This presentation will focus on the overview of various waterproofing, water retention, and drainage methods that meet the standards of today’s green roof applications. Along with an overview of soil options and vegetation that it can support....
This Choosing the right insulation for your roof can having lasting impacts on the building performance and energy conservation. This presentation explains the different types of commercial insulation, long-term performance and liabilities, re-usability and sustainable roof design approaches for long term owner, occupant and maintenance benefits....
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This presentation will focus on the science of noise control, specifically covering full system principles, building philosophy, and the most overlooked component when assembling such systems. The course will also highlight the forces that create the need for noise control systems, and how those forces shape how we approach these systems....
Masonry wall types have evolved from self-supporting mass walls to cavity walls and veneers that require wall ties or anchors. Over time, anchors can fail and masonry wall systems can become unstable and require repair. This course discusses how to recognize unstable façades, how retrofit anchors can be used to repair these instabilities, the different types of anchors available, and how to determine the proper repair procedure....
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....
The 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) fundamentally shifts how the thermal performance of building enclosures is designed and evaluated. In the 2024 IECC Chapter 4 Commercial Energy Efficiency, compliance now requires design teams to account for linear and point thermal bridging, as does ASHRAE 90.1-2022, which is incorporated by reference. This impact will notably change how design professionals consider typical building details like parapets, cladding attachments through continuous insulation, window perimeters, and more. Through a side-by-side review of previous and current requirements, this course will bolster design professionals’ understanding of the steps needed to address thermal bridges and how to incorporate these results in prescriptive path, performance path, and COMcheck compliance calculations. By examining the updated air leakage testing requirements codified in the 2024 IECC, professionals will learn to decipher whether whole-building air leakage is mandatory or if the air barrier design and verification approach will apply to their project. This course will explore the practical impacts of the new energy code requirements, reveal strategies for meeting compliance, and share tools that can help design professionals stay ahead in a rapidly changing energy code landscape. This course welcomes both new and experienced design professionals alike. Those with a basic understanding of building enclosure-related heat transfer and fundamental calculation methods will benefit most from this course....
Ventilation is a requirement to ensure occupant health in homes with airtight envelopes. To comprehend the benefits and drawbacks of supply-only, exhaust-only, and balanced ventilation systems. We will learn how heat recovery ventilation promotes a comfortable and healthy environment, as well as the role of HRV/ERV in energy-efficient buildings. Finally, discover how to assess and select the most effective HRV/ERV system....
Do fasteners matter? Accepted practices for thermal performance evaluations negate fasteners. But with the advent of exterior insulation, fasteners and cladding attachment systems now serve as the primary bridging elements within typical clear fields. These components inherently disrupt the insulation layer, providing intermittent continuity with sheathing and studs. Furthermore, the ‘cladding attachment system’ has essentially morphed into the ‘cladding fastening system’ while also achieving de facto exclusion from thermal calculations. In other words, prescriptive R-values and alternative U-factors did not account for the ill effects of these thermal bridges. What ensued was a decade of under-achieving walls where effective R-vales were only marginally better than conventional framed assemblies. In this presentation, I offer clarity on the effects of fasteners and cladding attachment systems that vary in both material and form. My findings show that fasteners do matter and that certain fasteners warrant inclusion for thermal calculations and code compliance....
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This presentation explores the principles and applications of helical masonry beaming, a reinforcement method that improves the stability and safety of masonry structures. It begins with an overview of common causes of masonry failures, such as bulging walls, cracking, and excessive moisture infiltration, while also summarizing common post-installed repair options. The discussion then shifts to supplemental horizontal joint reinforcing, highlighting its role in masonry retrofits and its various applications. A primary focus of the presentation is helical masonry beaming, a specialized form of horizontal joint reinforcing that allows masonry to span openings safely. This section covers where helical beaming is used, how it works, and proper installation techniques. Following the presentation, an in-person, hands-on training will typically be conducted, demonstrating the installation of both retrofit ties and helical beaming in a real-world setting....
Window opening air and water leakage has been a difficult problem for the construction industry. This course evaluates building failures, conventional construction approaches, and new developments in waterproofing techniques to show a path forward for designers seeking higher-performing wall assemblies....
This course is designed to help the commercial building team understand how to best use new products introduced into the market for building enclosures. These innovative products and systems assist in combining multiple steps of a traditional commercial exterior assembly, such as structure, fire, water, air, thermal, vapor, and acoustic control layers, into fewer steps. The course reviews various hybridized sheathing solutions and shows how the integration of advanced technology has improved performance, capability, and sustainability....
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Architectural insulated metal panels are comprised of a steel skin and insulating foam core, which becomes the building envelope. These wall panels are known for their striking aesthetic capabilities and provide superior moisture resistance and thermal performance. This course will explore the fundamentals of architectural insulated metal panels, their performance benefits, and how insulated metal panels achieve air, water, vapor, and thermal control via a more advanced and cost-effective single component system that accelerates construction time. The course will also cover important design details to achieve your design intent and case studies that will showcase architectural insulated wall panels....
Wall system applications are becoming more and more common in the building envelope industry today. Explore the science behind wall systems and the tangible benefits of incorporating this technology into building structures. There is an emphasis on the differences between air barriers that are impermeable to vapor drive and air barriers that are vapor permeable and which is the best in each climate and wall assembly....
Today's buildings are responsible for 38% of the world's energy usage, causing the demand for highly energy efficient and durable buildings to increase. One of the key elements in a highly energy efficient and durable building envelope is a continuous air barrier and water barrier system. There are several different types of air barrier membranes that are commonly used in the industry, although fluid applied air barriers continue to increase in popularity. There are hundreds of fluid applied air barrier products currently available and they vary greatly in thickness and formulation. As commercial buildings become more energy efficient and complex, the need for a high performance fluid air barrier system is increasing. This presentation will discuss some of the key differences and performance advantages of these new high performance air barrier chemical formulations in contrast to traditional fluid applied air barrier formulations....
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The increase in building energy efficiency requirements has led to the use of exterior continuous insulation (CI) to improve the performance of the building envelope. This presentation reviews the benefits of polyiso continuous insulation and then examines in detail the NFPA 285 test standard and fire safety requirements of the 2021 International Building Code for the use of polyisocyanurate insulation in exterior walls of commercial buildings (Construction Types I–IV)....
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PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
This course focused on the design considerations of Data Centers and incorporation of insulated metal panels to achieve superior building performance. Topics include supporting structure design including allowable spans, environmental control layers (air, water vapor, and thermal) code requirements, and fire safety building regulations. How insulated metal panels (IMPs) are used in the HVAC design and function as a "Perfect/Universal" wall system throughout the building....
Roofing is one of the most common renovation projects on commercial buildings. Upgrading a roof assembly to meet current building standards provides an opportunity to save energy and maintain the necessary fire and structural performance. This course reviews the code requirements for commercial reroofing and discusses how reroofing can improve a building’s energy efficiency....
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PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
Green roof systems are designed on various roofing membranes and come with many different components depending on the many factors including the region, regulation, application, roof design to name a few. This presentation will review these assemblies and the value of options. Address key elements of green roof design, such as drainage, water storage, integration with membrane, and other considerations along with common problems to avoid. Finally, a discussion on construction sequencing and planning as well as solar integration to help the specifier better understand the technology around this segment of the building envelope to ensure greater success....
The impacts of noise on occupancy health and wellness must be taken seriously. By understanding the importance of good noise control, learners will be able to understand the link between acoustic control and health, well-being, learning and productivity. This course will describe different scenarios like healthcare facilities, schools and offices. The course will give you an insight into the different sound absorbing materials that can be used to improve room acoustics. In addition, we will discuss best practices using different solutions such as incorporating Melamine Foam as a sound absorbing material in different scenarios...
This presentation was designed to bring awareness to the rise of ASTM C-595 Blended Hydraulic Cements, specifically Type 1L Cement. It highlights what it is, how it differs from its predecessors and how to best prep, protect and maintain this cement given its different chemical properties....
Today's storms are more intense, more frequent and more deadly than ever before, making the design and construction of resilient buildings critical. The design of the building envelope – and the materials used – can be the difference between life and death. This presentation will discuss how the strength and resiliency of masonry construction can help protect a building – and its occupants – from storm damage, return structures to use faster following a disaster and reduce the long-term cost of repairs....
Insulated metal panels (IMPs) are known for their superior heat loss control, moisture and air resistance, and striking aesthetic capabilities. This course highlights how these attributes can be integrated to create beautiful, healthy, and safe buildings. It explains how IMPs achieve air, water, vapor, and thermal control via an advanced and cost-effective single-component system that accelerates construction time and offers design flexibility. The course includes essential design details and case studies that showcase the functional and aesthetic capabilities of IMPs. ...
PROSOCO R-Guard Building Envelope Products & Why They Were Developed....
As interest in mass timber building design grows, there are new protection strategies that must be employed for a successful installation to ensure occupant long-term health and safety. This presentation will explain moisture protection strategies by providing in-depth test results on mass timber wetting and drying studies, methods to protect during each construction phase, and the vapor-permeable protection technology available to address wood’s unique moisture characteristics. All in an effort to create a sustainable, stable structure and preserve the beauty of the mass timber building....
This course is designed to help the commercial building team understand how to best use new products introduced into the market for building enclosures. These innovative products and systems assist in combining multiple steps of a traditional commercial exterior assembly, such as: structure, fire, water, air, thermal, vapor, and acoustic control layers into one or fewer steps. We will review various hybridized sheathing solutions and show how the integration of advanced technology has improved performance, capability, and sustainability....
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