This course provides a general overview of air barriers- their role in building performance, the material options, and design considerations. Building code requirements and verification testing will be reviewed for an understanding of how to meet or exceed today’s performance requirements. General considerations will also be discussed to aid in selecting the best system and installation methods for specific projects....
The facade is one of the most significant contributors to the energy consumption and comfort parameters of any building. This course explores high-performance building envelopes and the use of advanced insulated metal panel systems featuring integrated daylighting and ventilation components that combine to provide weathertightness and maximum thermal performance....
This presentation aims to aid architects, engineers, and specification writers in choosing anchoring systems to comply with the 2022 edition of The Masonry Society’s (TMS) TMS 402 Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures and the International Building Code® (IBC®)....
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....
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
Learn how Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) insulation can be safely used in California residential construction to optimize cost efficiency while complying with Title 24 energy code and improving comfort, durability, and strength of homes and buildings....
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 is one of two identical courses titled Single-Skin Metal Panel Building Envelope Solutions . You will receive credit for taking only one of these courses. ...
Birds provide billions to our economy, yet bird populations are crashing, with collisions with glass a primary cause. Whether looking through glass at habitat beyond, or flying towards reflected habitat, birds collide at flight speed with fatal results, often days later, from internal injuries. Birds collide with glass on structures of every size, from shacks to skyscrapers, in urban, suburban and rural areas. Advances in technology are increasing use of glass curtain walls and other large glass features, increasing the rate of mortality. We will describe materials that can make buildings safe for birds without sacrificing light, appearance or view clarity. In 2011, San Francisco was the first U.S. city to require bird-friendly design for some new construction. The LEED Pilot Library added a credit for reducing bird collisions the same year and that has since been added to the primary credit system. Over 20 jurisdictions at levels from state to town, have now mandated bird-friendly construction and more are pending. Notably New York City, in 2019, adopted code requiring bird-friendly design for all new construction. We review use of the LEED credit and important features of legislation across the U.S. and Canada. This class explains how to recognize and remediate hazards to birds in the built environment. We illustrate how many strategies for controlling heat and light, and even security, can also reduce bird mortality. Techniques now in use for evaluating the relative threat level to birds of different materials are described, along with typical results. Resources, like American Bird Conservancy’s searchable database of bird-friendly materials are reviewed....
This course discusses the code requirements for thermal and ignition barriers for spray polyurethane foam, the testing required, code requirements for vapor retarders depending on climate zone, and how these coatings are installed....
This presentation focuses on Florida's wind design requirements for commercial low-slope roofing. The presentation covers new building code requirements, ASCE 7, future tornado wind design requirements and agency approvals for wind uplift resistance for low-slope roofing....
Stairs are an essential component of a movement and wayfinding strategy in a structure and a primary means of egress, exit, and floor-to-floor access in the event of a fire or emergency for buildings with multiple floors or a change in rise. This course discusses stair and egress system design and evaluates why the design and fabrication of pre-engineered steel stairs create safe stair environments that comply with building codes....
This course focused on the design considerations of Data Centers and incorporation of insulated metal panels to achieve superior building performance. Topics include supporting structure design including allowable spans, environmental control layers (air, water vapor, and thermal) code requirements, and fire safety building regulations. How insulated metal panels (IMPs) are used in the HVAC design and function as a "Perfect/Universal" wall system throughout the building....
Wind forces always influence building design and detailing. This course focuses on one particular force, wind uplift, and its influence on roof paving system design and selection. It examines how wind loads and building configuration affect the design of roof paving systems; the codes, regulations, and calculation approaches that inform and control such designs; and the various options designers can use to design safe, appealing outdoor roof paving systems that will withstand even the strongest winds....
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....
This presentation focuses on wind design requirements for commercial low-slope roofing. The presentation covers building code history, ASCE 7, future tornado wind design requirements and agency approvals for wind uplift resistance for low-slope roofing....
Modern roof systems and envelope assemblies (both commercial and residential) may need to deliver a wide range of benefits – from protecting against severe weather to reducing energy waste to improving occupant well-being and comfort. Each component of the building envelope has an important role to play, including the insulation layer. This presentation introduces the key benefits and attributes of polyiso roof insulation products, polyiso continuous insulation products used for above grade wall assemblies and below grade applications, and continuous insulation products used as part of residential envelope assemblies (steep slope roofs, above grade walls, and below grade foundation). Topics covered include: • Designing building and energy code-compliant roof assemblies and commercial and residential envelope assemblies. • Solving performance challenges like ponding water on roofs. • Solving performance challenges like thermal bridging and managing the threat of moisture and air intrusion in commercial and residential building envelope assemblies. • Reducing the environmental impacts of buildings with roof systems and envelope assemblies that contain polyiso insulation products....
View the PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association Course Library
PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
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....
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.
An expansion joint is a structural gap designed to accommodate the movement of a building in a controlled manner, preventing damage to the building’s internal and external finishes. Expansion joints run throughout a building in walls, ceilings, and floors. Expansion joint covers provide a covered transition across an expansion opening and remain unaffected by the relative movement of the two surfaces either side of the joint. This course explains how to determine joint movement requirements and how to size a joint. It also discusses the performance of different expansion joint cover systems and the applicable fire protection and building codes....
Railing systems perform various functions, meeting safety requirements and serving as a key component of a building’s aesthetic. This course includes a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of aluminum and structural vinyl railing systems, how they are made, and how they are used in the building industry, including a detailed summary of how they meet various code requirements....
View the rdi Railing Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Security entrance control is essential to manage the flow of visitor and authorized user traffic through secured or restricted areas. A wide range of products with multiple types of technologies are available, and a host of buzz words describing their operation abound in this industry. Join us as we journey through the range of products, their operation, the level of security they provide, and both building code and ADA compliance. Security entrance control enhances the safety and peace-of-mind for of employees, residents, passengers, customers, visitors, etc. by providing automatic security screening of those who try to enter and exit the secured space. This secured space may be a campus, an entire building, or designated area within the building. Security entrance control occurs at office and residential buildings, healthcare facilities, entertainment complexes, transportation facilities, campuses, shopping locations, and anywhere that people enter and exit. The security entrance combined with credentialing equipment and software that limits use to only authorized personnel, make for a seamless passage into a secure area. Not only do security entrances control access and/or egress, they provide a visual presence that serves as a deterrent. SECURITY IS A MUST IN TODAY’S WORLD....
This is a condensed version of the 2-hour course ECH-BIM-1901: Masonry Solutions for BIM. Masonry construction presents a myriad of challenges for specifiers – especially those who are less familiar with masonry construction methods, performance standards and assembly detailing. A new wave of BIM modeling tools seeks to bridge the gap between these challenges and the extensive benefits of masonry construction, including resiliency, energy performance and unique aesthetics. This presentation provides a condensed overview of BIM and its impact on the construction industry, with a particular focus on new software tools that are changing the way masonry is designed, specified, ordered, manufactured, shipped, installed and maintained. Additionally, this course will delve into masonry building codes – with a particular focus on energy codes – and how they work together with masonry materials to deliver safer, healthier and higher-performing buildings for occupants....
Continuous insulation is part of building standards and state and energy codes due to its ability to reduce thermal bridging and the associated heat loss and energy consumption. This course looks at the use of polyisocyanurate as a continuous insulation in Type V and residential construction and its use as a multifunctional envelope component—air barrier, weather-resistive barrier, and vapor retarder—by reviewing code requirements for the building envelope....
View the PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association Course Library
PIMA - Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
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....
The federal government, more and more states and local jurisdictions are enacting regulations and building codes mandating the installation of solar PV or solar-ready design on new building construction. This will result in an accelerated growth of rooftop solar with an intent to reduce costs and maximize the energy output of solar installations. The key to complying with solar mandates is mastering solar and building integration. This means considering the roof and solar as a single system, as well as non-traditional design elements focused on the anticipation of rooftop solar installations. All structural analysis must include all the system elements and full load path, including solar mounting systems and roof structures. And finally, a look at case studies, storms and testing....
