Building Knowledge and Connections
Building Knowledge and Connections
Now more than ever, the environmental impacts of products used in construction are a worldwide concern and one that the architecture and design (A&D) community is being asked to address in their work. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) are powerful tools when choosing materials for commercial projects. This course discusses how, where, and w...
View the Resilient Floor Covering Institute Course Library
Resilient Floor Covering Institute
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
In the wake of the green movement, combined with rising energy costs, building sustainability has become an important topic. This course examines how foil-faced polyisocyanurate (polyiso) continuous insulation can function as a multiple control layer, providing a building with an air and water-resistive barrier and a thermal control layer. Addition...
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
Modern roof systems and envelope assemblies (both commercial and residential) may need to deliver a wide range of benefits – from protecting against severe weather to reducing energy waste to improving occupant well-being and comfort. Each component of the building envelope has an important role to play, including the insulation layer. This prese...
View the PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association Course Library
PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
Dual-flush wall-mounted toilets help create modern, stylish bathrooms that strike a balance between sustainable water efficiency, flexible design, and space savings. This course compares this style with other traditional types of toilets, discusses how wall-mounted toilets benefit commercial and residential users, and explains how they satisfy the ...
Urban warming negatively impacts human health and quality of life, energy use, air quality, social equity, and economic prosperity. This course describes how solar reflective cool roof and wall materials help protect individuals and communities from the impacts of extreme heat and discusses the factors that influence energy savings and performance....
Retrofitting and replacing roof systems are essential aspects of the construction industry and offer opportunities to reduce a building’s energy consumption. Sustainable retrofitting of roofs with durable, energy-efficient materials helps reduce waste and conserve resources while promoting ecofriendly building practices. This course gives an over...
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. T...
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 ...
The trend toward greater resilience in roof design has come into sharp focus in recent years. The forces driving this trend include the decline in skilled labor among roofing contractors and allied trades; changes in the building code that have been influenced by severe weather patterns; and the increasing application of sustainable and “green" t...
This short version course introduces attendees to the basic materials and equipment used to create spray polyurethane foam. It will also discuss the safety aspect related to spray foam in terms of its application as well as its proper use to ensure code compliance. Lastly, it discusses the different kinds of spray foam commonly used and which mater...
Sound abatement products are not just a building owner and occupant preference; minimum sound abatement ratings are required by many local building codes for multi-story residential, commercial, and multi-purpose buildings. Following an introduction to the basics of sound, this course presents a summary of the most common sound control methods, wit...
We will discuss how Polyiso Continuous Insulation will improve the thermal performance of walls of Steel Stud Construction. In addressing the advantages of continuous insulation – we will also address the disadvantages of using steel studs without continuous insulation. We will discuss what Sustainability d how it is measured, including – facto...
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
Fire safety is an important building enclosure design factor and needs to be addressed hand-in-hand with energy code requirements. NFPA 285 is a critical consideration with modern building assemblies incorporating combustible materials in noncombustible construction. This presentation reviews the history and scope of the NFPA 285 test standard and ...
View the DuPont Performance Building Solutions Course Library
Having up-to-date specifications starts with understanding what is in the building code. This course reviews the requirements that cold-formed steel framing must meet to be compliant to the 2024 International Building Code. It covers the standards for manufacturing tolerances, minimum thickness and protective coatings. Participants will also review...
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 therm...
A roof is a defining feature of a building, but today’s roofs are asked to provide much more than a simple enclosure. Modern roof systems may need to deliver a wide range of benefits – from protecting against severe weather to reducing energy waste to improving occupant well-being and comfort. Each component of the roof system has an important ...
View the PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association Course Library
PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
Locating mechanical and electrical equipment on a roof is often necessary for space and efficiency in a building design. However, it can be challenging to provide a means for safe maintenance access while preserving the roof membrane and structural integrity and not interfering with other rooftop equipment. This course presents the components that ...
Integrated fire and smoke door systems meet all life safety and compartmentalization requirements without sacrificing an architect’s vision. This course explains how multiple codes and standards apply to an opening, elevator lobby, and elevator shaft and discusses how integrated door systems provide building owners with a complete turnkey door sy...
This presentation will review the basics of spray polyurethane foam chemistry, application, safety, code compliance, and building performance. It discusses safety requirements during the foam application, how spray foam can contribute to improved indoor air quality by reducing air leakage, how spray foam creates a more comfortable environment, a...
In today’s high performance building market, specifying materials that work together as a complete wall system is more critical than ever. Systems can help designers meet new energy codes, reduce costs and improve building function and sustainability while making the design process faster and simpler. This course will educate participants on the ...
This course will provide an overview of resilient design and discuss how resilient design is not covered by typical building codes and standards. The role of masonry construction in meeting resilient design goals is explained, and the inherent properties of masonry that make it resilient are described. There will be examples given in the presentati...
ICF construction is cost effective and sustainable, and is a superior way to build stronger, quieter, healthier, and more energy-efficient commercial structures. This course explores insulated concrete form (ICF) construction, describing the forms themselves and their construction, performance, and sustainable benefits. Also presented are design gu...
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 dis...
View the Ecoglo Inc. Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Architects and other design professionals have a critical role to play in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions through building design and product selection. The urgent need to reduce both operational and embodied carbon means that building designers must be familiar with transparency documents that facilitate low-carbon product selection. In t...
In this course we will identify critical considerations for fire and smoke protection specific to vertical openings in a building. We will walk through keynotes, drawings, and details while diving into the codes and exploring implications and solutions surrounding design decisions for elevators and stairwells. Lastly, we will cover product selectio...