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Courses
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High Performance EIFS for Sustainable Construction
This 1-hour interactive online course begins with a discussion
regarding ways that sustainability concerns are changing the lowest initial-cost
design philosophy that has been prevalent in the American construction industry.
It outlines key architectural decisions related to EIFS, and illustrates how architects
can incorporate EIFS into building designs that maximize aesthetic value, building
longevity, sustainability, LEED ratings and cost-effectiveness.
This course is Registered with the AIA (Reg # RV889, HSW, SD).
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Sealant Repairs that Last: Hybrid Sealants for Building Restoration
It is hard to talk about restoration without talking about sustainability. This
2-hour interactive online course discusses the role that restoration
can and does play in the arena of sustainability, and specifically the role that
sealants play in sustainable design and repair.
We don’t often think about sealants as being sustainable because they don’t appear
to be very “green.” Most people equate the “greenness” of a product with water based
technology. That is a mistake. The process to make polymer for water based materials
is not very pretty and the assumption that water based materials can meet the performance
requirements is not necessarily accurate. The litmus test for the “greenness” of
a material should include the in service performance of the material. Balanced with
performance properties, materials with a long service life contribute to sustainable
buildings.
By the end of this course, you will understand, if you do not already, there is
more to a sustainable material than VOC and that high performance materials like
hybrid sealants play a significant role in creating sustainable repairs.
This course is registered with the AIA (Reg # RV911, HSW, SD).
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Concrete Additives: Water-Repellency & Efflorescence Control in Masonry
About 90% of the surface area of a masonry wall consists of concrete masonry units,
with mortar joints making up the remaining. Both concrete and mortar are porous
materials and, hence, can permit the passage of water through them. Therefore, a
water-repellent masonry system should prevent the entry of water through both the
concrete masonry units and the mortar joints.
This 1-hour interactive online course provides the details of achieving
water-repellency and efflorescence control in masonry construction. While the focus
is on single-wythe masonry walls, the admixture technologies presented are applicable
to other manufactured concrete products such as pavers and roof tiles.
This course is Registered with the AIA (Reg # RV916, HSW).
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Spray Polyurethane Foam Air Barriers
Sustainable design includes the informed selection of materials and products to
reduce product-cycle environmental impacts, improve performance, and optimize occupant
health and comfort. This course on Spray Polyurethane Foam Barriers lays out the
essential information for constructing a superior, cost-effective building enclosure
system - that is, the layer of materials that separates the interior environment
from the exterior environment in such a way as to avoid creating moisture-related
problems. You'll review the four barriers that comprise a weather barrier system,
known in the trade as HAMM:
- Heat Barrier
- Air Barrier
- Water Barrier (Liquid Moisture)
- Vapor Barrier (Gaseous Moisture)
By the end of this 2-hour interactive online course, you'll understand
the importance and role of an air barrier in the building enclosure system, and
see how a spray polyurethane foam barrier compares with the more problematic materials
that are also in use.
This course is registered with the AIA (Reg # RV917, HSW, SD).
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Sustainable Design: Eco-efficiency of Roofing Insulation Systems
This 1-hour interactive online course explores several popular
roofing insulation systems - Expanded polystyrene (EPS), Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso),
Extruded polystyrene (XPS), and Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF) - and discusses
the influences each one has on sustainable design.
It is divided into the following sections:
- Sustainable Development
- Insulation Systems
- Technical Aspects
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Environmental and Economic Aspects
- Appendix
The course begins with an introduction to sustainable development, compares different
plastic insulation systems, then follows up with some technical points on each system.
Lastly, eco-efficiency analysis is explained and the environmental and economic
aspects of each system are discussed.
This course is Registered with the AIA (Reg # RV940, HSW, SD).
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High-Performance Green Buildings: New Materials and Methods
Discover how the selection of building materials and methods directly impacts building
sustainability and performance. Key considerations include occupant health, which
is affected by IAQ, and building energy efficiency. This webcast examines roofing
and enclosure materials that affect these areas, with attention given to air barriers,
"cool roof" designs, and insulation. The implications of these enclosure choices
on building life-cycle analysis (LCA), LEED ratings, and other key measures of building
sustainability, are examined. One system/material example is covered in detail,
discussing the use of closed-cell spray polyurethane foam. You can earn 1.5 FREE
AIA/CES learning units for viewing the webcast and successfully completing the exam.
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Windows for the Future: Insulated Glass Units
Welcome to “Windows of the
Future: Insulated Glass Units” online course. This
course is presented in collaboration with BASF Corporation,
ADCO, and Bystronic Glass. In this course we will
take a look at insulated glass windows, or insulated
glass units, examining their performance and purpose.
We will take a look at how they are manufactured,
what materials are used, and how those materials
perform. Specifically we will look at the role of
window sealant and their part within the insulated
glass unit.
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