Ventilation Systems Course

Lesson 1 • Air Properties and Behavior

Covers temperature, humidity, density, and buoyancy as they drive air movement. Provides the physical foundation for all ventilation design decisions.

Lesson 2 • Indoor Air Quality Basics

Defines key pollutants, acceptable concentration limits, and ventilation's role in dilution. Sets the health and comfort context for all subsequent design work.

Lesson 3 • Ventilation System Classifications

Surveys natural, mechanical, and hybrid ventilation categories and their typical applications. Enables students to match system type to building use case.

Lesson 4 • Pressure Concepts in Ventilation

Explains static, dynamic, and total pressure and how pressure differentials drive airflow. Links pressure theory to fan selection and duct sizing.

Lesson 1 • Pressure Measurement Techniques

Covers inclined manometers, magnehelic gauges, and digital pressure meters for duct testing. Prepares students to map pressure profiles across ventilation networks.

Lesson 2 • Airflow Measurement Instruments

Introduces anemometers, pitot tubes, and flow hoods and their operating principles. Connects instrument choice to measurement accuracy requirements.

Lesson 3 • Measurement Planning and Protocols

Establishes systematic approaches to measurement point selection, sampling duration, and documentation. Ensures repeatable, defensible field data collection.

Lesson 4 • Interpreting and Reporting Results

Teaches calculation of average velocities, flow rates, and comparison against design values. Produces clear reports that support corrective action decisions.

Lesson 1 • Duct Sizing Methods

Teaches equal friction, velocity reduction, and static regain methods for sizing duct networks. Students select the appropriate method for each system type.

Lesson 2 • Duct Types and Materials

Compares sheet metal, flexible, and fibrous duct materials by friction, durability, and application. Guides material selection decisions in the design process.

Lesson 3 • Friction Loss Calculations

Applies the Darcy-Weisbach equation and friction charts to calculate duct pressure losses. Builds the quantitative skill base for duct sizing methods.

Lesson 4 • Duct Layout and Balancing

Covers trunk-and-branch and extended plenum layouts and introduces balancing damper placement. Connects layout decisions to system balance and energy efficiency.

Lesson 1 • Fan Laws and Speed Control

Uses affinity laws to predict performance changes with speed and density variations. Introduces variable-speed drives as an energy-saving control strategy.

Lesson 2 • Fan Performance Curves

Interprets pressure-volume, power, and efficiency curves to predict fan behavior. Links curve analysis to system curve intersection and operating point.

Lesson 3 • Fan Installation and Maintenance

Covers mounting, alignment, belt tensioning, and bearing inspection for reliable fan operation. Prevents common installation errors that degrade performance.

Lesson 4 • Fan Selection Criteria

Applies airflow, static pressure, noise, and space constraints to select appropriate fans. Ensures selected fans operate near peak efficiency.

Lesson 1 • Area-Based and Process Ventilation

Applies floor-area and contaminant-generation methods for spaces without fixed occupancy. Extends load calculation skills to industrial and commercial process areas.

Lesson 2 • Ventilation Effectiveness and Efficiency

Introduces air change effectiveness and ventilation efficiency metrics to evaluate distribution quality. Enables design optimization beyond minimum rate compliance.

Lesson 3 • Infiltration and Exfiltration Loads

Quantifies uncontrolled air leakage through the building envelope and its impact on ventilation loads. Integrates envelope tightness data into total load calculations.

Lesson 4 • Heat and Moisture Load Integration

Combines sensible and latent heat loads with ventilation airflow to size conditioning equipment. Bridges ventilation design with HVAC system sizing.

Lesson 1 • Supply Air Diffuser Types

Surveys ceiling, sidewall, linear, and displacement diffusers by throw pattern and application. Connects diffuser type to room air distribution effectiveness.

Lesson 2 • Room Air Distribution Patterns

Analyzes mixing, displacement, and underfloor distribution strategies for different occupancy types. Guides layout decisions to maximize comfort and contaminant removal.

Lesson 3 • Return and Exhaust Air Devices

Covers return grilles, transfer grilles, and exhaust registers and their placement principles. Ensures adequate return paths to prevent pressure imbalance.

Lesson 4 • Noise and Velocity Limits at Terminals

Sets velocity and noise criteria for terminal devices to prevent occupant discomfort. Integrates acoustic constraints into diffuser and grille selection.

Lesson 1 • Demand-Controlled Ventilation

Applies CO2-based and occupancy-sensor strategies to modulate outdoor air in real time. Reduces energy waste while maintaining acceptable indoor air quality.

Lesson 2 • Variable Air Volume Systems

Covers VAV box operation, static pressure reset, and minimum airflow setpoints for zone control. Connects VAV control to both comfort and ventilation adequacy.

Lesson 3 • Building Automation System Integration

Connects ventilation controllers to BAS platforms using standard communication protocols. Enables centralized monitoring, alarming, and trend logging.

Lesson 4 • Fault Detection and Diagnostics

Implements rule-based and data-driven fault detection to identify sensor drift and actuator failures. Reduces downtime and maintains ventilation compliance.

Lesson 1 • Fan and System Performance Verification

Measures total system airflow, fan speed, and motor power to confirm design operating point. Identifies system curve deviations requiring corrective action.

Lesson 2 • Test-and-Balance Report Preparation

Structures complete TAB reports with design values, measured values, and variance analysis. Delivers documentation that satisfies regulatory and owner requirements.

Lesson 3 • Pre-Balancing System Checks

Establishes inspection protocols for duct integrity, damper operation, and fan rotation before balancing begins. Prevents wasted effort caused by mechanical deficiencies.

Lesson 4 • Commissioning Process Overview

Defines commissioning phases from design review through post-occupancy verification. Positions testing and balancing within the broader quality assurance process.