[Bldg-sim] ASHRAE BEMP Exam - Study Group ?

Bishop, Bill wbishop at pathfinder-ea.com
Mon Apr 5 06:05:06 PDT 2010


Paul,
 
I do not remember there being any ASHRAE-specific questions on the exam.
It was oriented much more toward principles of building physics and
modeling. General knowledge of HVAC system types and control strategies
will be helpful, but you don't have to be an HVAC designer to pass. If
you're going to read any of the ASHRAE Fundamentals, I'd look at Chapter
19 - Energy Estimating and Modeling Methods. Several of the sections in
the chapter cover items listed in the Detailed Content Outline provided
by ASHRAE. (Warning: with apologies to the authors, Ch. 19 is very
technical and will put you to sleep trying to read it.) Also, there were
no software-specific questions, so I wouldn't be too concerned if your
references are starting to get old. One of the things I read was
"Guidelines for Energy Simulation of Commercial Buildings", from 1992,
and available here:
http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?query_id=0&page=0
&osti_id=5291948
 
I didn't have access to AM11 so I can't compare.
 
Regards,
Bill
 
William Bishop, EIT, BEMP, LEED(r) AP | Pathfinder Engineers &
Architects LLP
Mechanical Engineer
 
134 South Fitzhugh Street
Rochester, NY 14608
T: (585) 325-6004 Ext. 114
F: (585) 325-6005
wbishop at pathfinder-ea.com
www.pathfinder-ea.com
P Please strive to live sustainably.
________________________________

From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Paul Carey
Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2010 10:01 AM
To: 'mike barker'; 'Brian A. Turner'; bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] ASHRAE BEMP Exam - Study Group ?
 
Mike, et al
 
Yes, I'd join in on this study group, so please do set it up.  I'd join
it for sure and you'd probably have at least 3 or 4 other members from
ZED too.
 
Like you , we at ZED-UK believe that this assessment is going to be a
good way to stand out from the crowd. 
 
My only slight concern is whether this is going to just be a matter of
learning ASHRAE 90.1 etc inside out and then being tested on that or is
it going to be a more in depth look at whether you know what the
principles of building physics are? 
 
Can anyone give me a clue on this?
 
I have taught Building Physics and Computational Modelling both within
academia and as a trainer for commercial software providers.  I try and
teach some principles even within my short 3 day software courses as
it's imperative to do so, in order that people can get a grasp of why
you do certain things in models, particularly in a low energy passive
naturally ventilated building.  This sort of work seems to me to be
partly contrary to ASHRAE regulations require and so I'm just wondering
if my slightly lesser knowledge of exact types of systems will be a
hindrance.  I know the fundamentals and general elements of most systems
having served my apprenticeship as a BMS controls engineer, but I am not
a complex system mechanical HVAC designer.  I am a physicist after all,
that's what my PhD is in.
 
The AM11 book, in my view although getting quite old now, is a really
good guide in how to scope and carry out a simulation study.  It is
however quite a bit out of date, particularly when you look at the tools
it has used.  We've suggested a re-write to CIBSE a few times and I
think it will happen at some point, but I think it's going to take a
while.
 
Cheers
Paul
 
 
 
 
 
Dr Paul Carey
BSc (Hons) PhD FRSA
Director
Low Carbon Energy Assessor
 
Zero Energy Design Ltd
10A Portland Place
2-22 Mottram Road
Stalybridge
SK15 3AD
 
T:  0161 3386200
F:  0161 3031281
M: 0789 4098012
E:  paul at zed-uk.com
W:  www.zed-uk.com <http://www.zed-uk.com/> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of mike barker
Sent: 03 April 2010 06:40
To: 'Brian A. Turner'; bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] ASHRAE BEMP Exam - Study Group ?
 
Brian,
 
There is talk of ASHRAE running a training course soon ? 
 
And well done to Dave, you must be one of the very few ASHRAE BEMP's
about !
 
Are there any people out there interested in forming a study group ?  We
have ASHRAE and IBPSA Forums on www.linkedin.com
<http://www.linkedin.com/>  that would provide a home and allow all us
to gather and share study material.  
 
ASHRAE Fundamental seems to be a good starting point, but which chapters
?  The 90.1 User Manual is the cornerstone ?  The books by Muneer and
Moss are definatelly required reading anyway, but the Stein / Reynolds
book is a slab of a book and may only help non-US people get up to speed
with US terminology. 
 
I don't have any of the CIBSA material yet - how useful is the
Applications Manual AM11: 1998, Building energy and environmental
modeling ?  It seems a little long in the teeth ?
 
The ASHRAE Standards are required for any LEED work anyway
 
For those of us outside the US, the ASHRAE BEMP and HBDP exams are an
important opportunity to stand out in a world of "dabblers", and
probably the only way to benchmark yourself against the international
community.
 
   Thanks,
       Mike Barker
             BuildingPhysics, South Africa - Countdown to FIFA World Cup
.... +/- 70 days !
       mike at buildingphysics.co.za
       skype  mike.barker.mba
 
________________________________

From: David S Eldridge [mailto:DSE at grummanbutkus.com] 
Sent: 02 April 2010 05:54 PM
To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] ASHRAE BEMP Exam
 
Very rigorous!  The guidebook is not joking about requiring two years of
experience on modeling projects as an eligibility to take the exam.
 
The Detailed Content Outline in the guidebook should give you an
excellent idea of the topics.
 
 

 
David S. Eldridge, Jr., P.E., LEED AP BD+C, BEMP, HBDP
Project Manager
 
Direct: (847) 316-9224 | Fax: (847) 328-4550
http://www.grummanbutkus.com
 
Grumman/Butkus Associates | 820 Davis Street, Suite 300 | Evanston, IL
60201
Energy Efficiency Consultants and Sustainable Design Engineers
 

 
From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Brian A.
Turner
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 9:23 AM
To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: [Bldg-sim] ASHRAE BEMP Exam
 
I am interested in sitting for the ASHRAE Building Energy Modeling
Professional certification exam and am looking for feedback from anyone
that has taken the exam.  Any advice on exam prep, etc. would be
appreciated.  I've already checked out the info on ashrae.org; the
sample exam questions are limited so it is tough to get a feel for the
overall exam content and rigor.
 
Thanks in advance,
Brian
 
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