Weatherization Members Only ~ Training Requirements

Energy Auditors 

All Iowa Energy Auditors must take the Lead Renovation course within 60 days of hire. It is recommended that all energy auditors are also Certified Lead Renovators.
 

QCI Inspectors

All Iowa QCI Inspectors must be Certified Lead Renovators within 60 days of hire. 
 

Contractors

Every contractor performing work on weatherization homes in Iowa must have a Certified Lead Renovator on staff, within 60 days of contracting with the agency. NOTE: Appliance vendors and subcontractors are exempt from this requirement. If disturbing lead, the Certified Lead Renovator of record must ensure Lead Safe Work Practices are followed, including providing on-the-job training, if needed. 
 

Crew Supervisors

All Iowa Weatherization crew supervisors must be Certified Lead Renovators within 60 days of hire.
 

Crew Members

 All Iowa Weatherization crew members must take the Lead Renovation course within 60 days of hire. It is recommended that all crew members are also Certified Lead Renovators. 

See below for more information:
Lead Training Requirements (current date 05-18-16)

All Weatherization Inspectors throughout the U.S. and its territories is required to be a Quality Control Inspector (QCI). Only QCIs may inspect weatherization homes in Iowa. See the link below for more information. 

QCI (Quality Control Inspector)

Basic Auditor

This 5-day course is a combination of classroom and in-field training. The course is designed for new evaluators/inspectors, but may also be used as a refresher for other evaluators/inspectors. The course will cover the basics of how to conduct a weatherization evaluation of a house, including an NEAT/MHEA energy audit and a health and safety assessment. Topics included in the training are: the equipment used in an evaluation, residential construction details, energy principles, and the various steps involved in the evaluation. Participants will learn how to use the blower door, pressure gauges, and the ASHRAE 62.2 calculation software. Participants will also learn how to conduct basic combustion health and safety assessments, how to do refrigeration appliance replacement assessments, how to do zone pressure testing, and how to conduct duct leakage testing. The course will also offer an overview of the program, how it started, funding, client qualifications, etc., and some basic program issues, such as work deferral issues, client selection and client priority.
 

Advanced Blower Door/Zonal Pressure Diagnostics

This 2-day (8-hour) course is a classroom training. Participants will learn how to use the blower door, DG-700, DG-1000, and REDCalc ZPD Tool to align thermal and pressure boundaries, and zonal pressure testing (garage testing).  Participants must have a working knowledge of the blower door and insulation and pressure boundaries.  Participants need to bring a DG-700 or DC-1000 (if available) to the training. At the end of the training, participants will be able to determine between a modified and non-modified zone.
 

Furnace and Combustion Health & Safety

This 3 day (16-hour) course is a combination of classroom and in-field training. Participants will learn about furnace components, basic electric, venting, and gas pressure issues. Participants will learn the basics of furnace, ductwork and gas line sizing and how to use combustion appliance testing equipment. Participants will also learn about condensing furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, and air conditioners.

Participants will learn to set up a house in worst-case conditions, and perform required spillage and carbon monoxide testing on furnaces and water heaters. There will be discussion of test results and possible solutions. Participants will also learn static pressure testing and steady state efficiency testing using a combustion analyzer and will learn how to calculate the Depressurization Tightness Limit (DTL).

NEAT/MHEA Audit

Because of the class size, this 2-day (8-hour) course is a classroom-only training. (Note: Participants must have a working knowledge of energy audit procedures.) Participants will learn how to maneuver through the audit, how to complete the parameter setups, and how to input data in the audit. Participants will review necessary information for audit input and complete an audit on a house and a mobile home. Finally, participants will learn how to interpret audit output reports.
 

Mold/Moisture/ASHRAE

Because of the class size, this 2-day (8 hour) course is a classroom-only training. (Note: Participants must have a working knowledge of the blower door and knowledge of air movement.) Participants will learn what causes moisture and mold problems, how to conduct a mold/moisture assessment, including recognizing “red flags”, and how to determine the various building tightness limits (ASHRAE and DTL). Training will also cover moisture control strategies, including ventilation issues. Participants will use a digital monometer and TI-89 calculator to test pressure differential caused by mechanical ventilation and use the REDCalc calculations to determine ventilation needs.

Occupation-specific training which is part of an overall curriculum aligned with the topics within the given JTA being trained. Comprehensive training must be administered by, or in cooperation with, a training program that is accredited by a DOE-accepted credentialing body for the JTA being taught.

Typically, sub-grantees send their staff to an accredited training center or invite the training center to their location.

For more information about this training requirement, see Weatherization Program Notice 22-4.

All Weatherization field staff must receive Specific training. Iowa's state-provided trainings meet this requirement.

Single-issue, short-term training to address technical skills or knowledge gaps. Conference trainings and any training not aligned with a Home Energy Professional JTA are included in this category.

For more information about this training requirement, see Weatherization Program Notice 22-4.