Construction Fundamentals Course (Self-Paced)

Learn about the roles played by the design & construction team. Learn how the site is prepared, the types of equipment used, different types of soil conditions & why various building foundations are used.

• The construction team and the on-site construction activities
• Different types of soils and subsurface conditions.
• The equipment and the heavy equipment we use on a site – scrapers, dozers, excavators and more.
• Clearing and grubbing the site.
• Installing the site utilities.
• Preparing for our building, with Earth work and excavation support.
• Installing foundations.

• The construction team and the on-site construction activities
• Different types of soils and subsurface conditions.
• The equipment and the heavy equipment we use on a site – scrapers, dozers, excavators and more.
• Clearing and grubbing the site.
• Installing the site utilities.
• Preparing for our building, with Earth work and excavation support.
• Installing foundations.

Learn about the building envelope, cold-formed steel stud systems, cladding systems, curtain walls, roofing systems and glass window systems. Learn how the building envelope keeps water out and controls temperature & humidity.

• The building envelope.
• Maintaining the integrity of the building.
• Keeping water out.
• Ultimately controlling the building’s temperature and humidity.
• The most commonly used cold-formed steel stud systems for exterior walls.
• Cladding systems and curtain walls.
• Roofing systems.
• Glass window systems.

Learn about wall types, interior partitions, drywall and drywall finishes and construction sequencing. Learn about construction sequences for curbs, asphalt paving & landscaping.

• The different types of wall and interior partitions.
• The sequence of building interior partitions.
• Different types of drywall and drywall finishes.
• The construction sequence for finishes.
• Different options for paint, flooring, ceilings and casework.
• The sequence for installing specialties and furniture options.

This course is an in-depth study about MEP and building systems, including thermal comfort, indoor air quality, HVAC controls & how plumbing, electrical & emergency distribution systems function.

• Thermal comfort.
• Indoor air quality.
• The types and major components of a mechanical system.
• The purpose of HVAC controls.
• How plumbing systems function.
• Domestic water, drain, waste and vent lines.
• Components of the electrical distribution system.
• Emergency and standby power.

Learn many details about fire suppression systems, life-safety requirements, installing elevators, building commissioning, certificate of occupancy and project closeout.

• Wet-pipe fire suppression system.
• Dry-pipe fire suppression system.
• The purpose and components of a fire alarm system.
• Fire alarm inputs, controls and outputs.
• Elevator types and construction sequencing.
• Final MEP system activities.
• The purpose of commissioning.
• The process to turnover a building and the requirements for post-occupancy.