Health, Safety, and Welfare

All courses identified as HSW, cover Health, Safety, and Welfare topics and have been approved by the AIA (American Institute of Architects) as an HSW Learning Unit (LU/HSW).

Displaying 1 - 25 of 583 results.

FIRST [1-25] [26-50] [51-75] [76-100] [101-125] NEXT LAST

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This presentation celebrates the value of incorporating artisanal, handcrafted fixtures and furnishings into a building’s design. Not only are these products unique, functional, and aesthetically appealing, but they can also establish a sense of connection with their maker. Many artisanal, handcrafted products are made using traditional techniques that have been passed down over time, often from generation to generation. And because many of these products are made from sustainable, recycled, or reclaimed materials that are locally available, they can help reduce the environmental impact of a new build. This course illustrates how sourcing artisan-made products for their projects can allow designers and builders to effect social, economic, and environmental change.

  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Architects and designers have many options for specifying site furniture products for their projects. Selecting materials and finishes is an integral part of this process, yet making material selections has become more and more complex. The course examines conditions and constraints of outdoor environments; evaluates materials commonly used in outdoor applications; discusses using green building standards and rating systems, and the role of suppliers as resources for material selection; and provides examples of products that adhere to a higher environmental standard.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Wood is a sustainable building material that must be properly detailed to reach its full performance and durability potential. This course explores the intricate relationship between wood and water, providing insights into moisture management strategies crucial for achieving durability in exterior wood installations. Discussions include the natural properties of wood, dynamics of wood movement, wood drying processes, rainscreen principles, and designing for wood movement in cladding and decking applications.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Stairs are an essential component of a movement and wayfinding strategy in a structure and a primary means of egress, exit, and floor-to-floor access in the event of a fire or emergency for buildings with multiple floors or a change in rise. This course discusses stair and egress system design and evaluates why the design and fabrication of pre-engineered steel stairs create safe stair environments that comply with building codes.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Polished concrete combines style, eco-friendliness, durability, and cost effectiveness, making it a standout choice in flooring for architects and building owners. This course explores polished concrete, its benefits, and its role in sustainability efforts. It covers various job types, their specific requirements, the process of using polished concrete, and the importance of mock-ups, protective treatments, and maintenance for long-lasting results.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    In food and beverage, food processing/distribution, and cold storage facilities, it is important to use doors that can provide speed, safety, separation, and security. High-speed, high-cycle, roll-up doors provide all these elements better than conventional doors. This course provides an in-depth discussion of the different types of high-performance doors—fabric, rigid, and rubber—along with their benefits and functions in different applications. The specification criteria, design, and installation considerations for high-performance doors are also discussed.

  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Surface preparation is critical for high-performing, long-lasting flooring. Learn about the latest innovations and installation techniques in surface preparation that prevent floor damage while mitigating moisture and noise.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The commercial space design trend toward open plans has had a major impact on interior electrical and digital infrastructure. Offices, hotels, retail spaces, and transit areas all utilize open spaces, each with their own specific issues and requirements. This course provides designers with the information required to provide code-compliant, user-friendly, and convenient power, data/communication, and AV access for a wide variety of spaces and end users, including facility managers, cleaning staff, and visitors.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA®) is the only organization accredited by the American National ‎Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop and maintain builders hardware ‎standards with cycling, operational, strength, security, and finish test requirements. This course explores the performance standards and the certification program related to commercial architectural hardware.

  • ( ~ 15 minutes ) 

    The first course of this series from the Carbon Leadership Forum provides a high-level overview of embodied carbon: how it is defined, its significance in the global climate crisis, and how it is impacted by the construction industry. In addition, the course examines procurement policies as an embodied carbon reduction strategy—in particular, the Buy Clean policies, their uptake in the US, and their key elements.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course focuses on the rapidly growing data center industry and how critical it is to control noise for facility employees and residents living in neighboring areas and to follow city ordinances. The noise issues data centers pose for their workers and their external surroundings are examined, and practical solutions are reviewed.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Bathrooms can be dangerous places for people with and without physical limitations. The prevalence of bathroom falls amongst persons of all age groups and levels of ability has driven the trend of accessible shower design. Presented here is an overview of how curbless shower pans are designed for durability and safety, and to meet the needs of accessible design. Included are discussions on traditional and modern shower pan design and installation methods and their associated drawbacks and benefits. Industry resources and standards are outlined.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Third-party environmental product declarations (EPDs), using a life-cycle analysis (LCA) approach, provide a comprehensive analysis and quantification of a product’s sustainability. This course examines how EPDs can inform sustainable site furniture selection and how the use of sustainable site furniture can contribute to meeting various credit requirements of LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction, Sustainable SITES Initiative® v2, and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    When the asphalt fumes, open flame, and kettles that accompany hot-applied roofing are not permissible, cold-applied roofing is an option. There are a variety of types of cold-applied roofing that offer easy portability of materials to the roof, smaller roofing crews, ease of application, and a low-VOC option. In this course, we focus on the adhesive application of modified bitumen membranes using bituminous cold-process adhesives, the adhesive types, their components and characteristics, application methods, and design and use considerations.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Understanding how insulated metal panels comply with fire safety regulations under the code is critical to their proper use in creating highly energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. This course takes a relatively complex subject and addresses the most important fire safety aspects to allow building designers to make an informed decision on the use of these popular cladding systems. Also reviewed are how these products have been addressed in the development of the International Building Code and the various third-party product listings, evaluation reports, and engineering judgements used to show compliance.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Modular mechanical support systems are flexible and adaptable frameworks used in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) applications. They replace fabricated steel and streamline the installation process. This course presents the history of modularization in construction and the functions, features, benefits, and applications of several modular mechanical support systems, including structural steel framing, adjustable pipe supports, pipe racks, and skid systems.

  • ( ~ 1 hour, 30 minutes ) 

    Metals are ubiquitous in today’s hardscape and are used in a variety of applications. This course reviews the important considerations related to the proper material, finish, and manufacturing technique to meet the function, aesthetic, and budget of metal designs for hardscape applications.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    People are captivated by birds, and for many, they hold intrinsic value. However, millions of birds collide with glass every year, significantly impacting avian populations. This course examines the ecological services that birds perform that impact human wellness and safety and reviews how bird-friendly glass can mitigate collisions. Various bird-friendly glass examples are also identified, and design guidelines and existing legislation mandating bird-friendly buildings is discussed.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Vinyl has long been a material of choice for construction products for interiors and exteriors because of its durability, cleanability, affordability, and suitability for a vast range of applications. This course furthers the conversation by discussing vinyl’s recyclability and sustainability and the attributes of laminated rigid PVC exterior and interior wall panels and siding and soffit products.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Low Impact Development (LID) has several advantages over traditional stormwater management approaches. Since impervious pavement is the main source of stormwater runoff, LID strategies recommend permeable paving for hard surfaces. The course discusses LID, its goals and principles, and how they are achieved. It provides an overview of permeable pavements, and more particularly, plastic permeable grid paver systems and how they support LID goals.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Concrete is an essential part of modern buildings. As net zero energy buildings become more common, it is crucial to find ways to reduce concrete’s carbon footprint without losing the performance characteristics that make it valuable to the building team. This course explains the sources of concrete’s carbon footprint and explores strategies for reducing embodied carbon and operational carbon in precast sandwich wall panels and insulated architectural cladding.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Often the largest access point in a building, sectional door systems play a significant role in controlling energy costs and supporting sustainable design in residential and commercial buildings. This course explores the specification considerations and the different types of sectional garage doors, as well as their role in enhancing the thermal performance of homes and commercial buildings.

  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Contrast therapy, the controlled use of heat and cold, has supported health, recovery, and wellness practices for centuries. This course examines the science, design, and construction of modern contrast therapy environments, including saunas, steam rooms, and cold rooms. It explains how temperature control, material specification, and system design influence safety, hygiene, and performance. The course also addresses how prefabricated systems improve installation efficiency, durability, and indoor environmental quality.

  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Metal is a versatile building material, boasting both historical credentials and modern aesthetics. To earn the right to rise to the top as the material of choice, however, metal must also demonstrate cost efficiency, durability, and minimal environmental impact. In this course, we will examine the value of metal roofs and walls during initial construction and through a building’s life cycle and illustrate metal’s benefits with a number of case studies.

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Drying hands thoroughly is crucial for maintaining hygiene levels, and when a hand dryer is too slow, the result is many people give up trying to dry their hands and leave the bathroom with wet or damp hands. Research has shown that damp hands can transmit up to 1,000x more bacteria than dry hands. This course discusses hand-drying concepts and the advantages of hand dryers with air knife technology. It also reviews the impact the choice of hand-drying equipment has on public health, occupant comfort, facility operations, and our environment.

Displaying 1 - 25 of 583 results.

FIRST [1-25] [26-50] [51-75] [76-100] [101-125] NEXT LAST