MALTA, N.Y. - The Building Performance Institute Inc. (BPI) released new policies and procedures for its building performance credentialing programs in certification, accreditation, and quality assurance.

"A large group of industry professionals have dedicated countless hours to help BPI strengthen its policies and procedures for its credentialing of building performance professionals and their businesses," said Laverne Dalgleish, BPI chairman. "This investment will produce huge dividends in the coming years for consumers that are seeking a highly credible contractor pool to help them upgrade the health, safety, and performance of their homes, while lowering their energy bills and improving their comfort."

Candidates must pass both a written and field examination and demonstrate competency in their field to earn the BPI Certified professional credential in one or more of four categories: building analyst/evaluation, shell/envelope, mechanical systems, and multifamily. A key aspect of the new certification process is a single point of entry, 100-question examination for candidates. Fifty of these questions cover the building science principles that are required of all BPI Certified professionals, with the remainder of the questions focused on the specialty area. Previously, candidates had to complete a prerequisite designation prior to sitting for the more specialized examinations and the field examinations.