Training qualified professionals is an essential prerequisite for successful Passive House construction. Training can be toward becoming a Certified Passive House Consultant or a Certified Tradesman. Specialized technical training is also available. Below is an outline of training options currently available.

Image: PHCA members tour the workshop at Wooden Window, Dec., 2011
Consultant Training Organizations and Programs

Passive House Institute (PHI)
The Passive House Institute has developed a core curriculum aimed at preparing trainees to become PHI Certified Passive House Consultants or Designers. In order to pass the qualifying exam, candidates must be knowledgeable of topics including:

Basic Passive House concepts
Passive House criteria
Principals of thermal insulation
Airtight building design and construction
Glazing system issues including thermal transfer mechanisms, solar heat gain, and installation thermal bridges
Basic ventilation concepts as well as issues related to mechanical and passive ventilation and system design.
Heat recovery systems
Heating systems
Summer comfort factors
Electrical energy concepts and requirements
Heat loss and energy use modelling using PHPP software
Cost efficiency
Construction documentation and coordination
Construction site management and quality assurance
Building systems operations
Energy efficient building retrofitting
Units of measurement and the different physical characteristics they represent, ie: work, power, temperature, heat.
Application of Passive House to non-residential building types.
Knowledge of the Passive House related literature
More specific information on the exam and exam topics is available through the PHI website.

The PHI recognizes training organizations internationally that deliver curriculum aimed at preparing candidates to become PHI Certified Passive House Consultants or Designers. Training organizations active in North America include:

Canadian Passive House Institute (CanPHI)
www.passivehouse.ca

PHA_logo

Passive House Academy
www.passivehouseacademy.com

A complete list of PHI recognized training organizations is listed on the PHI website.

Passive House Institute US (PHIUS)

The training program used by PHIUS is aimed at preparing to trainees to become North American Certified Passive House Consultants. Topics covered include:
Heat transfer
Airtight building design and construction
Thermal insulation
Heat loss and energy modelling using PHPP software
Mechanical systems
Heat recovery ventilation
Passive House construction
Passive House materials
Quality assurance
More information about North American Passive House Consultant training, including prerequisites, is available on the PHIUS website.
Specialized Training

THERM

THERM is a two-dimensional heat-transfer modeling software. For Passive House design, THERM is used for linear thermal bridge analysis. Tutorial videos are available on the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory website.

PHA Thermal Bridge Class, NY 2011
PHA Thermal Bridge Training, NY 2011

Training for Thermal Bridge Calculations is available from:
Passive House Academy
PHIUS

WUFI

WUFI is a family of softwares for modeling heat and moisture transfer through building enclosure systems. They are used as design and diagnostic tools for improving building energy performance and increasing resistance to moisture damage.

WUFI training is available from:

National Building Science Corporation
www.section08.com

PHIUS CPHC Training, Berkeley CA, 2009
See Calendar for listings of upcoming trainings available across the US.