BPI Building Analyst Training Terminology and Definitions

BPI Building Analyst Training Terminology and Definitions ACCA - answerAir conditioning contractor association ACH - answerAir changes per hour AFUE - answerAnnual Fuel Utilization Efficiency averaged over a heating season. ( Does not include distibution losses) Air Barrier - answerthe barrier that prevents infiltration of outdoor air into the conditioned spance and exfiiltration of indoor air to thhe outside. Also known as "Pressure boudary". ( It should be continuous and aligned with the thermal boundary) Air Changes at 50 Pascals (ACH50) - answerThe number of times the volume of air is exchanged when a blower door depressurizes the home Air Exchange - answerThe total building air exchanged with the outdooes through air leakage and ventilation Air Handler - answerA vlower with cooling and/or heating coils connected to ducts,housed in a steel cabinet Audit - answerA process used to identify energy savings oppurtunutues in buildings Air sealing - answerThe process of sealing bypasses in the pressure boundary to prevent air leakage. This reduces heat flow from air movement and prevents water vapor from entering the building cavities Asbestos - answerHeat resistant material used previously in many building products; represents serious health hazarf as an airborne particulate ASHRAE - answer.American Society of Heating,Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers. (Professional societ of researchers and scientist that set standards for heating,refrigeration, and ventilation Atmospheric Venting System - answera standard chimnet or B type vent that is intended to remove combusion byproducts. The pressure inside vent should be negative with reference to (WRT) the room that houses the the appliance Attic Bypass - answeran air passway between the living space and the attic Attic Ventilation - answerventilation intended to remove heat and moisture from attic areas to the outside Backdraft - answerprolionged or continuous spillage of combustion byproducts into the home Balanced Mechanical Ventilation System - answera mechanical ventiliation system with inlets and oulets that does not induce pressure differences while operating the home Balance Heat Recovery Ventilator - answera balanced mechanical ventilation system with incoming and outgoing air that recovers heat from one air steam to the other without mixing the iar streams Balloon Framing - answera construction method where the walls are framed before the floor is built, and the wall cavity is often open to both the attic and the basement Band Joist - answerthe perimeter of the floor assembly that is between the first and second floors of the structure Barometric Damper - answera damper actuated by ar pressure differentials Base Pressure - answeris the natural pressure difference between the zone being tested and the outside(without any exhaust appliances running and with the house in "winter condition") Baseload - answerthe amounf of energy (electric and combustion fuel) used to operate year- roud lighting and appliances Blower Door - answera diagnostic tool used to test for house leakage consisting of a fan, a removeable panel, and gauges Bottom Plate - answerthe bottom horizontal wall framing component BPi - answerBuilding Performance Institute Btu-British Thermal Unit - answerThe amoung of energy needed to heat one pound of water one degree Farenheit Btu Content of Common Fuels; #2 Fuel oil- 139,000 Btus/gal, Electric-3414 Btus/KWh,Liquid Propane- 92000 Btus/gal,Natural Gas- 1000000 Btus/therm,1000 Btus/cu ft,Wood-15-20 million Btus/cord Building Airflow Atandard-BAS - answerthe caculated minimum airflow required for a building and the occupants. Mechanical ventiliation is required if the measured CFM50 is less than 70% of the BAS