Heat loss in buildings is largely attributed to poorly performing windows and walls. Fiberglass windows and doors and cladding support systems contribute to superior building envelope thermal performance. Presented here is the impact of windows on building performance, the characteristics that make fiberglass windows thermally efficient, and how fiberglass cladding support systems mitigate thermal bridging, improving energy efficiency.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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

Roof glazing products can positively affect building occupants by illuminating the interior of a space, providing views to the outside, and allowing for natural ventilation. There are many factors to be considered during the product selection process to ensure performance goals are realized. Presented in this course are roof window and skylight design and performance criteria, relevant building codes and standards, and types of roof windows and skylights and their features.

In commercial, industrial, and parking structures, it is important to use doors that can provide speed, safety, separation, and security. High-performance roll-up doors provide all these elements better than conventional doors. This course provides an in-depth discussion of the different types of high-performance doors—fabric, rigid, and rubber—along with their benefits and functions in different applications. The design and installation considerations for using these doors are also discussed.

An air curtain, also known as an air door, employs a controlled stream of air aimed across an opening to create an air seal. This seal separates different environments while allowing a smooth, unhindered flow of traffic and unobstructed vision through the opening. This course discusses how air curtains work and why they can contribute to occupant comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality when the door is open. It also reviews how air curtains improve whole-building energy efficiency versus conventional methods.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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

Specialty door and frame assemblies have been developed that are designed specifically for the built healthcare environment where performance criteria are critical. Reviewed in this course are specialty door and frame assemblies that meet the challenges of infection prevention, building cleanliness, patient privacy, and increased security, as well as containment of radio wave and radiation interference in hospitals and clinics.

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

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected societal behavior in many ways and will continue to affect it for some time to come. The workplace is one area that has been significantly impacted. This course explores how workplace environments can be designed and/or modified to create an environment that is safe for employees to reoccupy and that limits further spread of the virus. This exploration includes the examination of four specific products that can be integrated into the workplace setting to create safe, resilient working environments.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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

Businesses and organizations are preparing for employees to return to work, and architects and engineers are involved in many of the physical changes required to make workspaces safe. There are a number of publicly available “return to the office” guidance documents to help identify methods of ensuring the safety of building occupants. The AIA’'' Re-occupancy Assessment Tool V3.0 is one of these guidance documents. It is a comprehensive guide that uses the framework of the CDC's hierarchy of controls as a method of classifying and organizing different levels of protection within a workspace. It contains 30 pages of checklists itemizing detailed control measures for limiting the spread of the virus within a building. A better understanding of the current science behind transmission may bring a better understanding of the “why” behind these control measures. In this 15-Minute Briefing, we’ll take a look at some of the science behind the measures.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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

Window films can be used in a variety of applications including solar control, energy efficiency, safety and security, and decorative, and films even provide antigraffiti protection. This course reviews the science behind solar energy and heat transfer and will help you understand how window film works in different applications. It also looks at how window films can contribute to everything from improving the environment to protecting the safety of building occupants.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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

The need to evaluate thermal bridging in a building’s design and performance has become more prevalent because of the increasing requirements for more energy-efficient buildings. This course provides an introduction to thermal bridging, energy code requirements, and the use of thermal break solutions designed to improve energy efficiency in the building envelope.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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

Custom window products include a range of products, from truly one-of-a-kind fabrications to customizable components. This course takes a detailed look at what design options are available to the architect in premium and luxury window products. Installation and performance issues pertaining to large window combinations are also discussed, as well as recommended solutions and mitigation strategies for structural and water infiltration challenges.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to all state and local government agencies, commercial facilities, and public entities that have “places of public accommodation.” Presented in this course are the fundamentals of what accessibility means in terms of architectural door hardware specification. Topics include available hardware technology, the criteria for interior and perimeter access, and the codes and guidelines pertaining to the ADA requirements that affect door hardware selection.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Sound transmission control is an issue that should be addressed in the design of any building. Acoustic comfort is part of providing an amenable interior space, and it requires having the proper level and quality of sound to utilize a space as planned. This course looks at the components, features, and the role of acoustic door assemblies in occupant comfort in both workplace and school environments.

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

The materials we use have a significant impact on the environment, our communities, and our health. Consequently, material transparency—wherein manufacturers disclose vital sustainability information about their products—is an increasingly necessary element of modern life. This course examines the tools and resources that are available for both manufacturers and the A&D community that effectively communicate transparency information and optimization of building products. Also reviewed are the benefits of the new-generation insulated metal panels (IMPs) designed to achieve a trusted range of health and wellness certifications.

Prerequisites: None

Course Level: Introductory

Research indicates that the quality of light directly affects the quality of life in a space; access to daylight and outdoor views promotes happiness and productivity. Reviewed in this course are the features of polycarbonate sheeting systems and how they contribute to energy-efficient daylighting design, as well as the overall health and well-being of the building occupants.

Prerequisites:No

Course Level:Introductory

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

Resiliency is a growing necessity. It is important to understand the impacts on the built environment resulting from natural and manmade disasters and disturbances and to design for those impacts now. Presented in this course is an overview of the benefits of using steel doors as part of a resilient design strategy for applications requiring resistance to blasts, tornadoes, and ballistics.

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

Multiwall polycarbonate is an extremely versatile glazing material with high impact strength, excellent thermal insulation, and long-term light transmission. Compared to glass, it is much lighter and easier to handle, offering considerable savings in transportation, labor, and building costs. This course examines how multiwall polycarbonate systems can improve thermal energy efficiency and increase daylighting within a space, enhancing occupant productivity, health, and well-being.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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

Considering door hardware early in the design process enhances the aesthetics and functionality of a space. Invisible hinges balance durability, security, and ease of use without detracting from the design. This course examines standard invisible hinges as well as those for fire-rated and closer doors, and offers guidance on specification and installation. Case studies demonstrate the array of invisible hinge applications, and innovative door hardware solutions for powered entry and ADA compliance are presented.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Originally developed to reduce solar heat gain from entering through a pane of glass, window films in today’s market provide UV protection, reduce glare, reduce fading, increase occupant comfort, offer safety and security, and yield energy savings. This course evaluates the performance of different types of solar control window films and offers daylighting strategies for commercial, retail, and residential building and architectural applications.

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

By design, automatic pedestrian doors provide easier, more convenient access than manual doors for a wide variety of building types, and their popularity in commercial design continues to grow. Reviewed in this course are the available options of automatic door solutions, including sliding, swinging, ICC/CCU, and revolving door systems. Also discussed are the code requirements and considerations relating to automatic doors for proper specification.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

This course provides an overview of integral blind assemblies and discusses their benefits over conventional blinds, components and framing options, performance characteristics and testing standards, and common applications.

Timber curtain wall systems in commercial applications are a beautiful alternative to standard aluminum storefront systems, offering durable, low-maintenance, aluminum or wood-capped exteriors with the warmth and richness of wood interiors. This course describes the design benefits, components, options, and installation of timber curtain walls. Also discussed is how this resource-responsible system can help satisfy LEED® credit requirements, meet energy-efficiency expectations, and maximize outdoor views while creating indoor spaces that are uniquely modern and comfortable.

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

Aluminum production has recently decreased its environmental footprint dramatically, and aluminum window extrusion technology has advanced considerably to make aluminum one of the most sustainable materials and aluminum windows top performers. This course covers the production enhancements and developments in the design of unique aluminum extrusions that, when combined with innovative thermal barrier materials, create window and door systems that save energy, increase healthy indoor air quality, and improve safety, sustainability, and aesthetics. The course concludes with a case study of a high-performance building using high-performance windows with custom extrusions.

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

Turnstiles to control employee and visitor access help to enhance safety and security in a wide variety of applications, from corporate offices to healthcare facilities to distribution warehouses. This course presents the benefits and performance features of optical, full-height, and waist-high turnstiles and reviews the many aesthetic and customization options available to install a turnstile system that meets the needs of any facility.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Health, safety, and welfare: Three simple words, yet three complex concepts. Every healthcare-related facility has a responsibility to provide a sterile, physically safe, and secure, yet nearly always accessible, managed environment just to conduct its daily operations. This course will help you discover effective, scalable access and control strategies specific to the healthcare environment and introduces the latest standards, codes, products, and technologies impacting the design and management of these always complex, life-giving facilities.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

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