Explore the technology, history and benefits of single ply roof systems, with a core focus on EPDM, PVC, and TPO...
Rooftop decks create valuable living and recreational space for building owners, residents, and clients. Accommodating restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, and everything from residential to government buildings, rooftop deck systems offer the design flexibility to create versatile, unique outdoor spaces over any structural surface. This course explores the features, surface materials, and design options for rooftop deck systems and provides an overview of recommended planning and installation guidelines....
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....
Undesirable acoustics in educational spaces adversely affect the learning and teaching processes. The impact on students’ academic achievement, social adaptation, and mental health can be profound and long lasting. This course examines the impact of different sound problems and presents solutions that create synergy between the architecture and the classroom environment to optimize student learning and engagement and teacher retention....
Low permeance vapor barriers, once thought to improve performance, may in fact increase interior condensation and trap moisture within the wall assembly. Due to the problems with impermeable water-resistive barrier (WRB) installation many architects are now incorporating highly vapor open WRB systems in their designs. But many still believe too much permeability is bad for a wall assembly. Studies show that highly permeable WRB systems increase substrate drying, reduce the wet time of absorptive claddings allowing permeable WRB membranes to enhance the wall assembly performance. This presentation investigates the current research on vapor open systems and discusses how more permeability enhances wall assembly performance....
Knowing the importance of preserving existing buildings and material, as explored in “Re-Solution Part I: A Carbon Case for Building and Material Re-use” this course will examine which strategies are best for different structures and situations. We will explore different [a host] of scenarios and case studies, with an eye towards the potential for improvement across the board. Carbon (dioxide) is a hot topic these days and will be a companion of sorts, though we will be sure to include H20 (oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen) since all of these work interdependently in buildings, colluding as an all-too-often overlooked enemy of sustainability: moisture damage. If a building leaks, it is not sustainable. Here we will brush with a broader stroke, emphasizing the need for good design and detailing, while exploring examples of successful wall and roof assemblies. In “Re-solutions III: Facilitating Architectural Re-use and Wiser Wood in New Construction,” we will hone in on specific factors which can help hedge successes and minimize pitfalls in implementing reuse strategies....
Insulation can help increase overall energy efficiency, minimize the spread of fire, manage risks associated with moisture and mold, and improve occupant comfort. When designing exterior wall assemblies, the type and placement of insulation is critical. To address thermal performance, wall systems almost always feature insulation batts — friction fit between framing members. Depending on climate zone and construction type, though, insulation batts alone may not provide enough thermal resistivity. Continuous insulation is increasingly used in conjunction with insulation batts to optimize thermal performance....
Roof top paver systems have become an integral part of commercial roofing that not only improves the energy efficiency but also increases the life expectancy of the overall roof system. Changes to codes and standards along with recent storm events have brought wind uplift to the forefront as a vital component to roof top paver systems. The industry has developed various methods for addressing wind uplift, many of which are covered in this course....
An overview of walkable, waterproof roof deck membranes and roofing systems, including a discussion of the key principles of deck design, design considerations, and how to install and specify roof deck membrane systems. This program will be extremely beneficial to architects, specifiers, and contractors involved in single and multiple-family homes that include decks, balconies, and rooftop decks....
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....
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the importance of a properly designed Air and Water Resistive Barrier System. You will learn the importance of an air barrier system and how a properly designed system can contribute to the environment and improve indoor air quality. You will learn to identify the different types of air barrier systems and where each may be more appropriate. You will learn to design a system to properly control air and water vapor, and how this may differ from one area of the country to another. You will learn how to specify an air barrier system, including the performance criteria for and system, and the code requirements, testing criteria other governing factors....
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Changes made to spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation formulations in recent years address the impacts of embodied carbon and other attributes of sustainable construction design. This course explores the evolution and environmental impacts of SPF chemistries, and how the sustainability benefits of spray polyurethane foam (also known as SPF), contributes to high performance construction design...
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....
This seminar, organized into 3 sections, will help you understand various aspects of the pitched slope residential roofing market. 1. The first section will review the history of roofing underlayments and their role in water management in the structure. This segment will explore the evolution of different kinds of underlayments under asphaltic shingles and the move towards synthetic underlayments. 2. The second section will review the types of synthetic roofing underlayments and common installation detail failures. This includes an overview of mechanically-fastened, self-adhered, and peel-and-stick roofing underlayments. 3. The third section will review ice damming and moisture intrusion resulting therein. This includes a review of how ice damming can occur, its effects, and strategies that can be employed to safeguard against it. 4. The last section will review the relevant performance criteria applicable to roofing underlayments. These include AC-188, QUV Accelerated Weathering Testing, EMMAQUA Testing, ASTM G154 Testing, and ASTM 4869...
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Join us for our webinar series with a focus on Education projects. Students and teachers deserve bright, healthily lit spaces. The benefits of properly daylighting an educational space can be seen in improved productivity, reduced sick days and lowered utility bills. Learn how Kalwall can help you build beautifully daylit spaces....
Concrete is a very versatile and fundamental building material; however, because it is porous and wicks water through its matrix, concrete has water-related design challenges. This program examines the sustainable benefits of integral concrete waterproofing and analyzes traditional waterproofing methods as compared to integral methods in terms of performance, durability, risk, cost, and construction timeline....
At their root, metal roofs and walls made from steel, copper, zinc, or aluminum have a lower environmental impact because of their ability to be recycled and reused. This course focuses on the green aspects of standing seam metal roofs, and in particular, their cool roof characteristics. Also addressed are the implications of heat islands, what constitutes construction of cool roofs/walls and how they work, some rules of thumb for understanding cool metal roofing, roof slope impacts on performance, and codes, ratings, and standards that apply to designing cool roofs/walls....
The course is designed to teach attendees the differences between the insulation used in insulated vinyl siding. Comprehend the features and benefits of using insulated vinyl siding. Identify performance features when comparing the two types of insulated vinyl siding. Understand what type of material is used to manufacture insulated vinyl siding. Recognize the two most common types of insulation used during the insulated vinyl siding manufacturing process....
Insulating concrete form (ICF) products use a cost-effective and robust structural material option (reinforced concrete) to turn a building envelope into a high-performing thermal, moisture, and air enclosure with disaster resistance and built-in compliance with energy code requirements. As a result of ICF performance, building owners can complete a whole structure with ICFs and reinforced concrete, including intermediate suspended floors, rooftops, and multistory designs. This course examines the advancements in ICF technology and discusses the potential contribution of ICFs to supporting improved sustainability and resilience....
Partitions used for sound isolation are often required to also provide fire resistance. This is especially true in multi-family construction where the vast majority of unit demising walls and floor/ceiling assemblies must be fire rated. Solid working knowledge of fire-resistive designs is essential for architects to design acoustic partitions that can actually be built on-site. There are many design elements that work well for fire and for acoustics, but there are also areas where what works well for fire can be at odds with what works well for acoustics. In this presentation, we will look at the elements of acoustic and fire design both for basic wall and floor/ceiling assemblies and for design details like wall-wall and wall-ceiling intersections...
This is a Product Spotlight Presentation Discover SOPREMA’s latest advancements in residential and commercial building solutions in this fast-paced 15-minute spotlight. From trusted RESISTO legacy products—including membranes, coatings, and accessories—to exciting new offerings like VPSA, Butyl Tapes, RX Roof Repair, Joist Guard, and Repair & Seal Tape Pro, this session will showcase the performance and versatility of SOPREMA’s product lineup. Join us for a quick yet informative look at how SOPREMA continues to set the standard in building protection and innovation....
Mineral wool core panels provide an excellent alternative to foam core insulated metal panels and other traditional materials where the wall assembly need to be fire resistive. Ratings of up to three hours can be achieved by this product. These panels also provide all necessary control layers in a single component: air, vapor, water and thermal. Acoustic properties of the product are also evaluated. Product configurations including sizes, profiles and metal facings are studied. Code compliance and generic details are reviewed. Mineral wool core panels and their contribution to LEED credits are also studied....
Kalwall, the world leader in translucent daylighting and inventor of the translucent sandwich panel, has a vision for the future of daylighting. Recently, several new products and programs have been introduced, including: Computerized Daylight Modeling, Sunlight panel, Grid options, Face sheet color options, “E” Series window, Fire Safety systems, ATFP panels, Hurricane-resistant systems and Turn-key canopy solutions. Join us for a fast-paced, 30-minute session discussing these and many other innovations....
With the demand for sustainable power on the rise, building owners and homeowners alike are turning to solar power as a supplemental power generator. Choosing the right platform for the solar panels is a critical step in the design process and can have a significant impact on both initial and long-term costs. This course discusses the basics of photovoltaic systems, including the components and rooftop applications. Comparisons between traditional roofing and standing seam metal roofing platforms are examined, and the benefits of a nonpenetrating clamping system are discussed....
This presentation will focus on the science of noise control, specifically covering full system principles, building philosophy, and the most overlooked component when assembling such systems. The course will also highlight the forces that create the need for noise control systems, and how those forces shape how we approach these systems....
