PROGRAMME DES FOURNISSEURS D’ÉDUCATION (PFÉ)

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.

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.

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.

The demand for mass timber construction has increased significantly in recent years due to its numerous benefits, including sustainability, strength, faster construction times, cost savings, and a natural wood aesthetic. However, a major drawback of mass timber construction is its poor acoustical performance. This course examines the various mass timber construction types and provides acoustical solutions to meet and surpass building codes.

ONGOING - FREE

Sound control is a critical element in a building’s design. We all think of the walls, ceiling, and floor when discussing sound attenuation, but without the proper acoustic door, the sound-control goals in an acoustic plan may not be met. This course reviews healthy sound levels and how to test and identify target STC ratings. Also discussed are the elements of acoustic door assemblies and how they address fire ratings and ADA compliance, contribute to LEED® certification and green building, and provide security for classified files and electronic data.

With the range of ever-evolving uses of cold-formed metal framing, it is important for the building professional to be current with the latest product developments and innovations. This course begins with an overview of steel specification, followed by a discussion of a new, preassembled, double-stud sound guard system designed for superior acoustical performance. Also included is a review of fire-rated assemblies, including the recent developments and the expansion of UL assembly inclusions for the three different shaftwall studs (CH-stud, CT-stud, and I-stud).

In today’s building designs, considering the environmental impact of construction projects is of utmost importance. As a result, factors such as durability, installation speed, cost reduction, and long-term value have become crucial aspects of building designs. This course addresses these concerns in the context of nonresidential building renovations, focusing specifically on using state-of-the-art acoustical ceiling coatings as an alternative to removal and replacement with new materials. The course also examines how acoustical ceiling coatings may apply to several credits and features in the LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction rating system and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2.

The acoustical comfort level in the workplace is a key measure of the quality of the indoor environment for building occupants. This course explores key concepts and characteristics of sound, as well as speech intelligibility and privacy and their associated acoustical remedies. Also presented is the use of sound absorbers and diffusers as acoustical solutions to noise problems.

ONGOING - FREE - 1 HOUR

In designing successful interior building spaces that positively impact their occupants, it is critical to have knowledge of the principles of acoustics and noise control and link them to design methodology. This course explores these principles, with a special emphasis on common building types where acoustics and noise control are often required and noise can have detrimental effects on users, such as athletic facilities and performance spaces.