Professional Certificate of Competency in Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning

The course is composed of 12 modules, covering topics such as understanding and applying the psychometric chart, designing for good air quality, performing basic load calculations, and initiating an effective inspection and maintenance program.

Module 1: Introduction to HVAC

• Principles of thermodynamics
• Pressure and temperature relationship
• Fundamentals of heat transfer
• Fundamentals of fluid flow

Module 2: Psychrometry

• Introduction to psychrometry
• The properties of air
• Understanding the psychrometric charts

Module 3: Requirements of Comfort Air Conditioning

• Air purification methods
• Thermodynamics of the human body
• Role of clothing
• Comfort and comfort chart
• Design considerations
• Requirements of temperature and humidity-high heat load industries
• Recommended inside design conditions
• Outside summer design conditions for some foreign cities
• Indoor Air Quality
• Design of ventilation systems

Module 4: Heating and Cooling Load Calculation Procedure

• Design considerations
• Internal Sensible and Latent Heat Load components
• Design condition – indoor & outdoor conditions
• External Load components
• Miscellaneous heat sources
• Fresh air load

Module 5: HVAC Systems

• Heating systems
• Hot water heating system
• Steam heating systems
• Electric heating systems
• Air-conditioning systems: General
• Air handling units
• Functional variations in the design
• Capacity calculation of an air handling unit

Module 6 – Variable Air Volume (Vav) Systems

• System concept
• Different VAV systems

Module 7 – Duct Design, Air Flow and Its Distribution

• Airflow and pressure losses
• Duct design
• Air distribution system inside space
• Ventilation systems

Module 8 – Insulation of air-conditioning systems and air conditioning equipment

• Desired properties of an ideal insulating material
• Factors affecting thermal conductivity
• Types of insulation materials
• Insulated systems
• Importance of relative humidity for the selection of insulation
• Air-conditioning equipment
• Air filters
• Humidifiers
• Dehumidifiers
• Fans and blowers

Module 9 – Refrigeration

• Methods of refrigeration
• Air refrigeration system
• Vapour compression refrigeration system
• Absorption refrigeration system
• Important refrigerants
• Refrigeration equipment

Module 10 – Controls and Instrumentation

• Elements of control
• Types of control system
• Typical control systems

Module 11 – Installation, Commissioning, Operation, Testing and Maintenance

• Installation
• Charging the refrigeration unit
• Adding oil to the compressor
• Commissioning
• Other service operations
• Maintenance

Module 12 – Fault Finding and Troubleshooting and Greenhouse Effect and Future Refrigerants

• Troubleshooting
• The greenhouse effect
• History of CFCs
• Ozone depletion by CFCs and the greenhouse effect
• Future refrigerants to replace CFCs

To obtain a certificate of completion for EIT’s Professional Certificate of Competency, students must achieve a 65% attendance rate at the live, online fortnightly webinars.  Detailed summaries/notes can be submitted in lieu of attendance.  In addition, students must obtain a mark of 60% in the set assignments which could take the form of written assignments and practical assignments. Students must also obtain a mark of 100% in quizzes.  If a student does not achieve the required score, they will be given an opportunity to resubmit the assignment to obtain the required score.

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John Brussen has over 25 years of experience as a mechanical engineer with a strong technical background in pressure and pump equipment.

Learn about our instructors.

You are expected to spend approximately 5-8 hours per week learning the course content. This includes attending fortnightly webinars that run for about 90 minutes to facilitate class discussion and allow you to ask questions. This program has a 65% attendance requirement in the live webinars in order to graduate from the program.  If you are unable to attend the live webinars, you have the option of watching the recording of completed webinars and sending a summary of what you have learnt from the webinar to the Learning Support officer.  The summaries go towards your attendance requirement for the program.

This program is run online on an intensive part-time basis and has been designed to fit around full-time work. It will take three months to complete.

We understand that sometimes work commitments and personal circumstances can get in the way of your studies, so if at any point you feel that you are struggling with the pace of the course or finding a particular module challenging, you are encouraged to contact your designated Learning Support Officer for assistance.

Registrations are open for our upcoming intakes. Please ensure you book your place at least one week before the start date of the program.