Course Description

In the first Builders' Breakfast Series (BBS) of 2024, Designing for the Brains of the Home -The Mechanical Room, the course will focus on the space that typically gets the least amount of design consideration but requires as much planning as any other room in the home.

Led by speaker, Shaun St-Amour, Vice President of Clay Construction, this seminar will dive into the key components and examples of an efficient and well-designed mechanical rooms, which houses the ‘brains’ of the home. Designing a mechanical system for a single-family home requires integrating efficient HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems to ensure comfort, functionality, and expected system outputs. Builders and designers must pay attention to energy-efficient technologies and sustainable materials to minimize environmental impact, while ensuring the final design prioritizes user-friendly operation and maintenance for the homeowners. Without proper design and understanding of how the systems work, during the construction process, builders may be required to make expensive on-site adjustments and work-arounds which may also reduce the efficiencies of the mechanical systems.

This session targets builders, architects, and designers as it encourages an integrated design process approach to design and construction.

Syllabus

  • The Mechanical Room - Importance of Designing it with Purpose
  • Dos and Don'ts of Mechanical Room Design
  • Integrated Design Process -  working with the builder, architect/designer and trades to ensure the mechanical systems can operate as required/
  • Examples of what works/what doesn't work.


Approved for 2.0 CPDs in Construction Technology
Note: If you have already taken this course, repeating it online will not qualify for additional CPD points.

Thank you to our Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor: FortisBC
Patron Sponsor: BC Housing 

Shaun St-Amour, Clay Construction Inc.

Shaun is very passionate about resilient prefab Passive Houses. He is the VP of Operations for Clay Construction Inc. Before this position, he was the Outreach and Education Associate with 475 High Performance Building Supply. He graduated from The University of British Columbia with a degree in Wood Products Processing. He is a certified Passive House Tradesperson. He also obtained a Building Construction Technology Associate Certificate at BCIT while working at Viceroy Homes and BOSA Construction. He was a general contractor under Footprint Sustainable Housing Corp. Shaun has also been involved with the Passive House Accelerator and Offsite Dirt.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Chapter 1

    • Before You Get Started

    • Agreement to HAVAN Academic Integrity Policy

    • Part 1
  • 2

    Chapter 2

    • Part 2
  • 3

    Chapter 3

    • Part 3
  • 4

    Chapter 4

    • Part 4

    • Declaration of Completed Work Assignment