Advanced Combustion Testing

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Course Description

This course covers all the systems related to the combustion process in residential homes from the gas meter to the flue cap and everything in between. Students will learn about the most common combustion safety testing procedures for fuel-fired furnaces and water heaters. They will also learn about chimney design and operation, tuning the combustion process, setting gas pressure, combustion flue gas analysis, and proper testing methods and solutions for CAZ issues. Students will utilize combustion analyzers, gas detectors, and manometers to perform diagnostic testing.

Lessons include identification of systems and components, setup of test equipment, performing test procedures, evaluating results, and implementing remediation measures.

Course Objectives

Upon course completion, students will know how to:

Apply building science to combustion, combustion analysis, venting, and air movement.
Identify the common parts of combustion appliances and what they do.

Perform test-in and test-out procedures that include combustion appliance evaluation, worst-case depressurization tests, and combustion analysis.
Understand building codes related to combustion appliances including gas codes, venting, and combustion appliance zones.
Apply viable solutions to issues related to efficiency, venting, and combustion appliance zones

Organization of Course

This is a lecture-lab course. Lecture topics are presented in the classroom setting followed by hands-on practice in the lab. The class is appropriate for students who have had a basic introduction to weatherization training and are ready for advanced “hands-on” training. Student participation in discussions in the classroom and in the lab exercises is very important. This course has a written final exam and student participation is graded as pass/fail.

Grading Criteria and Passing Score

The final exam is a written test and each student must pass with an 70% score or higher. Students that do not pass will be allowed to retake the exam in accordance with the Montana Weatherization Training Center retesting policy.