AIA Continuing Education

Understanding the Challenges of the Building Enclosure

Course Number: CC-ED-15, Credit: 1 LU

Course Description:

When designing the building enclosure from the substrate to the cladding, architects and designers face a host of challenges, from energy code and NFPA 285 fire testing compliance, to ensuring aesthetically-pleasing façade design.

This course, featuring a panel of four different industry experts, explains design trade-off complexities and strategies to maximize flexibility while maintaining code compliance—and ultimately build a dependable, robust building façade.

First, experts will review the challenges of choosing and placing an air and weather barrier. Secondly, codes and thermal bridging will be analyzed to determine insulation and thermal spacer selection. Finally, we will explore critical challenges associated with continuous insulation and requirements of a rainscreen cladding system.