Building Knowledge and Connections
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 610 results.
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https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s525798/www.aecdaily.com/course/916201
Flexible work scheduling, telework, virtual work, and the high cost of office space are some of the drivers of the 21st century workspace. This open, flexible, adaptable, and casual space must still serve not only the technological needs of its users, but also the accessibility needs of a diverse population. This course examines the technical requirements for providing accessibility, universal design, and ergonomics in an open office space and looks at a variety of solutions in the functional areas of the office: open office areas, the workspace, and collaboration areas.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s5654/www.aecdaily.com/course/1212012
As concrete is a carbon-intensive building material, design and construction professionals are encouraged to make informed, low-carbon design decisions. This course explores the evolving path toward low-carbon concrete solutions. Discussions include mix design optimization and trade-offs, exposure class, benchmarks, environmental product declarations (EPDs), and potential contributions toward LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction credits. Structural design strategies, performance-based specifications, and project-level carbon budgets are presented as means to support project and sustainability goals and performance requirements.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s12474/www.aecdaily.com/course/967494
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.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s1177978/www.aecdaily.com/course/1228773
Commercial roofs now serve as complex platforms that support an ever-growing array of equipment exposed to significant environmental and operational forces. This course examines the modern code framework governing rooftop equipment securement, including requirements for positive attachment and continuous load paths. Learners review common support practices and traditional attachment methods, as well as emerging engineered anchoring solutions that comply with code requirements and ensure proper equipment securement, ultimately enhancing the roof’s long-term reliability.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s1043551/www.aecdaily.com/course/1061942
Direct vent fireplaces are safe and efficient supplemental heat sources in today’s homes. This course reviews the innovative design options for gas fireplaces, including media options, cool wall technology, and safety barriers. Direct and power vent heat delivery systems are discussed, and the impact of standing versus electric pilot lights on energy efficiency is examined.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s976306/www.aecdaily.com/course/985229
Made from one of the hardest and most abundant minerals in nature, engineered quartz is a beautiful, durable surface solution for a wide range of commercial and residential applications desiring the beauty of natural stone without its drawbacks. The raw materials of quartz surfacing are harvested from the Earth and formed into slabs via an innovative production process, resulting in a homogenous, nonporous material with superior performance and low maintenance requirements. Reviewed in this course are the features, fabrication guidelines, and design trends of quartz surfacing.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s1773/www.aecdaily.com/course/858685
The use of life safety dampers is driven by requirements in various building codes. There are many different applications for which fire, fire/smoke, smoke, and/or ceiling radiation dampers can be used, each having its own specific purpose and unique installation requirements. This course gives an in-depth look at the different types of dampers and explains how and where they're each used and installed.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s15358/www.aecdaily.com/course/1143565
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.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s719/www.aecdaily.com/course/1115820
In this video series course, we cover common metal roofing installation considerations. The first video discusses typical metal roof penetrations and details for proper installation. The second video presents metal enhancement options and design and installation tips to prevent premature corrosion in marine environments. The final video explores the expansion and contraction of standing seam metal roofs and how points of fixity accommodate thermal movement.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s795432/www.aecdaily.com/course/986491
Just as healthcare providers strive to stop the spread of disease at its source in the body, so too are facilities trying to stop the source of waterborne viruses and bacteria before they get out of control. This course highlights the concerns and consequences of improper water delivery in healthcare facilities and discusses why they are embarking on a systems approach and using a monitoring system to manage water and infection control.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s20151/www.aecdaily.com/course/1002626
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.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s8279/www.aecdaily.com/course/965395
Traditionally, home has been a place for retreat and sanctuary. But as more people work from home, it is increasingly difficult to disengage from work responsibilities and set aside the time needed to refresh ourselves. As our stress levels rise, so does the need for self-care. This course looks at two areas of the home that are ideal for performing self-care and improving our well-being, assisted by investing in luxurious items: the bathroom and the kitchen.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.aecdaily.com/course/1222237
Sustainable community development (SCD) has evolved to address the significant environmental and climatic changes over the last four decades. It now prioritizes resiliency and adaptability, balances technological and natural solutions, and integrates building design and performance into planning mandates. This first part of the SCD course series highlights the key changes, the nature of resiliency and adaptive planning, and the ongoing and emerging influences that shape and inform SCD today.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s1158080/www.aecdaily.com/course/1167954
This course examines threats to window and door integrity in buildings, including forced entry, ballistic impact, storm debris, and blast pressure. It covers retrofit and replacement approaches that strengthen glazing systems, explains relevant testing protocols, and addresses misleading performance claims. The course concludes with guidance on how to assess existing conditions and specify solutions that support occupant safety, risk mitigation, and building resilience.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s425610/www.aecdaily.com/course/1152795
Many communities face challenges related to the presence of harmful pollutants in their drinking water supply. This course examines the issues associated with these contaminants, focusing on lead, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microplastics. It also discusses the government’s response to providing clean, safe water and innovations in point-of-use filtration systems designed to reduce toxic substances in drinking water and minimize the environmental impact of disposable plastic water bottles.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s677063/www.aecdaily.com/course/1237068
This course explores the design, construction, and performance of insulated concrete panel (ICP) systems as a high-performance wall assembly. Through an overview of wall details and assemblies, participants examine how ICP systems address structural, thermal, moisture, fire, and acoustic performance while meeting applicable code requirements and improving constructability and energy efficiency. Case studies illustrate how these principles are applied in practice to support durable, sustainable building design.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/www.aecdaily.com/course/1114251
When building professionals gather, as they often do these days, to confer under the banner of ESG, the E tends to get the lion's share of the airtime. After all, there is a direct and readily understandable connection between buildings and environmental sustainability, and many of us have devoted significant time and effort to educating ourselves in best practices around this important facet of professional practice. But what about the S? How do those of us engaged in the business of the built environment drive bona fide social impact through the work we do? In fact, there are numerous paths available, and arguably, real social equity is reliant on a foundation of safe and stable housing as much as any other factor. During this webinar, we will explore needs and solutions in the realm of housing affordability and access while specifically touching on both our existing housing stock and impact-focused strategies for bringing new housing online.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s14798/www.aecdaily.com/course/1056815
Undesirable acoustics in educational spaces adversely affect the learning and teaching processes. The impact on students’ academic achievement, social adaptation, and mental health can be profound and long lasting. This course examines the impact of different sound problems and presents solutions that create synergy between the architecture and the classroom environment to optimize student learning and engagement and teacher retention.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s525798/www.aecdaily.com/course/836152
Power and charging needs in hotels, offices, and lobbies have changed due to emerging trends in how people use their electronic devices. Modern users require more and better access to charging. This need combined with the rise of the USB-Type C Standard, new furniture-based power technology, and the challenges of open space design requires designers to apply a new strategy for power/charging outlets. This course discusses how to employ furniture power distribution units (FPDUs) to meet the needs of users, hotel operators, and facility managers.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s743103/www.aecdaily.com/course/1144413
The thermal and dual modification of wood are processes used to improve wood’s profile in terms of durability, dimensional stability, overall performance, and inherent resilience and sustainability. The resulting products can be utilized in many building applications, from decking and siding to pergolas and nonstructural beams, as well as paneling, soffits, and interior trim applications. This course explores the science behind the thermal and dual modification of wood. Examples of modified wood and case studies are also reviewed.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s1043551/www.aecdaily.com/course/1065168
The fireplace has always been a focal point in any home, providing warmth and a place for friends and family to gather. Today’s wood-burning fireplaces, inserts, and stoves have become increasingly efficient and clean burning. This course examines using wood as a fuel source and discusses the many characteristics that can affect heat production, efficiency, and burn time. New burning technologies that meet EPA certification requirements for released particulate matter are summarized, as are design and installation specifications.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s5712/www.aecdaily.com/course/946869
Designing restrooms to allow for and maximize proper hygiene is important in reducing the spread of germs. This course discusses the elements of hygienic restroom design and how reducing required touchpoints helps to increase safety and cleanliness. The key steps in proper hand hygiene are also discussed. The course then focuses on hand dryers and considers their impact on hand hygiene and sustainability. The future of commercial restroom design is then explored.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s17339/www.aecdaily.com/course/979125
Incorporating nature into the built environment through biophilic design increases occupant well-being, productivity, and health and is an integral component of an ecologically healthy and sustainable community. Presented here is an overview of biophilic design, its relationship to sustainability, and its positive human, environmental, and economic outcomes. Case studies demonstrate how rooftop deck systems can contribute to biophilic and sustainable design objectives.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s5147/www.aecdaily.com/course/856360
With the advent of “cool” single-ply roofs featuring heat-reflective exterior surfaces and the use of mechanical attachment, new questions have emerged concerning the internal forces at play within the roofing system, especially in regard to vapor movement and the potential for moisture condensation within the roof. This course reviews the fundamentals of vapor movement in roofing systems, current roof condensation research and the tools available to assess roof condensation. It also provides the building design professional with strategies to deal effectively with moisture movement within the roofing system.
https://redirect.aecdaily.com/s796052/www.aecdaily.com/course/823653
Synthetic (artificial) grass, specifically designed for use with dogs, is a cost-effective solution that offers a clean, safe, and aesthetically pleasing environment for dogs. Presented here are the health, safety, performance, and cost benefits of installing synthetic grass specifically designed for dogs; its suitable applications; design considerations; installation factors; and maintenance guidelines.
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