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

In implementing Northwestern University’s Engineering Life Sciences infill design, Flad Architects faced the challenge of ensuring adequate, balanced light given the adjacent, existing building wings. To allow for light penetration from the fifth floor to the ground floor, the design team desired a large, central atrium. One potential setback with drawing light through the atrium was meeting fire and life safety codes.

| Apr 25, 2014

Recent NFPA 80 updates clarify fire rated applications

Code confusion has led to misapplications of fire rated glass and framing, which can have dangerous and/or expensive results. Two recent NFPA 80 revisions help clarify the confusion. SPONSORED CONTENT

| Apr 8, 2014

Fire resistive curtain wall helps The Kensington meet property line requirements

The majority of fire rated glazing applications occur inside a building to allow occupants to exit the building safely or provide an area of refuge during a fire. But what happens when the threat of fire comes from the outside? This was the case for The Kensington, a mixed-use residential building in Boston.

The rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the Old Naval Hospital, Washington, D.C

| Apr 2, 2014

8 tips for avoiding thermal bridges in window applications

Aligning thermal breaks and applying air barriers are among the top design and installation tricks recommended by building enclosure experts.

Channel glass creates a curving faade. Photo: Technical Glass Products

Ontario Leisure Centre stays ahead of the curve with channel glass

The new Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Centre features a 1,400-sf serpentine channel glass wall that delivers dramatic visual appeal for its residents.

To true the wall surface, the installer should level the insulation board, rathe

| Mar 20, 2014

Common EIFS failures, and how to prevent them

Poor workmanship, impact damage, building movement, and incompatible or unsound substrate are among the major culprits of EIFS problems.

| Mar 12, 2014

14 new ideas for doors and door hardware

From a high-tech classroom lockdown system to an impact-resistant wide-stile door line, BD+C editors present a collection of door and door hardware innovations.

Photo: Iwan Baan - www.iwan.com / Courtesy Emerson College

| Mar 7, 2014

Thom Mayne's high-tech Emerson College LA campus opens in Hollywood [slideshow]

The $85 million, 10-story vertical campus takes the shape of a massive, shimmering aircraft hangar, housing a sculptural, glass-and-aluminum base building.

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