Building Knowledge and Connections
Health, Safety, and Welfare
All courses identified as HSW, cover Health, Safety, and Welfare topics and have been approved by the AIA (American Institute of Architects) as an HSW Learning Unit (LU/HSW).
Displaying 1 - 25 of 597 results.
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https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s525798/www.aecdaily.com/course/1028895
Energy codes at the federal, state, and local levels increasingly focus on reducing energy consumption, saving consumers money, and reducing CO2 emissions. Whether new or recently updated, energy codes play an essential role in the buildings we design, build, and ultimately live, work, and play in. This course examines the lighting requirements and provisions of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019 and the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code ® , with a focus on plug and lighting control strategies for energy efficiency.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s12209/www.aecdaily.com/course/892901
In the wake of the green movement, combined with rising energy costs, building sustainability has become an important topic. This course examines how foil-faced polyisocyanurate (polyiso) continuous insulation can function as a multiple control layer, providing a building with an air and water-resistive barrier and a thermal control layer. Additionally, this course reviews building codes and standards for meeting the continuous insulation requirements in steel stud building envelope designs, the benefits of using polyiso insulation in wall assemblies, and how polyiso insulation meets NFPA 285 requirements.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s1034450/www.aecdaily.com/course/1087787
Corrosion is a significant concern for interior and exterior metal doors and frames, primarily due to the constant exposure to environmental factors like moisture, humidity, salts, and chemicals. Corrosion not only affects the aesthetics of these structures but also compromises their structural integrity and performance. This presentation reviews the causes, types, impacts, and treatments of corrosion in metal doors and frames. It examines how preventive measures related to materials and door design and construction inhibit corrosion, contributing to a durable, safe, and functional entryway and exit.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s14550/www.aecdaily.com/course/1219179
Marine and waterfront environments expose exterior walking surfaces to moisture, ultraviolet radiation, temperature variations, and repeated wetting cycles that affect durability, safety, and maintenance planning. This course examines how composite decking systems perform under these conditions and how specification decisions influence long-term resilience and environmental performance. These considerations support alignment with green building objectives under LEED® v5 Building Design + Construction and SITES® v2.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s15743/www.aecdaily.com/course/1152629
Stairs are an important component in buildings, facilitating traffic flow and serving as a means of egress in emergencies. They can also pose a safety risk if not designed and outfitted properly. In this course, we address the safety aspects of stair design and specification, providing an overview of anti-slip products for new and existing stairways. Also discussed are the various codes and standards related to stair design and photoluminescent egress path markings and the available solutions to ensure code compliance and the subsequent well-being of users. Finally, we look at installation and anchorage options.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s4860/www.aecdaily.com/course/1108432
Stucco is a popular and durable finishing material that offers many benefits, combining safety and affordability while satisfying aesthetic needs. It can be applied to various surfaces using a lath system, which provides support for stucco. However, the quality of the stucco lath embedment can greatly affect its performance. This course covers the proper technique for achieving lath embedment, the different types of metal lath and their various applications, and regional material preferences.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s796722/www.aecdaily.com/course/961769
Synthetic or artificial grass bears virtually no resemblance to its early version produced over fifty years ago. The current product is much more aesthetically pleasing, safer, softer, and durable, made with environmentally friendly materials, highly customizable to suit many indoor and outdoor uses, and recyclable and nonflammable. This course details the many sustainable attributes of this material; its benefits, construction, and certifications; and numerous sample installations.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s3515/www.aecdaily.com/course/670359
The savings that water conservation measures can provide are real and practical and offer enormous untapped potential. One of the best ways to boost conservation really hasn’t been thoroughly utilized, yet it’s right here at our fingertips: faucets. This course provides an overview of commercial faucets, including the evolution of the modern faucet, design and installation considerations, and the faucet’s impact on water conservation and green building programs.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s425610/www.aecdaily.com/course/1195391
Restrooms and other plumbing applications must comply with accessibility regulations, but do you know exactly how to do that? This course is a handy reference that explains what codes and regulations you must satisfy, when those requirements apply to new construction and alterations, and how to select and install fixtures to meet accessibility standards and the requirements of the LEED® v5 for Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems and the WELL Building Standard™ v2.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s1075056/www.aecdaily.com/course/1110425
Sustainable building envelopes demand high performance from and proper installation of continuous insulation and air, water, and vapor control layers. What happens when thousands of holes are made in these materials as they are installed with blind fasteners, one layer on top of another by different subcontractors? Sequencing issues can generally not be avoided; instead, this course focuses on self-sealing fasteners as a solution to avoid damage and thermal bridging in insulation and control layers. Various fasteners and anchors are described, and recommendations are presented for how to specify and what testing data to look for.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s841414/www.aecdaily.com/course/1114698
Metal roofing offers longevity, durability, and visual appeal. Today, a range of color and finish options are available that afford specifiers broad design flexibility. This course explores key solar reflectance and sustainability considerations when evaluating metal roofing colors and how selection relates to requirements in codes and green building programs such as LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction, Sustainable SITES Initiative® v2, and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2. Case studies demonstrate how metal roofing colors have been used to meet design and sustainability objectives.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s9365/www.aecdaily.com/course/1086424
Air curtain units (ACUs) provide a controlled airstream across a door or opening, creating a seamless barrier between two distinct spaces while enabling smooth, uninterrupted traffic flow. Air curtains fulfill numerous purposes and provide building owners with significant energy savings. This course examines how air curtains work and how they reduce whole-building energy consumption and contribute to occupant wellness and safety. The role of air curtains in limiting the infiltration of insects, pathogens, and outside pollutants while maintaining thermal comfort and good indoor air quality is explained. ACU selection and installation considerations are also discussed.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s1175577/www.aecdaily.com/course/1215081
This course examines high-performance composite fencing systems and their growing importance in sustainable and resilient design. Learners will explore the manufacturing process, including the materials and technologies involved, and how these systems surpass traditional wood, vinyl, and masonry fencing in durability, maintenance, and environmental performance, including contributions to SITES® v2 goals. The course examines the core standards, performance criteria, and installation considerations designers need to make informed decisions about fencing in residential, commercial, and institutional applications.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s796052/www.aecdaily.com/course/823653
Synthetic (artificial) grass, specifically designed for use with dogs, is a cost-effective solution that offers a clean, safe, and aesthetically pleasing environment for dogs. Presented here are the health, safety, performance, and cost benefits of installing synthetic grass specifically designed for dogs; its suitable applications; design considerations; installation factors; and maintenance guidelines.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18795/www.aecdaily.com/course/787742
The use of sustainable materials and products during building design will become the standard within the construction industry, and environmental product declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) help architects and owners make informed decisions for their projects. Insulated metal panels— a prime example of a sustainable product—are one of the most cost-effective solutions to reduce energy and greenhouse gases.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s7667/www.aecdaily.com/course/1192490
Louvers are functional elements that permit airflow and protect against water intrusion. Selecting the right louver for a project requires balancing multiple factors. This course provides an overview of the various types of louvers and their performance characteristics, the AMCA’s role in ensuring reliable, high-performing products, and relevant standards and testing protocols. Finish options, as well as installation, design, and structural considerations, are addressed. Guidance is provided on selecting and specifying appropriate louvers to meet project needs.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s20141/www.aecdaily.com/course/1145493
Retrofitting and replacing roof systems are essential aspects of the construction industry and offer opportunities to reduce a building’s energy consumption. Sustainable retrofitting of roofs with durable, energy-efficient materials helps reduce waste and conserve resources while promoting ecofriendly building practices. This course gives an overview of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation and innovative roof systems that are designed to enhance building efficiency.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s9525/www.aecdaily.com/course/946893
Due to their durability, low operational cost, and sustainability, metal roofs are gaining popularity in both commercial and residential markets. Owner expectations for this product family have increased as well and now include heightened aesthetics and long-term performance. While metal roofing systems are certainly up to these challenges, when they fail, the results are costly. Consequently, it is imperative designers have full knowledge of metal roof design and detailing. This course covers the top ten problems metal roof designers face and describes how these problems can be prevented through proper design.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s15358/www.aecdaily.com/course/693296
Specifying the right sectional door system for your commercial project can have a great effect on the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants. This course covers commercial sectional door systems, including the various types of doors available and their associated characteristics including energy efficiency and durability, along with a discussion on how to specify the correct door to meet project requirements.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s425610/www.aecdaily.com/course/1152795
Many communities face challenges related to the presence of harmful pollutants in their drinking water supply. This course examines the issues associated with these contaminants, focusing on lead, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microplastics. It also discusses the government’s response to providing clean, safe water and innovations in point-of-use filtration systems designed to reduce toxic substances in drinking water and minimize the environmental impact of disposable plastic water bottles.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s2580/www.aecdaily.com/course/1058864
Selecting flooring is an important decision, but equal emphasis should be placed on proper surface preparation to avoid costly flooring failures. This course reviews best practices for a typical hardwood flooring installation and discusses the innovative options that consolidate products and steps, saving time and money while enhancing certain performance characteristics.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s15612/www.aecdaily.com/course/1100999
The green building movement has been fueled by a variety of factors, including effects on the environment and human health. This course looks closely at high-pressure laminate (HPL), which covers horizontal and vertical surfaces in many different types of commercial, institutional, and residential buildings. As part of a variety of other products, such as cabinetry, countertops, wall coverings, and furnishings, it can contribute directly to sustainable building design solutions. HPL products can be specified that meet accepted standards for minimizing or reducing environmental and health impacts. All these can be documented to assist in green building certification programs such as LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems, the WELL Building Standard™ version 2 (WELL v2™), and others.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s8284/www.aecdaily.com/course/960286
The diffuse light-transmitting and composite technology of translucent structural sandwich panels has increasingly caught the imagination of architects and designers because it is possible to maximize wall or roof daylighting while minimizing energy loss, with consequent savings in the running costs of heating, air conditioning, and artificial lighting. This course explores the fundamental connection between light and health by examining how translucent structural sandwich panels deliver glare-free, diffuse daylight deeper and more evenly into spaces with maximum thermal efficiency.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s877426/www.aecdaily.com/course/938800
Mechanical vibration and structure-borne noise exist in all building environments. Depending on how severe the disturbance and how sensitive the equipment, the problems caused by the vibration or shock can be negligible or destructive. This course explains why, during the entire building design process, it is essential to consider what a building is being used for and the potential impact of vibration and structure-borne noise, not only from external sources but also from equipment running within the building.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s7816/www.aecdaily.com/course/977173
Increased energy efficiency in both new and existing construction continues to be a large factor behind the design decisions we make and the materials we choose to integrate into our buildings. Concrete masonry construction can provide a wide range of benefits. This course illustrates how building envelopes constructed with concrete masonry create high-performance buildings that can exceed energy code requirements.
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