BPI BSP study guide
BPI BSP · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The BPI Building Science Principles (BSP) certificate is an entry-level credential from the Building Performance Institute, a non-profit that advances the home performance industry by developing industry standards and credentials in collaboration with leading experts. BPI lists Building Science Principles among its certificates, distinct from its professional certifications such as Building Analyst Technician, Energy Auditor, and Quality Control Inspector. The BPI BSP study guide has 5 sections and about 1,705 words.
01Building Science Fundamentals and the House as a System
BPI's core premise is that a house is an interconnected system: the building enclosure (roof, walls, foundation, windows), the mechanical systems (heating, cooling, ventilation, water heating, ducts), and the occupants (behavior, moisture and pollutant generation) all influence one another. A change to any one produces pressure, thermal, and moisture consequences elsewhere.
351 words, about 2 min02Heat, Air, and Moisture Flow
Conduction through solids, convection by moving air or water, and radiation across air spaces and from warm surfaces. R-value measures resistance to conductive flow (higher is better).
357 words, about 2 min03Building Enclosure, Insulation, and Air Sealing
Every assembly should manage four things, in rough order of consequence: bulk water (drainage and flashing), air, vapor, and heat. Roofs, walls, and foundations each need a water control layer, a continuous air barrier, a vapor retarder appropriate to the climate, and insulation.
316 words, about 2 min04Heating, Cooling, Ventilation, and Water Heating Systems
Equipment is sized by a load calculation, ducts by a duct design method, and equipment selected to match the load. Oversizing is the most common defect: short cycling, poor latent (humidity) control, noisy ducts, and shorter equipment life.
337 words, about 2 min05Health, Safety, and Indoor Environmental Quality
Any naturally drafting appliance - atmospheric water heater, furnace, oven, fireplace - is at risk when the combustion appliance zone is depressurized. Test worst-case depressurization with interior doors closed and all exhaust fans running; a common limit is about -5 Pa in the zone for Category I appliances, with tighter limits used by some programs, so know the standard you are tested to.
344 words, about 2 min