ASHRAE Falcon Chapter announces MENA HVAC Design virtual training course

DUBAI, UAE, 21 April 2025: The ASHRAE Falcon Chapter (AFC) announced through an email communique that it will host the Virtual HVAC Design Level I & II (MENA) programme, delivered online through ASHRAE Global Training this May. Designed to address the unique climate and design requirements of the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia, the course series will run from May 19 to 28, offering live expert instruction over 8 days, AFC said.

According to the AFC, the HVAC Design Web-Training Series (MENA) is split into two levels:

• Level I – Essentials: May 19-23 (3pm-7pm, UAE)
• Level II – Applications: May 26-28 (3pm-7pm, UAE)

The AFC said both courses are led virtually by seasoned instructors and are designed to equip participants with practical, ASHRAE-standard knowledge in HVAC system design.

“Achieving energy-efficient building performance that provides cooling comfort for occupants and meets the needs of building owners begins with system design,” an AFC representative said. “If the design is flawed, performance will suffer, and owner objectives will not be satisfied.”

HVAC Design: Level I – Essentials (MENA)

The AFC said this 18-hour training aims to transform engineers new to the field into effective members of HVAC design and facilities teams. The AFC said the course has been “customised to consider the special design requirements of the Middle East” and provides foundational skills in psychrometrics, system design, and building efficiency.

According to the AFC, the objectives of the course are to:

• Calculate heating and cooling loads to ensure right sizing of equipment and minimising energy use
• Explain HVAC controls and building automation systems as they relate to occupant health and comfort

The AFC said that attendees from previous sessions shared that the training had been a “huge benefit” for beginners and provided the confidence needed to pursue HVAC design professionally. According to the AFC, a participant from Nigeria said, “The training provided me with enough knowledge and confidence to believe that I can be an HVAC design engineer.”

HVAC Design: Level II – Applications (MENA)

The AFC described this course as having been designed for those with 2–10 years of HVAC experience or those who have completed Level I. The AFC said this 12-hour course provides advanced training using real-world case studies and in-depth coverage of ASHRAE standards, including Standards 55, 189.1, and the Advanced Energy Design Guides.

The AFC said the course focuses on:

• Applying concepts of thermal comfort and air quality
• Determining the basic design parameters for multiple HVAC systems including VAV, chilled beams and UFAD
• Describing the importance and impact of energy codes on the design process

As reiterated by the AFC, one past participant from Sri Lanka said: “It is a great course for anyone coming from the building services engineering industry to gain more than the basic knowledge…. It is also a good revision for anyone who is already in the industry.”

Instructor line-up

The AFC said Level I and II will be led by prominent figures in the HVAC field:

• Samir Traboulsi, Ph.D., P.Eng., Fellow Life Member ASHRAE – Senior lecturer at the American University of Beirut and award-winning ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer
• Hassan Younes, BEAP, BEMP, HBDP, HFDP, OPMP, Member ASHRAE – Co-CEO and Co-Founder of grfn, with extensive MENA region experience in energy efficiency, sustainability and MEP design
• Omar Abdelaziz, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor at the American University in Cairo, with over 15 years in energy-efficient building technologies and global recognition in HVAC R&D

Fees and registration

The AFC noted that participants can register for each level separately or as a bundled offering:

• Level I: USD 641 (ASHRAE members) / USD 803 (non-members)
• Level II: USD 444 (members) / USD 543 (non-members)
• Combo: USD 868 (members) / USD 1,077 (non-members)

Fee includes course access, materials and a Certificate of Attendance with corresponding Professional Development Hours (PDHs), the AFC said.

To learn more or register, contact: globaltraining@ashrae.org