Glass block adds light and beauty to exterior and interior projects through a wide array of patterns, sizes, and colors. This course reviews these options as well as the energy efficiency and fire ratings of glass block, installation methods, sustainable benefits, and prefabricated options for projects demanding durability, security, and resistance to extreme weather. The course concludes with case studies that demonstrate the unlimited design possibilities of this versatile product.

The variety of wheelchair lifts on the market can present a challenge to specifiers. Not only is there a wide range of design features, but some lifts may not meet all ADA requirements for a given application. This course covers the features, the code and regulatory requirements of vertical wheelchair lifts, and the benefits of specifying a vertical wheelchair lift solution to both the user and the facility owner.

With the range of ever-evolving uses of cold-formed metal framing, it is important for the building professional to be current with the latest product developments and innovations. This course begins with an overview of steel specification, followed by a discussion of a new, preassembled, double-stud sound guard system designed for superior acoustical performance. Also included is a review of fire-rated assemblies, including the recent developments and the expansion of UL assembly inclusions for the three different shaftwall studs (CH-stud, CT-stud, and I-stud).

Unfortunately, gun violence is a reality, and design strategies must be employed to ensure a suitable level of protection and safety. This course addresses bullet-resistant fiberglass composite panels and the need for architectural armoring. The course discusses ballistic material testing and standards, the types of ballistic materials available, and fiberglass composite panel applications and installation considerations.

Designers have come to rely on weatherable coatings to provide long-term weather protection to building elements and enhance their building designs. With an increased focus on sustainability, water-based PVDF coatings can help project teams attain their sustainability goals. This course covers the key components and function of weatherable coatings and how they compare to other coatings and looks at how these coatings can contribute to sustainable buildings.

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

Textile air dispersion systems have come a long way from the days of cotton diffusers and duct socks. Today's systems are custom engineered and constructed from advanced polyester fabrics that offer features and capabilities not possible with other air distribution systems. This course examines the similarities and differences between metal and fabric systems and highlights the design, performance, efficiency, and sustainability characteristics unique to textile air dispersion. As well, the wide-ranging application possibilities for textile systems are explored.

A comprehensive lighting plan is critical to the success of any residential design project. Proper lighting is effective and efficient and contributes to the comfort and functionality of the home. This course explores lighting concepts, sources, and controls. It discusses using layers of light to achieve design goals, and how to incorporate energy efficiency into lighting designs.

Undesirable acoustics in educational spaces have long been considered averse to our goals to effectively teach, create, collaborate, listen, and learn. Now, in the wake of implementing pandemic protocols, our acoustic comfort in these spaces is greatly challenged. This course examines the impacts of poor soundscapes in educational facilities and introduces innovative solutions for improving acoustics in these areas while keeping us comfortable and safe from exposure to emerging viruses.

Concrete is often the substrate for both new and existing floors. Transforming the surface into a finished floor is far more sustainable than consuming additional flooring materials, adhesives, and transportation-related energy to install a floor covering. This course discusses the stages and options of the concrete polishing process, recognizes benefits of recent advances in concrete densification chemistry, and provides an overview of the limitations and possibilities for concrete floor finishes.

Color is often used functionally across many design elements; this can also be done with concrete by simply dosing standard concrete mix designs with pigment. Using pigment, concrete can be transformed from a plain, common material into a beautiful, sustainable, and enduring building element. Adding pigments to concrete elevates a project's quality and impact. This course presents basic knowledge of how concrete pigments are manufactured and how they are measured and dispensed to produce the desired color hue and intensity capable of elevating a project to the next level.

Synthetic thatch provides designers with the opportunity to create a roofing system that delivers the beauty and wonder of a natural thatched roof combined with the durability of a commercial-grade building product. Reviewed in this course are the applications, design and installation considerations, and performance advantages of synthetic thatch compared to a natural thatch solution.

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

Falls are responsible for more open wounds, fractures, and brain injuries than any other cause of injury. Photoluminescent (PL) exit path markers have proven to provide safe and quick egress in all light conditions for occupants and fail-safe guidance to first responders entering unfamiliar surroundings in the event of an emergency. This course discusses the benefits of PL safety products and the codes and testing standards related to PL way-finding systems.

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

In response to steadily growing demands for more and more storage capacity and the costs and energy required to implement that storage, data center design is now focusing on solutions that conserve energy, materials, money, and space. This course explores the current influences that directly or indirectly affect energy usage and management, the resulting trends in data center development, and how containment strategies enable designers to optimize energy efficiency and create facilities with minimal environmental footprints.

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

This course is Part 1 of two courses aimed at helping contractors get organized, be proactive, and to work efficiently on LEED projects. Part 1 covers proposal preparation for LEED projects and general documentation principles, and also provides some recommendations and best practices for bidding and award during preconstruction.

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

 In order to download this course, a USD $35.00 fee must be paid.

Today’s building designs demand reliable building envelopes coupled with pleasing aesthetics. This course discusses how innovations in custom and specialty finishes on MCM panels now mean that the limitation is your imagination. In particular, we look at the use of anodizing, natural metals such as zinc, and organic coatings. The course also covers applicable standards and specifications for using these finishes.

Fiberglass composite materials have advanced to become extremely efficient solutions for cable support systems exposed to highly corrosive environments. This course examines how fiberglass cable trays are manufactured and key factors that should be considered for developing nonmetallic cable tray specifications and installation guidelines.

Architectural resin panels are engineered to suit the demands of a wide array of interior and exterior applications and offer almost unlimited combinations of color, pattern, and design. This course presents the features and options that allow resin panels to meet design requirements for both function and beauty and discusses how resin panels may play a role in projects seeking LEED® v4 BD+C, ID+C, and O+M; Living Building ChallengeSM v3.1; or WELL Building Standard® v1 certification.

From home offices to gyms to entertaining, homes have become multifunctional spaces. The use of smart technology provides innovative options for people to control and manage their homes for comfort and well-being on a daily basis. Smart home technology allows people to customize their homes. This course discusses how smart technology can interconnect household spaces to increase comfort, cleanliness, and well-being.

Moisture and soil gas beneath concrete slabs can cause a myriad of problems in both residential and commercial applications. The causes and consequences of these problems are reviewed in this course, along with a discussion on the types and characteristics of under-slab water vapor and soil gas barriers.

In applications where wood may be exposed to moisture, insects, or fungal organisms, preservative-treated wood can ensure a project’s durability. This course reviews: the manufacturing process for pressure-treated wood; types of preservative treatments and the required levels of retention as dictated by the end-use application, desired service life, and exposure conditions; American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) Use Category standards; current issues concerning preserved wood in residential and commercial construction; and Best Management Practices (BMPs) for aquatic uses.

Elevators are integral to accessible, smooth, and efficient operations in many applications. For low-rise buildings, hydraulic or gearless machine room-less (MRL) elevators are most common; this course presents the differences between the two in installation, maintenance, speed, energy efficiency, sustainability, and cost. Also addressed are the distinctions between proprietary and nonproprietary elevator systems and recommendations on how to specify a nonproprietary system to maximize its long-term benefits.

More than ever before, homeowners are interested in creating the type of outdoor living space that will enhance their enjoyment—and the energy efficiency—of their homes. This course discusses how retractable screens offer sustainable design solutions for homeowners, architects, and builders. Subjects including screen components, insect and UV protection, and how retractable screens contribute to a home’s increased energy efficiency are discussed, and various case studies focusing on sustainability are examined.

Aesthetics, durability, and environmental performance are key considerations for architectural metal finishes. This course will help you identify long-lasting and sustainable aluminum extrusion coatings and includes discussions on the aluminum extrusion process; a comparison of powder and liquid coatings; an overview of the chrome and the chrome-free pretreatment processes; and the performance objectives of AAMA testing standards.

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

Cellulose insulation has been in use for hundreds of years, and it continues to be an ideal choice for comfortable, safe, energy-efficient buildings and homes. This course provides an overview of what modern cellulose insulation is and how it is made, followed by a detailed discussion of the performance characteristics of cellulose insulation and how it compares to other common insulation types, with a focus on sustainability, fire safety, and two-hour fire wall assemblies for multifamily structures. The course concludes with a look at modern cellulose insulation’s environmental impact and its application in a wide variety of projects.

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

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.

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