Insulation is one of the most critical factors in maintaining the life of a building. With benefits such as energy efficiency and code compliance, polyurethane spray foam insulation is the ideal choice for many interior and exterior applications. This course examines both low- and medium-density polyurethane spray foam insulation, its characteristics, design considerations, and life cycle analysis for commercial applications.

Energy codes are appearing on the federal, state, and local level in an effort to reduce energy consumption, save consumers money, and reduce CO2 emissions. Whether new or existing, energy codes play an important 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 90.1-2013 and the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code® and identifies plug and lighting control strategies for energy efficiency.

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

Rolling doors are used in heavy-duty, medium-duty, and light-duty applications for a wide range of commercial, industrial, and construction environments. This course provides a review of the features, components, options, and applications of various types of commercial rolling door products.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Adding small pockets of luxury to a home has become commonplace in spaces like the kitchen and bathroom. Personal saunas are a natural extension to this way of thinking, supporting an owner’s health and relaxation. This course looks at the wide variety of heat bathing options: sauna, infrared, and steam, with a focus on how to both select a product and implement heat bathing in residential and commercial projects.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

The cleanliness of a hotel guestroom bathroom directly impacts a hotel’s profitability, by its influence on customer satisfaction and hotel image. Designers should not only consider aesthetics but also the selection of finishes and fixtures that allow for faster, more cost effective sanitation. This course examines the role of clean hotel bathrooms in hotel profitability, customer satisfaction, and public health. Potential modes and threats of infection are discussed and strategies suggested for selecting fixtures that improve sanitation and minimize labor.

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

While the bathroom was once a strictly utilitarian space, a growing trend among luxury consumers is to create a custom, spa-like wellness retreat right in the home. Surveys find that luxury consumers value functional and design excellence, uniqueness that reflects a creative side, and exceptional quality and value. This course examines the shower products available that help to create a personalized, multisensory wellness experience with beautifully designed pieces that meet water efficiency standards.

One of the more complicated issues today in building science is addressing moisture movement, since moisture can penetrate a building in several different ways and result in material degradation, mold, and air quality issues. By knowing and understanding the source of the water and its movement, effective solutions can be developed to eliminate or retard moisture movement. This course focuses on moisture movement below grade and the methods used to prevent and control the different types of moisture movement to provide complete below-slab protection. Industry codes and standards that must be met when specifying vapor retarders/barriers are also discussed.

Le choix d'un revêtement isolant est l'un des facteurs les plus déterminants au prolongement du cycle de vie d'un bâtiment. En présentant des avantages tels que l'efficacité énergétique et le respect du code, l'isolant en mousse de polyuréthane giclée est le choix idéal pour de nombreuses applications intérieures et extérieures. Ce cours porte sur les isolants en mousse de polyuréthane giclée à faible densité et de densité moyenne, leurs caractéristiques, les critères de conception, ainsi que l'analyse du cycle de vie pour les applications commerciales.

Bar and Plank Gratings are used for a wide range of applications. With the array of Grating products that are available on the market, the proper selection of a suitable solution requires an understanding of the specification considerations. This course provides a review of these considerations along with a discussion of the applications and terminology relating to Bar and Plank Grating products.

Perforated Metal, Expanded Metal, and Wire Mesh combine aesthetics, durability, and functionality. Although each product is distinct with unique characteristics, they have similar properties that provide light and sound diffusion, security, strength, and durability. This course provides a review of the characteristics and architectural applications of these products, the different materials in them, and how they achieve a safe work environment.

Universal hot water availability is generally taken for granted. At a time when energy prices and sources, environmental concerns, and water shortages are increasing in significance, it is important to produce hot water in a manner that addresses all these issues. This course explains how electric tankless water heaters (ETWHs) do this while also improving health and safety conditions and reducing costs. The examination includes detailed descriptions of many types of ETWHs and the basic calculations and selection criteria for the most suitable system.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Construction is going green. As both sustainability and efficiency advance in the built environment, architects, specifiers, and buyers are increasingly concerned with purchasing products that are environmentally friendly and can achieve project performance and client welfare goals. Architects and designers are, in essence, visionaries. This course explores options that architects and designers have when choosing products that accurately support and fuel their passion for possibilities while maintaining the health, safety, and welfare of clients. Definitions of environmental product declarations (EPDs), product category rules (PCRs), and life-cycle assessments (LCAs) are discussed, and various case studies are examined.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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

Since ancient times, concrete mixes and carved natural stone have combined to create substance, beauty, and longevity in our architecture. Glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) was created to ensure that the attributes of concrete and stone continue to be enjoyed but with the efficiency in application that is expected in today’s world of design. This course covers the evolution of GFRC, its applications and how it is custom-created, its advantages, and how GFRC compares to other types of architectural concrete.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Greenhouses are used in an array of applications from residential to commercial, institutional, or educational. This course describes the glazing options, accessories, environmental controls, and planning considerations that contribute to a successful greenhouse. Also presented are the configuration options and decorative details that make each greenhouse unique and ideally suited for its purpose.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Today’s louvers not only are functional but also offer enhanced architectural design to the façade of many buildings. More than just a hole in a wall, louvers are responsible for reducing or eliminating water infiltration and offer protection from heavy storms and hurricanes. Different types of louvers and their applications are discussed in this course as well as specific terminology, AMCA/BSRIA testing procedures, and the Certified Ratings Program.

In the last couple of decades, houses have become progressively more airtight due to energy efficiency and cost concerns. While air infiltration and exfiltration rates have been significantly reduced, the need for an efficient ventilation system has become extremely important. This course evaluates different types of mechanical ventilation systems and discusses why heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems are characterized by a high level of energy efficiency and as an effective means for improving indoor air quality.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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

Building systems can be enhanced by incorporating reflective insulation or radiant barriers into the building envelope. With effective insulation, heat transfer is reduced, resulting in less summer heat gain, and less winter heat loss. This course explains common and effective uses for reflective insulation and radiant barriers in a wide range of construction and building applications and demonstrates how these systems reduce energy usage, increase the lifespan of the mechanical equipment for heating and cooling, and reduce maintenance requirements and frequency of replacement.

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

Modern hydronic radiator systems are an energy efficient, healthy, and hygienic solution for residential and commercial applications. This course will discuss the principles of radiant heating, panel radiators, and how to size panel radiators for residential applications.

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

Choosing a sink and countertop for kitchen and bathroom installations can be overwhelming with the array of choices in today's marketplace. To facilitate the selection process, this course provides an overview of the different sink/countertop materials, sink configurations, and installation methods that are utilized in both residential and commercial applications with a focus on seamless integration design.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Cooktops are manufactured and classified by construction type and method of heat energy transfer. This course reviews the operation, control, performance, and efficiency of induction cooktops in comparison to their gas and electric counterparts, and shows how induction cooktops can be incorporated into any kitchen design in residential and specialty-commercial applications such as marine, mobile, military, academic, institutional, and hospitality.

Today's gas fireplaces make a stylish, modern design statement while providing a safe and efficient option for supplemental heat. This course explores the benefits of direct vent, electronic ignition gas fireplaces over other fuel and venting options, with a focus on the innovative features and design possibilities offered by frameless fireplaces suitable for any residential or commercial space. The benefits of a frameless fireplace design, cool wall technology, a heat control system, and integration of the modern fireplace into a home automation system are discussed, and occupant safety features such as double glass heat safety barriers are explained.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Electrical systems that deliver access to permanent power and enable device connectivity are critical components of the design and operation of high-performance buildings. Today’s mobile technology means people can connect and move freely between the indoors and outdoors, and integrate their social and work lives, anytime, anywhere. This course examines permanent outdoor power delivery offerings, including charging stations and in-ground power boxes, that support the growing demand for connectivity and data and audiovisual communications in outdoor spaces, and help to create an outdoor environment that promotes longer stays, stimulates creativity, and increases productivity.

Quartz surfacing material is one of the most durable products in the market today. While there are many surfacing options available, such as natural stone, acrylic solid surface, ceramic, concrete, and laminate, none offer the flexibility, strength and endless design possibilities as a quartz surface. This course will examine the characteristics, attributes, and manufacturing processes involved with quartz surfaces. A comparison of other surfacing options will be discussed, as well as using quartz surfaces in healthcare system applications.

Sinterization is a specialized manufacturing process that uses extreme heat and pressure to create a unique product called ultracompact surfacing material. This cutting-edge material can be used in ways that natural stone, solid surface, or quartz material cannot. This course examines the advantages of ultracompact surfaces in terms of strength, durability, chemical resistance, absorption, abrasion resistance, and ASTM testing. Design flexibility with ultracompact surfaces in terms of color, texture, and format is also discussed and possible interior/exterior application options are considered.

Large format floor tiles are elegant, classy, and timeless, and create spacious and stylish environments with high-end appeal. This course introduces a unique, cutting edge surfacing material known as ultracompact surfacing (UCS) and explores how it is manufactured, installation considerations, and the attributes that contribute to its superior performance and design potential.