EDUCATION PROVIDER PROGRAM (EPP)

Quartz surfacing is a man-made material consisting of up to 93% natural quartz crystal. In this course, you will discover the other components behind the beauty, durability, and flexibility of this surfacing material. You will see the composition, production, and quality assurance processes that go into making the material and the resultant attributes and capabilities, as well as the installation basics of quartz surfacing materials.

Sound abatement products are not just a building owner and occupant preference; minimum sound abatement ratings are required by many local building codes for multistory residential, commercial, and multipurpose buildings. Following an introduction to the basics of sound, this course presents a summary of the most common sound control methods, with a focus on the options available for floor underlayment.

Windows provide natural light and ventilation and add character to the interior and exterior of the home. In addition to function and aesthetics, performance must be considered in the specification process. Fortunately, rigorous testing standards and labeling programs enable designers to make informed choices. Examined here are window standards, certifications, testing, and labeling; window types and components; and window specification and installation considerations.

ONGOING - 1 HOUR - FREE

Food and wine preservation refers to the process of storing products under ideal conditions in order to maximize longevity. Preserving food and wine maximizes its shelf life and flavor which, in turn, enhances the enjoyment of its consumption. Additionally, proper preservation results in less waste and saves the consumer money. This course reviews the causes of premature food deterioration, the optimal conditions for storing wine and food, and the solutions that are available with a focus on modern refrigeration units.

ONGOING - FREE - 1 HOUR

Penetrations of the WRB are unavoidable, but it is critical to ensure that they remain watertight. The recommendations for sealing these penetrations are often based on unrelated test methods, such as those for nail penetrations in roofing membranes, or on anecdotal evidence. This course covers a data-driven method used to determine which type of flashing and sealing solution is best to ensure watertightness after cladding attachments are installed over polyisocyanurate insulating sheathing. Also discussed is information on how other single-layer insulating sheathing systems allow for watertightness of the assembly after cladding attachment.

ONGOING • FREE • 1 HOUR

Installing snow retention systems on rooftop applications improves the safety of building occupants and can decrease the risk of property damage. This course identifies different snow guard styles and explains how each contributes to snow retention. Installation techniques are reviewed, and layout designs that maximize occupant safety and minimize hazards are also discussed.

Concrete is an essential part of modern buildings. As net zero energy buildings become more common, it is crucial to find ways to reduce concrete’s carbon footprint without losing the performance characteristics that make it valuable to the building team. This course explains the sources of concrete’s carbon footprint and explores strategies for reducing embodied carbon and operational carbon in precast sandwich wall panels and insulated architectural cladding.

This presentation celebrates the value of incorporating artisanal, handcrafted fixtures and furnishings into a building’s design. Not only are these products unique, functional, and aesthetically appealing, but they can also establish a sense of connection with their maker. Many artisanal, handcrafted products are made using traditional techniques that have been passed down over time, often from generation to generation. And because many of these products are made from sustainable, recycled, or reclaimed materials that are locally available, they can help reduce the environmental impact of a new build. This course illustrates how sourcing artisan-made products for their  projects can allow designers and builders to effect social, economic, and environmental change.

ONGOING - FREE - 1 CORE HOUR - REMOTE OR IN-PERSON (Architectural Office)

ADDITIONAL SESSION INFORMATION OR HOW TO REGISTER - inspector2.atlantic@awmac.com

AWMAC's Free Lunch and Learn Presentation is tailor-made for Architectural & Design firms that specify architectural woodwork for their projects. This one hour presentation gives participants the chance to learn about the standards manual - NAAWS: North American Architectural Woodwork Standards. 

CLASSROOM, WEBINAR, STREAMED EVENT, LIVE INSTRUCTOR - 1 HOUR 

Poor architectural acoustics can negatively affect building occupants' concentration, comprehension, confidentiality, healing, and/or learning. By contrast, good sound qualities can add drama, vibrancy, and energy, enhancing the occupant experience. Join us to explore the many options available today that help architects design for acoustics without compromising their visual design vision.

Assess acoustical ceiling traits that contribute to sustainable building design. (15 mins)

Examine principles of interior acoustic design & link to green building & sustainability. (15 mins)

Explore interior acoustic solutions for green buildings that balance form and function. (15 mins)

Identify acoustic needs in design apps, consider attributes for green certification. (15 mins)

In person (requires the presence of a live instructor, classroom, webinar, streamed event)

As more and more commercial interiors, from offices to schools, veer toward open concepts and exposed structures, the spaces become susceptible to noise. And for occupants, excessive noise can lead to increased stress, lower productivity, decreased focus, and poor communication. This session will help architects understand the challenge by exploring how sound is generated, transmitted, and reverberates. Attendees will learn a simpler approach to sabins, how to calculate absorption, and how to apply that knowledge to designing ceiling systems that hit the sweet spot for noise reduction.

Course Length - 1 Hour

In person (requires the presence of a live instructor, classroom, webinar, streamed event)

Unwanted sound and reverberation in a room can cause a multitude of problems, not the least of which are poor speech intelligibility and uncomfortable noisy environments. In this course we will discuss the best ways to control sound and noise through adequate sound absorptive materials to avoid these problems. We will examine what it means to optimize design and how this plays into crafting the human experience within a space. This course will walk you through some of the fundamentals of acoustics that will help you evaluate the available solutions in light of acoustical challenges in each market.

This course is a part of the Architectural Acoustics series.

The population of adults over 65 years old is growing at an unprecedented rate. By 2034, older adults are expected to outnumber children for the first time in US history. As individuals age, the body’s ability to maintain a balanced integration of the organs, muscles, bones, immune and nervous systems decline. Planning for the environments where older adults live, work, and travel presents an opportunity to promote healthy living, adapted to meet the unique physical, mental, and biological needs of an aging population. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities to infectious disease for older adults and senior living communities. Older adults, especially those in senior living facilities, will continue to be vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks, as well as familiar respiratory illnesses like influenza and pneumonia. Healthy building upgrades can have multiple benefits beyond infectious disease risk reduction, including improved comfort and cognition.

CLASSROOM, WEBINAR, STREAMED EVENT, LIVE INSTRUCTOR - 1 HOUR

Detailing Perimeters and Floating Elements in the Ceiling Plane helps participants compare and contrast different types of perimeter and trim treatments along with the benefits and draw backs of the various solutions. This one-hour course identifies key spaces where perimeter treatment is functionally and visually critical to the finished design of the ceiling plane in commercial interiors. The course also describes integration with lighting and HVAC and outlines code based guidelines to keep in mind when designing the ceiling plane perimeter.

Intro with learning objectives (5 mins)

The Basics of Ceiling Perimeters (15 mins)

Ceiling Perimeter Solutions (20 mins)

Floating Ceilings & Elements (15 mins)

Summary with Q and A (5 mins)