The NEBB Learning Center: Your Online Training Destination

By Samantha Hawa, The NEBB Professional – Q2 2024 Edition 

If you haven’t created an account with the NEBB Learning Center (NLC), or accessed one of the many online courses, today is the day to go to the NLC! 

Simply visit www.nebb.org/nlc to get started now. It is free to create an account and you will be able to choose from over 35 courses that cover all of NEBB’s disciplines, like BET, Cx, CPT, FHT, S&V, and TAB, along with information on the Young Professionals Network (YPN). 

The NLC offers a wide variety in terms of free courses versus courses with a minimal fee. Even better, 27 of those courses provide continuing education credits (CECs) right from the comfort of your own office or home! Since the NLC was launched in 2021, there has been a combined access of over 5,276 users with some taking multiple courses. 

One new feature on the NLC Dashboard is the video from the Robert B. Gawne Training and Education Center Grand Opening in late 2023 in Gaithersburg, MD. Take a look and see 2023 NEBB President Phil Emory give his dedication speech along with members of the Gawne family. 

Overall, the NLC has generated a lot of praise since its launch. Nick Uffelman, President of Holistic Test and Balance shared his positive feedback on the NLC with, “Hi all, just wanted to drop a line saying how great the Learning Center is. I had an employee who has been trying to pass the CT exam. We used the old study course for the longest time until we found out about the learning center. We purchased the TAB technician seminar and he really focused on studying from that information for a good while. He finally passed the exam this past Saturday. Just wanted to share that news. Hope the learning center keeps expanding–especially for technicians. It’s been a great resource!!” 

Everyone in the NEBB community is encouraged to explore the NLC. Anyone with questions concerning the NEBB Learning Center can direct them to Samantha Hawa, NEBB Online Training Coordinator at samantha@nebb.org. 

We are constantly adding new courses and features, and invite you to start learning with the many courses available, such as those listed below: 

Free Courses on the NLC 

• NEBB Fume Hood Procedural Standard for Fume Hood Performance Testing: VAV Response Time (.5 CEC): This presentation details the test procedures for performing the VAV Speed of Response and Time to Steady State Testing in accordance with NEBB Procedural Standard for Fume Hood Performance Testing. 
• YPN Happy Hour (1 CEC): The NEBB YPN Happy Hour introduced the YPN Committee, gave attendees some lessons from the committee along with the sharing of some war stories. 
• CPT Test Your Knowledge: As additional Study Material for your CPT Discipline, we have created fun and free flashcards for you to Test Your Knowledge. 
• S&V Test Your Knowledge: As additional Study Material for your S&V Discipline, we have created fun and free flashcards for you to Test Your Knowledge. 
• TAB Test Your Knowledge: As additional Study Material for your TAB Discipline, we have created fun and free flashcards for you to Test Your Knowledge. 
• YPN Test Your Knowledge: To learn more about the YPN, we have created fun and free flashcards for you to Test Your Knowledge. 
• TAB Pump Curves: Learn the basics of reading pump curves including how to plot the testing points of no-flow “deadhead” readings, full flow, and determining impeller sizes. 

• Cx Electrical Systems Technology (.5 CEC): In this presentation, learners will be introduced to the basics of electricity and its application in the construction industry. Electrical definitions and formulas are presented and applied to real-world examples that learners may encounter when working in the field. The presentation concludes by summarizing how electricity is distributed throughout the power grid and supplied to commercial buildings and residences. 
• NEBB Standards for Reports and Forms (1 CEC/1 AIA LU): This presentation is intended for NEBB Certified Professionals and NEBB Certified Technicians and represents the format as well as required information necessary to produce a NEBB compliant report. 
• Designated Certified Professional Individual and Firm Recertification Attestation Tutorial: This tutorial is for the Designated Certified Professionals (DCP) completing their Individual Recertifications and must complete the Firm Recertifications. 
• Certified Professional Recertification Tutorial: This tutorial is for Certified Professionals (CP) who need to complete their Individual Recertifications. 
• Certified Technician Recertification Tutorial: This tutorial is for Certified Technicians (CT) who need to complete their Individual Recertifications. 
• TAB Equations for Calculations and Study: From basic mathematics to TAB Formula Equations, this training covers it all. Every NEBB TAB Formula is covered including rearranging equations with step-by-step instructions. This TAB Mathematics is the first step in your NEBB training. 

Courses with a Fee on the NLC: 

• Conditions That Could Affect Fume Hood Performance (0.5 CEC) $50: This presentation discusses the effects that improper planning and other room conditions could affect the performance of a chemical fume hood. We discuss what a fume hood is, the different types, a brief rundown of ASHRAE 110 testing and the processes of testing the performance of a fume hood, and how outside factors can have an adverse effect on the lab space and fume hood performance. 
• Velocity Variations (0.5 CEC) $50: As a TAB Professional, have you ever done a project involving Fume Hoods and had discrepancies with the Fume Hood Testing Contractor? As a Fume Hood Testing Professional, have you ever tested a Fume Hood and the face velocity doesn’t match the TAB report? Dive into the different approaches that Test/Adjust/Balance (TAB) and Fume Hood Performance Testing (FHT) Professionals might use on the same project, and why these differences don’t necessarily signal a deficiency. 
• Room Pressurization (1.5 CEC) $150: Learn proper room pressure recording format. Avoid unintentional documentation pressure reversals. Understand the distinction between door differential pressures and room vs. ambient pressures and their interrelationship. Perform pressure cascade calculations. Calculate pressure differentials between unconnected rooms. Determine negative and positive pressure room relationships. Identify executable room pressure relationships. Units’ system independent learning approach, no conversions required. 
• Relative Standard Deviations (0.5 CEC) $50: Learn standard deviation calculations, gaussian (normal) distributions and normal probability distributions. Distinguish between relative and absolute standard deviations. Interpret data sets and find arithmetic mean, mode, & median of a data set. Learn the difference between sample standard deviation and population standard deviation. Make inferences from a data set. Learn to manipulate student-t size samples. 
• TAB Fan Laws, Pump Laws and Tip Speed (1 CEC) $100: TAB Fan Laws: The Fan Laws Module will cover the Fan Affinity Laws #1 through #5 and discuss their application to HVAC System Testing, Adjusting and Balancing. The module will also provide practical working examples of each Fan Law. TAB Pump Laws: The Pump Laws Module will cover the Pump Affinity Laws #1 through #3 and discuss their application to HVAC System Testing, Adjusting and Balancing. The module will also provide practical working examples of each Pump Law. TAB Fan Tip Speed: The Fan Tip Speed Module will discuss what Fan Tip Speed is and its relationship with Fan Classification which dictates how fan are made. The module will discuss their applications to HVAC System Testing, Adjusting and Balancing. The module will also provide practical working examples of Fan Tip Speed. 
• Design Phase Concepts of Building Enclosure Testing ( .5 CEC) $50: Air Barriers: This module will discuss various types of air barrier systems, the installation requirements for these systems, the details on the architectural drawings highlighting air barrier systems and some of the issues you will see as the result of poor installation. Design Review: This module will discuss design review of an air barrier system. The design review focuses on cross section drawings, floor to wall details, wall to roof details and penetration details. Test Zones: This module demonstrates how to determine the test area boundaries and how to calculate the related parameters required to perform a Building Enclosure Test. 
• Testing, Adjusting and Balancing (TAB) Technician Seminar (12 CECs) $600: Building owners and tenants are concerned that environmental performance of buildings must be optimal while operating costs should be minimal. These goals can only be accomplished when a building’s HVAC and hydronic systems are properly balanced. Three major steps used to achieve the proper operation of the HVAC and hydronic systems and a desirable climate are testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB). This Seminar is Designed for: Entry-level professionals who are interested in advancing their knowledge in HVAC and TAB work considering an extensive review to enhance their technical education; Other Professionals interested in learning about TAB; Qualified Candidates for the NEBB TAB Certified Technician. 
• A Walk-Through BET Procedural Standards (1 CEC/1 AIA LU/HSW) $25: This includes 4 modules: (1) Introduction to BET: This module provides a high-level review of building enclosure testing and its importance to the construction industry; (2) BET Equipment & Instrumentation: This module outlines typical instrumentation requirements for performing building enclosure testing.; (3) BET Project Team: This module highlights the key individuals and responsibilities that make up a successful project team for building envelope testing; (4) BET Testing Standards: This module outlies the following building enclosure testing standards: NEBB Procedural Standards for BET, USACE Protocol, ASTM E779, ASTM E1827, ASTM E1186 and ASTM C1060. 
• S&V Review of Logarithms: Use of Logs in Sound and Vibration (1 CEC) $50: This course provides participants with the basic understanding of how logarithms are used in sound level measurements. Specifically, this course provides the participant with the necessary basic mathematical understanding to remove background sound levels from equipment sound levels so that Noise Criteria and Room Criteria ratings can be calculated. 
• NEBB TAB Pre-Field Report Preparation Exercise Module (1 CEC) $325: This course provides comprehensive instruction concerning the requirements and formats needed to write a NEBB Certified Testing, Adjusting and Balancing (TAB) Report. NEBB Procedural Standards and the usage of NEBB Certified TAB Report forms and formats are discussed in detail. Successful completion of this course helps to prepare the student for NEBB Certification. 
• NEBB TAB Report Error Finding Exercise Module (1 CEC) $325: It is the job of the TAB Certified Professional to control the quality of the TAB work and TAB reports. This course provides comprehensive instruction in the methods and procedures recommended by NEBB to insure an accurate and error free Testing, Adjusting and Balancing (TAB) Report. NEBB Procedural Standards and the usage of NEBB Certified TAB Report forms and formats are discussed in detail. Successful completion of this course helps to prepare the student for NEBB Certification. 
• 2022 NEBB Annual Conference – Flow Hydraulics and Their Effect on Ultrasonic Flow Meters (1 CEC/1 AIA LU) $100 
• 2022 NEBB Annual Conference – TABopts Reporting with NEBB Compliant Forms (1 CEC/1 AIA LU) $100 
• 2022 NEBB Annual Conference – Life Science Enclosures: A Review of Types, Operation, Requirements (1 CEC) $100 
• 2022 NEBB Annual Conference – Capture Hood Errors Associated with Commercial Diffusers (1 CEC/1 AIA LU) $100 
• 2022 NEBB Annual Conference – Sound & Vibration in the Building Commissioning Process (1 CEC/1 AIA LU) $100 
• 2023 NEBB Annual Conference – It’s All About Containment and Seeing is Believing (1 CEC/1 AIA LU) $100 
• 2023 NEBB Annual Conference – How Employee Engagement Drives Growth (1 CEC) $100 
• 2023 NEBB Annual Conference – Achieving Optimal Performance: Understanding Hydronic Balancing, Pump Optimization, and Balancing Strategies for Efficient Hydronic Systems (1 CEC) $100 
• 2023 NEBB Annual Conference – Improving Work Relationships (1 CEC) $100 
• 2023 NEBB Annual Conference – Proper Usage and Limitations of Air Flow Capture Hoods (1 CEC/1 AIA LU) $100 
• 2023 NEBB Annual Conference – The Challenge with The Challenge (1 CEC) $100 2023 NEBB Annual Conference – Cleanroom Air Change Rate Optimization with VisionAir Clean (1 CEC/1 AIA LU) $100