BPI AC/Heat Pump study guide
BPI AC/Heat Pump · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The BPI AC / Heat Pump credential is one of the certifications listed in the Building Performance Institute's public certifications directory on bpi.org, alongside entries such as Building Analyst Technician, Energy Auditor, Quality Control Inspector, and Heating Professional. BPI describes its mission as advancing the home performance industry through nationally recognized standards and credentials intended to ensure homes are comfortable, healthy, safe, durable, and energy efficient, and it presents its credentials as a symbol of excellence for home performance professionals. That listing is essentially all the currently retrievable source material establishes: the detailed program page at the ac-heat-pump-professional address returned a 404 error when retrieved, so specifics such as question counts, time limits, passing scores, fees, retake rules, and validity periods are not confirmed here and are marked for review rather than estimated. The credential is aimed at technicians and contractors who install, commission, and service residential air conditioning and heat pump systems and who need to demonstrate competence in airflow, refrigerant charging, sizing, and verification work. The BPI AC/Heat Pump study guide has 5 sections and about 1,107 words.
01Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Fundamentals
A candidate must be fluent in the refrigeration cycle: compression, condensation, metering, evaporation, and the return of superheated vapor to the compressor. Understand pressure–temperature relationships, superheat and subcooling, latent versus sensible heat, and the difference between a heat pump in heating and cooling modes, including the reversing valve and defrost.
228 words, about 1 min02System Design and Sizing
Understand manual load calculations, equipment sizing, duct design, and refrigerant line sizing. Know how building envelope, orientation, occupancy, and internal gains affect load.
235 words, about 1 min03Installation and Commissioning
Candidates must know proper installation practices: equipment placement, clearances, line sets, brazing with nitrogen purge, evacuation, leak testing, and charging. Understand evacuation to 500 microns, holding a vacuum, and triple evacuation.
227 words, about 1 min04Diagnostics, Testing, and Verification
Diagnostics require systematic measurement: pressures, temperatures, superheat, subcooling, amp draw, voltage, and airflow. Understand how to interpret temperature split (return minus supply air), delta T, and static pressure.
214 words, about 1 min05Customer Service, Safety, and Documentation
This domain blends professionalism with technical safety. Understand refrigerant safety-ASRAE classifications, PPE, ventilation, and safe handling of A2L refrigerants.
203 words, about 1 min