Commercial Flooring Education

Armstrong is a proud Registered Provider of AIA/CES, IDCEC and GBCI approved programs.

Armstrong is pleased to offer you a series of FREE continuing education courses. All Armstrong Flooring courses are AIA-approved, IDCEC CES-approved and many are GBCI approved to help you earn learning units towards your professional memberships.Contact Your Armstrong Flooring Representative to schedule a presentation for you and your colleagues.

Available Courses

Biophilic Design and Flooring

Human health and wellness are increasingly important design elements for buildings and spaces and biophilia can play and vital role. This program will introduce the principles of biophilic design, review scientific evidence supporting biophilic design and explore how biophilic design relates to flooring.

• Define the concept of biophilia in relation to human health
• Explain how the patterns of biophilic design impact health and well-being
• Describe how biophilic design applies to wellness criteria in green building rating systems
• Describe how biophilic design applies to flooring

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Health, Wellness and Specifying LVT

Human health and wellness and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) are increasingly important design elements for building spaces. This course explores the intersection of these two design trends, provides insight into specifying LVT that achieves WELL Building Standard® Features and has been approved by the IDCEC, AIA for HWS  and the Green Business Certification Institute for WELL AP credit.

• Define WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) and LVT and its unique performance attributes
• Describe LVT attributes and how they align with WELL Building Standard Features
• Identify key LVT selection criteria when health and wellness are project objectives
• Describe how LVT contributes to the WELL Building Standard (WELL)

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Flooring & Building Energy Use

This seminar is designed to frame the concept of light reflectance and to provide you with an understanding of how this concept can impact your design and the energy use associated with a project’s design. 

• Describe light reflectivity as a physical property of materials
• Explain how flooring contributes to building energy use  and sustainable building design
• Describe the sustainability benefits of light reflectivity
• Identify LEED credits related to energy, light reflectivity and flooring

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Flooring & Acoustics: The Role of Flooring in Room Acoustics

Flooring & Acoustics: The Role of Flooring in Room Acoustics describes the  fundamental properties of sound and how acoustical design impacts indoor environmental quality (IEQ). The role of acoustics in green building rating systems will be described and examples comparing acoustical design criteria in LEED 2009 and LEED® v4 will be reviewed.

• Describe fundamental properties of sound and how sound propagates within buildings
• Describe impact of acoustical design on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in green buildings, including new LEED® v4 acoustical design criteria
• Explain the importance of acoustical design to human health and well being  sustainability strategies
• Identify design drivers for acoustics

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RESILIENT FLOORING OPTIONS FOR THE  SPECIFIER

Review the history, development, raw materials, different types, standards, and performance characteristics of resilient floor products.

• Discuss the reasons for using resilient flooring
• Discuss the ASTM specifications for resilient flooring
• List the applications for resilient flooring
• List the differentiators of linoleum and vinyl flooring

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CONCRETE SUBFLOORS TO RECEIVE RESILIENT FLOORING

Includes information on sub-base design, sources of moisture, how to measure slab vapor emissions, the proper use of vapor retarders, good concrete mix design, measurement of slab flatness and levelness, joint treatments, and curing compounds and sealers.

• Discuss the reasons why floors fail
• Discuss the importance of subfloor preparation
• List the various methods of moisture testing
• Discuss the options when moisture testing fails

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MAINTENANCE OF COMMERCIAL RESILIENT FLOORING

An investigation into commercial resilient flooring maintenance practices and products, including sealers, polishes, cleaners, strippers, floor machines, walk-off mats, and entrance grating with an emphasis on stain removal, prevention of soiling and wear, and the role that proper maintenance plays in lessening the chances for slips and falls.

• Discuss the maintenance program and its role in supporting a clean and healthy environment
• Identify the key considerations when choosing the right maintenance program for commercial resilient flooring
• Describe the different types of maintenance programs
• Discuss the maintenance life cycle to maintain commercial resilient flooring

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SPECIFYING COMMERCIAL HARDWOOD FLOORING

This program is a review of the important elements to consider when specifying a commercial hardwood floor which include: structure, construction, species, visuals, color, edges/ends, finishes, surface texture, grading, installation systems. Architectural guidelines will be reviewed.

• Evaluate the best flooring application
• Discuss the elements of selecting a hardwood floor
• List the installation options
• Specify the appropriate hardwood flooring choice for a given commercial application

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THE LIVING COLORS OF LINOLEUM

This program is a review of the history of linoleum, characteristics of linoleum, market information, manufacturing processes, linoleum’s impact with LEED and CA 1350, as well as installation and maintenance considerations.

• Discuss the characteristics and considerations of linoleum.
• Specify linoleum in appropriate spaces.
• Specify proper installation and maintenance for linoleum.
• Evaluate how linoleum can contribute to LEED points.
• Examine how linoleum works within the CA 01350 guidelines for indoor air quality.

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SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: PRINCIPLES AND PRATICES FOR INTERIOR SPACES

• Define sustainability and describe how environmental issues such as climate change, water, wood products management and indoor air quality relate to green buildings
• Discuss how building design practices can positively impact environmental outcomes
• Discuss the basic requirements of the LEED Rating System and how these requirements relate to green building design
• Discuss how the interior products you use can help achieve your sustainability objectives
• Describe specific environmental claims, labeling and certification

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WAY FINDING FLOORING STRATEGIES

Explore the answer to the question: “How do individuals navigate through space: using color and design directional cues, space definition & functionality, and safety indicators. Discuss the financial value of utilitzing wayfinding strategies in a space and the impact that wayfinding strategies has on communicating a well organized and professional facility.

• Identify Wayfinding challenges
• Identify ways to mediate Wayfinding challenge
• Discuss ways in which floor color can be used to aid in Wayfinding
• Discuss ways in which floor design can be used to aid in Wayfinding

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USING DESIGN TO IMPROVE THE VISUAL PERFORMANCE OF YOUR FLOOR

Learn how to use color, design and pattern to help the visual performance of the floor. Review the questions need to be asked before making a flooring selection for your space. Discuss how you can use flooring as an effective design element.

• Identify potential flooring hotspots
• List the fact finding questions that are necessary to ask before making flooring selections
• Identify visual flooring design options
• Discuss floor patterning options that can improve your installations

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INSTALLATION OF COMMERCIAL RESILIENT FLOORING

We will discuss proper subfloor preparation, components of a successfull installation which include jobsite conditions, product acclimation for tile, sheet and linoleum, tools for the job, review ASTM F 710 guidelines, and discuss installation methods for heat welding, coving, inside and corners and wall base installation.

• Discuss components of a successful installation
• Discuss importance of subfloor preparation
• Discuss the importance of using the required tools and adhesives for each product as recommended by the manufacturer
• Discuss the appropriate installation and seaming methods for tile, linoleum and sheet products

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EVIDENCE BASED DESIGN AND FLOORING

Discuss how Evidence Based Design (EBD) is defined in the healthcare industry and the impact it has on the bottom line. Discuss the benefits of incorporating EBD into your projects. Review the credible research that prove these benefits of EBD in Healthcare and real world examples. We will discuss how EBD applies to color in Healthcare and the measurable results.

• Define Evidence Based Design (EBD)
• Discuss the healthcare benefits of EBD
• Illustrate ways EBD can be used in flooring design
• Analyze how EBD applies to color and flooring choice in healthcare

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SUSTAINABLE FLOORING SYSTEMS

• Describe flooring attributes that contribute to Green Building Rating Systems
• Identify other sustainability attributes associated with Flooring systems
• Discuss how flooring contributes to the indoor environment
• Explain what makes a flooring system sustainable

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MATERIAL IMPACTS CHANGES IN LEED V4

• Describe differences between LEED V3 and LEED V4 related to materials
• Identify credits that have been removed and added to LEED V4
• Explain why changes were made in LEED V4
• Explain how LEED V4 is driving innovation and market transformation

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