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....
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....
Design guidelines for sustainable MVM buildings, Including product innovations and industry related education....
Designers increasingly focus on creating environments that improve the health, welfare, and productivity of occupants. This includes providing the benefits of daylight, fresh air, and access to the outdoors. This course explores how retractable roofs can extend the use of outdoor spaces year-round by converting them to daylit indoor spaces seasonally or with sudden weather changes. It explains the economic benefits, structure, and operation of various retractable roof types and how they can be customized to suit multiple site sizes and types, including rooftops. The course concludes with a series of case studies....
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....
A study of Aluminum cladding material used in architectural applications. The metal’s properties, aesthetics, technical aspects, manufacturing process, and appropriate design applications. An overview of the environmental aspects of aluminum completes the study....
Acoustical design requirements are frequently based on laboratory test data. Floor/ceiling assemblies constructed in a lab for testing are built under ideal conditions and with high levels of precision. These assemblies also do not have any of the attachments or penetrations that are ubiquitous in real-world construction. Selecting a tested floor/ceiling design that meets an STC and/or IIC requirement is not enough to provide adequate sound isolation in the real-world. To achieve good sound isolation, it is imperative that designers understand how to treat the myriad of details that can compromise a floor/ceiling assembly's performance. These include: can lights, soffits, control joints, window shades, access panels, speakers, and wall/ceiling intersections. In this presentation we: discuss why a detail is important for noise control, provide the acoustical impact of poor detailing based on test data (when available), and provide acoustical best practices for the details....
Not only is standing seam metal roofing (SSMR) robust and durable, but the seam itself also provides a convenient anchorage point for the mounting of rooftop equipment. This course reviews the features and advantages of SSMR in terms of durability and sustainability, and the appropriate attachment solutions for mounting equipment. The course focuses on nonpenetrating roof seam clamps and design considerations for their use with snow retention and solar panel systems....
Changes made to spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation formulations in recent years address the impacts of embodied carbon and other attributes of sustainable construction design. This course explores the evolution and environmental impacts of SPF chemistries, and how the sustainability benefits of spray polyurethane foam (also known as SPF), contributes to high performance construction design...
Rapidly changing trends in our society, such as urbanization and modern lifestyle, have resulted in isolation of humans from our experiences within nature. Early research has shown that psychological effects of biophilic design on noise perception have a significant influence in the well-being and health such as focus, information retention, productivity and creativity. In this course, we will identify these potential problems and the effects of them; as well as outline different corrective actions to mitigate/lessen the issues....
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....
A high-performance building envelope, such as one made with architectural insulated metal panels (IMPs), serves as the building’s primary defense against environmental elements and protects the health and well-being of its occupants. This course reviews the components and benefits of IMPs, which offer all four control layers—air, vapor, thermal, and water—within a single component, delivering superior thermal performance and high-end design....
This course covers two widely used acoustic metrics, the STC and IIC ratings. Although these ratings are required by building codes and frequently used, they are still often poorly understood and there are many myths and misconceptions around their use. This course looks “under the hood” of the STC and IIC ratings to get a better understanding of what they are, how they work, and what they do and don’t tell us. Importantly, this course covers shortcomings of the STC and IIC ratings that if not understood can lead to poor designs for noise control. In that vein, this course also looks at two new acoustic ratings, HIIC and LIIC, that provide a better insight into the impact-noise reduction provided by floor/ceiling assemblies. Finally, the course uses the knowledge gained about ratings to discuss general methods of improving the acoustic performance of floor/ceiling assemblies....
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....
An overview of walkable, waterproof roof deck membranes and roofing systems, including a discussion of the key principles of deck design, design considerations, and how to install and specify roof deck membrane systems. This program will be extremely beneficial to architects, specifiers, and contractors involved in single and multiple-family homes that include decks, balconies, and rooftop decks....
This live course is offered as part of the DuPont Building Science Master Summit May 25, 2023 starting at 11am ET. Presented by: Keith P. Nelson, NCARB, AIA, CDT, BCxP, and Gabriel Acevedo, DuPont The trend toward sustainable building design took on new dimensions during the pandemic and concurrent supply chain crisis. Coupled with the ongoing dilution of skilled labor in the construction trades, there emerged an increased urgency and opportunity in specifying and installing sustainable roofing systems....
Insulation can help increase overall energy efficiency, minimize the spread of fire, manage risks associated with moisture and mold, and improve occupant comfort. Choosing the right insulation and putting it in the right location is becoming one of the most important decisions in design, construction, and retrofit. Reviewed in this course are the features, benefits, and design and installation considerations related to mineral wool continuous insulation....
ICF construction is cost effective and sustainable, and is a superior way to build stronger, quieter, healthier, and more energy-efficient commercial structures. This course explores insulated concrete form (ICF) construction, describing the forms themselves and their construction, performance, and sustainable benefits. Also presented are design guidelines, the installation process, flooring systems, and commercial project applications....
“Designing A Sustainable Masonry Cavity Wall Building Envelope” provides the characteristics of sustainable design as defined by the AIA, especially as it relates to masonry cavity walls. It explains typical problems in masonry cavity walls and how both improper design and construction can cause these problems, and it provides examples of excellent cavity wall design and the proper materials that should be specified to create a sustainable masonry cavity wall. At the end of the program, the attendees will have a much better understanding of how to design and specify masonry cavity walls that not only meet the AIA’s definition of sustainability, but which will also perform well over the life of the building....
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....
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....
This course discusses the unique considerations when installing pre-applied/blindside waterproofing for below grade waterproofing applications. It reviews the science behind any below grade waterproofing project but with a focus on pre-applied or “blindside” waterproofing best practices – including looking at the different product types and design considerations, as well as the pre-planning, decision making, and application techniques that these demanding waterproofing projects require....
Focusing on Canadian construction code and construction, this spotlight highlights the versatility of BASF Canada’s WALLTITE closed-cell insulation system, providing innovative project solutions and code-compliant assemblies for exceptional design flexibility. Discover WALLTITE’s unique properties and benefits that make it the ideal choice for various construction applications....
Provides an overview of pedestrian traffic decks, in particular tiled roof decks used in residential and light commercial projects. Topics discussed include: key principles of deck design, design considerations, how to specify outdoor tile systems in a roofing application and how to specify tiled pedestrian traffic decks....
The building envelope must withstand the effects of long-term exposure to the elements. This course explores rainscreen wall design and the control of hygrothermal loads. The traditional multicomponent backup wall assembly is compared with the single-component, insulated metal composite backup wall system, outlining key differences in design and construction and their overall effect on installation and performance....
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