Training

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." -Henry Ford

FIA offers numerous educational programs for the hydronics and steam market. Our training programs focus on the PHCC heating contractors, the Oilheating technicians, the engineering community, the wholesale distributor personnel and the facilities management personnel.

All of our programs have a "systems approach" theme, which allows the participants to gain valuable knowledge on the systems they are designing, installing, selling and/or servicing.

Experience has consistently shown that knowledge can be the difference between success and failure. This is why we believe education is a key component to the value we bring to our customers.

Make sure you check out our calendar to get the latest information on all of our upcoming training classes as well as other industry events.

"The education of a man is never completed until he dies." -Robert E. Lee (1807 - 1870)

Course Descriptions

FIA Courses:

Ins & Outs of Steam Heating

This seminar covers the "ins & outs" of steam heating systems. Experience has shown that the symptoms of a problem and the solution of the problem are rarely in the same location when dealing with a steam system. Spend the day with us and we'll show you how to:

• Make new boilers work with old steam systems.
• Improve the operation and balance of ANY one-pipe steam system through proper venting.
• Understand the operation and proper application of all the steam traps found in a heating system.
• Troubleshoot flooded boilers, short cycling boilers, low water cut-offs and water feeders.
• Understand the difference between condensate pumps and boiler feed pumps, how to size them and install them properly.
• Remove the mystery from all those old vapor/vacuum steam systems.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? PHCC heating contractors, Oilheat service technicians, wholesale personnel and anyone else involved in the heating industry who wants to learn more about this method of heating.

Hydronic System Design and Control

In this seminar we will discuss everything having to do with hydronic systems...

• B&G's System Syzer- find out how to use this incredibly useful tool in designing and troubleshooting ALL your hydronic system.
• Circulators- find out exactly what a pump does and what it DOESN'T do! How to size a circulator correctly. Find out the differences between an in-line, water-lubricated and base-mounted circulator?
• System Curves and Pump Curves- "Energy in must equal energy out!" We'll discuss how to use this important fact to size pumps properly. Understand the benefits of parallel and series pumping and how to troubleshoot pumping problems.
• Air in Hydronic Systems- where does the air come from? Learn how to control it properly, learn how the different types of air separators work and why EVERY system needs one!
• Expansion Tanks- plain steel tanks, diaphragm tanks, bladder tanks...how to size each one properly. Why does EVERY system (hot water and chilled water) need one?
• The Point of No Pressure Change- The location of a circulator is KEY to good system operation. We'll discuss why!
• Primary/Secondary Pumping- this pumping system has been around since 1954! We'll describe all the benefits this SIMPLE pumping technique has to offer!
• Temperature Responsive Control Systems- ALL hydronic systems can benefit from this concept. Find out what reset is all about and how to apply it to your next hydronic heating system!

Come spend the day with us and we'll share with you our experiences in designing and troubleshooting hydronic heating systems!

The Basics of Hydronic Heating Systems

• Zoning Made Easy - learn how to zone systems properly, understand the importance of the relationship between flow rate in gallons per minute, pipe size selection and system pressure drop. Learn useful "Rules of Thumb" that provides good system operation and keeps you out of trouble.
• Hydronic Specialties - Find out how those components found in all hydronic systems really work and where they belong in the system (pressure reducing valves, flo- control valves, air separators, zone valves and circulators).
• Circulators - learn to properly size and select circulators. What happens when you undersize? Oversize? Find out why their location in the system can really affect the system's operation.
• System Piping Options - learn the different piping options available to you...series loops, mono-flo, direct and reverse return systems.
• Troubleshooting - learn to troubleshoot common hydronic heating system problems by looking at the entire system and not just the individual components.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Heating contractors, Wholesalers and anyone with a desire to have a basic understanding of how a hydronic system works. The seminar discusses the proper operation of all the components found in your basic hydronic system.

Basics of Primary/Secondary Pumping

• We will discuss the basic principles behind this piping technique, which has been around since 1954!
• Where this piping technique can be applied in today's heating systems.
• The differences between a One-Pipe & Two-Pipe system.
• We will work through an actual sizing example.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Heating Contractors, Wholesalers, Mechanical Contractors and anyone else looking for an in-depth knowledge of Primary/Secondary Pumping. When this seminar is over, you will know how to properly apply this useful and cost-saving technique to your next hydronic job!

Institutional Steam Systems- Maintenance and Troubleshooting

• Steam and Condensate Piping Practices
• Steam Trap Operations, understand where to use which type of steam trap and why
• Proper sizing and Installation of Temperature regulators and Pressure-Reducing Stations
• Condensate Handling Systems- Condensate transfer pumps, Boiler feed pumps, Pressure-powered pumps and Vacuum pumps
• Proper Heat Exchanger Installation and Control
• Flash Steam- What it is and how to get the most out of it!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Steam System Operators, Maintenance Supervisors & Personnel and anyone involved in the design or operation a steam plant.

Hydronic Heating Systems for the Design Engineer

• Basic Hydronic Design including B & G "System Syzer"
• Pump Basics & Selection
• Pump Trim (Suction Diffusers & Discharge Valves)
• Air Management including Air Separation & Expansion tanks
• Expansion Tank Sizing
• Primary-Secondary Pumping

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Engineers new to the hydronics industry, who are looking for a solid foundation in understanding a hydronic system. Seasoned engineers looking for a "refresher" course on hydronic systems and their components.

Understanding the Basics of Radiant Heating

• We'll start at the beginning...What exactly is Radiant Heat?
• The different methods for installing a radiant system...above floor, staple-up from underneath, in concrete or gypsum, etc...
• Discussion on the various methods for controlling a radiant heating system.
• We'll go over all the different methods for mixing to achieve different water temperatures.
• Proper component selection for a Radiant System (circulator sizing and expansion tank sizing)
• We'll discuss the various tubing layout options available to the many different types of radiant systems.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Heating contractors, Oilheat service technicians wholesale personnel and anyone else interested in learning more about this.

Radiant Heating Systems for the Design Engineer

• Overview of the basic principles of Radiant Heating
• Discuss the design concerns with different floor coverings
• Discuss the various control strategies to use
• Different Mixing Methods available to supply lower water temperatures
• Discuss the "Hybrid" Systems...fan coils, DHW, radiant heat, multiple boilers and how to put it all together

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Any engineer who is involved with designing snow melt systems, radiant heating systems, floor warming systems and high-end heating systems.

Tekmar Courses:

Tekmar Reset Control School (S110)

This school covers the operation, selection, installation and setup of tekmar's line of stand-alone boiler and mixing reset controls. The school discusses the concepts of Outdoor Reset, Characterized Heating Curves and mixing methods. The material is presented in a manner suitable for students that are new to tekmar's product line and is an ideal introductory course. The school will cover the Boiler controls 256, 260, 261 and the mixing controls 356, 360 and 361.

Tekmar Integrated Control System School(S115)

The Integrated Control System School Level 1 covers the operation, selection and installation of tekmar's line of integrated control systems. The school discusses the concepts of indoor temperature feedback, integrated zoning using Room Temperature Units (RTUs) and Zone Controls, domestic hot water (DHW) integration and priority, as well the comfort and energy saving advantages provided by integrated controls. The material is presented in a manner that assumes the students are familiar with the concepts of outdoor reset. Attending the Reset School (S110) is recommended before attending the Integrated Control School Level 1. The school will cover the House Controls 370, 371 and the Zone Controls 367 and 368.

Tekmar Integrated Control School Level 2 (S116)

The Integrated Control School Level 2 (S 116) is a continuation of the S 115 and the S 120 Control Schools. It is assumed that the students have a good understanding of the concepts of outdoor reset, indoor temperature feedback and integrated zoning covered in S 110 and S 120 Control Schools. The school will focus on combining controls for larger or more complicated systems with many related application examples. The school will cover a review of the Boiler Control 262, and the Mixing Control 362, and detailed information on the tekmar Universal Reset Control 364, and the Zone Control 369. The school also covers the tekmarcontrols.com Designer CD (P 032) Students will be instructed on the use of the CD to design complete mechanical and electrical application drawings. A demonstration of the CD will be given during the class.

Tekmar Commercial Control School (S121)

The Commercial Control School (S 121) covers the operation, selection, applications and installation of controls for multiple boiler systems and commercial mixing methods. The school discusses the different piping methods, staging and rotation concepts, boiler protection, as well as the different devices that can be used for mixing and their proper piping. In addition to the above topics, the school will include a section on the operation and installation of tekmar's Pump Sequencer Control. The school will cover the Boiler Controls 262, 263, 264, 265, 268 and the Mixing Control 362 and the Pump Sequencer 132.

Tekmar Snow Melting Control School (S131)

The Snow Melting Control School (S 130) covers the operation, selection, applications and installation of tekmar's line of Snow Melting Controls. The school discusses the concepts of slab temperature control, slab protection, boiler protection and mixing methods. Multiple zone snow melting systems with and without prioritization are discussed with a focus on the control features that must be used when dealing with complex snow melting systems. In addition to the above topics, the school will include a section on the various methods for starting and stopping snow-melting systems. The school will cover the Snow Melting Controls 650, 661, 664 and the Mixing Control 362.

Calendar

Learn about:

• Current schedule of upcoming FIA seminars
• Schedule of various Industry Association events
  • PHCC monthly chapter meetings
  • NAOHSM monthly chapter meetings
  • ASHRAE monthly chapter meetings

Launch the FIA Training and Events Calendar in a new window.