HVAC Facilities Management Course

Lesson 1 • Reading HVAC Drawings and Specifications

Teaches interpretation of mechanical drawings, schedules, and specifications. This skill is essential for installation, commissioning, and renovation projects.

Lesson 2 • Core Thermodynamic Principles

Covers heat transfer, psychrometrics, and fluid dynamics as applied to HVAC. These physics concepts underpin every system design and troubleshooting decision.

Lesson 3 • HVAC Industry Overview

Introduces the scope, history, and role of HVAC in facilities management. Establishes context for all subsequent technical content in the course.

Lesson 4 • Key Components and Their Functions

Identifies compressors, condensers, evaporators, fans, and controls. Understanding component roles enables accurate diagnosis and maintenance planning.

Lesson 1 • Safe Refrigerant Handling Practices

Covers recovery, recycling, reclaim procedures, and leak detection methods. Proper handling protects technicians and ensures regulatory compliance.

Lesson 2 • The Vapor Compression Cycle

Explains the four-stage refrigeration cycle from compression to expansion. Mastery of this cycle is prerequisite for diagnosing any refrigerant-based system.

Lesson 3 • Refrigerant Types and Properties

Compares refrigerant classes including HFCs, HFOs, and natural refrigerants. Students select appropriate refrigerants based on efficiency and environmental impact.

Lesson 4 • Chillers and Cooling Towers

Examines centrifugal, screw, and absorption chillers alongside cooling tower operation. These large-scale systems are central to commercial facility cooling.

Lesson 1 • Combustion Fundamentals

Covers fuel types, combustion chemistry, and efficiency metrics such as flue gas analysis. Safe combustion knowledge is foundational to boiler and furnace work.

Lesson 2 • Boiler Types and Components

Surveys fire-tube, water-tube, and condensing boilers and their key components. Students match boiler type to facility heating load and fuel availability.

Lesson 3 • Boiler Safety and Compliance

Addresses pressure vessel regulations, safety controls, and inspection protocols. Compliance with safety standards prevents catastrophic failures and liability.

Lesson 4 • Furnaces and Air-Based Heating

Covers gas and electric furnace operation, heat exchangers, and duct integration. Students diagnose common furnace faults and verify safe operation.

Lesson 1 • Duct System Design Principles

Teaches equal-friction and static-regain duct sizing methods and layout strategies. Correct duct design minimizes energy loss and ensures balanced airflow.

Lesson 2 • Ventilation Standards and Requirements

Introduces minimum ventilation rates, occupancy-based calculations, and demand-controlled ventilation. Meeting ventilation standards is mandatory for occupant health and code compliance.

Lesson 3 • Indoor Air Quality Management

Covers pollutant sources, filtration ratings, and air quality monitoring strategies. Effective IAQ management reduces health complaints and improves occupant productivity.

Lesson 4 • Exhaust and Specialty Ventilation

Addresses kitchen exhaust, laboratory fume hoods, parking garage ventilation, and smoke control. Specialty systems require unique design and safety considerations.

Lesson 1 • Building Automation System Architecture

Explains field controllers, supervisory controllers, and operator workstations in a BAS hierarchy. Students navigate system architecture to locate and resolve faults efficiently.

Lesson 2 • Control Sequences for HVAC Equipment

Covers economizer, VAV, chiller plant, and boiler plant control sequences. Correct sequences ensure comfort, efficiency, and equipment longevity.

Lesson 3 • Control System Fundamentals

Introduces open-loop and closed-loop control, sensors, and actuators. Understanding control theory is essential before programming or troubleshooting any BAS.

Lesson 4 • Sensors, Calibration, and Diagnostics

Teaches sensor calibration procedures and fault detection using trend data. Accurate sensors are the foundation of reliable automatic control.

Lesson 1 • Filter and Coil Maintenance

Explains filter replacement schedules, coil cleaning methods, and performance verification. Clean filters and coils are the highest-impact low-cost maintenance activities.

Lesson 2 • Routine Inspection Procedures

Details inspection checklists for AHUs, chillers, boilers, and cooling towers. Consistent inspections catch developing faults before they cause failures.

Lesson 3 • Maintenance Records and CMMS Use

Teaches work order creation, history tracking, and KPI reporting using a CMMS. Accurate records enable data-driven decisions and support regulatory audits.

Lesson 4 • Lubrication and Belt Drive Service

Covers bearing lubrication intervals, grease selection, belt tensioning, and alignment. Proper lubrication and drive service prevent the most common mechanical failures.

Lesson 1 • Variable Speed Drives and Controls

Explains VFD operation, fan and pump affinity laws, and control integration. VSDs on fans and pumps typically deliver the largest single energy savings in HVAC.

Lesson 2 • Economizers and Heat Recovery

Covers air-side and water-side economizers, energy recovery ventilators, and run-around coils. Heat recovery reduces purchased energy by reusing waste heat or cool air.

Lesson 3 • HVAC Load Calculations

Covers heating and cooling load calculation methods, internal gains, and envelope losses. Accurate loads prevent oversizing and ensure efficient system operation.

Lesson 4 • Retro-Commissioning and Retrofit Projects

Teaches retro-commissioning methodology, measure identification, and financial analysis. Students build investment-grade proposals to justify efficiency upgrades.

Lesson 1 • Vendor and Contract Management

Covers service contract types, scope of work development, and vendor performance evaluation. Effective contract management ensures service quality and cost control.

Lesson 2 • Capital Planning and Budgeting

Explains multi-year capital planning, budget justification, and prioritization methods. Students produce defensible capital plans aligned with organizational financial cycles.

Lesson 3 • Risk Management and Business Continuity

Identifies HVAC-related risks, redundancy strategies, and emergency response planning. Proactive risk management protects critical operations from HVAC system failures.

Lesson 4 • Asset Lifecycle Management

Covers equipment lifecycle stages, condition assessment, and replacement decision frameworks. Lifecycle thinking maximizes asset value and prevents reactive capital spending.