Building Design and Maintenance: Required in the

If you are involved in the repair and replacement of structural items such as floors, ceilings, interior walls, and windows, you need a basic understanding of building design, materials, codes, regulations, and structural systems and finishes. You also need to be familiar with maintenance procedures and equipment, grounds maintenance, and preventive maintenance, as well as construction documents. In this course, you will cover the characteristics, uses, and properties of common building materials, as well as building regulations, codes, and standards. You will learn to compare building system components and to identify appropriate inspection and maintenance techniques. You will develop the knowledge to establish procedures and standards for monitoring building operations, preventive maintenance, and cleaning. You will also learn to read and use construction documents, studying from a textbook that features a set of drawings and an architect’s pocket scale. Featuring helpful new illustrations and current resources, such as governmental and industry websites, this course can help you design and maintain sound, safe buildings.

Major topics covered in this course:
  • Common building materials and systems in building foundations
  • Curtain walls
  • Windows
  • Roofing systems
  • Interior finishes
  • Flooring, interior walls, and ceilings
  • Vertical transportation
  • Grounds maintenance and inspection
  • The reading, scaling, interpretation, care, and use of construction documents
You will take away these key concepts and skills:
  • The knowledge necessary to maintain efficient and cost-effective building systems
  • A greater familiarity with building materials and structural components
  • The skills needed to read, understand, and use construction documents — with a sample included
  • A clearer understanding of how a structure functions, and your role in maintaining it effectively

ACE credit recommendation: 2 semester hours, upper division baccalaureate