Top 25 continuing education courses on BDCuniversity

Building Design+Construction's professional development website, BDCuniversity.com, features hundreds of free AIA CES courses covering a variety of topics in the nonresidential building industry, including metal construction, roofing, modular buildings, glazing, and sustainable construction.

Here's a roundup of the 25 most popular courses based on the number of AEC professionals that took the course material and completed the exam. Check out www.BDCuniversity.com to earn 1.0 AIA CES learning units for each successfully completed exam.

PROGRESSIVE STEEL JOIST AND METAL DECKING DESIGN

A three-part course examining cost and performance considerations of steel joist and metal decking construction. Provided by New Millennium Building Systems.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/progressive-steel-joist-and-metal-decking-design-0

PAINTS & COATINGS: THE LATEST TRENDS IN SUSTAINABILITY

How to assess the sustainability value of architectural coatings relative to their performance value to end-users.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/paints-coatings-latest-trends-sustainability

INSULATED METAL WALL AND ROOF PANELS FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

IMPs in depth, from materials, finishes, and construction life cycle to energy conservation and other sustainability characteristics. Provided by MBCI.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/insulated-metal-wall-and-roof-panels-sustainability-and-energy-efficiency

THE PERIMETER ROOF EDGE: FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN A WIND EVENT

Details of the ANSI/SPRI ES-1 Standard, and how to determine the correct specs for perimeter roof edges. Provided by Duro-Last.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/perimeter-roof-edge-first-line-defense-wind-event

PVC SINGLE-PLIES AS SUSTAINABLE ROOFING SYSTEMS

Learn the attributes of PVC single-ply roofing, including their potential for high-performance design. Provided by Duro-Last.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/pvc-single-plies-sustainable-roofing-systems

FIBER CEMENT PANELS AS RAINSCREENS

Review the causes and effects of moisture intrusion and learn appropriate rainscreen technologies, including fiber cement panels. Provided by Nichiha.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/fiber-cement-panels-rainscreens

BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING EDUCATION PROGRAM

A four-unit program with an increasing level of difficulty, designed to provide in-depth training in BIM. Provided by the Associated General Contractors of America.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/building-information-modeling-education-program

ADVANCED CONTROLS AND EXTERIOR TACTICS FOR BETTER ILLUMINATION

Lighting control strategies that contribute to energy-efficient buildings and occupant well being, plus tips for lighting exteriors.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/advanced-controls-and-exterior-tactics-better-illumination

INSULATED METAL PANELS

Business development opportunities involving IMPs, terms associated with the product, relevant policies and codes, and sustainability implications. Provided by MBCI.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/insulated-metal-panels

A PROVEN SIX-STEP APPROACH TO TREATING HISTORIC WINDOWS

Step-by-step prescriptive advice on when it makes sense to repair or rehab existing windows, and when clients should consider replacement, from experts at Hoffmann Architects.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/proven-6-step-approach-treating-historic-windows

FLEXIBLE PLASTIC POROUS PAVERS

Learn how porous paving systems compare with conventional paving. Provided by Invisible Structures.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/flexible-plastic-porous-pavers

GREENER GLASS: SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & ADVANCED, FIRE-RATED GLASS TECHNOLOGIES

Novel fire-rated glazing systems for sustainable design, including how to meet applicable codes and standards. Provided by Safti First.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/greener-glass-sustainable-design-advanced-fire-rated-glass-technologies

SUSTAINABLE ENCLOSURES: DESIGN, ENERGY & CODES

Details for creating more sustainable enclosures, including insulation improvements, intelligent window-to-wall ratios, new technologies for facilitating net-zero, and benefits of active façades.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/sustainable-enclosures-design-energy-codes

DOES THE OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS EQUAL GREEN?

Discover the inherent green benefits of off-site, prefabricated, and modular building systems. Provided by the Modular Building Institute.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/does-offsite-construction-process-equal-green

PREVENTABLE CURTAIN WALL FAILURES

Highlighting errors of curtain wall design that lead to in-field failures, including aspects of fabrication and installation. Provided by Kawneer.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/preventable-curtain-wall-failures

CONCRETE ADDITIVES: WATER-REPELLENCY & EFFLORESCENCE CONTROL IN MASONRY

How to achieve water repellency and efflorescence control in masonry construction, including single-wythe masonry walls. Provided by BASF.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/concrete-additives-water-repellency-efflorescence-control-masonry

NEW TRENDS IN CEILING DESIGNS AND MATERIALS

Improved ceiling products that offer superior acoustics, closed-loop recycled content, and easy integration with lighting, HVAC, fire sprinklers, and overhead infrastructure.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/new-trends-ceiling-designs-and-materials

COMBINING OFF-SITE AND SITE CONSTRUCTION

Large-scale, multi-story projects can benefit from a combination of on-site and permanent modular construction. Provided by the Modular Building Institute.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/combining-offsite-site-construction

MODULAR BUILDING: A GREEN LIFE CYCLE

How to apply Building Service Life Planning concepts to manage environmental impacts using modular systems. Provided by the Modular Building Institute.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/modular-building-green-life-cycle

BUILDING WITH BRICK, STONE, AND MASONRY

New types of brick, stone, and masonry systems, including thin brick veneer, clay brick paving, and stone cladding.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/building-brick-stone-and-masonry

ROOFING RETROFITS AND RENOVATIONS

How to make a roof last as long as possible, and how to properly retrofit or reroof.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/roofing-retrofits-and-renovations

THE RAINSCREEN APPROACH TO A BETTER BUILDING ENVELOPE

Best ways to use rainscreens, encompassing cladding, cavity, insulation, air barrier, moisture barrier, and the supporting wall.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/rainscreen-approach-better-building-envelope

HIGH-EFFICIENCY PLUMBING

How to implement water-conserving products and systems for commercial, industrial, institutional, and multifamily building projects.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/high-efficiency-plumbing-systems

CLADDING AND EXTERIOR INSULATION

Discusses new requirements in the 2012 IECC, the IgCC, and ASHRAE 189.12 for continuous insulation, maximum fenestration area, and air and moisture barriers.

http://www.BCDuniversity.com/cladding-and-exterior-insulation

FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY IN LARGE BUILDINGS

Criteria for designing and installing integrated emergency lighting, voice communication, and security systems.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/fire-and-life-safety-large-buildings

Allan Bilka, RA, is a Senior Staff Architect and Secretariat to the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) with the International Code Council, based in the ICC’s Chicago district office. He also serves as staff liaison to the ICC-700 National Green Building Standard. He has written several ICC white papers on green building and numerous green-related articles for the ICC. A registered architect, Bilka has over 30 years of combined residential design/build and commercial consulting engineering experience.