Mechanical Systems Course

This course is designed to prepare students for the Mechanical Systems Exam provided by the Building Science Specialist Board in collaboration with the Building Science Association of Ontario, leading to the BSS designation.

We will explore the relationship between building envelopes and environmental control, focusing on sustainable building practices. The course covers topics such as thermal comfort, indoor air quality, heating and cooling systems, moisture regulation, air distribution and pressure dynamics, and energy consumption.

Dates

The course will be presented in advance of the Mechanical Systems exam offered by the Building Science Specialist Board scheduled for Friday, October 16, 2026. Course dates are as follows:

• Monday, August 17, 2026
• Monday, August 24, 2026
• Monday, August 31, 2026
• Monday, September 14, 2026
• Monday, September 21, 2026
• Monday, September 28, 2026

What You'll Learn

• Definition and Importance of Mechanical Systems in Buildings
• The Role of Mechanical Systems in Building Performance
• The Relationship Between HVAC and Building Science (Energy Efficiency, Sustainability)
• Common indoor air contaminants and their typical sources
• Outdoor air requirements, ventilation effectiveness, and MERV filter ratings
• Fundamentals of psychrometrics and moist air properties
• Using the psychrometric chart for HVAC analysis
• Enthalpy/humidity-ratio scale and sensible heat/total heat ratio (SHR/THR)
• Major heat gains/losses: occupants, equipment, lighting, solar, envelope conduction, air leakage (Air-change method (ACH) and the crack method)
• How thermal mass and enclosure quality shift the timing/magnitude of cooling loads
• Design days and why they are used for equipment sizing (not day-to-day operation)
• Calculation of heating and cooling loads (Peak heating and peak cooling loads)
• Major HVAC system types (All-air, air/water, and all-water)
• Basic heating/cooling capacity and efficiency metrics and relate them to system selection
• Why we create HVAC zones and introduce the idea of operative temperature as a comfort metric
• Bypass factors and their role in HVAC performance
• Fundamental thermodynamic properties in HVAC systems
• State properties of working fluids
• Thermodynamic cycles relevant to HVAC
• Residential vs. commercial HVAC design priorities, including zoning needs and automation expectations
• HVAC heat exchangers, heating and cooling equipment, operation of ACs and air-source heat pumps, control to performance