy impacts... moisture in the home cause paint to peel and mold
and mildew to form.
-In winter, warm escaping into the attic can cause ice dams on the roof which can
potentially damage the roof and other materials.
/.A good understanding of building principles and 'house-as-a-system' approach must
be used when doing any improvements to a house. Why? - Answer-✅Simply air sealing
an attic may fix one problem but may lead to other issues down the road... such as too
much moisture in the attic and creating mold on the rafters.
**Home performances involves: testing AND verification
**BPI motto: First, do no harm!
/.Interacting relationships: Mechanical ventilation
Bath exhaust fan purpose is to vent steam from the shower directly outdoors. However,
when you use the fan, it creates air pressure differences between the inside and outside
