Ventilation for High Performance Commercial Buildings - Calgary

This masterclass course will explore the development of ventilation systems for high performance buildings, such as Passive House, NZE and other very energy efficient projects. With very tight and well insulated structures, the HVAC energy becomes an increasingly important element in both energy efficiency and Indoor Air Quality and health. We will explore what makes an HRV or ERV efficient, and how efficiency matters. 

We will also discuss the impact that utilizing high efficiency DOAS systems can have on IAQ and health of building occupants. Current IAQ studies and impacts will be covered, as well as the direction that codes and standards are heading with regards to ventilation in residential and commercial buildings.

Topics covered include:

1. Overview of high performance buildings
2. Why ventilation is important
3. Developing commercial ventilation code requirements across North America
   • Washington State Code 1 July 2018
   • Canadian code proposal for 2017
4. How much ventilation is needed?
   • ASHRAE 62.1 & IMC
   • Passive House
   • Health related ventilation studies
5. Traditional ventilation methods 
   • RTUs with OA intakes
   • Direct vent exhaust
6. DOAS Systems – The High Performance Method
7. Components of High Efficiency H/ERV
8. HRV or ERV ?
9. Why efficiency matters
   • Energy savings
     • Heat recovery efficiency
     • Fan power usage
   • Supply temperature / comfort
10. Different testing protocols 
    • AHRI
    • Passive House
11. Controls strategies
    • CAV
    • DCV
    • VAV
12. Ductwork design
    • Duct sizing
    • Fitting selection & consequences
    • Air sealing 
    • Fire dampers/code related
    • Acoustics
13. Systems designs
    • Office buildings
    • Schools
    • Multi-family
    • Retail
14. RTU Replacement Strategy
    • Case Studies – NEEA 
15. Government & Utility incentives

Course Instructors:

Barry Stephens

Barry Stephens joined Ventacity, a startup manufacturer of very high performance HRVs and ERVs, in March 2016. Prior to joining Ventacity he was the Business Development & Technology Director at Zehnder America, Inc.  Zehnder is a global leader in manufacturing heat recovery ventilation systems based in Granichen, Switzerland. He led the introduction of Zehnder systems in North America, and was involved with design, installation and commissioning of these systems in projects across North America. These included many cutting edge projects, including Solar Decathlon teams, NZE homes, Passive House buildings and other very high performance structures. He has presented at conferences across North America since 2010.

Aubrey Gewehr, P.E., CPHC, LEED AP

Aubrey Gewehr has been a technical sales engineer with Ventacity Systems since June 2016. Prior to joining Ventacity, Aubrey was the engineering manager for Zehnder America, a global leader in heat recovery ventilation systems.  In this position he was responsible for multi-family and commercial projects, technical support, and systems integration.  Previously Aubrey was a consulting HVAC and plumbing engineer.  He was awarded a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and is a licensed mechanical engineer.  He holds Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) and LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) certifications and is a long standing member of ASHRAE.

This course has been approved for 4 PHI Credit Points towards CPHC/D certification renewal.