This course presents the complete design approach to rainscreens and explains why rainscreens are an important topic for the building envelope and enclosures. This course emphasizes the use of control layers to maximize the performance of a drained, backed ventilated rainscreen system for both new and existing buildings. The audience will be able to identify different rainscreen technologies and understand why complete approach is beneficial to a building’s performance, through compatibility among the assembly components. They will also learn the relationship of control layers of the exterior wall assembly for occupant health and safety. Finally, the course will review this design approach using real-world project examples.

This course examines the use of opaque glass as a façade material in a drained and back ventilated rainscreen system. Highlighted within will be the design consideration and benefits thereof when designing with and specifying opaque glass rainscreen. The importance of the building science principle of exterior wall assembly control layers, and the role they play in providing occupant health and safety will be emphasized for use with opaque glass, open-joint, drained and back ventilated complete rainscreen systems. Presentation will also address sustainability, safety and durability benefits that are associated with properly designed and manufactured opaque glass panels. while providing an understanding of required test criteria and typical test results when opaque glass panel are used within an open-joint, drained and back ventilated complete rainscreen system

This course introduces EIFS and explores how today, it is one of the few truly complete, engineered exterior wall cladding systems available, providing all control layers, long term resiliency, and a wide variety of aesthetics options. There are many choices of exterior wall cladding systems to choose from. Design professionals may have heard of EIFS, unaware that today’s systems are quite different from the original system of the late 1950’s. EIFS continuously evolves to remain ahead of building and energy codes, includes new technologies and affords maximum design freedom to architects.

Today’s aesthetics require increasing complexity: combining claddings, colors, and surfaces. Design professionals must consider how the integration of multiple systems, vendors, and subcontractors to achieve their aesthetic goals may affect the performance of the building enclosure. This course presents a unique approach to designing for performance while achieving aesthetic goals, focusing on engineered systems that provide continuous control layers and connectivity between multiple claddings, and resulting in simplified design and construction processes.

This course presents a complete approach to exterior cladding restoration for EIFS, Stucco, Concrete and Masonry. It explains why restoration is an important topic in the discussion of resilience and sustainable building. It enforces mindfulness of the look, fix and performance of an existing building throughout the restoration project to ensure the goals of all stakeholders are satisfied. Audience will learn the benefits of the compatibility among components and understand the relationship of building performance with health and safety. Lastly, the course will review this approach using real-world restoration project examples.

This presentation uses a case history approach to provide an in-depth look at the benefits prefabricated exterior walls bring to construction projects. Effects on aesthetics, constructability, schedule, cost and design practices are covered. This presentation also outlines how construction teams can optimize jobsite safety and minimize on-site construction waste using prefabricated exterior walls.