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....
View the DuPont Performance Building Solutions Course Library
For some applications, building codes provide for the use of fire-retardant-treated (FR) wood products as an alternative to noncombustible materials. To ensure that FR wood products are properly specified, it is important to understand how these products are made, their formulations, and the building code references that guide their use in construction. This course offers a review of FR wood products, including their manufacture, the applications and types of fire retardants that are available, and the factors that must be considered to ensure FR wood products are properly specified for code compliance....
View the Western Wood Preservers Institute Course Library
Western Wood Preservers Institute
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Wood-plastic composite cladding offers a pleasing aesthetic and exceptional durability as part of a rainscreen assembly, enhancing the performance and longevity of the building envelope. Presented here are the functions and components of Lstiburek’s “perfect (universal) wall” design and a drained and ventilated rainscreen assembly. The course explores the composition, manufacture, benefits, design possibilities, and installation of wood-plastic composite cladding, as well as compliance with building codes and standards....
Recent changes in North America energy codes for the building envelope include higher insulation R-values, continuous insulation, and continuous air barriers for air leakage control. New, code compliant wall assembly design options may be susceptible to increased moisture sensitivity due to lower drying rates, which are inherent to energy efficient assemblies but could be further impacted by design detailing and materials choices. Improved energy efficiency does not need to come at the expense of the long term performance and durability of buildings. This seminar will address design options and materials choices for energy efficient and durable wall design. Design tools for advanced moisture analysis (WUFI®, Wärme und Feuchte Instationär, or Transient Heat and Moisture Analysis) will be used to show how to predict performance of untested new assemblies, how materials substitution could impact the overall performance of the building envelope, and how design detailing could increase moisture management capabilities....
View the DuPont Performance Building Solutions Course Library
Gain an overall understanding of how wind and wind codes affect overhead doors and how these codes help to ensure the health, safety, & welfare of building occupants....
This presentation includes information on continuous insulation performance and specific detail on polyisocyanurate insulation, an overview of the history of foam plastic insulation in the building codes, and a detailed review of the 2021 International Building Code’s fire safety requirements for the use of polyisocyanurate insulation in exterior walls of commercial buildings (Construction Types I-IV), including the NFPA 285 fire test standard....
View the PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association Course Library
PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
This course provides an overview of cable assemblies used as infill on residential and commercial railings. The course will explain the uses and advantages of building with stainless steel cable railing assemblies; identify and evaluate important railing frame design requirements, considerations, and options; discuss safety and code related issues, classify and describe the cable assembly components; outline the installation process of prefabricated cable kits and custom cable assemblies; and provide valuable insight for determining the best choice of cable and fittings for a successful cable railing installation....
The trend toward building with mass timber across the US and beyond is accelerating, requiring design professionals to understand the why, when, and how of designing a mass timber structure. The industry is dynamic and evolving along with the building codes that dictate mass timber system requirements and limits. This course identifies the considerations a designer should review before starting a mass timber project, including feasibility, trade partnering, material selection, building codes, logistics, and their overall impact on creating a successful mass timber project....
This course examines the role of access doors and panels in building design. It covers their functions, material options, and performance requirements. Topics include resistance to fire, sound, and moisture, as well as durability, code compliance, and integration with surrounding finishes. The course also presents best practices for specifying and installing access components that support safety, accessibility, and design continuity across a range of project types....
View the Best Access Doors Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Architectural railing systems offer safety, durability, strength, and design flexibility for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications. This course provides an overview of the important factors that need to be considered when selecting and specifying a railing system for a commercial or residential building project. Topics include materials and finishes, fabrication and installation, and relevant building codes and standards....
View the Lavi Industries Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas, a Class A carcinogen, the leading cause of cancer after smoking, and the leading cause of death for nonsmokers. It is found in soil, rock, and groundwater. If radon enters a home through slabs, basements, and crawl spaces, breathing it can lead to illness or even death. This course examines how the gas travels through soil and into structures and the various interception approaches and materials that can be utilized to prevent entry into inhabited spaces. It also highlights building code requirements and language that can assist with ensuring the correct radon interception systems are designed and installed effectively....
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 how insulated metal panels comply with fire safety regulations under the code is 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 aspects to allow building designers to make an informed decision on the use of these popular cladding systems. Also reviewed are how these products have been addressed in the development of the International Building Code and the various third-party product listings, evaluation reports, and engineering judgements used to show compliance....
Metal roofing offers longevity, durability, and visual appeal. Today, a range of color and finish options are available that afford specifiers broad design flexibility. This course explores key solar reflectance and sustainability considerations when evaluating metal roofing colors and how selection relates to requirements in codes and green building programs such as LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction, Sustainable SITES Initiative® v2, and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2. Case studies demonstrate how metal roofing colors have been used to meet design and sustainability objectives....
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....
View the Catalyst Acoustics Group Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Locating mechanical and electrical equipment on a roof is often necessary for space and efficiency in a building design. However, it can be challenging to provide a means for safe maintenance access while preserving the roof membrane and structural integrity and not interfering with other rooftop equipment. This course presents the components that comprise rooftop support systems designed to solve these challenges, as well as system design considerations and compliance with the International Building Code® (IBC®) and the International Mechanical Code® (IMC®)....
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....
Cable railings are a beautifully minimalist way to meet safety requirements without obstructing the view. Learn how to assemble a commercial-grade cable railing with sophisticated fittings engineered to simplify installation, comply with building codes, and reduce overall labor costs....
View the Feeney Inc. Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
This course is aimed to define what exactly continuous insulation is, and the key benefits of using it. The course will also show participants how continuous insulation complies with building and energy code requirements within that field....
Maximizing Envelope Performance with IMP-Integrated Components explores an advanced insulated metal composite panel building envelope system, components that have been engineered to integrate with the system - including windows, daylighting panels, sunshades, and louvers - and how the IMP system and integrated components combine to create a high-performance building envelope....
This presentation will cover what civil engineers need to know when utilizing segmental retaining walls for grade separation in their site development plans. The presentation will introduce participants to the National Concrete Masonry Association’s Best Practices Guide for Segmental Retaining Walls focusing on recommendations relevant to Civil Engineers and discuss how they are applied to enhance the safety and longevity of structural segmental walls. Topics will include risks associated with using a “design by others” approach to segmental retaining walls and the importance of geotechnical engineering support. The presentation will address how building foundations, footers, pond applications, and fencing/guardrail codes impact the design and construction of segmental walls....
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....
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....
A rainscreen is a type of assembly applied to an exterior wall consisting of an outer layer, inner layer, and a ventilated cavity between the two. These systems have been used extensively in other markets but are relatively new to the US. As codes evolve, and building science advances, rainscreens are becoming a popular way of enclosing buildings. They greatly increase performance while simultaneously enabling designers to achieve new and striking designs....
This course will provide an overview of resilient design and discuss how resilient design is not covered by typical building codes and standards. The role of masonry construction in meeting resilient design goals is explained, and the inherent properties of masonry that make it resilient are described. There will be examples given in the presentation of resilient design strategies....
