Railing systems perform various functions, meeting safety requirements and serving as a key component of a building’s aesthetic. This course includes a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of aluminum and structural vinyl railing systems, how they are made, and how they are used in the building industry, including a detailed summary of how they meet various code requirements.

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

“Sustainable” design isn’t just “environmental.” It’s design that works for and contributes to the health and welfare of all individuals as well as the planet, now and in the future. This course looks at hand dryers as part of sustainably designed restrooms and discusses how air knife hand dryers benefit the environment through energy efficiency, resource conservation, and waste reduction, and benefit all members of society by meeting ADA requirements and Universal Design principles.

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

Good restroom design includes regard for user experience, environmental impact, good hygiene, and cost over time─hand-drying fixtures are a necessary element of this design process. In this course, we review how new technologies can address the hygiene, dry speed, sound level, and accessibility concerns of a restroom project. We also discuss why it is vital to specify hand dryers with optimum energy and cost efficiency.

Parks, recreational areas, and common rural and urban spaces can be essential relaxing oases. Pathways that navigate through these public spaces should be functional and durable and complement the natural environment. This course explores pathway materials and focuses on decomposed granite (DG) and natural aggregates. It discusses the types of pathways, their applications, installation, and maintenance, as well as their contribution to green design.

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

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.

An expansion joint is a structural gap designed to accommodate the movement of a building in a controlled manner, preventing damage to the building’s internal and external finishes. Expansion joints run throughout a building in walls, ceilings, and floors. Expansion joint covers provide a covered transition across an expansion opening and remain unaffected by the relative movement of the two surfaces either side of the joint. This course explains how to determine joint movement requirements and how to size a joint. It also discusses the performance of different expansion joint cover systems and the applicable fire protection and building codes.

Automatic pedestrian doors offer convenient, easy access to and from a wide variety of building types. This course offers awareness of the diversified automatic door solutions available, including different types of automatic doors, components, options, and the process involved in selecting an appropriate automatic door for a specific project. Discussions also include the various sensor technologies available, as well as code requirements for automatic doors to ensure pedestrian safety.

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.

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

There are some complex issues involved in achieving ADA-compliant designs in all types of building construction. In terms of bathroom design, it is important to comprehend the ADA standards in order to minimize the risk of injury and to ensure end user comfort and ease of use. This course covers ADA-compliant design requirements for shower compartments and lavatory tops using solid surface materials—from planning and design to installation.

Keeping bathrooms and kitchens clean and hygienic is essential to health and well-being but can be challenging in busy family homes. This course introduces some basic principles of home hygiene, provides an overview of the most effective cleaning strategies, and shows how contemporary kitchen and bathroom technology and design innovations can make hygienic cleaning substantially easier. Technologies discussed include touchless activation, intelligent toilets, bidet seats, and antimicrobial surfaces.

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

Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are not created equal; they have different capabilities to accommodate the varying needs of EV drivers. Presented here are the types of EV charging stations and their suitable applications, followed by an in-depth discussion of DC fast charging solutions, their benefits, and charging station site planning and design considerations and guidelines.

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

The role of a fire-rated door is to maintain the integrity of a fire-rated enclosure in the event of a fire, giving building occupants enough time to exit the burning building. This course is an introduction to fire-rated doors and a general review of the fire codes that relate to fire doors and hardware, referencing 2012, 2015, and 2018 IBC; NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) regulations; and the ADAAG (Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines).

Detectable warning surfaces are surfaces designed to warn the visually impaired of hazards in the path of travel. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) accessibility guidelines require detectable warning surfaces at public rights-of-way locations. The state of California is a leader in its requirements for detectable warning surfaces. This course introduces the current guidelines and regulations regarding detectable warning surfaces, as well as the different types of surface systems and installation methods.

Google the phrase “commercial bathroom design trends” and you get results that include: functional design, ADA compliance, low-maintenance materials, privacy, transgender accommodation, and warm, high-end feel. This course focuses on commercial washroom and bathroom design, including disability accommodation; bather/use privacy; the problems of mold, mildew, and hygiene; and solid surface as a material alternative to help keep bathrooms and showers cleaner.

The design community has become increasingly focused on ensuring that the products and places they create suit the diverse needs and differing abilities of everyone. This course explores how universal design principles and products can inform design to create places that are safer, more comfortable, visually appealing, and usable and that provide a richer experience for all users. This exploration utilizes the examples of door hardware and the needs of a diverse group of users including senior citizens and others to explain some of these principles and provides a detailed examination of a universally designed door latch.

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

Sustainable restroom design can address the global concerns of water shortages and the impacts of the building sector on our environment. This program identifies the newest technologies in high-efficiency restroom fixtures including how to choose water-saving products and the practical, economic, and environmental benefits of high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers versus paper towels. Also included is an in-depth analysis of how these products earn points toward LEED® v4 credits and other green building standards to comply with new, best practices in green building.

This course introduces accessibility from Canadian and US perspectives. It covers a few specific technical accessibility requirements and compares the differences when referencing Canadian or US design standards, such as the National Building Code of Canada (Canada's Model Code) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (the United States accessibility regulation), while reinforcing the intent of good design that is not always outlined by a code or standard. The seven principles of universal design are also discussed.

 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.

The issue of safety is a prevalent theme in today’s society and protecting the built environment has become a priority. This course examines the material specifications, industry standards, hardware options, installations, and application considerations necessary to design and specify exterior pedestrian steel gates.

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

Movable pool and spa floor technology enables an entirely flexible, multifunctional living and recreational space to complement any architectural vision. Presented here are types of movable pool floors, pool floor technology, options and amenities, and safety and sustainability performance considerations.

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 also some lifts may not meet all ADA requirements for a given application. This course covers the features and 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.

Healthcare facilities are now striving to meet the needs of all patients to offer not only healthy and safe spaces, but inclusive spaces as well. Recent advances in plumbing design for healthcare facilities are helping to keep all patients and caregivers safe and healthy. This course reviews innovations in plumbing design and how these designs support trending healthcare needs such as ADA patients, bariatric patients, behavioral healthcare, and infection prevention.

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

Modern security bollards are highly engineered and tested devices that can withstand deliberate ramming by a 15,000 lb vehicle. Bollards are more than decorative boundary markers; they are an essential tool to protect lives and property. This course explains bollard crash testing standards, reviews the pros and cons of available bollard materials, and discusses steel bollard designs for low- and high-impact applications.

Not only are we living longer, but senior citizens are the fastest growing segment of the world’s population. The aging population faces problems with declining vision related to disease as well as growing older. This course discusses changes in color perception among the elderly and explains how appropriate color use and application of low- or no-VOC, durable, high-quality paint facilitates quality of life in all environments for the aging.

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

The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and with recidivism rates as high as 75% within five years, the prospects for released inmates are dim. There is no simple solution to these issues, but one approach is to focus on rehabilitation to help inmates reintegrate successfully into society upon release. This course looks at the role evidence-based building design can play in a rehabilitative environment that promotes healing, autonomy, and growth. Design strategies are presented with a focus on ADA-compliant, ligature-resistant plumbing products and water management systems that support a clean, safe, secure, rehabilitative environment.

Contemporary drinking fountains, water coolers, and water bottle refilling stations provide communities with access to safe, clean drinking water. This course recounts the history of the drinking fountain and addresses regulations surrounding drinking water distribution and treatment. It introduces touchless activation, compares the use of bottled water to bottle refillers, and provides guidelines for specifying commercial water delivery systems.