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....
Energy codes at all levels increasingly focus on reducing energy consumption, saving consumers money, and reducing CO2 emissions. New and updated energy codes play an essential role in the performance of buildings. This course examines the lighting requirements and provisions of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019 and the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC) and focuses on plug and lighting control strategies for energy efficiency....
This course will cover the benefits of photoluminescent (PL) safety products and the codes and testing standards related to photoluminescent way-finding systems. The course will describe in detail the 2018/2018 IBC/IFC path marking requirements in high-rise buildings as well as how UL 1994 and UL 924 apply to signage requirements and why they are important for luminous egress path markings and exit signs. Canadian architects will learn the specifics of the 2010 National Building Code of Canada and the ULC S572 standard....
This course explores design choices to meet energy code and thermal insulation selection strategies to maximize long term building performance. Factors influencing the performance of an insulation in its application include production, R-values, moisture, temperature, aging, and quality of installation will be discussed....
View the DuPont Performance Building Solutions Course Library
Retrofitting and replacing roof systems are essential aspects of the construction industry and offer opportunities to reduce a building’s energy consumption. Sustainable retrofitting of roofs with durable, energy-efficient materials helps reduce waste and conserve resources while promoting ecofriendly building practices. This course gives an overview of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation and innovative roof systems that are designed to enhance building efficiency....
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....
Code-mandated requirements for inspections first appeared in the Uniform Building Code in 1927, and their original intent is still recognizable in our current codes: inspections by a building official are required at specific points in the construction process. In this course, we will examine an alternative to the periodic inspection process, the full-time inspector of record (IOR). We’ll review the historical context and qualifications of the IOR, when a project may benefit from an IOR, and the impact of using an IOR on life safety and property damage....
View the AEC Daily Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
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....
Restrooms and other plumbing applications must comply with accessibility regulations, but do you know exactly how to do that? This course is a handy reference that explains what codes and regulations you must satisfy, when those requirements apply to new construction and alterations, and how to select and install fixtures to meet accessibility standards and the requirements of the LEED® v5 for Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems and the WELL Building Standard™ v2....
View the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions 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....
This short version course introduces attendees to the basic materials and equipment used to create spray polyurethane foam. It will also discuss the safety aspect related to spray foam in terms of its application as well as its proper use to ensure code compliance. Lastly, it discusses the different kinds of spray foam commonly used and which material works best in different areas of a building....
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....
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
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....
View the DuPont Performance Building Solutions Course Library
We will discuss how Polyiso Continuous Insulation will improve the thermal performance of walls of Steel Stud Construction. In addressing the advantages of continuous insulation, we will also address the disadvantages of using steel studs without continuous insulation. We will discuss what Sustainability is related to and how it is measured, including factors that are involved in addressing Building Longevity, and how these concepts impact making buildings more energy efficient. We will look at various types of products used to achieve code-compliant designs with a perspective that addresses sustainable construction. Looking towards the future we will discuss the actions being undertaken in conjunction with energy conservation and construction codes, building science organizations, and other groups in pushing proper building envelope design. We will also look at the history of Polyiso and how this product is produced from raw chemicals, creating a completed board stock product....
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
Tour a single-skin metal panel manufacturing facility to discover the ins and out of metal panel production. From attaining quality raw materials, assurance of a precise finish coat and measuring quality control specifications prior to being loaded for roll forming, metal breaking or bent into a modular metal panel by a completely autonomous line. See first-hand through the process cycle how quality panels lend to create a building envelope able to withstand the effects of long-term exposure to the elements. All this while striving to be part of the safest metal handling companies in the world....
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....
View the Construction Specialties Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Energy codes at the federal, state, and local levels increasingly focus on reducing energy consumption, saving consumers money, and reducing CO2 emissions. Whether new or recently updated, energy codes play an essential role in the buildings we design, build, and ultimately live, work, and play in. This course examines the lighting requirements and provisions of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019 and the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code ® , with a focus on plug and lighting control strategies for energy efficiency....
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....
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, potentially resulting in gaps in designed building enclosure assembly performance and quality. Through a theoretical framework and empirical data, this course shows that optimized polyisocyanurate foam insulation results in better 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....
View the DuPont Performance Building Solutions Course Library
This course defines and explains building science behind the code for the four control layers of the building envelope: water, thermal, air and vapor. There will be a detailed overview of air leakage, why it matters in a sustainable envelope and why air barrier continuity is critical to building performance. Participants will be asked to explore typical design principles for addressing the four control layers within the wall assembly. Finally, there will be an in-depth discussion of the critical interfaces, how to detail them and test them to ensure continuity of the control layers for the entire building....
View the DuPont Performance Building Solutions Course Library
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....
Protected Roof Membrane Assemblies (PRMA) have unique design requirements since they are loosely laid, held in place with stone ballast, pavers, or vegetative materials. The International Building Code contains prescriptive requirements to guide design and specification of such systems. The standards reviewed in this program provide methods to design wind uplift resistance of ballasted and vegetated roofing systems. The standards are intended to be used as references for designing, specifying, and installing ballasted roofing systems, and are to be used in conjunction with the installation specifications and requirements from the manufacturers of the specific products in the system. For roofs that exceed the boundaries of these standards (meaning designs that are not covered in this document) the authority having jurisdiction is the only source for approval. ASCE 7 gives guidance on how non-standard conditions should be evaluated. See other references, or, utilize professional wind engineering consultants, or, conduct wind tunnel studies in accordance with ASCE 7 for information to determine requirements for designs or systems not covered....
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....
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....
View the Rmax - A Division of the Sika Corporation Course Library
