Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) study guide
Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Phius Certified Consultant (CPHC®) is one of the professional credentials listed by Phius, the organization behind the passive building standards described on its site. Phius groups its certifications into Projects, Products, and Professionals, and the CPHC sits alongside the Phius Certified Builder (CPHB), Phius Certified Rater, Phius Certified Verifier, and Phius Certified Trades Professional, with a separate Maintain Credentials page covering renewal. The Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) study guide has 5 sections and about 1,567 words.
01Passive Building Principles
This domain tests how a passive building behaves as a thermodynamic system: how heat, air, and moisture move; how solar and internal gains offset losses; and how comfort and load limits are set before equipment is selected. Expect conceptual questions plus simple calculations.
319 words, about 2 min02Building Enclosure Design
This domain tests the control-layer logic of walls, roofs, slabs, windows, and foundations: keeping water out, air sealed, vapor managed, and heat flow continuous. Exam items often ask which layer belongs where or what detail breaks a thermal bridge.
312 words, about 2 min03Whole-Building Energy Modeling (WUFI Passive)
This domain tests whether you can build a defensible WUFI Passive model: geometry, assemblies, thermal bridges, ventilation, gains, HVAC, and outputs that match Phius criteria. The exam emphasizes inputs and QA, not software button-clicking.
315 words, about 2 min04Mechanical Systems and Ventilation
This domain tests balanced ventilation, heat and energy recovery, distribution, space conditioning, and domestic hot water in a very low-load building. The exam favors design intent, commissioning, and control of moisture and pressure.
313 words, about 2 min05Phius Standards, Certification, and Quality Assurance
This domain tests how a project moves from design to certified passive building: which Phius standard applies, what limits must be met, what documentation is required, and how QA verifies the built result. Expect process questions and simple compliance checks.
308 words, about 2 min