Latest CPD materials
The very latest CPD materials to have been assessed and approved by the RIBA, including both new and recently revised seminars.
New & Available Online
Between 2018-2030, the urban population is projected to increase in size. Globally, a projected 28% of people worldwide will be concentrated in cities with at least 1 million inhabitants and the number of cities with more than 10 million inhabitants (often termed ‘megacities’) is projected to rise from 33 in 2018 to 43 in 2030. In the first 20 years of this century, the population of inner London has increased by 27%, and outer London by 19%, compared to 16% in other UK cities.
This is why the way we light our urban spaces is so important. It is for safety reasons, but also for wellbeing, preserving our culture, and protecting our nightlife. But the way we light our urban areas needs to be sustainable and ecologically friendly - flora and fauna are in our cities too! We need to ensure that our lighting solutions protect the environment and reduce energy consumption as much as possible.
This CPD training is about lighting for exterior areas. We have over 40 years experience in designing and producing the highest quality LED lighting solutions for cityscapes and suburban streets, commercial properties, industrial settings, and under canopy. We’re going to share this knowledge with you to give you a better understanding of what makes excellent safe and sustainable street lighting.
By the end of this CPD delegates should know:
1. Things to consider when specifying LEDs for exterior residential areas (safety, wellbeing, livable spaces, connected communities).
2. How to make more sustainable choices (energy efficiency, quality & durability, optics, colour, smart technology).
3. Lighting design standards (standards, road classes, design recommendations).
New & Available Online
This is a CPD presentation focused on the design of a through-wall façade solution, where we will explore crucial factors to consider when selecting components.
In this comprehensive CPD session, we define a through-wall as comprising all wall components from the external sheathing board outward, culminating in the façade. By dissecting the façade system into eight essential elements, we delve into individual product performance requirements, empowering you to craft a holistic solution.
Moreover, we offer a comprehensive overview of fire ratings and introduce our certified, fire-rated solutions. Discover the spotlight on sheathing boards, as we delve into specific areas that demand your attention. Additionally, we delve into key considerations surrounding health and safety and the environment, ensuring a well-rounded approach to your façade design. This engaging presentation is designed to both inform and inspire.
After completing this CPD delegates should:
1. Have a holitic review of through wall facade creation, especially in relation to fire.
2.Be able to impart an understanding of which facade elements are key to building safety.
3. Know the importance of Certification and Testing in facade design.
4. Have an understanding of material limitations, no one product will cover all technical challenges.
5. Have a consideration of the benefits of system certification.
New & Available Online
This course explores how to utilize the power of the senses to design an experience, not just a space.
Participants will learn how to appeal to each of the senses to create deeper connections between their designs and the people who enjoy them.
By the end of the CPD you should have a greater understanding of:
- The power of each sense and why each one is unique and important
- How to create multi-sensory designs & experiences that communicate a desired feeling
- How to think outside the box & get inspired from existing sensory designs
New
This CPD aims to provide a greater understanding of EXTREMELY DURBALE MDF and the acytelation process. It will dive into how EXTREMELY DURBALE MDF is made via acytelation, its performance and sustainability benefits, as well as how the cost and test results compare to alternative materials. This CPD will also provide examples of how EXTREMELY DURBALE MDF is being used to great effect in the industry today.
This CPD aims to explore:
1. What Is Wood Modification Via Acetylation Method?
2. What Are The Sustainability Benefits Of EXTREMELY DURBALE MDF?
3. Testing For EXTREMELY DURBALE MDF.
4. Performance, Processing And Costs Of EXTREMELY DURBALE MDF.
5. What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of EXTREMELY DURBALE MDF?
By the end of this CPD dlelegates should have an:
1. Understanding what wood modification via acetylation is.
2. Understanding the sustainability benefits of EXTREMELY DURBALE MDF.
3. Understanding the testing performance of EXTREMELY DURBALE MDF.
4. Understanding how EXTREME MDF can be processed and the long term cost benefits.
5. Understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of EXTREMELY DURBALE MDF compared to alternative options.
New & Available Online
This CPD is designed to assist you in better understanding the world or decorative solutions. Numerous topics will be explored in the session, from what are decorative solutions and how are they manufactured all the way through to applications and the green credentials that can be achieved.
With you, we will discuss the various challenges you may come across when researching your future projects and how decorative surfaces may provide you with the perfect solution.
By the end of this CPD seminar delegates should:
1. Have a better understanding the world of decorative solutions.
2. Have a better Understanding where the products can be used.
3. Know how can they fit into your next interior design project.
4. Know sectors into which decorative solutions are supplied.
5. Know the green credentials & certifications.
New & Available Online
This CPD will provide the ability for delegates to learn directly from our expert engineers about Masonry Support, its importance and why specifying high quality masonry support early in a project is as important as laying solid foundations, to ensure buildings meet safety regulations and last the test of time.
Masonry Support is a common feature found in masonry clad buildings worldwide. Masonry Support has the critical function of taking the external masonry load and applying it back to the structure of the supporting building.
Masonry Support is required to allow for differential movement between the masonry panels and structure around the building and is normally located at horizontal movement joints, window heads, soffits or large openings. Support is usually installed at every, or every other floor depending on the cavity size, structure type, structure size, and load.
By the end of this seminar delegates should understand:
1. What is masonry support and why is it required?
2. The design considerations.
3. How to specify the right system.
4. Good practice in Masonry Support.
5. Associated products, working as a system.
New & Available Online
This seminar introduces the WELL Building Standard before focusing on the lighting and daylighting related aspects, with a particular focus on how lighting, lighting controls and (automated) shading systems can support accreditation to WELL Building standard as well as occupant comfort and wellbeing.
This CPD aims to give delegates:
1. An introduction to the WELL Building Standard and it's version 2.
2. A detailed overview of the lighting and daylighting features that appear in the new WELL standard.
3. Guidance on how to meet the requirements in each of the lighting features.
By the end of this seminar delegates should:
1. Understand the purpose and structure of the WELL Building Standard version 2.
2. Be equipped to cite multiple strategies that can be implemented to meet the requirements of Feature L03 Circadian Lighting Design.
3. Understand how lighting controls can be used to achieve the requirements of Feature L09 Occupant Lighting Control of the WELL Building Standard v2.
New
Since the demise of Accredited Construction Details and the requirement in building regulations to provide a calculated assessment of non-repeating thermal bridges in all submissions in SAP and SBEM, designers need to be aware of what options are available how this new process is carried out.
This seminar outlines the problems of thermal bridging in junction design, particularly at the wall to floor junction and details what needs to be done to achieve compliance with Part L (England + Wales) or Section 6 (Scotland) of the building regulations/standards. It examines the various schemes available and looks at what products can be used such as thermal bridging blocks to meet the requirements.
By the end of this CPD seminar delegates should have an awareness of:
1. How junction design can contribute to the overall thermal efficiency of a building inasmuch that however good the U values are, if the junction isn't insulated, the design can still fail SAP/SBEM.
2. The issues thermal bridging at the wall-floor junctions can generate: increased energy bills, condensation/mould growth, non-compliance to Part L of the building regulations and climate change.
3. How improving a building element’s U value can increase the risk of thermal bridge heat loss.
4. How to determine where the worst thermal bridges in a building may occur and what measures and products are designed to address them.
5. The various third-part schemes available to be used in designs as alternatives to the old accredited construction details.
New & Available Online
For over 100 years steel windows have been favoured by Architects as their preferred choice of window material due to their elegant sight lines, strength and versatility.
This presentation will cover:
• The importance of the steel window in Architecture over the last century and before.
• The characteristics of steel windows throughout history.
• The role of steel windows today with regards to the environment and sustainability.
• Legislation, standards and performance features governing steel windows.
• The future for steel windows, including the introduction of thermal breaks and the consequences for current day steel window specification.
This CPD can be delivered to you live and remotely.
New
The weight of responsibility of saving the planet with every choice we make can be overwhelming.
We have created this CPD to help you make better informed design, manufacturing and material choices with your signage.
Being eco-conscious doesn’t have to mean compromise. There are eco-alternatives to almost every material used in the sign industry.
This CPD aims to:
1. Highlight industry terminolgy.
2. Show Design and Manufacturing considerations.
3. Educate about the types of sustainable materials that can be used.
By the end of the seminar delegates should:
1. Have the confidence and ability to specify compliant materials for signage design projects.
2. Have a greater understanding of the importance and availability of sustainable materials.
3. Be aware of the type of documentation involved: EPDs, Deconstruction matrix, Certifications.
4. Be able to understand the pros and cons of different materials.
New
The presentation aims to give a broad and as detailed as possible explanation of the essentials of the Building Safety Act 2022, and its impact on roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and specifically the architect in fulfilling the duties required under the legislation. This includes the impact of the act on information accuracy and completeness, changes to Approved Document B and new planning gateways of the process.
This CPD aims to give:
1. A background on building safety issues and catastrophes and how learning from them and knowledge evolves.
2. An introduction to the essentials of the BSA - and what it means for architects/specifiers in particular.
3. An overview of roles and responsibilities under the BSA, how it defines them and the changes to ARB competency.
4. Information on how the act changes Approved Document B and the defined relevant buildings.
5. Information on how the act has created new roles including Principal Designer and Construction Products Regulator and what they include.
By the end of this seminar delegates will:
1. Have an improved understanding and confidence in the BSA and its implications for construction legislation and the architect's roles and opportunities.
2. Have a concise overview as possible on the fundamental and key points of the BSA and what it entails.
3. Have clarity on roles in information flow, who is responsible and what they need to know (the Golden Thread).
4. Be able to navigate the essentials of and through the three planning gateways - in particular Gateway 1 and fire safety."
New & Available Online
Our Warm Water Underfloor Heating CPD explains how underfloor heating works, in comparison to radiators.
We run through all of the benefits and key elements including the different type of systems and how to specifiy the correct system for the project.
We explain how underfloor heating works with renewable energy and which floor finishes are compatible.
By the end of this CPD delegates should:
1. Understand how underfloor heating works.
2. Know the benefits of underfloor heating.
3. Be confident to decide which systems to specify on a project
4. Understand how underfloor heating plays its part in renewable energy.
5. Understand which floor finishes are compatible with underfloor heating.
New
The purpose of this CPD is to try to explain why lighting is so important not just to a physical space but to us as humans. We investigate why a warmer light makes a room feel cozier and why a cooler one makes us more alert and able to concentrate. We look at how our bodies are preprogrammed to work in this why and how this can be aided from a lighting perspective.
By the end of this CPD delegates should:
1. Understand the history of light and where artificial light fits into this.
2. Understand the structure of the eye, how different people see the world differently, how and why the quality light matters and how this is measured.
3. Understand how our bodies are programmed to respond to different colour temperatures of light and how we can support this in a home environment using tuneable light sources.
4. Understand the seven principles of biophilic design and how lighting can play its part.
5. Understand commonly asked questions relating to LEDs and tuneable light sources.
New & Available Online
Recognising the knowledge gap that exists for many architects and specifiers when it comes to the complexities of acoustic design in building project planning, this CPD will further equip and empower architects, specifiers and designers with easily accessible information on certified acoustic solutions verified for every building application area by third-party-experts.
Because acoustic design in the built environment can be complex it often is lower down in planning priorities. Consequently there's a risk that the best, most appropriate materials are not used, effecting long-term health and wellbeing of occupants for generations to come. Through this CPD, best practice acoustic design is upheld and not overlooked in the built environment at the outset of each project, by inspiring the next generation of designers to understand how sound impacts human health.
By the end of this seminar delegates should:
1. Understand the importance of sound and the negative impact of noise in many areas of the built environment.
2. Understand the need for acoustics in the modern workplace with evidence to many staff / occupants benefits.
3. Know the key principles of good acoustic design.
4. Know how acoustics can help you meet your clients brief and support sustainability, wellbeing, productivity and inclusivity.
5. Understand best practice acoustic design in line with the RIBA Plan of Work.