Training

About BCIA Training

The optimum learning programme for building controls engineers.

BCIA has been developing and delivering industry accredited training for many years. Our courses provide the most current and comprehensive learning programme for Building Controls Engineers and are recognised as the industry standard.

Training is delivered by industry qualified tutors with courses run by BCIA and by training partners – British Gas Academy, E.ON Control Solutions, Group Horizon, Schneider Electric and Sontay Academy – courses are accredited by CIBSE.  

Some of our courses provide the required accreditation to support ECS Competency Card eligibility. 

Building Controls industry Training Courses

BCIA currently offer a broad range of market leading courses for the building controls industry. 

Training Courses Available:

  • One day course

    BCIA Members £305 + VAT

    Non-members £385 + VAT

    Overview

    This introductory course is designed for those who do not require the full technical

    detail of the building controls courses (BCM01-BCM06), or who are new to this area

    of the industry. The course provides full coverage of day-to-day involvement in

    building controls and HVAC, but at a level that does not focus on the technical detail.

    The course is designed for facilities managers and estates managers, as well as

    electricians and other building services trades personnel who wish to become more

    informed in this sphere of work.

    Objectives

    The training programme will help delegates to understand:

    • Why we need a control system

    • Basic heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment

    • Basic heating, ventilation and air conditioning distribution and layouts

    • Types of controls

    • Structure and implementation of a Building Energy Management System

    (BEMS)

    Course content

    • What is a control system?

    • Heating and hot water services

    • Basic control of ventilation and air conditioning plant

    • Fresh air and heating and cooling

    • Effects of humidity and relative humidity

    • Primary air plant

    • Air re-treatment

    • Cooling plant and systems – chillers, cooling towers and air cooled

    condensers

    • The control loop

    • Building Energy Management Systems

    • End of course assessment

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  • Two day course

    BCIA members £475 +VAT

    Non-members £635 +VAT

    Overview

    This assessed course gives an overview of the systems and technologies used in

    the heating, ventilating and air conditioning industry. Building control and Building

    Energy Management Systems (BEMS) are also covered. This course is designed for

    those already involved in building controls that need to have a knowledge and

    understanding of the terminology, technologies and systems used, whether they are

    managers, designers or installation engineers.

    Objectives

    At the end of this course, delegates will understand:

    • The physical fundamentals associated with buildings usage

    • The most important requirements of the building enclosure and building

    services installation

    • The principles of HVAC, and the psychrometric chart

    • The functional principles of the most important HVAC systems and their main

    components

    • The fundamentals of measurement and controls

    • The purpose and basic variations of hydraulic circuits

    • The basic refrigeration cycle

    Course Content

    • Introduction to building technology

    • Physical principles

    • Overview of heating systems

    • Refrigeration technology

    • Key components and distribution of hydraulics in building systems

    • Introduction to ventilation and air conditioning

    • Introduction to measuring and control technology

    • End of course assessment

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  • Two day course

    BCIA members £475 +VAT

    Non-members £635 +VAT

    Overview

    This course offers comprehensive training on the theory of measuring and control

    technology. Part one of the module focuses on the principles of measurement,

    potential variables and best practices for planning and evaluation of the technology.

    Part two focuses on the types of control technology used.

    This course is designed for engineers and technicians who have some knowledge

    and field experience with a minimum period of one year within the industry. It is also

    recommended that candidates complete Fundamentals of HVAC & Building

    Technology (BCM01) first.

    Objectives

    At the end of this course, delegates will understand:

    • The basics of measuring technology

    • The structure and mode of operation of measuring principles used in HVAC

    • The correct use and application of measuring equipment

    • Ways to avoid measuring errors

    • The comfort envelope

    • Open and closed loop control

    • Control states

    • Reference variables

    • Weather compensation

    Course Content

    • Fundamentals of measurement technology and principles of measurement

    • Response

    • Tolerance and measuring errors

    • Measured variables in HVAC

    • Placement and installation of sensors

    • Measuring concept/measuring planning

    • Introduction to control technology

    • Controlled systems

    • The different types of controllers and control loops

    • Digital Direct Control (DDC)

    • End of course assessment

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  • Two day course

    BCIA members £475 +VAT

    Non-members £635 +VAT

    Overview

    Involving the main water circuits and systems used within the building services

    controls environment, this course includes the necessary mechanical knowledge

    needed to understand applications and covers all aspects of valve sizing and control.

    The course is designed for engineers and technicians who have some knowledge

    and a recommended minimum of one year field experience within the industry. It is

    also recommended that candidates complete Fundamentals of HVAC & Building

    Technology (BCM01) first.

    Objectives

    At the end of this course, delegates will understand:

    • Hydraulic circuit types and applications

    • The appropriate valves and actuators for a given hydraulic circuit

    • How to identify hydraulic circuit problems

    • Tools required for the correct sizing of valves and selection of actuators

    • Troubleshooting

    Course Content

    • Introduction to hydraulic circuits

    • Hydraulic characteristics of valves and actuators and sizing controlling

    elements

    • Sizing of the control valves

    • Types and application of valve actuators

    • Hydraulic circuit problems

    • Valve sizing exercise

    • End of course assessment

    Book Now >

  • Two day course

    BCIA members £475 +VAT

    Non-members £635 +VAT

    Overview

    This course provides a detailed overview of all types of heating plants and systems

    together with the associated control applications and will help delegates to develop

    an intuitive understanding of heating applications. How to identify reason for different

    designs in heating plant and the impact of new technology is also covered. This is an

    advanced course for engineers and technicians who have a good level of knowledge

    and a recommended minimum of two years’ experience within the industry. It is also

    recommended that candidates complete Fundamentals of HVAC & Building

    Technology (BCM01) first.

    Objectives

    At the end of this course, delegates will have advanced knowledge of:

    • The structure and modes of operation of the most common control functions

    used in heating plant

    • The functioning of typical plant

    • The advantages and disadvantages of individual solutions

    • Suitable control concepts

    Course Content

    • Control of a heating boiler and multiple boiler plants

    • Control and supervision of oil/gas burners

    • Control of heat output

    • Control of hot water plant

    • Energy efficient technologies

    • Steam systems

    • Introduction to Building Information Modelling (BIM)

    • End of course assessment Item description

    Book Now >

  • Two day course

    BCIA members £475 +VAT

    Non-members £635 +VAT

    Overview

    Using psychrometric charts and data, this course details the requirements of air

    conditioning plants and how they can be controlled effectively for resourceful

    operation and energy efficiency. This course is designed for managers, electricians

    and engineers who are responsible for the design, installation and commissioning of

    building control technologies and systems for ventilation and air conditioning. This

    advanced course builds on the knowledge gained in the BCM01-BCM04 courses.

    Objectives

    At the end of this course, delegates will have advanced knowledge of:

    • The structure and modes of operation of the most common control functions

    used in ventilation and air conditioning plant

    • The functioning of typical plant

    • The advantages and disadvantages of individual solution variants

    • Suitable control concepts

    Course Content

    • Air Handling Unit (AHU) component parts, design and selection

    • Temperature control

    • Humidity control

    • Recirculating and air mixing

    • Ice protection in heat recovery units

    • Partial air conditioning plant

    • Various control functions

    • Control of air retreatment

    • Principles and use of natural ventilation

    • End of course assessment

    Book Now >

  • Two day course

    BCIA members £475 +VAT

    Non-members £635 +VAT

    Overview

    A detailed, technical course relating to refrigeration and psychrometrics, focusing on

    how the refrigeration process operates, and the relationship with other parts of the

    cooling system. This is an advanced course for engineers and technicians who have

    a good level of knowledge and a recommended minimum of two years’ experience

    within the industry. It is also recommended that candidates complete Fundamentals

    of HVAC & Building Technology (BCM01) first.

    Objectives

    At the end of this course, delegates will understand:

    • Thermodynamics

    • Refrigeration fundamentals

    • The makeup of the h, log p chart

    • The compression refrigeration cycle

    • The functioning of heat pumps and ice storage plants

    • The absorption process

    • The different solution variants for refrigeration cycles

    • Suitable control concepts

    Course Content

    • Fundamentals of thermodynamics

    • Refrigerants

    • Design of the compression refrigeration machine

    • The h, log p chart diagram

    • The absorption cycle – design, storage and modes

    • Heat pump technology

    • Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology

    • Optimising chiller plant

    Book Now >

  • "It’s a pleasure to offer the BCIA courses. Our delegates always give us excellent feedback on the course content, their learning experience and our extremely knowledgeable trainers. Words like brilliant, perfect and engaging are all frequently mentioned in our course feedback".

    Sontay Academy