Key Tips for Passing ASHRAE Certified Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP) Exam

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Dear All,

I would be grateful if guys who passed the BEMP exam could share their tips
for passing the exam and their recommendations. how much calculations
involved? kind of question techniques?, etc.

Regards,

Wahid H. Mohamed, LEED AP (BD+C)
Mechanical Project Engineer, Energy Modeler

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Hi Wahid,

Look for the ASHRAE Certification ( BEMP - BEAP ) a subgroup of IBPSA
- International Building Performance Simulation Association on
Linkedin. There are some good threads about the BEMP exam there.

Best,
Dionisio

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Wahid,

The ASHRAE BEMP exam is a very hard exam that tests a person(s) knowledge about building energy modeling -- all aspects. To this extent it was created by modelers to REALLY test one's modeling skills. So, it should really be a test of what you know. This is because it is supposed to "certify" that someone actually knows something.

Hence, I don't think it is appropriate for you to ask for "help" from others on the Bldg-sim list server.

If you need help studying for the exam, I suggest you contact IBPSA USA and/or others who offer courses and workshops that help one prepare for the test.

Sorry to be such a jerk.

Jeff

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Thank you Dionisio and Jeff,

I went through the subgroup of IBPSA on linkedin and really it has a very
valuable recommendations.

Jeff,

Actually, I am preparing myself in different aspects of energy modeling
competencies, real practice through on-going projects, reviewing relative
standards and guidelines, studying suggested materials and resources, and
from more skills and experts practitioners getting tips and recommendations
either in modeling practice itself, reference resources, or
exam strategies testing building energy modeling knowledge (= help).

Really, I appreciate your feedback and would thank you being brought
my attention to how much the exam very hard and needs skilled people with
good knowledge about building energy modeling.

On the other hand, the BEMP exam's eligibility requirements have been met
as I have 10+ years extensive mechanical design & build experience on
conventional and sustainable buildings, in addition to more than 2 years
experience in building energy modeling for LEED projects.

Regards,

Wahid H. Mohamed, LEED AP BD+C
Mechanical Project Engineer, Energy Modeler

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On the other hand....
Tests are often very unpredictable regarding the type of information one is expected to know. Sometimes the people who prepare the test are "academic" as opposed to "practical", sometimes "theoretical" versus "hands-on".
Without remembering specific details, I recall taking the LEED EBOM test and thinking to myself that the test-preparers eschewed / disdained "reference materials" because it seemed the expectation was that the test-taker was supposed to memorize a lot of procedural details that were readily available in the USGBC documentation.
I've prepared university level tests (as has Dr. Haberl) and it's always a challenge to try to do so and be confident a) that the test covers a good cross section of important knowledge, b) is unambiguous and c) is able to fairly measure the student's knowledge.
That said, while it is certainly inappropriate to ask about specific test questions, it seems appropriate to ask about the general aspects and focus of the test. It certainly does seem that the world could use a great and comprehensive resource on energy modeling!
IBPSA's BEMBook (http://www.bembook.ibpsa.us/) is a reasonable start, as is www.energy-models.com or Rocky Mountain Institute (http://www.rmi.org/EnergyModelingWorkstream ).
There is a LOT of ground that is not covered by those, however! I have a saying that "Some people have 20 years of experience, but 19 of those years were repeats of the first year". In other words, they haven't learned anything in a long time. We don't want to be that person! (and I'm not suggesting that any of the people on this forum are that person. Actually, if you're on this or a similar forum, you're investing in continuous improvement!)

James V Dirkes II, PE, BEMP, LEED AP
www.buildingperformanceteam.com
Energy Analysis, Commissioning & Training Services
1631 Acacia Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 USA
616 450 8653

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Wahid, the experience that you mention based on the qualifications will be more valuable than courses or reading material in terms of exam prep. (Those things obviously still good for continuing education.)

LEED project experience in particular will cover many modeling topics. If anything, you might want to focus your additional studying efforts on existing building applications to fill the gap there if that hasn?t been a major area of your practice.

David

David S. Eldridge, Jr., P.E., LEED AP BD+C, BEMP, BEAP, HBDP
Grumman/Butkus Associates

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Thanks to all for the input. I appreciate everyone's thoughts.

?Regards,

Wahid

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