BPI Building Analyst Questions and Answers
Absolute humidity - ANSWER-Air moisture content expressed in grains (or pounds) of
water vapor per pound of dry air.
Absorptance - ANSWER-The ratio of a solar energy absorbed to incident solar. Also
called absorptivity.
Absorption - ANSWER-A solid material's ability to draw in and hold liquid or gas.
Air barrier - ANSWER-Any part of the building shell that offers resistance to air leakage.
The air barrier is effective if it stops most air leakage. The primary air barrier is the most
effective of a series of air barriers.
Air changes at 50 pascals (ACH50) - ANSWER-The number of times that the complete
volume of a home is exchanged for outside air when a blower door depressurizes the
home to 50 pascals.
Air conditioning - ANSWER-Cooling buildings with a refrigeration system. More
generally means both heating and cooling.
Air exchange - ANSWER-The total building air exchanged with the outdoors through air
leakage and ventilation.
Air handler - ANSWER-A steel cabinet containing a blower with cooling and/or heating
coils connected to ducts.
Annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) - ANSWER-A laboratory-derived efficiency
rating for heating appliances which accounts for chimney losses, jacket losses, and
cycling losses.
Annual return - ANSWER-The yearly savings divided by the initial cost needed to
achieve the savings, expressed as a percent.
Any part of the building that creates a boundary between indoor air and outdoor air -
ANSWER-Pressure Boundary
Asbestos - ANSWER-A material made of brittle mineral fibers that damage lungs and
other bodily tissues.
Backdraft damper - ANSWER-A damper, installed near a fan, that allows air to flow in
only one direction
Backdrafting - ANSWER-Continuous spillage of combustion gases from a combustion
appliance.
Absolute humidity - ANSWER-Air moisture content expressed in grains (or pounds) of
water vapor per pound of dry air.
Absorptance - ANSWER-The ratio of a solar energy absorbed to incident solar. Also
called absorptivity.
Absorption - ANSWER-A solid material's ability to draw in and hold liquid or gas.
Air barrier - ANSWER-Any part of the building shell that offers resistance to air leakage.
The air barrier is effective if it stops most air leakage. The primary air barrier is the most
effective of a series of air barriers.
Air changes at 50 pascals (ACH50) - ANSWER-The number of times that the complete
volume of a home is exchanged for outside air when a blower door depressurizes the
home to 50 pascals.
Air conditioning - ANSWER-Cooling buildings with a refrigeration system. More
generally means both heating and cooling.
Air exchange - ANSWER-The total building air exchanged with the outdoors through air
leakage and ventilation.
Air handler - ANSWER-A steel cabinet containing a blower with cooling and/or heating
coils connected to ducts.
Annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) - ANSWER-A laboratory-derived efficiency
rating for heating appliances which accounts for chimney losses, jacket losses, and
cycling losses.
Annual return - ANSWER-The yearly savings divided by the initial cost needed to
achieve the savings, expressed as a percent.
Any part of the building that creates a boundary between indoor air and outdoor air -
ANSWER-Pressure Boundary
Asbestos - ANSWER-A material made of brittle mineral fibers that damage lungs and
other bodily tissues.
Backdraft damper - ANSWER-A damper, installed near a fan, that allows air to flow in
only one direction
Backdrafting - ANSWER-Continuous spillage of combustion gases from a combustion
appliance.
