Here, you'll find a suite of on-demand and live educational courses, as well as lunch and learns.
Access to registered continuing education courses is 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
On Demand Courses
Get continuing education credits with our On Demand webinar series. Listen to expert speakers on a variety of topics. Get answers that are relevant to your work. All from the convenience of your desk. Check out our on demand courses below.
This course explains how graphite polystyrene insulated vinyl siding acts as Continuous Insulation and, as such, can help earn tax credits/rebates and the HUD funding requirements associated with the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Prerequisite Knowledge:
The participants should have completed the overview course "Not Your Grandmother's Vinyl Siding, the Advantages of Graphite Polystyrene Insulated Vinyl Siding.”
HSW Justification:
This course delves into the energy efficiency and carbon reduction incentives provided by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a federal tax program designed to reduce the energy demand and associated carbon emissions of our nation's building infrastructure.
Explain
What continuous insulation (CI) is and how graphite polystyrene insulated vinyl siding provides CI.
Understand
How the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentivizes and supports energy-efficient and sustainable building and design decision-making.
Know
Why graphite polystyrene insulated vinyl siding is a valuable method to help earn IRA-related tax incentives and meet the pending HUD financing IECC 2021 requirements.
Course: Graphite Polystyrene Insulated Vinyl Siding & Energy Code Compliance
Overview: This 0.5 credit course provides greater detail about how graphite polystyrene insulated vinyl siding contributes to 2021 energy codes and ASHRAE 90.1. as continuous insulation requirements, regional hurricane and high wind codes.
Prerequisite Knowledge:
The participants should have completed the overview course “Not Your Grandmother’s Vinyl Siding, the Advantages of Graphite Polystyrene Insulated Vinyl Siding.”
HSW Justification:
Graphite polystyrene insulated vinyl siding is an approved method for meeting continuous insulation required by the 2021 International Residential Energy Code and ASHRAE 90.1 and, therefore, reduces energy consumption and associated carbon emissions. Moreover, specialized systems have been developed to meet the rigorous codes in hurricane-prone areas, underscoring their effectiveness in mitigating structural damage and enhancing occupant safety.
Define
Define continuous insulation and how GPS insulated vinyl siding serves as continuous insulation (CI).
Identify
Identify the difference between national, state and municipal energy codes and which ones require continuous insulation.
Locate
Locate where the 2021 IECC residential and ASHRAE 90.1 codes have been adopted.
This course is an extension of the overview course "Not Your Grandmother's Vinyl Siding, the Advantages of Graphite Polystyrene Insulated Vinyl Siding” that examines the advantages of graphite polystyrene insulated vinyl siding for new and existing buildings This 0.5 credit course provides greater detail about the environmental performance declarations (EPDs) for both graphite polystyrene and vinyl siding and how these can be used to help guide sustainable design decision making.
Prerequisite Knowledge:
The participants should have completed the overview course "Not Your Grandmother's Vinyl Siding, the Advantages of Graphite Polystyrene Insulated Vinyl Siding.”
HSW Justification:
The course focuses on using EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) to aid in making informed decisions regarding sustainable design. Using GPS-insulated vinyl siding as an example, participants will gain insights into how these EPDs offer a comprehensive perspective that recognizes the lifecycle impacts of all component systems. By leveraging this knowledge, designers can enhance environmental performance by improving energy efficiency and sustainability.
Describe
The function of both Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) in sustainable design.
Explain
Why and how EPDs are being used to measure and track carbon in public projects, green building programs, carbon calculators and design software.
Use
EPDs to determine the environmental benefits of the GPS-insulated vinyl siding system.
This course examines the unique advantages of graphite polystyrene (GPS) insulated vinyl siding as a high-performance building systems for new and existing buildings to:
Provide exterior, continuous insulation
Manage moisture
Increase durability and environmental performance
Enhance appearance
Participants will also have the option of completing nano courses that further examine GPS insulated vinyl siding’s
Environmental Impacts
Energy Codes Compliance
GPS Insulated Vinyl Siding & the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act
Explain
The emergence of graphite polystyrene (GPS) vinyl siding as a high-performance building system.
Describe
How GPS vinyl siding offers continuous insulation, moisture management, reduced environmental impacts and improved overall performance.
Presents the Advantages of Reversible Graphite Structural Insulated Board (SIB) and Prescriptive Wall Bracing & 2021 IRC
Course 1 will allow you to examine the unique advantages of reversible structural graphite polystyrene sheathing as a high-performance building systems for new and existing building to Provide exterior, continuous insulation, Manage moisture,, Increase durability and environmental performance, and Increase project efficiencies and costs.
Course 2: Wall-bracing provisions of the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) remain daunting to understand and efficiently apply.
What You Will Learn: A step-by-step process for applying these provisions, including alternative methods. Jay will also share resources for checking compliance and optimizing design.
About Jay Crandell P.E.: Jay has more than 30 years of experience in building technology research. He has conducted benchmark studies to address structural, energy, and building science challenges. His work has helped propel innovative technologies into codes and consensus standards. Mr. Crandell is also a Principal of Applied Building Technology Group (ABTG), an ANSI-approved standards development organization.
Course 1:
Describe reversible structural graphite polystyrene (GPS) sheathing and its component parts.
Explain the benefits of the system including increased long-term R-value, durability, flexibility and reduced labor and increased construction speed.
Understand how the system can be applied to meet structural, continuous insulation, air barrier and water-resistant barrier code requirements.
Share examples of real-world applications where the system was used to increase overall project performance.
Course 2:
Understand the basic concepts of wall bracing, how it works, and its importance.
Know the 2021 IRC prescriptive requirements & options for wall bracing.
Gain experience using a step-by-step process for applying the IRC wall bracing provisions to actual building plans.
Understand the IRC’s allowance for alternative bracing materials and methods.