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LEARNING CENTER
Bring practitioners, researchers and policy makers together to exchange the latest innovations for sustainable concrete design, construction and manufacturing.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION

Each session offers AIA Continuing Education and Professional Development Hours. Complete the form provided for each session to receive credits.

AWARD PROGRAM
Recognizes outstanding achievements in concrete performance and sustainability.

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SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING SESSIONS
Webinars | LIVE events

Schedule

Nov 18, 2026

11:00-13:00 eastern

SESSION 44 - NRMCA'S INDUSTRY-WIDE EPD AND ITS INFLUENCE ON POLICY LANDSCAPE

NRMCA recently published its fourth version of the Industry Average EPD and Benchmark Report, which it has maintained since 2013. This report conforms with the new concrete PCR and estimates the environmental impacts of ready-mixed concrete across a large range of compressive strengths and ratios of cement replacement by supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Version 4.0 is based on an entirely new survey of the industry, with data contributed by over 1,000 ready-mixed concrete plants, more than double the size of previous versions.

The Regional Benchmark Report is a companion document which uses the same survey data to estimate the impact of the “average” concrete mix based on survey data, for both national and multi-state regional scopes. This assists specifiers and policy makers with setting realistic, achievable benchmarks for low-carbon concrete that still drive innovation and best sustainable practices.

This session will provide an overview of the new industry-wide V4 LCA and EPD results and analysis and review the verification and reporting details. The session will also explore the influence of the IW-EPD on buy clean policy updates at the state level as well as code, standards, and rating systems such as ACI 323, ASHRAE 189.1, LEED V5, and Green Globes and regional benchmark report outlining key updates and their anticipated impact on industry.

Presented by:

James Salazar, Sustainability Director, WAP Sustainability Consulting

Kate McFeaters, Managing Director, EPD North America

Tiffany Reed-Villarreal, P.E., Director Sustainability Codes and Standards, NRMCA

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DEC 9, 2026

11:00-13:00 eastern

SESSION 45 - THERMAL CHALLENGES WITH WALL SYSTEMS AND ENVELOPES USING ICF CONSTRUCTION

Exterior wall systems play a critical role in building appearance as well as sustainability and energy performance. Insulating Concrete Form walls combine reinforced concrete for strength and durability and expanded polystyrene insulation for energy efficiency. ICFs differ from traditional concrete construction; the forms remain in place after the concrete is cured to provide thermal insulation. This session will review how buildings ignite and and how they manage heat. The presentation will examine ignition pathways in both WUI and community-scale fires, assess how wall systems like ICF perform under radiant exposure, and recognize the role of adjacent components. They also explore key thermal-enclosure metrics - R-value, U-value, and continuous insulation - and identify thermal-bridging sources and mitigation strategies to improve overall envelope performance.

Learning objectives:

Explain the mechanisms of ignition -embers, radiant heat, and direct flame - and differentiate how these pathways dominate under traditional WUI exposure versus dense-community conflagration conditions.
Evaluate how various wall system types, including concrete-based systems such as ICF, perform under radiant heat exposure and identify the interfaces and adjacent components that ultimately govern structure survivial during high-intensity fire events.
Describe key thermal-enclosure performance metrics - including R-value, U-value, and continuous insulation - and explain how they influence energy efficiency and occupant comfort in commercial and residential buildings.
Identify common sources of thermal bridging and evaluate practical strategies for mitigating their impact to improve overall building-envelope performance.