Bathrooms can be dangerous places for people with and without physical limitations. The prevalence of bathroom falls amongst persons of all age groups and levels of ability has driven the trend of accessible shower design. Presented here is an overview of how curbless shower pans are designed for durability and safety, and to meet the needs of accessible design. Included are discussions on traditional and modern shower pan design and installation methods and their associated drawbacks and benefits. Industry resources and standards are outlined....
View the FinPan, Inc. - T. Clear Corporation Course Library
FinPan, Inc. - T. Clear Corporation
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Protected Roof Membrane Assemblies and particularly Vegetative Roof Assemblies place extreme requirements on the components below the surface from waterproofing to insulation and everything in between. Each component must meet specific standards to achieve energy efficiency and durability. This course describes the high-performance attributes of PRMA components and defines the building code/performance standards and best specification practices to meet fire, wind, thermal, and moisture performance....
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....
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....
This presentation will address the benefits of specifying architectural stone veneer in your design projects, and also provide information on proper installation techniques. Topics include a breakdown of the innovative mold technology used by the industry’s leading manufacturers of architectural stone veneer and what to look for in a high-quality product. The presentation will also include an in-depth overview of installation techniques and evaluate alternative wall systems and regulations....
Composite roofing materials have been available for over a decade, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional slate and shake roofing systems. In this course, design professionals can thoroughly explore the sustainable and versatile characteristics of composite roofing solutions. Also discussed are the benefits of composite roofing systems, such as their long life cycle, durability, and adaptability for various applications and environments....
This course explains the NFPA 285 test method, its origin, its procedures, when it is required, and design considerations necessary for compliance. Criteria in ASHRAE 90.1 for continuous insulation and air/water resistive barriers are reviewed and identified as contributors to the rise of NFPA 285 requirements. It addresses code compliance in light of recent material changes, code changes, and additional testing....
This Choosing the right insulation for your roof can having lasting impacts on the building performance and energy conservation. This presentation explains the different types of commercial insulation, long-term performance and liabilities, re-usability and sustainable roof design approaches for long term owner, occupant and maintenance benefits....
View the DuPont Performance Building Solutions Course Library
This course provides a review of the problems, safety issues, and solutions associated with snow and ice moving on roofs, particularly in heavy snow accumulation areas. It also provides in-depth training on the proper engineering and installation of snow retention systems....
Metal roof and wall systems have long been specified for commercial, residential, and industrial buildings because they have a lengthy history of durability, reliability, and resilience. This course examines the attributes of metal panel systems and the design options that make metal-clad buildings sustainable, attractive, and suitable for a variety of applications and environmental conditions....
The ultimate replacement for natural cedar and the perfect accent for engineered wood and fiber cement....
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....
The primary purpose of a roof is to provide shelter and protection; to do so effectively over the long term, proper drainage and ventilation are required. Presented here are the categories of metal roofing, the moisture- and noise-related issues associated with architectural metal roofs, the use of a three-dimensional drainage and ventilation mat as a solution to these issues, and best practices for incorporating a mat in metal and cedar roof assemblies....
As more companies invest in solar to generate clean power for their operations, meet environmental goals, or save money on electrical bills, architects and building owners may need to be prepared to accommodate rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems in both existing and new buildings. This course provides an introduction to rooftop PV systems, including a discussion of modules, components, and attachments, and best practices for a durable roof and PV system....
Equipment vibration that becomes structure borne can break out directly below or as is often the case far from the source. This presentation will cover the different types of isolation needed under machinal systems. Selection criteria of different isolation media will be offered for chillers, boilers, cooling towers. As important as the proper restraint of isolated equipment; the design and types of seismic and wind restraints will be presented....
This presentation reviews the importance of low-slope roofing and the impact roofing has on critical/essential facilities and community resilience....
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
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.
Discover the basics of solar photovoltaic systems including the major parts for rooftop solar installations. Describe the basics of the rooftop installation mechanics and measures to minimize hazards and increase safety. Review critical parameters that should be considered when designing a roof to be solar ready. Reveal the advantages of installing solar on metal roofs, including performance and economic benefits....
Green or vegetative roof systems have become an effective means to address aesthetic and environmental issues and provide energy savings for building owners, while at the same time providing protection for a building and its contents through the use of a high-performance waterproofing system. This program describes the basics of vegetative roof systems and outlines some cost and construction considerations for designers....
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....
One of the most complex and least understood areas where fire can propagate is at the perimeter of a multistory building. Fire can spread not only from floor to floor via the edge-of-slab/curtain wall intersections but also along the exterior building enclosure where untested, combustible components are often installed. This program outlines best design practices for providing fire protection for building occupants per ASTM E2307 and ASTM E2874....
“Designing A Sustainable Masonry Cavity Wall Building Envelope” provides the characteristics of sustainable design as defined by the AIA, especially as it relates to masonry cavity walls. It explains typical problems in masonry cavity walls and how both improper design and construction can cause these problems, and it provides examples of excellent cavity wall design and the proper materials that should be specified to create a sustainable masonry cavity wall. At the end of the program, the attendees will have a much better understanding of how to design and specify masonry cavity walls that not only meet the AIA’s definition of sustainability, but which will also perform well over the life of the building....
Building science experts have acknowledged the need for both drainage and ventilation in exterior wall systems in order to eliminate moisture issues and extend the life of buildings. This presentation reviews the concepts of rainscreen technology and the solutions for compliance with a focus on engineered rainscreen drainage and ventilation mats used in direct-applied and ventilated wall designs. Prerequisites: No Course Level: Introductory ...
Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) offer higher thermal resistance per unit thickness than traditional insulation materials. This means a building envelope can meet the effective R-values for enclosures required by the energy codes without having to increase the thickness of the walls, roof, or floors. This course discusses how VIPs work, why they are effective, and the impact the properties of the materials used to construct a VIP can have on its performance. VIP installations and the latest developments in VIP technology are reviewed to illustrate the advantages of using VIPs as thermal insulation in the design of energy-efficient buildings....
View the Panasonic Industrial Devices, Building Materials Group Course Library
The performance and durability of a roof are critical to the health, welfare, and safety of both building occupants and the building itself. This course examines the construction, materials, and best detailing practices that ensure the proper long-term performance of steep-pitch roofs. It describes and details layout options for assemblies of steep-pitch roofs and the key characteristics of roofing systems that help to prevent roof deterioration and damage. It then highlights best practices in detailing and constructing steep-pitch roof systems that mitigate water, ice, snow, fire, or wind damage to the roof....
