Underground enclosures provide safety for pedestrians and vehicles and easy access for maintenance and repair. This course presents an overview of underground enclosures for non-deliberate traffic areas, including selection considerations, load ratings, placement, and installation, with a discussion of the ANSI/SCTE 77 performance standard.

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.

This course reviews the trends in outdoor amenity spaces in hospitality, commercial, and multifamily developments with a focus on the use of stainless steel cabinetry in outdoor kitchen design. Included are discussions on outdoor kitchen components, mobile food and beverage service carts, and the post and panel system developed for multifamily applications.

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.

Meeting the ventilation requirements of ASHRAE 62.2 and maintaining an energy efficient home means balancing the need for fresh outdoor air and the energy needed to condition it. In this course we will examine the ventilation requirements in ASHRAE 62.2, discuss how they can be met, and look at some solutions for energy efficient ventilating.

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

Infrared patio heaters are the best method of increasing comfort for outdoor entertaining areas of any size. There are many variables in creating ambient warmth, as both the effectiveness and the cost of heating an outdoor space greatly depend on the heating option that is selected and the way it is designed. This course looks at the outdoor heating options that are available with a focus on the types, color choices, mounting methods, and control options of electric infrared heaters, including a review of the steps that are required to select the best solution.

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

This course provides a summary of the changes to the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice (UAE Fire Code) that came into effect in September 2018. The course is specifically tailored for architects, engineers, and interior designers. The 2018 edition of the UAE Fire Code introduces changes to: building construction (such as spandrel requirements, fire testing of curtain wall systems, façades, and cladding, and third-party inspections); fire service vehicles and personnel accessibility (including emergency vehicle access); means of egress, fire detection and alarm systems, fire protection systems (such as fire hydrants, fire pump flow rate and water tank capacity, and balcony sprinklers); smoke control and smoke management systems; and drawing submission requirements. The primary intent of the changes was to address the technical discrepancies and adapt with the life safety challenges in today's buildings.

 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.

Creating a quieter, more comfortable building starts with a focus on windows and doors, the weakest links in the building envelope for sound transmission. This course covers the elements of sound, the metrics used to measure sound attenuation, and the glazing and installation options best suited for an effective sound control strategy.

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.

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.

Thin brick veneer wall systems offer a lightweight design option to use in many areas, both where traditional brick is commonly used as well as where its 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. The use of adhered brick veneer in interior applications is also discussed.

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

PVC-coated galvanized steel coil for roofing is made for fabrication into metal roofs, as well as the coping, fascia, and flashing typically used for low and steep slopes in the residential and commercial sectors. This course discusses its manufacture and performance properties to show why it ensures a long roof life, even in harsh and corrosive environments.

Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic upswing in the number of companies that want to build reputations as good corporate citizens. Natural, organic, and sustainable are all highly desirable characteristics in the world of building supply products. According to a 2020 study by accounting and consulting firm Deloitte Touche, it’s the company’s responsibility to provide "greener, cleaner, and more responsibly produced" products to remain relevant to their growing green customer base. But with the plethora of environmental claims by companies seeking to advance their products, “green,” “eco-friendly,” “sustainable,” and the like are terms that have become confusing at best and meaningless at worst. In order to keep from drowning in greenwash, the market has demanded greater transparency and verifiable evidence of sustainable performance all along the supply chain. This course discusses how architects can be reasonably assured that products, particularly western red cedar wood products, are maximally sustainable. Life cycle analysis (LCA) and forest certification are discussed in terms of their place on an architect’s sustainability agenda, and an LCA of western red cedar is presented to demonstrate the level of research involved, along with results that can be expected from the life cycle approach.

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

An ideal railing system enhances the appeal and value of a property and contributes to design as well as safety, while not requiring large amounts of time or money to maintain. This course presents an overview of railing system material options with a focus on aluminum and thermoplastic. The performance, design, and sustainability benefits of each material are discussed, along with mounting and aesthetic options. The course concludes with tips on selecting the right railing system for the project and case studies showcasing aluminum and thermoplastic railing system installations.

Flood-prone areas are expanding in the US as storms worsen, floodplains expand, and sea levels rise. As a result, many decks and porches that were poorly built or were built without flood-resistant construction have been demolished, significantly damaged, or swept away. This course examines flood considerations and the concepts and details of flood-resistant deck and porch construction; provides detailed advice on using anchors, fasteners, and connectors for flood-resistant decks, porches, and boardwalks; and identifies the relevant terminology, codes, and standards that should be used when consulting experts and authorities and designing flood-resistant facilities.

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

Data centers, some consuming up to 200X the energy of comparably sized office space, are rapidly evolving in numbers, size, location, and energy demands. These facilities are frequently becoming integrated into other buildings and the purview of the architect. This course reviews the data center impact on building design and then identifies and describes the most effective design approaches and fitments that building designers can employ to control their capital and operating costs, spatial needs, and energy consumption.

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.

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

Manufacturing companies are seeing an increased demand for product transparency. This course discusses what sustainability and Design for Environment are, how transparency documents are created, how they contribute to green building certification, and how investing in sustainability can produce process and operational efficiencies that benefit people, planet, and business.

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

Provides an overview of the history of solid surface as a decorative material with a discussion on product characteristics and attributes, and a comparison of sustainability factors of three hard surface materials and their environmental impact.

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

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

Play is more than fun and games—it is an essential component in helping children develop critical physical, mental, emotional, and social skills that lay the foundation for adulthood. Inclusive play breaks down barriers and builds community through fostering understanding of our similarities and differences. This course discusses how play impacts child development and describes the options and considerations for designing an inclusive playground that benefits all children and the community.

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.

Driven largely by public interest in minimizing the potential environmental impact of building products, architects and builders actively embrace “green” initiatives and are calling for building product transparency. The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) was developed to address this need. This course examines the EPD and includes discussions on who wants EPDs and why, the EPD development process, the contents of an EPD, and the future of EPDs.

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

The construction industry utilizes green construction standards or rating systems to guide and quantify the benefits of sustainable design. This course introduces basic green construction concepts, two prominent green building rating systems, and building product transparency tools with special attention given to how tile and tile-setting products can contribute toward certification.

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

The surface coating is the first line of defense in prepainted metal, and one of the most important elements to consider as part of a metal purchase. Selecting the right coating, finish, and paint system can affect product lifespan, energy efficiency, and aesthetic appeal. This course discusses the composition of prepainted metal, its application and performance, and examines the building and environmental factors that may influence the type of paint system specified.