Zonda - Resource Library

Achieving carbon neutrality and protecting the world's water supply are vital to the AEC industry because of the significant impact buildings have on the environment and occupant health. The structures that we live, work, and commune in use a vast amount of the energy and water consumed on the planet for building operations and maintenance.

Over the past two decades more and more organizations, from private companies to federal governments, have taken steps to minimize their impact on the environment and, more recently, on society's wellbeing as a whole. This has been accomplished through sustainable building design, social accountability, and ethical economic practices. This course will discuss a Net Positive approach to design and business operations.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets the minimum requirements for newly designed and constructed or renovated state and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. When designing restrooms, some of each type of accessible plumbing fixture and restroom accessories and their installation location must meet accessibility requirements contained in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Many projects must also follow the provisions of the 2017 Edition of the ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities Standard.

As states adopt the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) into their states’ building code, the ICC A117.1-2017 Accessible Standards will become effective for existing and new buildings. Forty-six states follow the ICC A117.1-2017 Standards (all but California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Texas; who harmonize with the ADA Standards). Additionally, states such as California have accessible requirements that vary from the ADA standards and are more stringent providing greater access.

In this course, we will cover the 2010 ADA and the ICC A117.1-2017 accessibility standards. We will also point out where and how the states including California, Florida and Minnesota building codes differ from the ADA and the ICC A117.1-2017 standards. It is important that you always check the accessibility standards that apply to your project’s location.

Consumers and the design industry are taking notice of newly embraced lifestyle and workplace shifts, coupled with an increasing focus on climate change, health, and wellness. There is a more conscious effort, even a responsibility, to plan, design, and develop for well-being. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have heightened awareness of hygiene and the challenges that high-touch surfaces present, such as those found in commercial restrooms.

This course will explore v2 of the WELL Building Standard and how commercial restroom products can help designers achieve WELL v2 Certification. We will identify the plumbing industry’s role in health and wellness and how reducing water consumption in commercial restrooms impacts the health and well-being of building occupants.

As we move into a more hygiene-focused world, restroom visitors will expect clean, updated spaces that feel welcoming and safe. At the same time, barrier-free, accessible, and inclusive design is putting a greater emphasis on optimizing the planning of commercial restrooms so that they are safe, comfortable, and easy for all occupants to use. This course will discuss accessible and inclusive design considerations in commercial restrooms, including a short history of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), plumbing innovations that enable ADA compliance and inclusive design, and options for retrofitting existing restrooms for accessibility.

Read how this builder grew their reputation in the community partially because of their dedication to choosing products with proven quality and reliability. Since making the switch to CPVC, Cristo has constructed hundreds of homes without any plumbing problems, making the company one of the most trusted homebuilders in the area.

Read how this builder has earned success through their commitment to providing high-quality homes to buyers - and avoided common mistakes that left other builders open to warranty and water quality issues. Throughout their growth, Homes by WestBay has trusted FlowGuard® Gold CPVC exclusively in all their homes.

This article focuses on the risks that pipes and materials chosen can present risks to water quality themselves. Water quality can be impacted when compounds from within the pipe are released into the water, as water flows through, a process called leaching.

In this article, we’ll examine another issue that can impact residential water quality: chemical permeation. Permeation is the process by which an outside chemical passes through a pipe material resulting in water contamination.

Residential home builders have made much progress in improving air quality issues that can arise in today’s tightly built, energy efficient homes. While air quality gets the majority of the attention, there’s another potential hazard hidden in today’s homes: water quality.

If you’re a builder or a contractor, your reputation is only as good as the materials you choose. Reduce your risk and make the switch. See why FlowGuard Gold Plumbing Systems is the proven system of choice by professional plumbers.