BTA Building Trades Associate (BTA)

In this course, students learn basic use and care of tools, pipe fitting materials and core supporting elements, as well as, the related science and related math including measurement of plumbing and pipefitting. Students also learn basic soldering, brazing, torch cutting and how to use the International Pipe Trade Handbook. Basic rigging, signaling and introduction to the related equipment is taught.

This course teaches welding fundamentals and skills in Shielded Metal Arc Welding and Gas Metal Arc Welding. Students will also learn about various types of metals and the best types of welding for those metals. Students will also understand how the various welding gasses work to help the overall welding process.

This course provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to perform complex cutting and welding applications commonly used in the plumbing and pipefitting trade. Students learn advanced techniques, safety protocols, and gain hands-on experience in advanced fitting and welding processes.

This course teaches students the rules and regulations of the International Plumbing Code pertaining to fixtures, water supply, drainage, venting, storm drains, and gas piping. This course also teaches students theory and application of waste drainage, vent materials, fittings and supports, traps and fixtures connections, the building sanitary drainage systems, vent systems, sewers, sewer treatment, storm drainage, and alternate sources of drainage systems. Sizing for drainage and sewers will be taught also. This course utilizes the 2017 Ohio Plumbing Code Manual for theory and applications.

This course teaches students how to install water supply and various drainage systems. It includes installation of water supply lines, pipes, materials, fittings, valves and supports. The concepts and applications of water sources, water distribution, water supply systems, water systems sizing, water heating and water conservation will be examined. This course also covers design and function of plumbing fixtures, installation practices, institutional fixtures, fixture controls, appliances and related accessories. Students install a variety of plumbing fixtures. Students also learn advanced pipe welding in Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding and Gas Metal Arc Welding processes. Students utilize the 2017 Ohio Plumbing Code book for all installation and applications.

This course covers the application and process of pipe and tube bending. The theory and application of Setback, Advance, Gain process is utilized. The Pipe and Tube Bending Manual is utilized as a base. This course also teaches the safe and proper methods of rigging loads. This includes slings and rigging hardware. The appropriate calculations and maintenance of rigging equipment are also studied and applied. Students learn the fundamentals of Revit, gaining skills in using the Revit interface, Toolbar, and Command Bar.

In this course, students learn advanced fitting processes and procedures. Various techniques and methods for the layout of simple rolling offsets, miters, odd angle fittings, and odd angle laterals will be utilized. Pipe welding techniques and processes will be applied and skill building is a focus in the areas of Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, and Gas Metal Arc Welding.

This course covers the National Fire Protection Act 2021 codes and American Society of Safety Engineers Series 6000 standards that regulate correct medical gas and medical/surgical vacuum piping system installation and testing. This includes the requirements for installer qualification, and requirements for brazing qualification. This course also teaches the welding theory and application needed to successfully create an orbital fusion weld used in semiconductor applications, food & beverage, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. This course has many applications that are required as part of the erection and ongoing maintenance required of the Intel semiconductor chip manufacturing operation.

In this course, students practice and build their specific skills on pipefitting related welding applications, utilizing Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, and Gas Metal Arc Welding processes. A variety of weld testing methods are utilized to check for quality welds.

This course will teach students the understanding and applications of crane signaling for a safe and effective job site. Boom signals will be taught and practiced with job site safety as a focus.

This class helps to prepare students to successfully sit for the Environmental Protection Agency Section 608 Technician Certification examination. Core areas covered in this course are: history of refrigerants, ozone and global warming, proper refrigerant recovery, refrigerant recycling and reclamation, safety, proper storage and transportation and transportation of refrigerants. This course also covers refrigerant recovery tools and equipment.

This course teaches core electrical concepts and theory with respect to electrical safety, voltage, amperage and resistance. Electrical troubleshooting is a key component of this class with respect to heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration control circuits. Students will utilize circuit design software as well.

This course teaches the principles and applications of safe natural gas pipe joining for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry. This includes plastic joining fusion equipment for a variety of joining processes and applications. Concepts and applications for tapping and stopping pipelines under pressure will also be explored.

This course introduces students to the process of accurately bending tubing. An overview and application of the simple bending process, and the Setback, Advance, Gain process, as well as an understanding of how a bender works will be covered. This will include the trigonometric functions and calculations to accurately bend tubing to the needed dimensions.

This course covers the fundamentals, function, use and controls of multiple manufacturers and types of economizers. This includes the variety of wiring and configurations in typical use.

This course teaches the core Direct Current and Alternating Current fundamentals with respect to heating, ventilating and air conditioning and related components. This includes applications related to fuel burning, water heating, air conditioning and refrigeration.

This course teaches the fundamentals of hydronics, which is heat transported utilizing circulated water and its applications. Students will understand the methods and components in which heated circulated water can be utilized for controlled specific heating applications. This includes: boilers, heat exchangers, chillers, heat pump systems and additional related equipment.

This class covers the principles, operation, installation and servicing of the devices and equipment required to control the flow of refrigerant in all types of air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

This course teaches basic sheet metal layout, calculations, principles and installation practices. Basic duct sizing and hanger configuration is also taught. Proper drawing and building of transition pieces for existing Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems will also be a focus.

This course provides an overview of pumps, including pump selection and operating characteristics. Proper servicing techniques and repair procedures are a core component of this class with an emphasis on manufacturer recommended best practices.

This course teaches the principles of heat transfer and fluid flow, as related to hydronic balancing and system performance. Core electrical testing, troubleshooting and measurement will also be covered. The application and operation of system components, such as fans, pumps, duct systems, and hydronic piping systems will be taught in relation to heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems.

This course covers how to read basic schematics, basic diagram symbols and nomenclature. The incorporation of diagrams and schematics into workplace application and equipment will be utilized. Extensive coverage of sequence of operation and flow of electricity through a diagram will be a core part of this course.

This course covers basic pneumatic control principles used in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems. It also covers the operation and installation of a series 90 controller as well as multiple flame safeguard techniques and controllers, specifically, Honeywell and Fireye controllers.

This course provides a broad understanding of commercial cooling and refrigeration systems. Topics will range from walk-in freezers and coolers down to refrigerated display cases. Typical troubleshooting of overall refrigeration systems as well as individual component diagnostics are taught. An overview of typical repair and maintenance, contracts and customer service communication skills will be discussed.

This course teaches the fundamentals of residential and light commercial solar water heating systems for domestic hot water systems. Core topics covered are: sight assessment, system design, sizing, installation, start up and service/maintenance.

This course teaches additional rigging functions and processes with regards to the specific commands involved with crane signaling. This allows for safe hoist, movement and precise placement of loads at the job site. This course also includes a capstone (shop) project that includes many of the combined skills to create a plumbing and/or pipefitting specific project.

This course covers heating, ventilation, and air conditioning control systems with respect to modern building control systems. Topics covered include building control systems, control concepts, network data communications, and electrical system control devices and applications. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system energy sources, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system control devices, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system applications, automated building operation, system integration are studied and explored.

This course covers the definition and uses of transcritical CO2 and their design and operation of systems, including the state of change of the CO2 inside the system. This includes CO2 system safety due to elevated operational pressures. Students will gain an overall understanding of CO2 equipment and where these systems will be used. The efficiency of CO2 systems and cost effectiveness are core elements covered including heat reclamation from CO2 transcritical systems.

This course teaches students principles and concepts of utilizing more toxic, flammable refrigerants in air conditioning and refrigeration systems that are less destructive overall for the environment. It will help students understand the impact all refrigerants have on the environment. The A2L refrigerant family is flammable so a focus on safety use and application will be a core component of this course.

This course teaches students to properly prepare and join cup type copper tubing joints utilizing both the soldering and brazing methods. Safe and proper tool use is stressed throughout this course. The identification and utilization of various filler materials, fluxes and solders are taught. A focus on typical brazing techniques for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry are taught and practiced.