CCPIA’s Inspecting Commercial HVAC Systems Course teaches the student how to perform a commercial HVAC evaluation. In this online course, the student will learn about different HVAC systems and components, as well as designs and critical safety practices. The student will receive a Certificate of Completion after completing a series of HVAC training modules and an inspection video.
HVAC Online Course Overview
The first section of this online course teaches the student about commercial HVAC equipment inspections and commercial HVAC inspection reports. The student will learn the approach, scope, and procedures for this portion of a commercial property inspection. The approach provides the inspector with a micro and macro overview for analyzing systems in commercial buildings. The scope and procedures are taken from Sections 6.5.5, Heating and Ventilation and 6.5.6 Cooling of the International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties (ComSOP). This section also reviews the common reasons that HVAC equipment fails, including interpreting maintenance and the life expectancy of systems, and the tools the inspector should use.
Understanding these details is necessary for applying technical knowledge about commercial HVAC systems and components to performing inspections and writing reports. Technical aspects are covered in the subsequent sections through a series of HVAC training modules and inspection videos.
Combustion Air, Venting, and Equipment Locations
The course progresses to a review of the common fuel systems in commercial buildings, and shows how to assess the gas meter, distribution system, and venting system. The student will learn how gas meters and the distribution system differ in residential and commercial buildings due to the nature of multiple occupancies and tenants, and the means for avoiding hazards, such as meter protection and piping color coding. Inspectors will be able to report on common components and defects related to gas meters and the distribution system, and related details for combustion air and flue and venting systems.
The student will also learn about HVAC equipment installation location in commercial buildings, and the essential access and safety considerations for commercial property inspections.
Heating and Cooling Inspection
The main sections in this course pertain to heating and cooling training for commercial property inspectors. The student will learn about commercial heating and cooling systems as a whole, including how they work, their related components, and common deficiencies. This information will enable the inspector to perform thorough commercial HVAC evaluations and effectively communicate their findings in their reports. The student will also learn how to read labels and data plates on equipment and use that information to accurately report an inventory of the systems present in a commercial building, and assess their condition.
The main pieces of equipment covered in the heating and cooling inspection portion of this HVAC online course include:
- forced-air furnaces;
- packaged units;
- hanging gas furnaces;
- infrared radiant tube heaters;
- boilers;
- electric baseboard heaters;
- waste oil systems;
- split systems (direct expansion);
- evaporative coolers;
- packaged cooling units;
- heat pumps; and
- mini-split heat pumps.
A commercial HVAC inspection checklist template is included for the equipment listed above.
Ventilation Inspection and Large Systems
The following sections in this course pertain to ventilation inspections and large systems in commercial buildings. The student will learn how ventilation systems work, their related components, and common deficiencies. It also teaches the student about the special ventilation needs of commercial buildings depending on various conditions, like their use and occupancy.
The main pieces of equipment covered in ventilation inspection portion of this online course include:
- air-handling units;
- variable air volume (VAV) boxes; and
- make-up air units.
A commercial HVAC inspection checklist template is included for the equipment listed above.
The course also covers larger cooling plants found on commercial properties. These are more advanced and complex systems. The student will learn how they work and how to approach this portion of the inspection, if present.
Printable HVAC Inspection Checklist Template
Commercial HVAC inspection checklists and commercial HVAC inspection forms are effective tools for learning how to inspect commercial HVAC systems. This course summarizes the sections and inspection procedures through the use of these tools. The documents in this course are made available as downloadable, printable PDFs.
Free Online HVAC Course with Certificate of Completion
This course is a free online commercial HVAC course with a Certificate of Completion available to the student who successfully completes the course. The course is free for members of CCPIA.
InterNACHI® offers free online residential HVAC courses (with a Certificate of Completion for the student who successfully completes the course) to InterNACHI® members. These courses include How to Inspect HVAC Systems (a recommended prerequisite), Advanced HVAC Training for Home Inspectors Course (optional), and Inspecting HVAC Energy Efficiency for Inspectors Course (also optional).
Additional Course Information
This is a self-paced, on-demand course. There are quizzes throughout, and the student is required to answer all quiz questions correctly before moving on to the next lesson. There is a final exam at the end of the course. The student will have an unlimited number of attempts but a time limit of two hours to complete the exam. Upon successful completion and passing the 100-question final exam, the student will be able to download a Certificate of Completion, which is auto-generated in their own name.
CCPIA’s Inspecting Commercial HVAC Systems Course is designed for commercial property inspectors, and students who have a background in home inspection, property or facilities management, as well as people in the commercial HVAC construction and service trades.