Understanding Building Mechanical Systems

Download the full agenda in PDF format here.

Day 1

Welcome and Announcements

Fundamentals of HVAC&R: An Introduction to Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration

• What is HVAC&R?
• Terms, definitions, and units
• Thermal comfort and IAQ principles 
• End-user system requirements and psychrometrics 

HVAC&R Equipment

• Fundamentals and basic cycle components 
• Condensers, compressors, and evaporators
• Unitary system components, DX equipment, and chilled water
• Refrigerant phaseouts, greenhouse gases, and global warming
• Air delivery systems

Day 2

HVAC Codes, Design, and Systems

• Codes, standards, and design issues
• System selection 
• Ductwork and HVAC piping systems
• Pumping arrangements
• Modularity and standby capacity

MEP Construction Quality and Startup

• Overview of Contractor Quality Programs and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) Specific Focus
• MEP Quality Plans
• Startup Planning - a Critical Early Activity
• Getting More Effective MEP Training

Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing (TAB)

• What is TAB?
• Timing and benefits
• Balancing air and water systems
• Typical equipment and procedures
• How to spot a good balancing report

Total Building Commissioning

• Process fundamentals, costs and benefits 
• Participant responsibilities 
• HVAC&R project strategies

Registration Date/Time:
6/3/2025 7:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 6/3/2025  8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
• 6/4/2025  8:00am - 4:00pm Central Time

• Program Director

  Joy Altwies

• Robin Graves

  Mechanical Engineer

  Robin Graves, PE LEED AP, is a Mechanical Engineer with Affiliated Engineers, Inc. Ms. Graves provides HVAC systems consulting and design for a variety of clients including higher education, healthcare, and federal. Her responsibilities include performing load calculations, duct layouts, sizing, and equipment selection. Ms. Graves also coordinates component locations and constructability through communication and interaction with other disciplines. She has also performed energy modeling in diverse building types.

  Clients include: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Baxalta; City of Madison; Medical College of Wisconsin; Northwestern University; Stratatech Corporation; University of Colorado Health; University of Wisconsin; U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Department of Energy.

  With AEI since 2006, Ms. Graves holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering for UW-Madison, is a registered professional engineer, and LEED accredited professional. In addition to her project work, she is an instructor for the University of Wisconsin Department of Engineering Professional Development in HVAC codes, design, and systems.

• William Bahnfleth

  Professor

  Dr. Bahnfleth is a professor of Architectural Engineering at Penn State, where he also directs the Indoor Environment Center. Prior to joining the Penn State faculty, he was employed as a consulting engineer and as a researcher at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory. Bill holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• Joy Altwies

  Program Director/Instructor

  Joy Altwies, Ph.D., P.E., LEED AP+, is a program director for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Interdisciplinary Professional Programs. Since 2004, Dr. Altwies has developed and taught continuing education courses emphasizing high-performance building design and construction, mechanical system design and operation, energy efficiency, and commissioning. She is also the program director of the Master of Sustainable Systems Engineering (SSE) degree program and an instructor of two graduate courses in the program.

• Chad Dorgan

  Founding Partner

  Dr. Chad Dorgan is a Founding Partner of Fractal CSOs, an international organization composed of previous and current chief sustainability officers providing fractional sustainability leadership to companies to define and drive sustainability from their core values, using quality foundational elements to establish robust and integrated programs.

  Throughout Chad's 30-plus-year career in the engineering, consulting, construction, and test/inspection/certification industries, he has played a significant role in the evolution of sustainability and quality in the built environment. Dr. Dorgan's past roles include driving Sustainability Solutions for SGS, Vice President - Sustainability and Quality for McCarthy Building Companies Inc., and executive leader of Dorgan Associates/Farnsworth Group, a consulting firm focused on the transfer of technology from research to application.

  Chad started his career as a mechanical engineer in the US Air Force, where he was in charge of a 60-person operations and maintenance squadron during Desert Storm in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is a LEED Fellow of the United States Green Building Council and a Fellow member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

  Chad has also been recognized with several industry awards, including the ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award and the 2004 Benner Award from the Building Commissioning Association for making commissioning business as usual. Dr. Dorgan graduated from the University of Wisconsin, with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. Indoor Air Quality.

• Matt Bond

  NEBB Certified Technician

  Matt Bond, NEBB CP, operates Badger Balancing LLC as a NEBB (National Environmental Balancing Bureau) Certified Professional and Co-Owner. He is responsible for the supervision of all work performed by his firm and employees with an emphasis on engineering principles, system design and system equipment and procedures. Matt has extensive experience utilizing instrumentation and procedures to troubleshoot both air and hydronic systems. His clients include architects, engineers and building owners spanning healthcare, industry, education and other facility types. He is a member of NEBB, specializing in Air and Water testing and balancing policy and procedures for the industry. He is also an associate member and Silver Sponsor of Wisconsin Healthcare Engineers Association (WHEA), and a member of ASHRAE, ASHE and CETA.

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

• Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
• Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
• You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

• Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
• Provide the registrations representative with:
  • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
  • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

• Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
• Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
• Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

• Request Purchase Order information from interpro@union.wisc.edu
  • If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
• You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

If you cannot attend, please notify us by no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Because this course has limited enrollment, cancellation received after this date and no-shows are subject to the full course fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.

This course has been approved for 15 LU/HSW AIA credits.