Mechanical Systems

Calculate and analyze heating, cooling and ventilation loads in commercial, institutional and residential buildings. Topics include use of climatic data, comfort conditions, ASHRAE criteria standards, and methods of determining heat loss and heat gains. Computer-aided techniques for determining loads will be introduced.
Prerequisite(s):

• Familiarity with MS Excel and AutoCAD.

This course covers the principles of building construction encompassing the study of materials, processes and construction techniques involving wood frame and masonry concrete from footing, foundations, walls, floors to ceilings and roofs of which the functional construction design problems and presentation techniques are presented. Autodesk Revit Architecture is introduced to develop a building model illustrating how the building components integrate and interact.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

An introduction to air-conditioning systems, covering fundamentals, selection and applications of air handling units and air distribution systems of which the design and sizing include selecting terminal units, applying equal friction method to ductwork, applying fan laws to fans, and applying constant air volume (CAV) and variable air volume (VAV) principles to single-zone as well as multi-zone control.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in MSYS 2020

An introduction to hydronic heating systems, covering fundamentals and applications of boilers, controls, venting, combustion, fuel costs estimating, piping strategies and sizing, pump sizing and selection, valve sizing and selection, and selection of heat emitters. An overview on radiant floor heating design and other alternate systems based on renewable energy sources, such as solar and geothermal are included.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in MSYS 2020

Covers fundamentals and applications of plumbing systems, which include potable water, storm water drainage, sanitary drainage and venting systems in buildings. Topics include the use of BC Plumbing Codes to size pipes for plumbing systems, and selection of materials and components. Examples of design and development of plumbing system layouts for buildings will be reviewed. Completion of MSYS 2050 is recommended prior to taking this course.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Students apply what they have learned in various Mechanical Systems courses to a mechanical design to demonstrate their proficiency as a mechanical systems designer. The project is produced to industry standards and specifications under the guidance of a sponsoring company and a faculty member. To be taken on completion of all other credits in the Program.
Prerequisite(s):

• Completion of all other credits in the Associate Certificate in Mechanical Systems.

Revit for MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) uses 3D parametric models for both design and construction documentation. This course introduces the basic HVAC, electrical and plumbing components of the software. Architectural models are linked. The expectation is that students have current training/experience with Computer Aided Design. Students should also have exposure to building systems.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​This communication course teaches practical business communication techniques for planning, organizing, selecting, writing, and presenting information in business or industry. It covers routine memos, letters, request and reply letters, and oral presentations. NOTE: COMM 1103 is equivalent to COMM 1106. Although COMM 1106 may not be included on the program course list or program matrix, students may choose either COMM 1106 or COMM 1103 for their program. Students do not need to take COMM 1103 if they take COMM 1106. Students do not need to submit transcripts for entrance to this course. BUT, in the case of formal or informal grade appeals or reviews they will be asked to show proof of their English requirements. Students who wish to confirm their English level are strongly advised to take COMM 0015.​ Students scoring below "C+" in English Studies 12 are encouraged to take COMM 1106 instead of COMM 1103.​
Prerequisite(s):

• English Studies 12 "67%" (C+) or equivalent (ie: COMM 0015 "70+" or IELTS Academic 6.5, etc.)

This course is concerned with the topics of energy, foundations of Renewable Energy Systems (RES), different types of RES, their systems design and applications for buildings as well as stand-alone systems. The concept of net-zero building and options will be discussed. Introduction to design methods and cost analysis, Payback time will be discussed for solar thermal, PV, geothermal and small wind power systems.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of sprinkler and standpipe design in fire protection, with a focus on the application of the British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The course covers an overview of the different types of fire sprinkler and standpipe systems and their basic components. Students will learn how to select materials and components according to the NFPA 13 standard. The course also provides students with an understanding of the hydraulics for automatic sprinkler systems, including how to perform manual hydraulic demand calculations in accordance with the NFPA 13 standard.​ Completion of MSYS 2050 is recommended prior to taking this course.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Building upon the foundational knowledge and skills acquired in Sprinkler Design 1, this course delves deeper into the sprinkler and standpipe design. The course continues to focus on the application of NFPA standards for design and installation of sprinkler systems, while students will explore more advanced topics related to sprinkler design. The course will cover the selection and design of fire pumps and hydraulic calculations for high-rise buildings. Special situations in sprinkler design will also be explored, including hazardous materials and processes, occupancy-specific considerations, and protection for unique spaces. Students will also learn design requirements for buildings containing high storage, including the different types of high storage and the design considerations for these systems. Project administration will be covered in detail, with an emphasis on project planning, management, and documentation. In addition, the course will also introduce students to computer-aided calculations for designing and analyzing sprinkler and standpipe systems, providing them with the necessary skills to leverage their understanding of the sprinkler design.​
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in MSYS 3070

This course is the first of a three part microcredential that prepares the building industry working professional to become a professional energy modeller. The learner will receive knowledge on how to build an energy model and run a simulation up to current industry standards. They will also learn how to obtain model inputs that appropriately represent the building design at various stages of the building design process. From those inputs, the learner will build an energy model from scratch, run an annual simulation, and analyze the results. With their model, they will also perform an energy efficiency and greenhouse (GHG) gas reduction study. Finally, they will present their analysis and results to their “client" in a report.​ Throughout the course skills will be assessed in assignments and examinations. Successful candidates will be awarded with an XBEM badge, from which they can ladder up into the full microcredential.
Prerequisite(s):

• A diploma or degree in science, technology, engineering, or equivalent, or department approval. To be successful in this microcredential we recommend you have knowledge in the basics of heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics.

Representing mechanical, electrical and control systems in a whole building energy model, and simulating the dynamics of the building and systems over the course of a representative year of operations and weather, is a complex task. Building on the knowledge of modelling and simulating a whole building with simple systems (XBEM 3050 or equivalent experience), this course focuses on the representation of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems of the complexity relevant to real-world projects. In practice, buildings which require detailed energy models are typically large, complex, or both, with different zones using different systems. Delivering fresh air and space conditioning efficiently, meeting recent, high-performance codes, standards and certifications, relies on modern, well designed building systems. Modelling these appropriately, following the required level of accuracy – not too detailed but resolving all relevant features – is critical for a professional energy modeller. This course will show how common systems are modelled and will also equip the learner with the information on how to model new systems they might encounter.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in XBEM 3050
• Or departmental approval of equivalent experience

This course represents the concluding project for the microcredential in Building Energy Modelling and Simulation. Learners will apply the knowledge of whole building energy modelling and simulation they acquired in the instructional courses. This project will be at the equivalent level of complexity as a real-world industry project. Mentoring and guidance will be provided by an industry expert faculty member with current, relevant industry project experience. This project course provides learners with experience comparable to industry experience in the field, starting with problem definition, methodology, energy modelling and simulation of design options, development of a proposed design, and justification of the recommendation. This will be summarized in an industry-style report. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in XBEM 3052
• Or departmental approval of equivalent experience