This course presents and explains commercial building energy code and building code requirements that are inter-related and vary across US climate zones for building thermal envelopes. The course focuses on coordinating building code vapor control requirements and energy code insulation requirements with a particular focus on optimizing the value of continuous insulation on frame wall assemblies by leveraging the multi-functional capabilities of foam plastic insulating sheathing. Practical technical resources and useful design tools also will be shared to help efficiently optimize walls for code compliance and performance....
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Provides an overview of the Industry Standards, as well as Code References, for the flashing materials used for the installation of Windows & Doors. The Code referenced material standards for window & door flashings are summarized and compared, as well as the Installation Standard practices that have been developed by the three main Fenestration Industry organizations. The Window & Door installation standards and principles presented, are also demonstrated through hands-on application using standard flashing materials with a focus on Commercial and Multi-Family Buildings....
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Protected membrane roof (PMR) assemblies have been widely adopted in low-slope commercial buildings since the late 1960s. Also known as inverted or upside-down roofs, PMR assemblies move the waterproofing membrane from the top of the roof assembly to the surface of the structural deck. This course explores how PMR assemblies provide several advantages over conventional roof assemblies, offering superior protection against water penetration and enhanced energy efficiency. The course also shows how PMR assemblies allow for the creation of green roofs or blue roof systems. With a proven record of reliability, PMR assemblies present a compelling solution for architects seeking innovative, sustainable, and efficient roofing options....
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This program introduces building retrofits as a method to achieve green building standards by adapting existing structures. While a building retrofit may have several types of interventions, effective air sealing improves the durability of the structure and occupant comfort, health, and safety. This course includes a detailed look at sources of air leakage and the various methods available to address this infiltration. Several real-world examples demonstrate the importance of identifying the source of air leakage, investigating existing conditions, and proper detailing....
Residential building envelope assemblies need to deliver a wide range of benefits – from reducing energy waste to maintaining occupant comfort to providing critical shelter during severe weather events. Each component of the envelope has an important role to play, including the insulation. This presentation introduces the key benefits and attributes of polyiso continuous insulation products used as part of residential envelope assemblies. This includes serving as the insulation layer in steep slope roofs, above grade walls, and below grade foundation assemblies. Topics include designing building and energy code-compliant residential envelope assemblies, solving performance challenges like reducing thermal-bridging and managing the threat of moisture intrusion, as well as reducing the environmental impacts of buildings with assemblies that contain polyiso continuous insulation products....
View the PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association Course Library
PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
The look of wood adds warmth and aesthetic appeal to building designs that other materials, such as masonry, metals, and glass, cannot replicate. However, since natural wood may not be suitable for Class 1–3 commercial projects, innovative composite and synthetic materials have been developed to overcome the limitations of real wood. This course provides a comprehensive examination of eight wood-inspired design technologies that mimic the appearance of natural wood while meeting fire performance standards. The role of wood-plastic composite (WPC) hybrid products in fulfilling the requirements of the LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction (BD+C) rating system is also reviewed....
As some of the earliest building materials, masonry and concrete have been used for their durability and strength. However, masonry architecture, both historical and contemporary, has been left vulnerable to water—the single most damaging element to masonry in our environment. This course identifies common water-related problems for masonry and concrete, describes protective treatments that increase masonry durability, and explains the process for safely selecting and applying a protective treatment....
Learn about PROSOCO products, tools and resources to support the design, specification, training and implementation phases of your next project. From restoration, retrofit and adaptive reuse to LEED, WELL and Living Building qualifying builds, we have the products and the people to help you realize your vision....
This course goes over sustainable roofing considerations. Participants will understand what role the roof system plays in sustainable design, and how conventional roof design impacts sustainability. They will also learn the how insulation type impacts lifecycle, and how to improve design with the ‘Perfect Roof.’ Presentation covers critical concerns of stormwater management, construction requirements, and functionality of space....
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Increased energy efficiency in both new and existing construction continues to be a large factor behind the design decisions we make and the materials we choose to integrate into our buildings. Concrete masonry construction can provide a wide range of benefits. This course illustrates how building envelopes constructed with concrete masonry create high-performance buildings that can exceed energy code requirements....
View the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) Course Library
Understanding building physics is critical to proper building envelope design. Examined here are practical concepts for the building designer, including how cladding systems perform across different climate zones and applications. Environmental control layers and hygrothermal loads are reviewed, as is the concept of perfect/universal wall design. The course focuses on how single-component insulated metal panels (IMPs) function as a perfect/universal wall, simplifying wall system design and installation....
Review the physics of building envelopes, including hygrothermal loads, control layers, climate zones and cladding functions. The importance of control layer continuity at wall, roof and slab connections is studied. We look at how IMPs perform the same functions as multi-component wall systems through the use of panels joints, sealants and an insulating core. Emphasis is placed on the concept of the Perfect/Universal Wall, and how utilizing the proper ordering of wall components can greatly simplify wall design in all climate zones. Energy codes are also touched on, including their impact on the use of Perfect/Universal Wall designs. This course reduces a relatively complex subject to a level that teaches practical concepts for the building designer....
Manufacturers, industry groups, architects, designers, and homeowners all share an expectation of safety in the buildings we occupy and use every day. This course discusses the key chapters where important exterior wall fire provisions can be found in the International Building Code® and examines many common features of global fire incidents. The course also describes the NFPA 285 fire test and discusses the new Annex B in the 2023 edition of NFPA 285. Finally, there is a discussion of the code compliance pathways when exterior walls are required by the IBC® to be tested and comply with NFPA 285....
View the North American Modern Building Alliance Course Library
An introduction to the use of Polyisocyanurate insulation to provide a Continuous Insulating Air & Water Resistive Barrier, providing energy efficiency, fire safety, sustainability, and a healthier indoor environment....
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
Studies show that a breathable self-adhering roofing underlayment has the ability to: Provide drying Ease installation Extend the life of the roof assembly This course investigates current knowledge of breathable, vapor-open (permeable) roofing underlayments and their ability to mitigate water intrusion, reduce long-term exposure to wetted substrates, and enhance the drying capacity of the roof assembly — extending the life of the roofing assembly....
The trend towards more sustainable, healthier, energy-conserving enclosures has brought building science and moisture management to the forefront of daily conversation for professionals in the construction industry. In this course, we will delve into the science behind the practice and explore the role of building envelopes, optimal wall assemblies, and enclosures in vapor, water, air, and thermal control....
As part of a well-designed rainscreen system, single-skin metal panels offer unique aesthetic options combined with the assurance that the building envelope will withstand the effects of long-term exposure to the elements. This course compares common cladding types; presents single-skin metal panel materials, coatings, finishes, and design options; and examines using single-skin metal panels with a single-component barrier wall to form a complete rainscreen assembly....
New building materials don’t come around very often, and in some cases, an early high-profile stumble can shape perceptions of an otherwise valuable technology. Learning from those mistakes, however, is a fundamental element of driving technical innovation, and real, robust solutions to known issues can ultimately produce the highest level of performance. Magnesium oxide-based composite panels have been used as exterior wall sheathing for several decades due to a number of highly desirable properties, including resistance to fire, dimensional stability, high strength, and other attributes. Early iterations of boards were found to have issues related to moisture and chemical stability, leading to premature failure of the building façade but also teaching the industry specific factors that needed to be improved in future generations of board. Now, as a maturing product category, the enabling technology of how to make consistent, high-quality boards is well known, even if not universally practiced. In this presentation, we review the basics of MgO chemistry, how boards incorporating MgO cement have evolved over time to address early issues in board performance, and how this technology can be incorporated into building exterior wall systems with many favorable attributes....
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Our nation's buildings are aging. Modernization of those aging buildings can preserve and protect them while also maintaining historical integrity and accuracy. Metal roofs and walls can offer the benefits of low weight, flexibility, energy efficiency, wind resistance, fire safety, and easy solar attachment for the purpose of restoring or preserving aging structures. In this session, we will uncover why metal is a great choice for older structures....
From pitched to low-slope roofing, a myriad of designs are possible. Conventional roofing with the waterproofing membrane located weather-side and protected membrane roofing with the waterproofing membrane located at the deck can be used on buildings of various end uses. Roofs can be low or high albedo to impact solar gain; add to this vegetative roof assemblies (green roofs), roofs with solar arrays, and blue roofs (stormwater management), and no two roofs are alike. Join us to review the modern roof taxonomies and associated benefits and drawbacks, learn about the latest options in roof construction, and reflect on performance differences....
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The facade is one of the most significant contributors to the energy consumption and comfort parameters of any building. This course explores high-performance building envelopes and the use of advanced insulated metal panel systems featuring integrated daylighting and ventilation components that combine to provide weathertightness and maximum thermal performance....
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the importance of a properly designed Air and Water Resistive Barrier System. You will learn the importance of an air barrier system and how a properly designed system can contribute to the environment and improve indoor air quality. You will learn to identify the different types of air barrier systems and where each may be more appropriate. You will learn to design a system to properly control air and water vapor, and how this may differ from one area of the country to another. You will learn how to specify an air barrier system, including the performance criteria for and system, and the code requirements, testing criteria other governing factors....
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
The teaching points will be on Closed cell Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) and the commercial building enveloped. Subject matter will contain discussions on safety with SPF use, SPF and NFPA 285 as well a review of the basic chemistry and some basic details....
Slate has been used for centuries as a long-lasting building material, and its natural beauty is unsurpassed. Today, rainscreen cladding systems have been developed to adapt natural slate to new architectural demands for sustainable building design approaches. This course explores the energy efficiency and moisture management benefits of a rainscreen system in combination with the durability and versatility of slate. The different designs and fastening systems are reviewed, and case studies demonstrate the advantages and possibilities for sustainable and beautiful slate projects....
“Designing A Sustainable Masonry Cavity Wall Building Envelope” provides the characteristics of sustainable design as defined by the AIA, especially as it relates to masonry cavity walls. It explains typical problems in masonry cavity walls and how both improper design and construction can cause these problems, and it provides examples of excellent cavity wall design and the proper materials that should be specified to create a sustainable masonry cavity wall. At the end of the program, the attendees will have a much better understanding of how to design and specify masonry cavity walls that not only meet the AIA’s definition of sustainability, but which will also perform well over the life of the building....
