- International Fees
International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Course Overview
This elective course will benefit students who want to develop knowledge, and the principles of heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems and their roles in building applications. It also helps students to have a more comprehensive understanding of mechanical system’s role in improving building energy efficiency and reducing the associated GHG emissions. Topics include the theory and practice of all-air air-conditioning systems, all-water air-conditioning systems, air-water combination air-conditioning systems, heating and cooling load calculations, psychrometric analysis, and building automation systems. For each type of these systems, design procedures and operating theories will be introduced and their features will be addressed, along with the concepts of control. The course will review the code compliant minimum energy efficiency requirements of key components in HVAC system as well. In addition, some innovative concepts including the passive and energy recovery technologies which can potentially be incorporated into the conventional HVAC system design will be discussed in terms of their technical, economic, and environmental applicability. This course is presented as lectures and assignments. Students will be assigned a term project relevant to course content and submit the report by the end of the class. Students will also be asked to present their project in class. In addition, a bi-weekly preparatory session of active learning (reflection of key readings) will be scheduled.
Prerequisite(s)
- 60% in BSCI 9000† († may be taken concurrently)
Credits
3.0
Domestic fees
$1,859.03
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Conduct heating and cooling loads calculation for various types of the building.
- Apply thermodynamic analysis to major components/devices present in HVAC systems.
- Quantify required heating and/or cooling capacities of the boiler, furnace, chiller, heat pump, heating and cooling coils in air handling unit.
- Assess the thermodynamic properties of moist air during the process of air conditioning.
- Calculate the flowrate and head loss in ductwork and size the fan.
- Calculate the flowrate and heat loss in hydronic piping and size the pump.
- Describe the principles, features and general design procedures of various types of air-conditioning systems.
- Autonomously devise strategies to design an energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system through an integrated design process including applying passive design and energy recovery technology in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system design.
- Develop appropriate control strategies for a given heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system configuration to improve the operating efficiency and reduce GHG emissions.
- Communicate system design decisions with personnel of other building design disciplines both verbally and in writing in a clear and understandable manner.
Effective as of Fall 2021
Related Programs
Mechanical Systems and Control (BSCI 9150) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Construction and the Environment
- Building Energy Modelling
Graduate Certificate Part-time
- Building Engineering/Building Science
Master of Applied Science Full-time/Part-time
- Building Science
Master of Engineering Full-time/Part-time
Course Offerings
Winter 2026
Below is one offering of BSCI 9150 for the Winter 2026 term.
CRN 91656
Dates
Jan 07 - Apr 15 Loading
- CRN 91656
- $1859.03 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 07 - Apr 15 | Wed | 14:30 - 17:30 | Burnaby NE01 Rm. 216 |
Duration
15 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Departmental approval needed
- International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
- Please contact Program Assistant, at BCIT_buildingscience@bcit.ca for approval to register for this course. Please include your A#.
Status
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.