MALTA, N.Y. — The Building Performance Institute Inc. (BPI) has announced the introduction of its Infiltration and Duct Leakage (IDL) certification, a task-oriented credential that verifies a candidate can successfully conduct air infiltration and duct leakage tests to the ASTM E1554-07 standard.
Sometimes referred to as duct and envelope tightness (DET) on the training side, earning the IDL certification is a way for HVAC contractors and technicians to gain the skills they need to offer duct leakage and blower door tests in compliance with the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for new home construction.
“The IDL certification fills a void in new home construction. New home builders now have an affordable alternative to traditional high-cost verification credentials for IECC compliance testing services,” said BPI CEO Larry Zarker. “Knowing they can depend on trained and certified professionals is an important benefit to building code officials, builders, and homeowners.”
BPI said the IDL certification comes at a critical time for code officials, builders, and subcontractors as they work to comply with IECC 2009 or 2012 codes that require blower door and duct leakage tests on new homes built. The IECC codes are designed to improve the quality of construction and energy efficiency of new housing stock. In September, the nation’s housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,017,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More than half of these new homes will require the blower door and duct leakage tests, as 32 states nationwide currently require compliance to either the 2009 or 2012 IECC.
To earn the certification, candidates must successfully pass a hands-on field exam with a score of 85 percent or higher; no written exam is required. Exams can be scheduled with a BPI Test Center, many of which offer or will soon offer IDL (or DET) training.
For more information on the IDL certification, click here.
Publication date: 11/10/2014
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