HVAC Design and Engineering Training

Learning Outcomes

• Apply psychrometric principles to analyze air properties and processes for HVAC design.
• Calculate heating and cooling loads using industry-standard methods (e.g., ASHRAE, CIBSE).
• Design ductwork and piping systems for efficient air and fluid distribution.
• Select appropriate HVAC equipment (chillers, boilers, air handlers) based on performance criteria.
• Evaluate system performance and energy efficiency using metrics like EER and COP.
• Demonstrate compliance with SANS 10400 and relevant safety standards in HVAC design.

Target Audience

This course is ideal for mechanical engineers, building services technicians, and facilities managers seeking to specialize in HVAC design. It is also suitable for recent graduates in engineering who wish to gain applied knowledge in HVAC systems.

Prerequisites

A basic understanding of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics is recommended. No prior HVAC experience is required, but familiarity with engineering drawings is beneficial.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

The practicals component allows learners to apply HVAC design theory through hands-on exercises, including load calculations, duct sizing, equipment selection, and system commissioning simulations. These activities reinforce the course objectives by developing technical skills in design, installation procedures, and troubleshooting.

Practical Activities

• Hands-On Load Calculation and Equipment Selection — Learners perform manual heating and cooling load calculations using software and manual methods, then select appropriate equipment from manufacturer data. (4h)
• Duct and Pipe Sizing Workshop — Using ductulator and pipe sizing charts, learners design ductwork and piping systems for a small commercial project, including pressure drop calculations. (4h)
• VRF System Design and Configuration — Learners design a VRF system layout, select indoor and outdoor units, and configure branch controllers using manufacturer software. (4h)
• Commissioning and Troubleshooting Simulation — Using a simulated HVAC system (or lab setup), learners perform commissioning checks, measure airflow and temperatures, and diagnose common faults. (4h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	40% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.