Fully online technical training designed around real industry demand, so you can specialize at your own pace.
10/31/2026
Start Date
2 months
Duration
100
Total Hours
6 Modules
Program
Duration
Total Hours
Program
Start Date
ICTESS’s U-Factor and Thermal Bridging Calculations Training Course trains specialists to analyze the thermal performance of the building envelope. The program goes deep into calculating U-factors for the main building assemblies and into identifying and quantifying linear thermal bridges with standardized methods.
You will learn the technical calculations needed to demonstrate compliance with IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 envelope requirements. These include surface and layer thermal resistance, U-factors for walls, roofs and slab-on-grade floors, and psi values for thermal bridges through two-dimensional simulation in THERM. The course ends with a Capstone Project in which you apply everything you have learned to a complete thermal analysis of a real building.
The U-Factor and Thermal Bridging Calculations Training Course meets the need for professionals who can document compliance with building envelope energy requirements. Updated energy codes and the shift toward zero energy buildings call for precise U-factor calculations and a correct assessment of how thermal bridges affect a building’s overall energy balance.
The course trains professionals to calculate the U-factor of any assembly with rigor, identify the thermal bridges in a project, quantify their heat loss with the linear psi coefficient and verify code compliance through envelope compliance documentation. You will learn to read assembly catalogs, apply ISO boundary conditions and assess condensation risk.
The program includes hands-on training in THERM, the reference two-dimensional thermal simulation software developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. It ends with a Capstone Project in which you complete a full thermal analysis of a building envelope using all the skills you have gained.
The U-Factor and Thermal Bridging Calculations Training Course prepares you for technical work at architecture firms, engineering firms, energy rating companies and insulation manufacturers, as a building envelope specialist, energy code compliance consultant or thermal calculations lead on retrofit projects.
The course prepares you to calculate the U-factor of any assembly under ISO 6946, quantify linear thermal bridges through two-dimensional simulation, prepare IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 envelope compliance documentation and check interstitial condensation risk in exterior assemblies. You will master the analysis of problem junctions such as slab edges, window perimeters and roof-to-wall intersections.
You will also learn to advise on selecting assemblies based on thermal performance, propose envelope improvements in energy retrofits and write technical reports that demonstrate code compliance during AHJ plan review. The practical approach lets you apply what you learn right away on real projects.
Study from anywhere with no commuting. You can fit your specialized technical training around your current job.
Study when it suits your schedule. Move through the modules at your own pace and go back to any topic you need to review.
Learn to use THERM for two-dimensional thermal simulation, the reference tool for thermal bridge analysis.
Get technical video lessons, up-to-date downloadable materials, forums with specialized instructors and hands-on calculation exercises.
ICTESS offers specialized technical training focused on professional practice. It is designed to help you master the thermal calculation skills that high-performance building design demands, using current methods and real engineering tools.
What you'll achieve
Calculate the thermal resistance of homogeneous and nonhomogeneous layers using ISO 6946 and conductivity values from standardized technical tables.
Determine the U-factor of walls, roofs, slab-on-grade floors and assemblies adjacent to unconditioned spaces under IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 methods.
Identify and quantify linear thermal bridges by calculating psi values through two-dimensional simulation in THERM and applying recognized thermal bridging catalogs.
Verify compliance with IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 envelope requirements by preparing documentation for maximum U-factors and interstitial condensation control.
Use THERM to model construction junctions, define boundary conditions under ISO 10211 and generate technical thermal bridge reports.
Building design is going through a deep transformation driven by decarbonization goals. Updated energy codes and the move toward zero energy buildings put control of the thermal envelope at the center of architectural design. Professionals must master U-factor calculations and thermal bridge assessment to meet code and optimize energy performance.
An unavoidable code requirement: IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 set maximum U-factors for each assembly by climate zone, and recent editions of ASHRAE 90.1 address thermal bridging explicitly. Without professionals who can perform these calculations rigorously, projects risk delays in plan review and building permit approval.
Real impact on building efficiency: Thermal bridges can account for a significant share of heat loss in a well-insulated building. Identifying and minimizing them during design prevents condensation and mold, and significantly reduces heating and cooling loads.
Competitive edge in energy retrofits: Federal, state and utility programs that support building energy upgrades create demand for professionals who can diagnose existing envelopes. Professionals who can calculate actual U-factors and propose well-documented improvements are essential to deliver retrofit projects with technical confidence.
Completing the U-Factor and Thermal Bridging Calculations Training Course positions you as a specialist in an area energy codes increasingly demand. Updated IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 requirements and zero energy targets call for professionals who can document envelope thermal performance.
Differentiating technical skill: Mastering U-factor and thermal bridge calculations sets you apart from generalists. Firms value it on high-performance projects, incentive-funded retrofits and Passive House (PHIUS) or LEED buildings.
Command of a recognized professional tool: Using THERM for two-dimensional thermal simulation lets you solve complex cases that standard catalogs cannot handle, such as custom assemblies and unusual junctions.
Ability to document code compliance: You will learn to prepare documentation that demonstrates IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 compliance during AHJ plan review, essential for construction documents.
Recognized professional certificate: The ICTESS certificate backs your specialization in envelope thermal calculations and validates your skills with employers in high-performance construction.
This course is for professionals and technicians who need to master envelope thermal calculations to meet IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 requirements. Recommended profiles include:
Program details
The Capstone Project is the final stage of the course and brings together all the technical skills you develop along the way. You will complete a full thermal analysis of a building envelope, real or proposed, from characterizing the assemblies to verifying code compliance, using the calculation methods and professional tools used in the industry.
The project includes U-factor calculations for every envelope element: exterior walls with different assemblies, low-slope or steep-slope roofs, slab-on-grade floors or floors over unconditioned spaces, and fenestration with frames and glazing. You will identify every linear thermal bridge in the building, calculate its psi value with THERM simulation and quantify its impact on overall heat loss. The analysis also includes an interstitial condensation risk check for critical assemblies.
The project ends with IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 envelope compliance documentation that verifies the calculated U-factors stay below code limits and that thermal bridges are properly addressed. The final documentation must meet the technical level and professional format of construction documents. It should show you can produce complete and rigorous thermal documentation ready for AHJ plan review or a full set of construction documents.
ICTESS’s U-Factor and Thermal Bridging Calculations Training Course includes hands-on training in THERM, the two-dimensional thermal simulation software developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and an international reference for thermal bridge analysis. You will learn to model complex junctions such as slab edges, window perimeters and roof-to-wall intersections, and define boundary conditions correctly under ISO 10211.
The course teaches you to interpret temperature and heat flow results, calculate the psi value of each thermal bridge and generate professional technical reports. Architecture firms and engineering firms that specialize in energy efficiency value THERM skills highly, because the tool solves unusual cases that standard thermal bridging catalogs do not cover.
You do not need a degree in architecture or engineering, but technical training in construction, building science or building systems is recommended. The course is designed for architects, construction managers and building and mechanical engineers. It is also open to people with an associate degree in architectural or construction technology, energy efficiency technicians and professionals with proven construction experience.
You need prior knowledge of basic heat transfer, the ability to read construction details and computer skills. The program includes technical calculations with specific formulas and simulation software, so you should be comfortable interpreting numerical results and applying them to real projects.
The ICTESS Professional Certificate validates your technical specialization in U-factor and thermal bridging calculations. However, responsibility for signing and sealing construction documents always rests with the registered design professional under state law. The course gives you the technical skills to perform the calculations that are later included in construction documents sealed by the responsible architect or engineer.
If you already hold a professional license, the certificate documents your specific training in this area. Code officials and professional associations value specialized continuing education as proof that you are current on energy codes and internationally recognized calculation methods.
The U-Factor and Thermal Bridging Calculations Training Course stands out for its specialized focus and technical depth in thermal engineering calculations. Many energy efficiency courses offer broad overviews that touch on building systems, lighting and the envelope only at a surface level. This course focuses exclusively on envelope thermal performance at the level of detail that professional projects require.
The content includes calculations under specific ISO standards, rigorous application of IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 methods and two-dimensional THERM simulation to quantify thermal bridges that simplified tables cannot resolve. The course also covers real problem junctions and teaches you to prepare the compliance documentation required in plan review, skills that general energy rating courses rarely develop.
