BPI BA-T case studies
BPI BA-T · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) is one of the certifications listed by the Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI), a non-profit that describes its mission as advancing the home performance industry through nationally recognized standards and credentials that ensure homes are comfortable, healthy, safe, durable, and energy efficient. The BPI BA-T case studies are 5 cases and about 2,278 words.
1Cold Attic, Wet Sheathing: Diagnosing a Winter Condensation Complaint
A two-story 1960s house in a cold climate (design temperature 0°F, 4,300 heating degree days) has a vented attic with R-19 fiberglass batts between 2x8 ceiling joists and a continuous soffit-to-ridge vent path. The homeowner reports frost on the underside of roof sheathing in January and water stains on second-floor ceiling drywall near the exterior walls.
485 words, about 2 min2Wall Assembly Assessment: Reconciling Infrared, Moisture Meter, and Visual Findings
During a pre-renovation assessment of a 1920s brick-veneer house, an assessor uses an infrared camera on a cold, windy day (outdoor 28°F, indoor 70°F, 18 mph wind). The camera shows a broad cool band along the interior of the north wall at mid-height and a distinctly colder patch beneath a first-floor window.
475 words, about 2 min3Blower Door and Duct Leakage Testing in a Tight Multifamily Unit
An assessor tests a 900 ft² apartment on the third floor of a four-story building. A blower door with a single 4-inch ring is set up; the gauge reports 3,150 cfm50, which is 3.5 air changes per hour at 50 Pa.
455 words, about 2 min4Documenting a Mold Finding: Scope, Language, and Liability
An assessor inspects a basement after a sump pump failure. Visible dark growth covers about 30 ft² of drywall at the base of a finished wall, with a musty odor and a moisture meter reading of 28% in the drywall and 22% in the wood base plate.
443 words, about 2 min5Prioritizing Retrofit Measures Under a Fixed Budget
A nonprofit owns a 1,600 ft² single-story house with a vented crawlspace, R-11 floor insulation that is falling down, a 20-year-old 80% AFUE furnace, single-pane windows, and a blower door result of 5,600 cfm50 (about 9 ACH50). Crawlspace RH is 78% and joists show staining; the floor above is cold in winter.
420 words, about 2 min