This presentation will focus on the overview of various waterproofing, protection course and drainage methods that meet the standards of today’s foundation applications. Along with an overview of various code and design requirements that mandate foundation waterproofing systems and applications....
This presentation explores exterior wall design performance; energy code requirements; influences of air, moisture, thermal, and vapor barriers; and actual project case studies are presented. This program will be an interactive session that encourages feedback and questions....
Today, architects and designers need to give special consideration to building acoustics when developing plans for new and newly renovated construction projects. Excessive noise in any environment is considered a serious problem that can negatively impact occupant comfort, leading to learning difficulties, sleep deprivation, delayed recovery from illness, and lack of privacy. Sound basics are discussed in this course, and STC, IIC, and sound attenuation (reduction) techniques are explained. Various case studies are examined to develop further understanding of the performance of common sound abatement assemblies that are essential for occupant well-being and comfort....
View the Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc. Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Join top industry experts for a dynamic session on the future of energy-efficient building envelopes. The expert panel will address key performance challenges, share forward-thinking solutions, and provide insights on the latest advancements in materials, design, and policy that are shaping the future of sustainable construction....
View the PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association Course Library
PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
This course is designed to provide an introduction to acoustics and will highlight the link between acoustics and the architects vision for a space at the design phase. Understanding how sound travels in buildings is crucial to creating a smart and acoustically sound environment. Architects and building owners invest heavily into designing aesthetics and functionality into a building that represents their vision for its use. However, poor acoustics can disrupt and distract occupants from the architects’ vision for a space. Understanding how sound travels in buildings and how it interacts with various surfaces will provide the knowledge needed to avoid acoustical issues when designing a space. In the event that the building is already experiencing issues, strategies for remediating the issues will also be discussed....
Key findings from a recent study conducted by AIA with support from Owens Corning demonstrate that resiliency is a value shared across the design team. However, the interpretation of what resiliency actually means varies greatly based on factors such as design team role, construction type, and experience. This course will consider resiliency from multiple viewpoints, hypothesize on why discrepancies exist when it comes to defining resiliency, and demonstrate actual examples of resilient construction based on recent disaster assessments and actual in situ examples. The content aims to help design team members develop solutions that advance the resilience of commercial buildings....
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....
View the Catalyst Acoustics Group Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Stormwater management is a critical component in any municipality to retain and infiltrate increased runoff volumes and flow rates from developed land that creates increased impervious cover (roofs and pavements). The course discusses the hydrologic and structural design fundamentals of permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) and why it is an excellent choice to help meet stormwater management goals. Discussions include the benefits of using PICP, components of PICP, design and construction considerations and how use of PICP can help earn LEED® credits....
View the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) Course Library
At their root, metal roofs and walls made from steel, copper, zinc, or aluminum have a lower environmental impact because of their ability to be recycled and reused. This course focuses on the green aspects of standing seam metal roofs, and in particular, their cool roof characteristics. Also addressed are the implications of heat islands, what constitutes construction of cool roofs/walls and how they work, some rules of thumb for understanding cool metal roofing, roof slope impacts on performance, and codes, ratings, and standards that apply to designing cool roofs/walls....
History of fully reinforced, cold-fluid applied, liquid resin waterproofing membranes. Technology - composite of resin and reinforcement. Understanding system components. Application process, performance benefits, range of applications. Project examples including detailing and various assemblies....
This course features an overview discussion on sustainability in the built environment, including common terminology and guidance on what tools/resources are used in designing for low embodied carbon green building projects. In addition, it reviews certification platforms and how to optimize product attributes with the many commercial roofing assemblies....
Historically, traditional waterproofing methods involve the placement of a barrier or membrane between the concrete and water. Unlike membranes and other surface systems, crystalline waterproofing is designed to make the concrete itself waterproof. This course discusses how crystalline waterproofing technology provides a high level of performance to concrete structures and what design professionals need to know in order to specify and understand how this chemical technology can improve building projects, cut costs, and help earn LEED® credits....
As interest in cross laminated timber buildings grows, the market for building enclosure products, as a whole, has yet to fully provide the water-resistant barriers, vapor barriers, 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, floors and roofs. This comprehensive course fills the gap, 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, floors and roof of the enclosure....
Guided Manufacturing Plant Tour of Kemper System America's West Seneca, NY Facility. Tour includes a review of plant safety criteria (5 mins); QC & R&D labs (30 mins) introduction into various equipment used for ASTM and product testing; Warehouse tour (5 mins) including discussion of building design for containing potential spills to protect surrounding wildlife area; Distribution center (5 mins) discussions including QC process for incoming raw materials and outgoing products; Manufacturing overview (15 mins) showing machinery and processes for creating various liquid resins, primer, topcoats, & coatings....
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....
As energy codes continue to push building envelopes to higher R-value performance, architects and designers are challenged with also managing the moisture flow within the envelope to minimize the risk of condensation and the potential for mold and corrosion. Advanced testing and analysis demonstrate how specifiers can utilize mineral wool as an exterior continuous insulation, and significantly reduce the risk of condensation and subsequent mold/corrosion damage in all climate zones....
A comprehensive plant tour at our Rmax Facility. Observe the insulation manufacturing process step by step from the initial order to the finished product by observing the raw material used, the manufacturer of the panels on the production line, panel cutting and stacking, panel wrapping and storage....
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
We will explore the evolution of technology in low-slope roofing systems and its significance for buildings. Past low-slope roofing typically ignored air tightness, focusing on vapor restriction. This presentation will describe the importance of air tightness and vapor restriction to protect the building, your assets, and its occupants. Gain comprehensive insights into the anatomy of low-slope roofing assemblies and common low-slope roofing systems in the modern world or construction. We will provide the knowledge to make informed decisions about the usage of air/vapor retarders versus vapor barriers in low-slope roofing applications, enhancing your proficiency in creating resilient and sustainable building envelopes....
This course explores how an innovative, scalable, and economical cold-formed steel column and composite beam framing system addresses common primary framing challenges to reach the roof faster and deliver stronger, more cost-effective, and sustainable projects. This well-proven, ICC-compliant system reduces dependencies on multiple trades and minimizes the number of handoffs, supporting schedule compression, which then translates directly into earlier openings, faster revenue generation, and reduced labor costs. The system is applicable to a range of housing, hotel, and commercial mid-rise projects in all climates and geographies....
High-performing commercial roofs must be resilient and designed to perform over the long run, without compromising on the client's commitment to sustainability. Cellular glass insulation delivers a portfolio of performance attributes including impermeability, non-combustibility, long-term thermal performance, compressive strength, and resilience throughout the assembly. This course will spotlight real-world roof assemblies that leverage cellular glass insulation to achieve performance without compromise....
This course provides a comprehensive overview of using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) in the design and construction of educational facilities. Participants will learn how ICF technology enhances energy efficiency, reduces operational costs for school boards, and improves health and safety for students and staff. The program highlights the versatility of ICFs, including their potential to support multi-use needs during crises. By addressing the unique challenges and opportunities of educational buildings, this course empowers professionals to implement innovative solutions that create efficient, safe, and sustainable learning environments....
This course explores the role of motorized pergolas in shaping contemporary outdoor spaces that balance energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and architectural design. Participants will learn how these systems support sustainable performance goals, discover key considerations for successful integration, and review best practices for specifying louvered roof solutions in both residential and commercial projects....
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....
A naturally occurring radioactive gas, radon is a silent danger to our health. Colorless and odorless, it enters homes and structures through openings in the foundation and below-grade walls, becoming trapped in basements and other poorly ventilated areas. This course looks at methods of controlling radon, how it is addressed in building codes, the advantages of closed-cell spray polyurethane foam (ccSPF) over other insulation materials, and proper installation techniques....
Building Envelopes are among the systems that can have the largest embodied carbon impact on a building. Traditionally envelope systems and materials are chosen for aesthetics, cost, and operational energy, but embodied carbon is equally important. Learn how carbon is broken out between operational and embodied, the basic concepts of an LCA and EPD’s, strategies for selecting and comparing insulation and cladding systems....
