This course explores the below-grade use of polyisocyanurate (POLYISO) insulation to meet energy code and maximize thermal performance of the building foundation. Let us help dispel the myths that have been created relative to POLYISO insulation while discussing its thermal performance, water absorption, and load capacity – the three primary characteristics for below grade insulation. In addition, we will discuss how the insulation can provide protection for the foundation waterproofing system....
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This course reviews the evolution of accessible restrooms and the recent, sudden prominence of universal (or adult) changing tables. We’ll examine how new changes to both the International Building Code® and statewide legislation affect public restroom design, and the profound impact universal changing tables can have on the lives of people with disabilities and their caregivers....
What are you doing to address the urban heat island effect? This hot topic in the design industry has led to local governments following LEED and amending their building codes to combat the effect of traditional roofing materials. In this session, you'll discover materials and techniques that will help you bring sustainable roofing into your practice - meeting both the latest building codes and the demands of increasingly eco-conscious clients. Discover how "cool roofing" and "green roofing" can help elevate sustainability while also maintaining performance and controlling costs....
Understanding building physics is critical to proper building envelope design. Examined here are practical concepts for the building designer, including how cladding systems perform across different climate zones and applications. Environmental control layers and hygrothermal loads are reviewed, as is the concept of perfect/universal wall design. The course focuses on how single-component insulated metal panels (IMPs) function as a perfect/universal wall, simplifying wall system design and installation....
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....
The presentation reviews a brief history of architectural IMP’s, current trends with comparisons to other materials and explores developments which will lead to future aesthetic possibilities and performance enhancements....
At this time, there are no national or state codes relating to snow retention for roofing applications, even in the heaviest snow load areas. Consequently, it is very important for building professionals to take extra care when designing a snow retention system for installations in snowy environments. This course provides a review of the problems and solutions associated with roofing in cold climates, including a discussion on the proper engineering of snow retention devices. There are many dangers involved if the appropriate considerations are not made while building and maintaining a roof in an alpine region....
Sustainable design has become a key responsibility in building practices. The decisions that architects, designers, and landscape professionals make at the early stages of design extend far beyond aesthetics and structure. They shape environmental performance, material life-cycle costs, and occupant comfort. This course explores sustainable design strategies focusing on specialty metals and gratings, with a strong emphasis on performance, life-cycle benefits, specification insights, applicable codes and standards, and real-world results. Specialty metals and gratings are also examined for their structural integrity and appearance, resource efficiency, longevity, and performance attributes that contribute to sustainable architectural outcomes....
The presentation will the concept of Consolidated Control Layer Design and how to use it to determine the materials that will make the most efficient wall for your customers. We will define the Control Layers, discuss the Code Requirements for each layer, explain the Building Science behind the code requirements, and how that layer is related to the other (Thermal to Moisture, Moisture to Air, Air to Vapor, etc.) We will then discuss the Fire considerations that Impact Control layer design with today’s codes, including NFPA 285 Brief Overview as it has changed the way we design our above grade wall systems and types of continuous insulations that influence the design considerations with respect to fire and NFPA-285. Finally, solutions for consolidating these 4 layers for simplified design, superior performance, and long-lasting durability will be covered....
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Understanding how insulated metal panels comply with fire safety regulations under the code are 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 related aspects to allow building designers to make an informed decision on the use of these popular cladding systems. We will review how these products have been addressed in the development of the International Building Code, including their applications in both combustible and noncombustible structures as well as single and multi-story construction. The program will conclude with a look at the various third-party product listings, evaluation reports, and engineering judgements used to evidence compliance with the International Building Code....
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....
View the PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association Course Library
PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
Review the physics of building envelopes, including hygrothermal loads, control layers, climate zones and cladding functions. The importance of control layer continuity at wall, roof and slab connections is studied. We look at how IMPs perform the same functions as multi-component wall systems through the use of panels joints, sealants and an insulating core. Emphasis is placed on the concept of the Perfect/Universal Wall, and how utilizing the proper ordering of wall components can greatly simplify wall design in all climate zones. Energy codes are also touched on, including their impact on the use of Perfect/Universal Wall designs. This course reduces a relatively complex subject to a level that teaches practical concepts for the building designer....
This course explores how understanding disability can guide the creation of accessible and inclusive spaces. It examines access opportunities in educational and public environments, with an emphasis on strategies that go beyond code compliance. These approaches can help meet credit requirements in the LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2 by improving usability, promoting occupant well-being, and reducing long-term barriers through design solutions....
It’s imperative to have a dependable, well-designed fire protection system that helps save lives and property. This course is designed to advance awareness and understanding about the wide range of components, functionality, and benefits of today’s most innovative standpipe fire systems and how to select the optimal system for your design based on building type, codes, and other requirements....
Exterior trim plays a crucial role in both the function and appearance of a building, which in turn impacts occupant safety and well-being. This course provides an overview of exterior trim functions and common material options available today. Also discussed are product evaluation reports and their role in code compliance; sustainability considerations and embodied carbon; and key considerations for choosing the right trim. Finally, the course applies these concepts to several design scenarios and identifies the appropriate trim option for each....
This presentation provides a comprehensive examination of the risks inherent in mid-rise construction and their direct impact on long-term building performance, safety, and occupant welfare. Participants will explore the shortcomings in current building codes that may allow for vulnerabilities and damages in these structures. The session will also address how natural movements within wood frame assemblies can compromise the integrity of the building envelope, creating pathways for moisture intrusion, structural stress, and premature material failure. In addition, the course will highlight the challenges of material compatibility at critical construction junctures—including parapets, balconies, roof-to-wall intersections, and transitions between dissimilar claddings—where failures frequently occur. Finally, attendees will gain insight into the external industry pressures, such as reduced budgets, accelerated schedules, and shifting market trends, that often undermine construction quality and limit the implementation of best practices. Through this exploration, architects, engineers, and construction professionals will gain strategies to recognize risk factors, improve design and detailing, and safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants."...
View the Florida Concrete & Products Association, Inc. Course Library
Rooftop HVAC equipment, waste receptacles, and other necessary but unsightly equipment are common in today’s commercial industries. Rooftop and ground screening can provide a solution for meeting code requirements while improving building aesthetics. In addition, screens may improve a property’s safety and security and establish privacy boundaries. This course offers an in-depth discussion of rooftop and ground screening, the various ways to screen, and considerations when selecting a screen. Different installation techniques and comparative characteristics of traditional screening methods versus unit-attached and modular screening methods are also discussed....
View the CityScapes Architectural Innovations Course Library
This program is designed to provide the design community with an understanding of how energy efficiency impacts water management in wall systems and how to address the control layers of the envelope. The presentation will cover building science, code for bulk water, air, thermal, and vapor, and practical solutions for WRBs, drainage, and flashing....
View the DuPont Performance Building Solutions Course Library
The design of laser-cut steel, thermally broken windows and doors was fueled by the need to produce a steel window and door that would meet the ever increasingly stringent energy efficiency building codes of today and tomorrow, while not losing any of the “classic-timeless” aesthetics that steel windows and doors have become known for. This course examines the fabrication, thermal performance, and design and finish options of steel windows and doors....
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....
The key to an energy-efficient metal building is the implementation of a continuous insulation system that virtually eliminates thermal bridging and prevents condensation. This course discusses how using thermal spacer blocks and metal building insulation in the building envelope increases energy performance, protects against condensation, and meets stringent energy code requirements....
Vacuum insulation panels (VIP) offer higher thermal resistance per unit thickness than traditional insulation materials. This means a building envelope can meet the effective R Values for the enclosures required by the energy codes without having to increase the thickness of walls roofs or floors. This course discusses how VIPs work, why they are effective and the impact the properties of the materials used to construct a VIP can have on its performance. VIP installations and the latest developments in VIP technology are reviewed to illustrate the advantages of using VIP's as thermal insulation in the design of energy-efficient buildings...
View the Panasonic Industrial Devices, Building Materials Group Course Library
When considering the building enclosure, fire safety is an important design factor and needs to be considered hand-in-hand with energy code requirements. The NFPA 285 “Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components” is a critical consideration with modern building assemblies incorporating combustible materials in non-combustible construction. This presentation will review the history and scope of the NFPA 285 test standard, and its adoption within the International Building Code (IBC). It will outline the criteria for compliance, as well as identify triggers and contributors under the standard. The presentation will review how the selection building components such as insulation, air/water resistive barriers and claddings, can affect the fire performance of an assembly, and identify solutions and common paths for compliance....
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Stairs are an important component in buildings, facilitating traffic flow and serving as a means of egress in emergencies. They can also pose a safety risk if not designed and outfitted properly. In this course, we address the safety aspects of stair design and specification, providing an overview of anti-slip products for new and existing stairways. Also discussed are the various codes and standards related to stair design and photoluminescent egress path markings and the available solutions to ensure code compliance and the subsequent well-being of users. Finally, we look at installation and anchorage options....
Exterior wall systems are the dividing line between the exterior and the interior and must address several fundamental performance goals of the building envelope. This course reviews traditional rainscreen design and examines why, with its single-component construction, an insulated composite backup wall system is a vast improvement over traditional multicomponent building technology....
