Being a brilliant engineer rarely translates into having a successful business. With all the years of education and training to make us experts in our profession, the skills needed to have a successful business were conveniently overlooked. This webinar will fill the void and provide you with the business management highlights that every firm needs to apply to achieve their full potential. In this session, we will learn the fundamentals of all successful AE firms and provide the basis for making well-grounded business decisions. We will learn how firms can transition from being professionals providing services, to highly tuned businesses that can identify the needs of the marketplace and create services and products that are appropriately priced and yield consistent and greater profits. Rather than seeking out new projects that merely build upon your current skills, you will start from a business-thinking mindset, where processes that are critical to building a thriving firm are examined and constituted in your firm. We will explore the importance of data within an engineering firm and demonstrate how careful collection and interpretation can lead your firm into more exciting and profitable territory. Join us for an engaging, live webinar presented by Steven Burns, FAIA, Chief Creative Officer at BQE Software as he shares lessons learned over 35 years working with over 1,300 engineering firms.  

This course outlines the dangers posed by Mother Nature and the science, codes, testing and methods in which to build and combat these forces. In addition, this course addresses the value of continuous insulation to improve the energy conversation of the building. We will also address how proper incorporation of martials including continuous insulation and air and weather-barrier systems will improve indoor air quality and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Do fasteners matter? Accepted practices for thermal performance evaluations negate fasteners. But with the advent of exterior insulation, fasteners and cladding attachment systems now serve as the primary bridging elements within typical clear fields. These components inherently disrupt the insulation layer, providing intermittent continuity with sheathing and studs. Furthermore, the ‘cladding attachment system’ has essentially morphed into the ‘cladding fastening system’ while also achieving de facto exclusion from thermal calculations. In other words, prescriptive R-values and alternative U-factors did not account for the ill effects of these thermal bridges. What ensued was a decade of under-achieving walls where effective R-vales were only marginally better than conventional framed assemblies. In this presentation, I offer clarity on the effects of fasteners and cladding attachment systems that vary in both material and form. My findings show that fasteners do matter and that certain fasteners warrant inclusion for thermal calculations and code compliance.

Moisture is the most significant factor in the premature deterioration of buildings. Moisture can damage materials directly, but it can also reduce the effectiveness of building materials. Excess moisture is also the major factor in the growth of mold. The most common contributing factors to moisture problems in buildings include: − Lack of understanding of building science principles − Design related factors, e.g., lack of sufficient details in the drawings − Installation related factors, e.g., improper materials substitutions, lack of installer training, and lack of inspection during construction This seminar will discuss the moisture sources in buildings, moisture transport mechanisms and moisture control strategies.

Ready to start mastering fees and better understand what they mean for your bottom line? To do so, let’s start at the very beginning—when you receive a request for a proposal. In this course, you will learn how to define your project scope, develop a Rough Order of Magnitude of construction cost, and estimate your project hours. We’ll finish off with how fees are broken down and explore a simple system to improve your overall project profitability.

This is a Product Spotlight Presentation.
Join us for a practical look into the process of creating custom cabanas. We'll walk you through the straightforward three-step journey: starting with the design, moving on to manufacturing, and concluding with assembly. This presentation offers a clear understanding of how each phase seamlessly connects to the next. Whether you're working on a hospitality project or a multi-family development, you'll find valuable insights to enhance your approach to design and construction. Learn best practices and efficient methods with this informative session.

The presentation will the concept of Consolidated Control Layer Design and how to use it to determine the materials that will make the most efficient wall for your customers. We will define the Control Layers, discuss the Code Requirements for each layer, explain the Building Science behind the code requirements, and how that layer is related to the other (Thermal to Moisture, Moisture to Air, Air to Vapor, etc.) We will then discuss the Fire considerations that Impact Control layer design with today’s codes, including NFPA 285 Brief Overview as it has changed the way we design our above grade wall systems and types of continuous insulations that influence the design considerations with respect to fire and NFPA-285. Finally, solutions for consolidating these 4 layers for simplified design, superior performance, and long lasting durability will be covered.

This presentation originates from a research report written by the Applied Building Technology Group called Assessment of Water Vapor Control Methods for Modern Insulated Light-Frame Wall Assemblies. The report is extensive and includes compiled data from test homes, huts, and studies from the US, Canada, and Europe. The presentation utilizes the collected data from the research report in the form of a table to make easy insulation choices to prevent moisture issues. This presentation will first present the Building Science Concepts one needs to understand why things happen the way they do. The attendee will then be able to use that information to make informed decisions on how to design with wood framed construction. The presentation also breaks down some of the findings about wood sheathing and how it has been standing up over the years.

This course defines and explains building science behind the code for the four control layers of the building envelope: water, thermal, air and vapor. There will be a detailed overview of air leakage, why it matters in a sustainable envelope and why air barrier continuity is critical to building performance. Participants will be asked to explore typical design principles for addressing the four control layers within the wall assembly. Finally, there will be an in-depth discussion of the critical interfaces, how to detail them and test them to ensure continuity of the control layers for the entire building.

Just like a pilot does a safety inspection before a flight, the success of a project often depends on the activities conducted before the project starts. Just as importantly, closing a project helps prepare your teams to avoid blind spots, pitfalls, and mistakes on future projects. In this session, we will look at best practices to prepare for a successful project and incorporate lessons learned from completed projects into your business and project management processes.

This course explores the below-grade use of polyisocyanurate (POLYISO) insulation to meet energy code and maximize thermal performance of the building foundation. Let us help dispel the myths that have been created relative to POLYISO insulation while discussing its thermal performance, water absorption, and load capacity – the three primary characteristics for below grade insulation. In addition, we will discuss how the insulation can provide protection for the foundation waterproofing system.

Helps provide the design community with a better understanding of the model energy code requirements for insulation in metal buildings, how codes are changing, including requirements for continuous insulation and air barriers along with considerations when selecting the right insulation.

The chart of accounts is foundational to understanding your firm's finances. In this course, we will review basic terminology used in accounting, analyze a typical chart of accounts that will work for most small firms, and show how this chart of accounts can assist with understanding your flow of money and help to create your budget for the coming year.

An introduction to the use of Polyisocyanurate insulation to provide a Continuous Insulating Air & Water Resistive Barrier, providing energy efficiency, fire safety, sustainability, and a healthier indoor environment.

This program is designed to provide the design community with the knowledge to make informed decisions when specifying a system solution in steel stud wall assembly that will deliver high thermal performance, moisture management, as well as minimize air infiltration in steel stud wall assemblies.

Sometimes a design finish cannot be achieved within a certain budget or time frame. While not intended to be a substitute for real materials in every situation, architectural finishes mimic the aesthetics of natural and other materials. This course discusses the uses, manufacturing process, performance characteristics, selection considerations and proper installation techniques of architectural finishes.

Choosing the right insulation for your roof can have lasting impacts on the building performance and energy conservation. This presentation explains the different types of commercial insulation, long-term performance and liabilities, re-usability and sustainable roof design approaches for long term owner, occupant and maintenance benefits.

We will discuss how Polyiso Continuous Insulation will improve the thermal performance of walls of Steel Stud Construction. In addressing the advantages of continuous insulation – we will also address the disadvantages of using steel studs without continuous insulation. We will discuss what Sustainability d how it is measured, including – factors that are involved in addressing Building Longevity – how these concepts impact making buildings more energy efficient. We will look at various types of products that can be used to achieve designs with a perspective that address sustainable construction. Looking towards the future we will discuss the actions being undertaken in conjunction with energy conservation and construction codes, building science organizations and other groups in pushing building envelope design. We will also look at the history of Polyiso and how this product is produced from raw chemicals, creating a completed board stock product.

Just like a pilot does a safety inspection before a flight, the success of a project often depends on the activities conducted before the project starts. Just as importantly, closing a project helps prepare your teams to avoid blind spots, pitfalls, and mistakes on future projects. In this session, we will look at best practices to prepare for a successful project and incorporate lessons learned from completed projects into your business and project management processes.

This course is designed to provide an understanding the importance of continuous insulation relative to mass wall of Concrete and CMU, and how the continuous insulation can help leverage the mass wall properties to stabilize the building environment. In addition, we will address how specific types of continuous insulation can function as the Air and Water Resistive Barrier System, leading to better indoor environment.

Provides an overview of the significant role solar control window film can play in a energy savings, occupant comfort, and daylighting strategies for architectural applications.

This free, live professional development webinar reveals a simple approach to end the chaos of business and get back to what you love: architecture.

All the new energy codes are requiring or moving towards exterior insulation for exterior walls to increase energy efficiency and reduce the energy losses due to thermal bridging. This class examines how to design and build high performance wall assemblies that deliver significant increases in energy efficiency and do not lead to trapping water and moisture related failures. The class will also show practical approaches to advanced framing as well as specific installation protocols to prevent insulation installation related degradation which is 30% for typical installations. Steve Easley will use pictures from real world installations to illustrate the do’s and don’ts to building high performance wall assemblies that are affordable and cost effective. This interactive class is designed to sort through the myriad of insulation system options in order to match the best insulation system to the type of structure. This class also will show latest FMA/AAMA/WDMA 500-16 installation standards for integrating exterior insulation with weather barriers and window flashing. Additional content will provide information on water, air and vapor barrier code requirements in order to develop appropriate specifications to meet these new codes and create buildings that perform with better real-world results.

Effective and efficient building envelope assemblies will be discussed in terms of multi-family options to meet the 2009 and 2012 IECC for continuous insulation, air and water barrier performance. Up front investment in the assembly can potentially maximize operational returns especially for developer owned rental properties. Options and benefits will be discussed from design, construction to occupancy in particular for low rise, multi-family projects.

In the bestselling book Atomic Habits, James Clear illustrates that the key to unlocking significant improvements in our lives lies in small, incremental changes, emphasizing systems over goals for sustained progress. This webinar explores how integrating technologies into our daily routines, guided by Clear's four laws of behavior change (make it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying), can transform our work processes and AE firm’s culture. By adopting a mindset shift towards seeing ourselves not just as design professionals, but as innovators, we align technology with our identity, ensuring its seamless adoption. Join the founder of The Well-Designed Firm and former Chief Creative Officer of BQE Software, Steven Burns, FAIA, as he shares actionable insights on fostering a culture that embraces experimentation and learning, illustrating how these atomic habits can compound to achieve remarkable growth. Discover how to leverage these principles to propel your AE firm forward by letting automation and technology handle the heavy lifting, saving you hours per week!