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BPI Written Exam - Section 1 Building Science Fundamentals

9. Understand Thermal Resistance / Transmittance: R and U Values; Including Conversions

Terms: 

  1. R-value - the measure of a materials thermal resistance in units of ft²·°F·h/Btu.  Insulation properties are described in terms of R-values.  The higher the R-value, the greater the thermal resistance.
  2. U-value - the overall heat transfer coefficient.  U-values are a measure of conductance a material.  
  • It tell us how much heat conducts through a 1 sq ft area in 1 hr when there is a 1 degree F temperature difference.  
  • The smaller the U-value, the better the object is at reducing heat transfer.  
  • U is the “total” heat transfer through an object such and takes into account convection and radiation.  
  • Window properties are addressed in terms of U-value. 

Relationship between U-value and R-values

U-values are the fraternal twins of R-values, meaning that to find a U-value for a material, simply put 1 over the R-value = U-value. The opposite is true also, to find the R-value of a material given the U-value, take 1 over the U-value = R-value. 
  • 1 / R-value = U-value 
  • 1 / U-value = R-value

The difference between R-value and U-value

R-values can be added together, U-values cannot

Next Section

  1. 1a. Basic terms and definitions
    1. Understand airflow in buildings / ducts: CFM, CFM50, CFM25, ACHn, ACH50, FPM
    2. Understand equipment efficiencies: AFUE, SSE, SEER, EER, HSPF
    3. Understand power and energy: watts, BTU/hr, ton of refrigeration  watt-hours, BTU, therm, decatherm
    4. Understand effective leakage area
    5. Understand area weighted R-Value
    6. Understand baseload / seasonal energy use
    7. Understand driving forces (including natural and mechanical: Pressure, temperature, moisture differential
    8. Understand behavior of radiation: emissivity, reflectivity, absorbtivity
    9. Understand thermal resistance / transmittance: R and U Values; including conversions
    10. Understand latent / Sensible heat: evaporation, condensation / specific heat, heat capacity
    11. Understand total equivalent length
    12. Understand basics of dehumidification / Humidification as well as measurement equipment
    13. Understand and convert Pressure units: Inches of Water Column (iwc), Pascal (Pa)
    14. Understand, identify thermal bridges
    15. Understand pressure boundary 
    16. Understand/define stack effect 
    17. Understand and define exfiltration and infiltration 
    18. Natural / mechanical ventilation 
    19. Understand net free area 
    20. Understand input / output capacity 
    21. Understand peak electrical demand 
    22. Understand permeability and perm rating 
    23. Understand standby loss 
    24. IAQ (indoor air quality): moisture, CO, dust
1b. Principals of energy, air & moisture
  1. Thermodynamics: conduction, convection, radiation, ΔT including air movement due to temperature gradients
  2. Factors that affect insulation performance: density, installation, moisture
  3. House pressurization/depressurization by various forces
  4. Heat gain / loss: internal, solar, heat transmission, air leakage 
  5. Power and energy: BTU content of fuels, capacity of combustion appliances and electrical appliances 
  6. Moisture transport mechanisms: bulk water, air leakage, diffusion, capillary action 
  7. Identify areas of highest relative humidity 
  8. Principles of combustion: combustion analysis, CO 
1c. Combustion science
  1. Combustion analysis: oxygen, flue-gas temperature, carbon monoxide 
  2. Carbon Monoxide (CO) testing of combustion appliances 
  3. Basics of: Combustion appliance venting, draft, and combustion air including identification of proper sizing/vent tables 
  4. Understand combustion safety issues: Combustion air, draft, worst case / baseline depressurization, spillage, backdrafting, unvented combustion appliances 
Quick Links

1. BPI Written Exam
2. BPI Field Exam
3. Blower Door Test 
4. BPI Standards
The main topics of the BPI BA exam are listed out below.  Click on a link that interests you, or you need some brushing up on to learn more on each subject.

1. Building Science Fundamentals
1a. Basic terms and definitions
1b. Principals of energy, air & moisture
1c. Combustion science

2. Buildings and Their Systems
2a. Building components
2b. Conservation strategies
2c. Comprehensive building assessment process
2d. Design considerations

3. Measurement and Verification of Building Performance
3a. Applied diagnostics and troubleshooting

4. BPI National Standards and Project Specifications
4a. Comprehensive building assessment

5. Analyzing Buildings Systems
5a. Comprehensive building assessment
5b. Appliances and lighting

6. Conduct and communications
6a. Conservation strategies