This course explains the design of adhered masonry wall systems typical of today’s best practices. It utilizes familiar masonry cavity wall design to show why proper ventilation and drainage typical in this wall type must also be used in adhered masonry veneer wall design, and explores the design differences and similarities between masonry cavity wall systems and adhered masonry veneer systems. It shows the results of improper wall design, common errors in adhered masonry installation techniques and product selection, and the correct techniques and products necessary for constructing sustainable, energy-efficient adhered masonry veneer walls that will remain free of water damage for the life of the building....
Architects and other design professionals have a critical role to play in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions through building design and product selection. The urgent need to reduce both operational and embodied carbon means that building designers must be familiar with transparency documents that facilitate low-carbon product selection. In this course, we review the types of carbon of concern, transparency documents that provide critical information, and tools for sourcing embodied carbon information. We also look at the contribution of insulated metal panels to both low embodied and low operational carbon buildings....
Guided tour of a roofing system fabricating facility. Includes a summary of the manufacturing processes, quality checks, inspection procedures, and testing performed within the facility to conform to UL, FM, and regulatory codes....
A summary of thermoplastic single-ply roofing systems and a review of several alternative roofing systems. Highlights some of the characteristics of PVC membranes and describes the role of PVC roofing as a component in the design of sustainable high-performance buildings. Provides a review and discussion of some of the environmental aspects of PVC-based roofing products....
This course reviews the importance of weather-resistive barriers (WRBs): why they are critical and the technology considerations specifiers should use when evaluating WRB’s performance. It will also outline several of the most important building code and industry requirements related to air barriers and what they mean....
Partitions used for sound isolation are often required to also provide fire resistance. This is especially true in multi-family construction where the vast majority of unit demising walls and floor/ceiling assemblies must be fire rated. Solid working knowledge of fire-resistive designs is essential for architects to design acoustic partitions that can actually be built on-site. There are many design elements that work well for fire and for acoustics, but there are also areas where what works well for fire can be at odds with what works well for acoustics. In this presentation, we will look at the elements of acoustic and fire design both for basic wall and floor/ceiling assemblies and for design details like wall-wall and wall-ceiling intersections...
Acoustical doors are vital in managing sound transmission in various architectural and industrial settings. This course discusses evaluating, specifying, and integrating acoustical doors into projects that demand effective noise control, speech privacy, and occupant comfort. It also examines how acoustical doors may help meet credit requirements in the LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction rating system and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2. Compliance with fire safety codes and SCIF specifications is also discussed....
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This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Roofing technologies have come a long way from labor-intensive systems that achieved water tightness through redundancy. Today’s single-ply thermoplastic membrane systems are lightweight, consistently manufactured, and efficient to install. This course focuses on thermoplastic single-plies, particularly those that are PVC based, and explores their benefits and limitations. It also identifies the important factors to consider when selecting a roof system, including fastening techniques, warranties, safety, and sustainability....
Our learning objectives for this course all surround the core value & concepts of metal panel. We briefly Identify market sectors for architectural insulated metal panels. Understand the thermal performance advantages of insulated panels along with the basics of panel installation including wall framing requirements. Discuss how IMPs perform the necessary envelope control functions through a single component systems while accelerate speed of build. This course will also describe the aesthetics, design flexibility and integrated accessories available with architectural insulated metal panels....
This course focuses on design considerations when using insulated metal roof panels. Panel characteristics, paint finishes and roof geometry options are reviewed. Support structure requirements (ex: purlins, joists, decking) including steel alignment/tolerances, panel spans and roof diaphragm considerations are studied. Functional aspects including environmental control layers (air, vapor, water and thermal) are examined. A full color animated video provides guidance on the step by step process of how IMP roofs are installed. Code compliance including air/water, thermal, fire safety and wind uplift is addressed. The program concludes with product and installation warranties, including paint, corrosion and weather tightness....
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....
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....
Over time urban parks and other open landscaped areas are being lost to development. One solution to mitigate this issue is to reconsider undeveloped areas such as building roofs to create green amenity spaces. Amenity decks can provide some alleviation of lost green space, while affording developers the potential to monetize unutilized spaces in their buildings and provide an advantage over older buildings to attract tenants....
The teaching points will be on Closed cell Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) and the commercial building enveloped. Subject matter will contain discussions on safety with SPF use, SPF and NFPA 285 as well a review of the basic chemistry and some basic details....
Residential solar power generates clean energy, reduces carbon footprint, protects against rising electricity rates, and protects property from outages, but it is only effective during daylight hours. Adding battery storage to a solar system—called solar plus storage—removes this limitation and moves a home closer to energy independence. In this course, we will review the components of a solar-plus-storage system, including selection considerations for residential rooftop solar and DC-coupled solar batteries. The course also reviews the extended system of monitoring and DC charging....
Presented by a subject matter expert on behalf of CENTRIA, a Nucor company. As part of a well-designed rainscreen system, single-skin metal panels offer unique aesthetic options combined with the assurance that the building envelope will withstand the effects of long-term exposure to the elements. This course compares common cladding types; presents single-skin metal panel materials, coatings, finishes, and design options; and examines using single-skin metal panels with a single-component barrier wall to form a complete rainscreen assembly....
This course focuses on barrier free shower design and installation. Following a brief review of the reasons, benefits, and legal requirements for barrier free showers it summarizes the features and attributes of shower assemblies, relevant industry standards, waterproofing membranes and drains, best practices, installation methodology, installation tips and techniques, and walk/roll in showers. It includes a review of the design considerations and advice for the creation of perfectly performing showers which follow the latest design trends....
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This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
An introduction to the history, manufacturing, and use of Polyisocyanurate Insulation in Commercial and Residential Construction and address how these products can contribute to energy efficiency, fire safety, sustainability, and a healthier indoor environment....
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
An examination and comparison of categories within the exterior trim market, focusing on category specific attributes relating to installation, sustainability, durability and maintenance....
How to Achieve Superior Building Envelope Performance in Rainscreen Wall Design explores rainscreen wall design theory, how rainscreen walls control hygrothermal loads, and shortcomings of today’s multi-component backup wall assemblies used in rainscreen wall construction. The course will compare and contrast the common multi-component backup wall assembly with the single-component insulated metal composite backup wall system, and demonstrate how the latter overcomes deficiencies of the former in creating a building envelope with superior performance as well as other key benefits....
Discover the basics of solar photovoltaic systems including the major parts for rooftop solar installations. Describe the basics of the rooftop installation mechanics and measures to minimize hazards and increase safety. Review critical parameters that should be considered when designing a roof to be solar ready. Reveal the advantages of installing solar on metal roofs, including performance and economic benefits....
Installing snow retention systems on rooftop applications improves the safety of building occupants and can decrease the risk of property damage. This course identifies different snow guard styles and explains how each contributes to snow retention. Installation techniques are reviewed, and layout designs that maximize occupant safety and minimize hazards are also discussed....
Stucco is a popular and durable finishing material that offers many benefits, combining safety and affordability while satisfying aesthetic needs. It can be applied to various surfaces using a lath system, which provides support for stucco. However, the quality of the stucco lath embedment can greatly affect its performance. This course covers the proper technique for achieving lath embedment, the different types of metal lath and their various applications, and regional material preferences....
Discuss IRC Egress Code and the possible Product choices, attributes and Factors which could effect performance Review the installation process, Egress window well design trends...
Rainscreens are a multicomponent system offering redundancy in resisting the weather; however, continuity of each component is critical. When an insulated metal panel (IMP) is used within the system, it can function as a number of these components, simplifying installation and improving performance. This course looks at IMPs acting as barrier walls behind various rainscreen systems, with a discussion on the performance characteristics for air, water, vapor, and thermal management....
