Short Course
Passive House Designer Exam Preparation Course

Clare Parry, Jessica Hogg, Johanna Trickett and Marcus Strang

Clare Parry is a specialist in Passive House, with skills ranging from design through to certification. She is currently the Principal Sustainability Consultant at Grun Consulting - experts in ESD for town planning, multiple rating tools including LEED, Green Star and the Living Building Challenge, and energy ratings including NABERS & CBD. Grun Consulting also offers Triple Bottom Line consulting for organisations, including application of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework.

Jessica Hogg has experience working in the sustainable development industry in both the United Kingdom and Australia. A qualified mechanical engineer with a background in building services, she is experienced in dynamic thermal modelling for energy and carbon emission calculations, as well as comfort assessments and the use of different sustainability rating tool frameworks. Jess is also a qualified Green Star Accredited Professional as well as a Certified Passive House Designer and analyses the thermal performance of façade systems and completes feasibility studies for low and zero carbon technologies.

Johanna Trickett is an architect and sustainability professional who not only recognizes the many challenges but also the many opportunities in creating a more sustainable built environment. Her professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Architecture, Passive House Designer accreditation and a Master of Science in ‘ClimaDesign’, which in combination allows her to approach projects with an interdisciplinary design and engineering perspective. Johanna has worked in various architectural and sustainability roles in Australia and Germany, with various roles, including Project Architect, ESD Advisor, Lead ESD Consultant and Project Leader. Having worked in two countries and on multiple international projects, Johanna has developed a keen interest in the communication of ESD concepts across national borders and across multiple project disciplines.

Marcus Strang is a specialist sustainability engineer and experienced Certified Passive House Designer, having had the opportunity to work on many Certified Passive House buildings in Australia. His expertise is in refining building energy performance, analysing thermal envelope junctions and fenestration details, as well as identifying interstitial and surface moisture risks using hygrothermal modelling tools. Marcus’s interests encompass holistic systems design, building physics, passive design optimisation and natural building materials. Currently, also a PhD Candidate specialising in the Passive House Standard and mass timber design, which he sees as a fundamental step for striving towards net-zero carbon emission buildings and a thriving, vibrant society.

This session will help you prepare for an exam which is challenging in terms of the skills and knowledge required which include; building physics, calculations, drawing of Passive House floor plans, sections and details and a series of multiple choice questions. The exam is time limited and correct pacing throughout the exam is required to complete all sections.

The examination which is set by the Passivhaus Institut (Germany) takes place all around the world on four predetermined dates per year. After successfully completing the exam you will receive the internationally recognised accreditation as Certified Passive House Designer or Certified Passive House Consultant (dependant on your existing qualifications).

More detail on the exam learning targets can be obtained by going to the Passiv Hause website.

Exam conditions are provided in detail at the Passivhausplaner website.

To enrol complete the relevant form and return to passivehouseenquiries@boxhill.edu.au.  Alternatively, email enquiries to passivehouseenquiries@boxhill.edu.au.

It is highly recommended that participants attend the 9 day Passive House Designer/Consultant course prior to completing this one day exam preparation course.

This course is suited to qualified and experienced professionals in a building related discipline.  There are no prerequisites to become a Passive House Consultant although knowledge of building construction and building design is an advantage.

The 1 day Passive House Designer Exam Preparation Course is useful preparation before sitting the internationally accredited exam.

You will be provided with a printed resource which includes exam like questions and exercises.

You should bring your Passive House Manuals, notes, writing materials and a calculator.  Coloured pens are recommended and final answers (including drawings) must be in ink not pencil.

The exam is open book.  No electronic devices connected to the internet are permitted.

This course is suited to architects, building designers, engineers, thermal performance assessors and other professionals working in building construction.

More detail on the exam learning targets can be obtained by going to the Passiv Hause website.