PROGRAMME DES FOURNISSEURS D’ÉDUCATION (PFÉ)

In order to address tile installation difficulties effectively and avoid failures, designers and specifiers must maintain full awareness of current knowledge, practices, and products. This course reviews potentially problematic contemporary tile installation issues along with the industry guidance, methodologies, and products available to address them.

With the increasing prominence of glass in new buildings and retrofits, the use of window film can raise the style, performance, and safety of today’s building projects. This course examines the use of various types of window film (decorative, solar control, and safety/security) and their role in improving occupant comfort and safety, lowering energy costs, and enhancing privacy.

Metal roofing is often preferred for retrofitting a low-slope roof due to its durability, ease of installation, energy efficiency, and water channeling capabilities. This course examines why metal roofs fail, the types of structural standing seam panels, and the pros and cons of different methods for recovering an existing low-slope roof.

Magnesium oxide (MgO) products are panelized construction products that can be used as a direct replacement for other panels, such as gypsum, plywood, and OSB. This course aims to provide insight into MgO products, equipping building professionals with the knowledge and tools to select and specify them correctly, which in turn impacts occupant safety. We will also explore their performance characteristics, features, and purported issues, as well as relevant building code provisions and the evaluation process required for product compliance. Finally, we’ll look at the types of testing data for building materials and the importance of using certified products to ensure occupants’ life safety.

ONGOING - FREE - 1 HOUR

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets the minimum requirements for newly designed and constructed or renovated state and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. Many projects must also follow the provisions of the 2017 version of ICC A117.1, Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. This course identifies the benefits of accessibility standards and the prescriptive requirements for accessible restrooms set by the ADA and ICC A117.1.

Anybody who has worked on a green building project knows that a large portion of the project’s success lies in how well the project building is built. And success may be attaining a certain LEED® certification level, attaining certain LEED points, keeping the project on budget, implementing innovative strategies for occupants, or any number of other success metrics. Many project teams put so much emphasis into the project design and often overlook how the contractor influences the project outcome. Whether it’s managing the materials and products used on-site, planning and implementing proper indoor air quality management strategies, or just overall effective project execution, the contractor has the ability to make or break a green building project. This requires the contractor and their trades to be knowledgeable about sustainability and the green building project they’re working on.

This course is aimed at contractors and their trades who are working on green building projects or who would like to be more involved in green buildings. This course will provide an overview of what a green building is, different ways that contractors and their trades can get involved, and the key areas that fall under the contractor’s responsibility when executing a LEED project.

This course examines the role of access doors and panels in building design. It covers their functions, material options, and performance requirements. Topics include resistance to fire, sound, and moisture, as well as durability, code compliance, and integration with surrounding finishes. The course also presents best practices for specifying and installing access components that support safety, accessibility, and design continuity across a range of project types.

Access panels are covers for the openings in walls or ceilings that allow access to concealed equipment for the purpose of maintenance or replacement. This course provides a detailed understanding of architectural wall and ceiling access panels, including how they are specified, installed, and finished. Design and selection considerations such as ventilation options, safety, security, and fire-rated enclosures are also examined.

Places of public accommodation and commercial facilities in the U.S. must follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements regarding many facets of design and landscaping, including site furnishings. This course reviews ADA requirements for tables and benches and the benefits to communities, people, and businesses of creating accessible outdoor seating areas for all to enjoy. 

ONGOING - FREE - 1 HOUR

Wood is both beautiful and practical but lacks long-term durability when used outdoors. Acetylation changes the material properties of the wood at the molecular level to improve its stability and weathering capabilities. This course reviews the acetylation process, its impact on wood performance, and how and where this type of wood can be used. Also discussed are the green features of acetylated wood and how it can contribute toward earning points in the LEED® v4 green building rating system.

It is imperative to have a dependable, well-designed fire protection system that helps save lives and property. This course is designed to advance awareness and understanding about the wide range of components, functionality, and benefits of today’s most innovative standpipe fire systems and how to select the optimal system for your design based on building type, codes, and other requirements.

ONGOING - 1 HOUR

Coil and extrusion coating systems are ideal for exterior architectural applications. They provide unique, sustainable, and durable protection for metal roof and wall panel systems. This course explains the different coating types and application methods and identifies how metal coatings can contribute to a building’s energy efficiency and mitigate the heat island effect. Living Building Challenge and LEED® programs are examined and compared, and various case studies are discussed.

Ensure your turf, plants, and trees are getting the appropriate water—in the right quantity, with the proper safety, at the highest efficiency—to reflect your unique landscape environment. This course addresses the most important factors to be considered to achieve optimal performance. At the “root” of an effective irrigation system is proper water volume, pressure, and safety.

This course explores how to use coil and extrusion coatings in the built environment and how innovative coatings contribute to sustainability initiatives.