Continuing Education

Category: 06 00 00 - WOOD, PLASTICS, AND COMPOSITES

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Displaying 1 - 25 of 62 results.

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  • This course details the benefits and selection process of magnesium oxide (MgO) sheathing in multifamily and commercial construction. MgO sheathing offers structural, fire resistance, and other properties that enable architects and designers to simplify the design and installation of building enclosures. Comparisons of MgO sheathing to traditional sheathing materials such as gypsum are included.

             

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Homeowners are looking for alternatives to traditional cladding materials that are affordable and long lasting and require little or no upkeep. Advances in technology and manufacturing techniques mean cellular PVC cladding products can meet all these requirements without sacrificing aesthetics. This course reviews the benefits of cellular PVC as a cladding material and discusses how cellular PVC rebutted and rejointed (R&R) prefinished shingles can provide the look and feel of wood shingles with an extended level of durability and low maintenance.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Whether for new construction or a retrofit, doors and openings play an integral role in defining how a space functions and can impact occupants in multiple ways, making door selection an important process. This course discusses the many benefits sliding and pocket doors offer, including aesthetics, space savings, improved occupant flow, accessibility, and ease of operation. Typical sliding and pocket door hardware types, methods of operation, and installation are also reviewed.

             

     This course contains accessible design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Wood is both beautiful and practical but lacks long-term durability when used outdoors. Acetylation changes the material properties of the wood at the molecular level to improve its stability and weathering capabilities. This course reviews the acetylation process, its impact on wood performance, and how and where this type of wood can be used. Also discussed are the green features of acetylated wood and how it can contribute toward earning points in the LEED® v4 green building rating system.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Light-manipulating materials use internal channels to capture, bend, scatter, and redirect light and create visually stunning spaces. Panels and slabs in resin, glass, and terrazzo make an experiential surface for privacy screens or signage, primary or accent lighting, and countertops or flooring—anywhere the interplay of light and shadow is desired for beauty and inspiration. This course describes the different types of light-manipulating materials and substrates, design and installation options, and the contributions of these products to sustainability goals as well as occupant health, well-being, and engagement in a wide range of dynamic, unique applications.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Life-safety systems encompass both passive fire-protection features, like compartmentation and firestopping, and active ones, such as sprinklers and alarms. Portable fire extinguishers are an integral part of life-safety systems and must meet code-mandated number and placement requirements in most building types. This course looks at how fire extinguishers can be stored safely and securely in cabinets and addresses specification considerations. Also reviewed are the many options available to customize fire extinguisher cabinets so they are tailored to each project’s needs and design goals.

             

     This course contains accessible design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • The growing global population is creating an increased demand for resources. As a result, there is a need to replace fossil-based, nonrenewable building materials with more bio-based materials, such as bamboo. This course describes the properties of bamboo that make it a more sustainable choice, including its fast growth and CO2 saving and storing potential. It also discusses how active bamboo reforestation and the use of durable bamboo products can lead to CO2 reduction across many industries.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • As interest in cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings grows, the market for building enclosure products as a whole has yet to fully provide the water-resistant barriers, vapor retarders, and air barriers to optimally support the unique characteristics of wood. Furthermore, there are few building enclosure design guides specific to detailing wood-framed walls and roofs. This comprehensive course fills the gaps, providing detailed information on mass timber, building enclosure issues, the vapor-permeable technology available to address wood’s unique moisture characteristics, and a how-to guide on detailing the walls and roof of the enclosure.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Structural laminated decking allows the beauty of the wood structure to be exposed, creating a unique architectural experience for its occupants. Aesthetics, strength, and durability are combined in one engineered product. Structural laminated wood decking is an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective alternative to solid timber and other roof systems. This course discusses the characteristics of laminated wood decking and reviews recommended design, specification, and installation practices.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Exterior cladding must be long lasting, maintenance-free, and aesthetically pleasing to meet the design demands of property and homeowners. An innovative composite cladding solution, developed with a patented technology that incorporates glass-reinforced polymers and graphite-infused polystyrene, meets and exceeds these requirements. This course describes the design challenges property and homeowners often face when selecting cladding, and it offers a solution. Performance characteristics such as thermal resistance, wind load resistance, and fire ratings are discussed. Installation techniques and a case study are also examined.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Bamboo is a versatile building material that brings warmth and character to indoor applications such as flooring, furniture, and wall and ceiling panels; an innovative process also allows bamboo to be used outdoors in decks, soffits, and siding. This course reviews the material technologies that make bamboo products with reduced environmental impacts and better performance than traditional materials and discusses their potential to meet requirements of the LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems and the WELL Building Standardâ„¢ version 2.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • There is no substitute for the natural beauty of newly installed tropical hardwood, but keeping it looking great and achieving the desired performance over time require careful attention to detail. Choosing the best hardwood species and specifying the appropriate fastening and finishing systems will ensure an aesthetically pleasing, low-maintenance, and successful design in terms of installation, performance, and appearance. This course discusses wood species specification, installation techniques, and finishing methods for tropical hardwoods in conventional and sustainable buildings. As well, international programs that are used to successfully determine sustainability are examined.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Western red cedar's (WRC) aesthetic, economic, and environmental benefits are just some of the reasons why builders and designers are increasingly gravitating to this species of wood. Presented here are modern, historical, and cultural uses of western red cedar, as well as its performance characteristics, grade specification, and finishes. Also discussed are sustainable forest management practices and certification agencies, and how sustainably sourced wood can contribute to LEED® credits.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Kitchens have evolved, and so has the role of refrigeration in the home; there are a variety of factors that are contributing to this change. This course examines the social, economic, and demographic trends that are stimulating the reimagining of the kitchen space. The latest trends in kitchen design are discussed as is the role of modular refrigeration—a key design element in the creation of functional spaces that reflect the changing domestic landscape.

             

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Outdoor living space has become an important residential design consideration in the last several years. Decks create welcoming spaces to relax and entertain with family and friends, and a well-built deck can add more living space and value to a home. This course discusses deck surfaces, maintenance, and costs and explores porcelain tile as an alternative to wood and composite deck surfaces that is well suited to exterior environments. Also discussed is how porcelain tile can be used with a new pultruded fiberglass and composite underlayment, called structural ribbed self-supporting boards, and the sustainable features of this technology.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • High-performance coatings are a necessity when it comes to protecting building exteriors and restoring them after harsh weathering and UV degradation; the right coatings prolong a building exterior’s life span and divert materials from landfills. New PVDF coating systems provide superior protection while satisfying aesthetic and environmental considerations. Their various characteristics and benefits are explored, and application methods are discussed.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Millennial consumers are committed to making environmentally sustainable purchasing choices. But what makes a product truly sustainable? This course presents data to show that thermally fused laminate (TFL) and other waste wood fiber products are among the most sustainable building materials on the market. Forest management, the properties that make wood climate positive, efficiencies in the panel manufacturing process, and the criteria and processes behind environmental certification are discussed.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Sustainable building envelopes demand high performance from and proper installation of continuous insulation and air, water, and vapor control layers. What happens when thousands of holes are made in these materials as they are installed with blind fasteners, one layer on top of another by different subcontractors? Sequencing issues can generally not be avoided; instead, this course focuses on self-sealing fasteners as a solution to avoid damage and thermal bridging in insulation and control layers. Various fasteners and anchors are described, and recommendations are presented for how to specify and what testing data to look for.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Les panneaux décoratifs en bois composite (TFL), que l’on appelle aussi panneaux en mélamine, sont devenus le choix no 1 pour ce qui est du réalisme durable dans les cuisines, les garde-robes, les bureaux à domicile et le mobilier de rangement, en raison de leur excellent rapport qualité-prix, et de leur qualité, tout cela sans avoir à faire de sacrifice esthétique. Nous voulons vous parler de l’histoire et de la fabrication des panneaux de TFL, de leurs propriétés et caractéristiques techniques, du lien entre la texture et les perceptions et du rôle que joue la texture dans l’effet visuel d’un panneau de TFL. Enfin, nous allons parler des tendances dans le domaine résidentiel qui forcent les designers et les fabricants à innover.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Natural and artificial lighting surrounds us at all times. Light helps us to work safely, enhances design, creates atmosphere, and influences our well-being. This course discusses the circadian rhythm, occupant health, and lighting color temperature, and it examines LED lighting requirements and options for lighting-integrated bathroom mirrors and cabinets.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Redwood lumber and timbers from sustainably managed and harvested forests offer warmth, durability, and strength in indoor and outdoor projects. This course covers the performance characteristics, environmental benefits, and applications of Redwood, including several case studies that highlight the beauty and versatility of Redwood products. Details are presented on differentiating the grades of Redwood, specifying the right grade for the project type, and the specification resources that are available.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Secret doors and spaces have been used throughout history to protect valuables, hide people, conceal activities, and provide amusement. This course examines some historic examples before discussing contemporary uses for hidden doors and rooms. Suggested design strategies and hardware specifications are discussed, and safety guidelines, common design mistakes that might expose the existence of a secret door, and some inspirational case studies are reviewed.

             

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Windows provide natural light and ventilation and add character to the interior and exterior of the home. In addition to function and aesthetics, performance must be considered in the specification process. Fortunately, rigorous testing standards and labeling programs enable designers to make informed choices. Examined here are window standards, certifications, testing, and labeling; window types and components; and window specification and installation considerations.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • Well-designed, well-maintained outdoor decks and siding can add utility, pleasure, and value to every home and business. If poorly maintained, they can diminish all those attributes. This course explains the optimized advantages of ultra-low-maintenance composite decking and siding boards. Composite boards are formulated and manufactured in an environmentally beneficial manner and virtually eliminate maintenance and aging concerns. Their usage results in strong, safe, moisture- and insect-resistant, aesthetically appealing decking and siding projects in all contexts.

             

     This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

  • For some applications, building codes provide for the use of fire-retardant-treated (FR) wood products as an alternative to noncombustible materials. To ensure that FR wood products are properly specified, it is important to understand how these products are made, their formulations, and the building code references that guide their use in construction. This course offers a review of FR wood products, including their manufacture, the applications and types of fire retardants that are available, and the factors that must be considered to ensure FR wood products are properly specified for code compliance.

             

     This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

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