PRESQUE ISLE — A series of residential construction trainings designed to educate residential building professionals on construction practices that minimize the risk of indoor air quality problems in new homes is coming to northern Maine.
Through a partnership between Northern Maine Community College and the S.W. Collins Co., three training courses developed by the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council will be offered at the Northern Maine Center for Excellence in Alternative Energy Education and Training on three consecutive Fridays beginning Dec. 2.
The programs have been updated to include references to the recent changes to the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code, so that northern Maine building professionals can understand how the concepts presented in each of the trainings is, or is not, addressed by the codes. In addition, through a grant from the Efficiency Maine Trust, the 2011 series includes complete coverage of the energy provisions contained in both the building and energy codes.
“Northern Maine Community College has been developing and offering courses in building sciences and efficient design, with a focus on energy conservation, for quite some time as part of the associate degree programs. Over the past few years, we have offered shorter term workshops and certification options to area design and building professionals to help them stay up-to-date with best practices,” said Leah Buck, NMCC assistant dean of continuing education. “This series from the Maine Indoor Air Quality is a great way for current building professionals to learn about the newest innovations in the industry, and it is also an opportunity for those who need continuing education credits to maintain or upgrade their credentialing. We are very happy to work with these partners to offer this opportunity in The County.”
The training series will focus on various aspects of home construction from the foundation and building shell to ventilation. Each session will provide the construction professionals in attendance with valuable information and practical strategies.
“S.W. Collins has always been an advocate for the best practices in the construction and building trade. The Maine Indoor Air Quality seminar addresses the new requirements under the Maine Building and Energy Codes that focus on keeping your home energy efficient while reducing the amount of environmental pollutants,” said Gregg Collins, vice president of the S.W. Collins Co. “We are pleased to sponsor this training opportunity as part of our continued and long-standing partnership with NMCC.”
The first of the sessions, on Dec. 2 from 8-11:30 a.m., will focus on keeping foundations warm and dry. It will cover proper site work and foundation construction and highlight the processes related to temperature, water, moisture and air — and how they can cause a variety of problems that not only affect occupant health, but may also compromise the building structure. The session offers practical how-to guidance on ways to avoid mistakes in site drainage and foundation construction.
The second session, on Dec. 9 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., will concentrate on various aspects of the building shell and how its efficiency significantly determines the affordability and energy consumption of a home. The program will offer practical techniques building professionals can use to achieve maximum efficiency.
The final session, on Dec. 16 from 8 a.m.-12:15 p.m., will focus on ventilating new and existing homes. Topics covered will include the most common sources of indoor air pollution in homes and how they get there, and what physical processes are present that affect indoor air quality. Practical strategies on how to achieve core ventilation goals will be shared with participants.
Registration for each session is $25 ($15 for Maine Indoor Air Quality Council members). To take part, go online at www.miaqc.org/residential-construction-trainings or call Lea Stedt at S.W. Collins at 496-0103.