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®)....
Sound abatement products are not just a building owner and occupant preference; minimum sound abatement ratings are required by many local building codes for multi-story residential, commercial, and multi-purpose buildings. Following an introduction to the basics of sound, this course presents a summary of the most common sound control methods, with a focus on the options available for floor underlayment....
Rooftop HVAC equipment, waste receptacles, and other unsightly equipment are commonplace in today’s commercial industries. Unfortunately, these items are necessary but unsightly. However, screening can help building owners enhance aesthetics and meet code requirements. Screening offers not only a visual benefit but also helps to improve the safety and security of your property. This course offers an in-depth discussion of rooftop and ground screening, the various ways to screen, and considerations when selecting a screen for your project. 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
Bathing facility code compliance does not have to result in an institutional look. Assisted living and healthcare facilities, hospitality installations, universities, multifamily buildings, and large commercial projects all have unique demands, and most require barrier-free, ADA, UFAS, ANSI, California Title 24, or Massachusetts compliant bathing and showering facilities. This course provides an overview of intelligent design solutions that simultaneously address these code requirements and the aesthetic and functional demands of each situation....
View the Bestbath Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
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 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....
Dual-flush wall-mounted toilets help create modern, stylish bathrooms that strike a balance between sustainable water efficiency, flexible design, and space savings. This course compares this style with other traditional types of toilets, discusses how wall-mounted toilets benefit commercial and residential users, and explains how they satisfy the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other accessibility and building code requirements....
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....
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....
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.
With limited exceptions, the International Building Code® (IBC®) requires testing and compliance with NFPA 285 for exterior wall assemblies of buildings of Types I, II, III, and IV construction containing foam plastic insulation. This course examines three methods for demonstrating that an exterior wall assembly design complies with NFPA 285, including engineering analysis. The course also discusses how and where to locate NFPA 285 information for each compliance method....
View the North American Modern Building Alliance Course Library
Attic ventilation is an important component in proper structural design. By encouraging airflow, attic ventilation plays a key role in maintaining structural integrity, ensuring roof component durability, providing a healthy indoor environment, and minimizing energy consumption. Additionally, proper attic ventilation hinders or prevents mold growth, reduces interior pollutants, and acts as a pivotal fire prevention tool. This course looks at how attic ventilation systems work, the benefits they provide, and the associated building codes and regulations....
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
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....
Sound abatement products are not just a building owner and occupant preference; minimum sound abatement ratings are required by many local building codes for multistory residential, commercial, and multipurpose buildings. Following an introduction to the basics of sound, this course presents a summary of the most common sound control methods, with a focus on the options available for floor underlayment....
View the Proflex Products Inc. Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
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 conservation of energy in the building. We will also address how proper incorporation of materials, 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
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....
A growing number of high-rise fire incidents around the world have raised awareness about the fire safety performance of taller structures. Timing for containing a high-rise fire is critical, as high numbers of occupants have limited means of escape. Vertical fire spread along the exterior facade may quickly overwhelm firefighters at ground level, especially if it advances to heights beyond the reach of their ground attack. This course looks at issues surrounding high-rise fires, how they spread, and how following building codes and proper material testing can lessen the risk or impact of these blazes....
View the Owens Corning Course Library
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Now more than ever, the environmental impacts of products used in construction are a worldwide concern and one that the architecture and design (A&D) community is being asked to address in their work. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) are powerful tools when choosing materials for commercial projects. This course discusses how, where, and why to use EPDs to inform sustainable product selection and specification decisions and how EPDs are incorporated into key green building rating systems and codes, including LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction (BD+C) and Interior Design and Construction (ID+C), Green Globes® for New Construction (NC), and the International Green Construction Code® (IgCC®)....
View the Resilient Floor Covering Institute Course Library
Resilient Floor Covering Institute
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
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.
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.
Having up-to-date specifications starts with understanding what is in the building code. This course reviews the requirements that cold-formed steel framing must meet to be compliant to the 2024 International Building Code. It covers the standards for manufacturing tolerances, minimum thickness and protective coatings. Participants will also review fire-rated partitions....
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....
The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA®) is the only organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop and maintain builders hardware standards with cycling, operational, strength, security, and finish test requirements. This course explores the performance standards and the certification program related to commercial architectural hardware....
View the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association Course Library
Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association
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....
