Life-safety systems encompass both passive fire-protection features, like compartmentation and firestopping, and active ones, such as sprinklers and alarms. Portable fire extinguishers are an integral part of life-safety systems and must meet code-mandated number and placement requirements in most building types. This course looks at how fire extinguishers can be stored safely and securely in cabinets and addresses specification considerations. Also reviewed are the many options available to customize fire extinguisher cabinets so they are tailored to each project’s needs and design goals....
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This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
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....
View the Zurn | Elkay | Hadrian | World Dryer | Wilkins Course Library
With the coming of the 2009 and 2012 International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC), insulating sheathing has played a growing role in the drive to make homes more energy efficient and comfortable for their occupants. The pressure is on for builders, home designers, and architects to find cost-effective construction methods and materials to meet these ever-growing performance standards. Educating one’s self and remaining current on building science trends, technologies and materials has proven to be a powerful measure of success in today’s residential construction markets. The following presentation “Why Use Insulating Sheathing”, aims to educate attendees on the flexibility of using foam sheathing in various Type V construction assemblies in order to meet stricter energy code minimums. Additional learning takeaways from this presentation include investigating common faults in Type V wood-framed walls from a framing, moisture, thermal bridging, and air sealing perspective; and how insulating sheathing can help correct these faults. Attendees will walk away with a thorough understanding of the advantages of using insulating sheathing in residential walls and be able to effectively communicate these advantages to their customers. Additionally, attendees will also leave with a solid understanding of the basic science behind any insulating material and how to better utilize these materials in various environments....
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Extreme weather events of all sorts are becoming increasingly frequent and ferocious. Wood stick-framed structures struggle to withstand them. As climate behavior shifts and worsens, building damage and destruction increase, building codes evolve, and insurance premiums skyrocket or simply become unavailable for certain building types in some locations. Architects must now utilize stronger, more resilient, noncombustible building approaches to address this situation. In addition, mounting pressures related to labor shortages, rising material costs, stringent building codes, and environmental volatility are pushing architects, developers, and engineers to reimagine their approaches to structural design and material selection. This course explores how an innovative, scalable, and economical cold-formed steel column and composite beam framing system can and does address these issues to create faster and deliver stronger, more cost-effective, and sustainable projects. This well-proven, code compliant system reduces dependencies on multiple trades and minimizes the number of handoffs, positively impacting 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 midrise projects in all climates. The course begins by exploring the limitations of traditional wood and metal framing systems. It then describes this prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) column and beam framing system and its details, erection methodology, advantages, environmental and sustainability benefits, accreditations, and certifications. It concludes with some representative examples of real-life projects....
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....
This course covers how to comply with the most stringent Energy Code requirements using pre-fabricated wall panels and components featuring next generation concrete masonry unit designs....
In the wake of the green movement, combined with rising energy costs, building sustainability has become an important topic. This course examines how foil-faced polyisocyanurate (polyiso) continuous insulation can function as a multiple control layer, providing a building with an air and water-resistive barrier and a thermal control layer. Additionally, this course reviews building codes and standards for meeting the continuous insulation requirements in steel stud building envelope designs, the benefits of using polyiso insulation in wall assemblies, and how polyiso insulation meets NFPA 285 requirements....
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
Modular metal panel (MMP) wall systems allow for an array of different exterior and interior building designs due to their wide range of panel sizes, planes, and layout configurations. This course covers the attributes of MMPs, including the available substrates, their fabrication and ease of installation, and their ability to deliver a simple, constructible concealed-fastener rainscreen system....
The purpose of this course is to educate architects and designers on the ideal ways of incorporating entrance flooring into commercial buildings to promote a safe and clean environment. The course explains codes, regulations and guidelines specifically related to entrance flooring systems for high-traffic entrances in healthcare, education, transportation, corporate and other commercial settings....
Manufacturers, industry groups, architects, designers, and homeowners all share an expectation of safety in the buildings we occupy and use every day. This course discusses the key chapters where important exterior wall fire provisions can be found in the International Building Code® and examines many common features of global fire incidents. The course also describes the NFPA 285 fire test and discusses the new Annex B in the 2023 edition of NFPA 285. Finally, there is a discussion of the code compliance pathways when exterior walls are required by the IBC® to be tested and comply with NFPA 285....
View the North American Modern Building Alliance Course Library
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the use of entrance floor systems in commercial buildings in order to promote a safe and clean environment. The course explains the codes, regulations, and guidelines specifically related to entrance flooring systems for high-traffic entrances in healthcare, education, transportation, corporate, and other commercial settings....
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This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
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....
Modular metal panels (MMPs) integrate advanced technology with modern aesthetics, providing high-performance building envelopes that enhance design and durability. This course explores the evolution of MMPs and what distinguishes them from other building products. You will examine the key components that make up the system and its fundamental principles and best practices. Finally, the course demonstrates how these elements combine in real-world applications, showcasing various design options....
Masonry can be used for a variety of different applications. Because of its durable nature, and use of less embodied energy, it is a very environmentally friendly building product. Masonry offers a variety of different facial applications that can greatly enhance the decorative appearance of the building. This program will discuss the different ASTM specification classifications that the architect utilizes regarding masonry. The different types of masonry products are briefly discussed. Also, the IECC energy codes are discussed, as well as the environmental contribution that masonry offers the architect in the specification of building materials, including the prevention of mold in construction projects....
Today's complex steel structures present numerous design challenges, including the challenge of fireproofing appropriately in order to ensure the safety and well-being of building occupants as well as protection of the structure itself. This course outlines the code and testing standards that inform fireproofing choices and the various passive fire protection products and methodologies that can address a comprehensive range of design challenges; insight into the proper specification of fire protection products as well as their ability to improve LEED® certification levels is also provided....
View the Isolatek International, Inc. Course Library
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This course provides an introduction to thermal bridging, energy code requirements, and the use of thermal break solutions designed to improve energy efficiency in the building envelope....
This course defines the latest code and testing requirements for water, air, and fire considerations in exterior wall assemblies. Participants will learn the various options for water and air control while exploring various wall assembly designs. In addition, participants will be introduced to building science analysis tools to recognize the impact of various designs on long-term building performance....
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This introductory course provides a clear overview of firestopping and its importance in maintaining building compartmentation and life safety. Participants will learn how firestop systems are tested, selected, and applied across different trades, as well as how codes and UL listings guide compliant design and installation. The program emphasizes real-world coordination challenges and best practices for ensuring long-term performance in rated assemblies....
In today’s high performance building market, specifying materials that work together as a complete wall system is more critical than ever. Systems can help designers meet new energy codes, reduce costs and improve building function and sustainability while making the design process faster and simpler. This course will educate participants on the functional components and system attributes of the most common exterior wall system, steel stud with masonry veneer. The course will detail key system components such as continuous and stud cavity insulation, air/water resistive barriers, air sealing practices, masonry wall ties and water drainage/management practices. Key codes and standards will be reviewed to define system interaction and key specification practices to ensure wall system designs are consistent with recent advances in building analysis, new code requirements, revised test methods, and a comprehensive, systems approach to wall systems....
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....
Polyisocyanurate (polyiso) insulation is one of North America’s most widely used, readily available, and cost-effective insulation products. While polyiso is currently most commonly known for its use on roofs and walls, this course focuses on the many benefits of using it in below-grade installations in order to meet energy codes, maximize the building foundation’s thermal performance, and extend the overall life of the structure. The course explores the requirements for three primary characteristics of any below-grade insulation—thermal performance, water absorption, and load capacity—and describes how polyiso meets or exceeds those requirements and protects the foundation waterproofing system....
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
The 2024 edition of the International Building Code® (IBC®) contains significant, helpful, and useful updates to fire safety provisions for exterior wall assemblies containing combustible components and combustible exterior wall coverings. Key changes include new and revised defined terms, new provisions clarifying when vertical and lateral flame propagation testing (NFPA 285) is required and provides three (3) prescriptive compliance methods. Several New sections were added for building materials such as Insulated Metal Panel systems (IMPs) and Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems for exterior wall coverings. Additionally, significant reorganization and revisions of Section 104 Duties and Powers of the Building Official were made that provide the building official with more clear guidance and tools to both interpret and enforce the building code. This presentation will combine an overview of fire safety requirements for exterior wall assemblies based on the 2021 IBC with explanations regarding updates that were made to the 2024 IBC....
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Understanding the performance of building materials in real-world conditions is key to a successful building design. Recent studies have shown that the commonly reported R-values of polyisocyanurate foams at room temperature may overstate their real-world performance in cooler temperatures. This decline in R-value is driven by complex phase change mechanisms, which modify the foam's insulation performance. Insulations not performing to the expected levels may result in gaps in designed building enclosure assembly performance and quality. In this course, through a theoretical framework and empirical data, it is shown that optimized polyisocyanurate foam insulation results in better insulation performance leading to improved energy savings and reduced potential for condensation. Participants are encouraged to explore innovative insulation materials, understand differences between them, and match optimal materials to specific applications, while meeting modern construction codes and regulations. By matching the right insulation materials to the application, architects can contribute to energy-efficient and cost-conscious construction practices, and help buildings reduce their impact on the environment...
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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 outlines the dangers posed by Mother Nature and the science, codes, testing and methods in which to build and combat these forces. In addition, this course addresses the value of continuous insulation to improve the energy conversation of the building. We will also address how proper incorporation of martials including continuous insulation and air and weather-barrier systems will improve indoor air quality and contribute to environmental sustainability....
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
