This past fall, BCIT hosted a national first. This past month – February – the Institute got to repeat the successful program.
The first Passive House Tradesperson Course in Canada was held at BCIT’s Burnaby Campus from Oct 31-Nov 3, 2015. This inspiring event was delivered to 15 people from across British Columbia through a collaboration between the western division of the Canadian Passive House Institute, also known as CanPhi West, and the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment.
The second intake ran from February 10 to 14. With 22 students from across Canada, including from as far away as Prince Edward Island, it was oversubscribed.
Passive House technology is based on a combination of extremely high performance building components and energy efficient design and construction technology principals. With passive house principals rooted in Canadian building science and further developed in Europe over the last twenty years, a new level of sustainable building performance is now achievable.
In the words of the Passive House Institute:
“This course is aimed at all building professionals, contractors, engineers, builders, advanced trades students and others who are motivated to learn how to build to the world’s most advanced and ecological construction standard – the Passive House Standard. This comprehensive trades course is designed to enable you to understand Passive House building techniques and helps prepare you to pass the International Passive House Trades Exam. The learning emphasis is based on a combination of Passive Building theory and hands on building exposure. The course incorporates actual building of Passive House details relevant to the Canadian Construction Industry.”
The lead instructor for the first course offering was Kevin Brennan (Passive House Academy, New York/Ireland) assisted by Sandra Rohler (registered Architect in Germany and Joiner, and Certified Passive House Designer and Tradesperson) and Marcel Studer (local Passive House builder, Certified Passive House Tradesperson and architectural graduate from Switzerland).
The second course was co-taught by Ms. Rohler and Mr. Studer. Several instructors from BCIT’s Architectural Science, Architectural and Building Technology, Construction Management, and Trades Discovery programs have enrolled in the courses with educational coordination assistance provided by faculty in Architectural and Building Technology. Other students comprise a diverse group ranging from local carpenter/builders, building science consultants, and construction managers.
“I am very pleased to see the School’s investments in providing hands-on-learning for high performance buildings at the forefront of passive house tradesperson training in Canada,” says Wayne Hand, Dean of the School of Construction and the Environment.
The Associate Dean of the school, Jennie Moore, is also enthusiastic. “Interest in advancing the state of practice in building performance is growing and BCIT will continue to offer future passive house trades training courses,” Moore says.
This article comes from Janet Snell, Faculty, Architectural & Building Technology program and Jennie Moore, Associate Dean, Building Design and Construction Technology.