Vinyl plays a major role in the design and construction of modern buildings, and it contributes to sustainability, wellness and resilience of people and their communities. This course demonstrates the importance of achieving client performance goals using thoughtful, multi-attribute material selection criteria.

This course is part of one or more "Course Collections".  Click to view details.

Whether replacing an existing roof, building a new roof from scratch, or some type of roof repair project in between, deciding on critical design factors is the key to a successful roofing system project. Each layer of a roofing assembly requires careful consideration and analysis to assess for impacts to the entire building. Using real-life scenarios and practice activities, this course explores the most common components of a roofing system, the advantages and disadvantages of each system, and how the critical factors aid in the assessment of the most appropriate system to meet the needs of the building and client.

Thin brick veneer wall systems offer a lightweight design option to use in many areas, both where traditional bricks are used as well as where their use is limited, such as interior accent walls or inset panels. This course outlines the differences between wall systems using anchored and adhered masonry veneer, with a focus on the design, materials, and installation methods of adhered brick veneer wall systems. Use of adhered veneer in interior applications is also discussed.

This course is part of one or more "Course Collections".  Click to view details.

Healthy urban trees contribute not only to our environment; they also contribute to our communities. As we create metropolitan landscapes, we need to address the health and well-being of tree. This is crucial to the legacy that we pass on to future generations. This course examines the factors that affect the health of urban tree environments, including the climatic conditions of the project site, tree planting techniques, and the use of architectural hardscape amenities.

This course is part of one or more "Course Collections".  Click to view details.

Provides an overview of preventing and managing moisture in walls.

This course is part of one or more "Course Collections".  Click to view details.

Accommodating an aging population in multi-storey homes means finding ways to simplify access to all levels. As home elevators continue to decrease in cost, they are being considered as the most effective solution. This course reviews all considerations needed for the installation of a home elevator including locating, power and structural requirements, and code considerations.

The U.S. has the worst fire fatality rate in the industrialized world, and consideration should be given to the use of intumescent acrylic latex paint for its fire-resistance attributes. This course outlines the evolution of intumescent coatings. The program focuses on intumescent acrylic latex paint coatings and the performance and aesthetic advantages they have over traditional coatings. It includes discussions on codes and standards, applicable substrates, adhesion, and application, curing, and cleanup.

The plumbing system is an integral part of a healthy home and is required by code to keep the occupants safe. Homeowners are making their kitchens and bathrooms even more hardworking by selecting fixtures and faucets that anticipate their needs and help them to use water efficiently. This course discusses how fixture and faucet function, operation, performance, and placement affect water delivery in the kitchen and bathroom.

For some applications, building codes provide for the use of fire-retardant-treated (FR) wood products as an alternative to noncombustible materials. To ensure that FR wood products are properly specified, it is important to understand how these products are made, their formulations, and the building code references that guide their use in construction. This course offers a review of FR wood products, including their manufacture, the applications and types of fire retardants that are available, and the factors that must be considered to ensure FR wood products are properly specified for code compliance.

Obesity rates in the U.S. have reached epic numbers and correlate to significant health and economic impacts. Outdoor obstacle courses in public green spaces can provide appealing, effective, and free training equipment to the community to help increase physical activity. Review the theories of obstacle course training and guidelines for their design and installation.

The magnitude and negative impacts of solid waste have become increasingly apparent, especially in regards to plastics and their presence in the oceans. As a result, there have been many approaches to rethinking what constitutes waste and how waste can be avoided, used, and/or managed in a more sustainable manner. This course explores these emerging approaches to waste management planning, and illustrates them with current examples of solid waste management (SWM) plans and initiatives from various countries around the globe.

This course is part of one or more "Course Collections".  Click to view details.

Insulating concrete form (ICF) products use a cost-effective and robust structural material option (reinforced concrete) to turn a building envelope into a high performing thermal, moisture, and air enclosure, with disaster resistance and built-in compliance with energy code requirements. As a result of their performance, building owners can complete a whole structure with ICFs and reinforced concrete, including intermediate suspended floors, roof tops, and multi-story designs. This courses examines the advancements in ICF technology and discusses the potential contribution held by ICFs to support improved sustainability and resilience.

This course is part of one or more "Course Collections".  Click to view details.

Problems associated with moisture in construction are common and wide-ranging—from mold and rot, to corrosion and degradation, to leakage and staining—and affect not just the durability, appearance, and functioning of the building, but the health of the building’s occupants. This course addresses the materials and techniques that help to manage moisture in exterior walls and includes examples of common mistakes that lead to failures.

With the increasing prominence of glass in new buildings and retrofit projects, the use of window film can raise the style, performance, and safety of today’s building projects. This course examines the use of various types of window film, (decorative, solar control, and safety/security) and their role in improving occupant comfort and safety, lowering energy costs, and enhancing privacy.

This course is part of one or more "Course Collections".  Click to view details.

Excessive sound can negatively impact the health and well-being of occupants. This has resulted in a growing trend to improve the acoustical performance of building assemblies. Due to this, there have been significant changes in the 2015 National Building Code of Canada (NBC) moving from sound transmission class (STC) to apparent sound transmission class (ASTC) ratings that reflect assemblies that provide increased levels of acoustical performance. The course will explore how laboratory acoustical testing is performed, the principles of sound control, the different methods of sound transmission within buildings (airborne, impact, and flanking), and how to meet the 2015 NBC requirements for ASTC ratings.

Towel warmers/heated towel racks not only warm and dry damp towels but add a sense of comfort and luxury. This course explores towel warmers/heated towel racks and includes discussions on: the functions, benefits, and applications of towel warmers/heated towel racks; centrally heated, electric, and hydronic heating systems; materials and finishes; installation and care; and, design and accessory options.

Metal composite panels deliver a clean and elegant aesthetic while acting as a rain screen or barrier wall. These panels can be produced in two different manners which affect their performance and applicability. This course will review metal composite panels, their methods of manufacture, performance capabilities and methods of installation.

Compartmentalization is a critical feature of a building’s passive fire protection system. To ensure compartmentalization during a fire, ductwork that penetrates rated walls or partitions requires the use of life safety dampers to restrict the passage of fire and smoke. This course reviews the three types of life safety dampers, their performance and resistance ratings, their functional options, and proper installation practices and guidelines.

Insulated vinyl siding, known as insulated siding, is an exterior cladding that combines the protection and low maintenance of traditional vinyl siding with the energy efficiency of EPS foam. The composite results in an improvement in performance and aesthetics. This course discusses the benefits associated with installing insulated siding on new and renovation residential construction projects, and the range of architectural styles that can be achieved with the breadth of design and color options available.

Louvers are an essential part of every HVAC system but their selection and sizing is often misunderstood or overlooked. In this course we’ll take a thorough look at louver components, types, options, and accessories and appropriate selection and proper sizing of louvers for a variety of climates, including WDR (wind-driven rain) and hurricane areas.

To fully assess the benefits of spray foam and its importance to today’s building industry requires taking a closer look at one of the main goals of architects and building engineers—to create sustainable structures which allows maximum design creativity. With an ability to contour into any space or shape and adhere to any surface, spray foam allows such creativity. This course examines the performance properties spray foam products and discusses advanced design concepts using spray foam

This course is part of one or more "Course Collections".  Click to view details.

Energy creation, distribution, and consumption is in a period of transition. Understanding this transition and its benefits is critical to sustainable community energy planning (SCEP). This course reviews the transition forces, describes the systems that are emerging, illustrates them with international and national examples, details the steps required for SCEP and provides a comprehensive overview of the many renewable energy options now viable for community energy systems.

This course is part of one or more "Course Collections".  Click to view details.

Gas fireplaces offer the look of wood burning fireplaces, while providing the convenience of remote control operation. This course delves into gas fireplaces and discusses their advantages over wood-burning fireplaces, types of gas units and venting options, their versatility in placement, and design and functional considerations critical to the selection process

Luxury does not necessarily equal excess and indulgence. In the kitchen and bath, luxury might simply be a fixture offering a higher perceived value and practicality. In this course, we will define luxury further and look at luxury options in kitchen and bath fixtures and technology.

Recently, custom showers have grown in popularity, offering homeowners an escape from the stresses of the outside world with new options providing the same sense of relaxation that was previously reserved for the bathtub. This course covers the trends in shower design, the benefits of hydrotherapy, and the components and technologies that are available to create a spa-like shower experience for today’s homeowners.