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Large Building Airtightness Testing Training VANCOUVER, BC – OCT 2025
This in-person course combines hands-on learning with technical guidance to empower field testers and designers to perform airtightness testing with confidence and accuracy.
October 15, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm PDT
Welcome to Large Building Airtightness Testing Training
This in-person training course provides airtightness field testers and designers with the knowledge and practical skills required to plan, execute, and report on large building airtightness tests in compliance with high-performance building standards and codes.
Participants will gain expertise in test standards, site preparation, equipment operation and maintenance, data analysis, and reporting practices. The program is designed to address critical knowledge and capacity gaps in the Canadian building sector, enabling professionals to improve verification processes and ensure buildings meet stringent energy and performance targets.
Developed with support from Natural Resources Canada’s Codes Acceleration Fund, this course combines hands-on learning with technical guidance to empower field testers and designers to perform airtightness testing with confidence and accuracy.
Day 1: Wednesday October 15, 2025 from 9:00am to 5:00pm PST
Day 2: Thursday October 16, 2025 from 9:00am to 5:00pm PST
Day 3: Friday October 17, 2025 from 9:00am to 1:00pm PST
Location: SIGA Vancouver – 85 Glacier St Unit 5, Coquitlam, BC V3K 5Z1
*If you are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms please refrain from joining us in person and contact [email protected] to go over your course deferment options.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand Standards and Codes — Explain the importance of airtightness in high-performance buildings and identify relevant codes and testing standards for large buildings.
- Plan and Prepare for Testing — Develop testing plans, coordinate with project teams, and prepare buildings for airtightness testing in compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Set Up and Operate Equipment — Safely and accurately set up blower doors and other testing equipment for large-scale applications.
- Conduct and Validate Tests — Perform airtightness tests, troubleshoot issues, and ensure test integrity during execution.
- Analyze and Report Results — Calculate leakage rates, interpret results, and produce compliant documentation to verify building performance and support code compliance.
- Integrate Lessons Learned into Practice — Apply testing outcomes to improve design approaches, construction practices, and overall building performance.
Recommended for
This course is designed for professionals involved in planning, executing, and verifying airtightness testing in large buildings, including:
- Airtightness Field Testers — Individuals responsible for conducting on-site blower door testing, equipment setup, troubleshooting, and data collection.
- Designers and Consultants — Building professionals who integrate airtightness strategies into design, oversee testing plans, and interpret results to ensure compliance with codes and performance standards.
- Energy Advisors and Modelers — Those who require accurate airtightness data to support energy modeling, certification, and code compliance documentation.
- Builders, Contractors, and Site Supervisors — Construction professionals seeking to better understand airtightness testing requirements, site preparation, and how results impact building performance.
- Building Officials and Code Inspectors — Authorities reviewing airtightness test reports to verify compliance with high-performance building standards.
By addressing critical capacity gaps in the Canadian building sector, this training is ideal for professionals who want to confidently meet and exceed airtightness testing requirements for large buildings.
Prerequisites
1 hour self-paced Large Building Airtightness Testing Introduction Course
Course Instructors
The instructors for this course will be:
Mark Bernhardt – Mark is the President of Bernhardt Contracting Ltd., a licensed builder based in Victoria, BC. In 2012, Bernhardt Contracting built the first Certified Passive House on Vancouver Island, and has since gone on to build or consult on dozens more. In 2019 Bernhardt Contracting also completed the Green Point Project, which aims to be one of the first full pedal Living Building Challenge / Net Positive / Certified Passive Houses in the world.
Mark is also a Certified Energy Advisor and Passive House Consultant, and over the past few years has spent much of his time helping other builders gear up for Step Code and higher performance buildings. He serves on several provincial code committees and chairs the CHBA BC Step Code Task force.
Riley Beise, P.Eng., BEMP – Riley is a Professional Engineer registered in BC, Alberta, and Ontario, and an ASHRAE Building Energy Modeling Professional with over 15 years of experience in building performance simulation. He has modeled complex building types for various standards and programs and now manages the new construction work at Focal Engineering. In addition to direct project work, Riley has contributed to the building performance community by contributing to guidelines, standards and training. Of note, he is a primary author of the City of Vancouver Energy Modelling Guidelines v3, which includes guidance on airtightness for energy modelling. Through work on Step Code, NECB and Toronto Green Standard projects, Riley has worked on over 50 projects that have had whole building airtightness testing.
Course Fee
$998.00
Professional Development
Total number of learning hours: 4 (based on attendance of live course)
ALBNL: 4 Core Learning Hours (based on attendance of live course)
AANB: 4 Core Learning Hours (based on attendance of live course)
NSAA: 4 Core Learning Hours (based on attendance of live course)
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Important: please read our refund policy, available in our Course and Exam FAQs page.
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1-778-265-2744
[email protected]
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