Specification CPD from RIBA-approved Providers

Physical security measures are used across a wide range of environments, each with its own requirements and challenges. This presentation explores the key principles of perimeter security and provides a practical overview of the products and systems commonly used to protect different types of sites. You will gain insights into what to consider when specifying fencing and gates, the common pitfalls to avoid, and how to select solutions that are both effective and appropriate for the project context.

This CPD session provides architects, designers, healthcare planners, and estates professionals with a comprehensive understanding of ceiling hoist systems and their critical role in creating safe, efficient, and future‑proof care environments.Drawing on real‑world insights from healthcare, rehabilitation, acute care, and specialist settings, the session explores how well‑designed patient handling infrastructure supports clinical outcomes, reduces musculoskeletal injuries, and improves staff workflow. The session demystifies the differences between mobile hoists, fixed single‑rail systems, and full room‑covering XY solutions, highlighting the architectural implications, structural requirements, and long‑term operational benefits of each option.Attendees will learn how early design decisions affect room layouts, ceiling coordination, structural load paths, door transfer solutions, and integration with M&E services. Using comparative studies and evidence‑based research, the CPD demonstrates how ceiling‑mounted hoists significantly reduce transfer times, strain, and the risk of injury, while enhancing patient dignity and supporting modern models of care such as early mobilisation, bariatric support, and rehabilitation‑focused treatment.The session also covers practical design considerations, including ceiling obstacles, load-bearing strategies, BIM coordination, rail profiles, system configurations, remote monitoring, digitalisation, infection control, and long‑term maintenance planning. Case studies from UK hospitals, SEND schools, theatres, imaging suites, and community care environments illustrate best practice and common pitfalls.By the end of this CPD, participants will understand how to confidently specify ceiling hoist systems that are safe, compliant, flexible, and aligned with future care needs, ultimately enabling environments that deliver “more time to care”.

This CPD explores the technical, environmental, and regulatory dimensions of living wall systems — giving architects the knowledge to specify, detail, and manage them with confidence.The session covers system design and construction, environmental performance data including thermal insulation and whole-life carbon, and how living walls contribute to planning and sustainability frameworks including the Urban Greening Factor, BREEAM, Biodiversity Net Gain, and LEED.Compliance topics include fire performance classification, Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations Category 5 requirements, and rainwater harvesting. The session closes with practical guidance on maintenance planning, access strategy, and setting client expectations for long-term performance.All performance data is drawn from peer-reviewed research. The session is designed to support specification decisions at RIBA Stages 2–4.

Discover how tensile systems achieve maximum performance with lightweight and high strength material. This RIBA Approved CPD session examines the role of composite flexible fabrics that create expressive and efficient tensile structures. Explore the principles, materials and detailing behind tensile architecture, from early design intent through to fabrication and installation. This CPD brings together architects, designers, fabricators and installers to examine how tensioned structures deliver elegant, efficient and buildable solutions at every stage of a project.

As environmental noise continues to affect communities, planning, and the built environment, choosing the right acoustic barrier has never been more important. In this guide, we explore how environmental noise arises, how it travels, and the legislation designed to control it. We also examine its impact on landscapes and planning decisions.You’ll gain clear insights into the factors that influence barrier performance, the range of available solutions, and the advantages and limitations of each option. By the end, you will be equipped with the knowledge needed to specify effective, long lasting acoustic barriers that deliver meaningful noise reduction.

This CPD explores the essential role of subfloor preparation and adhesive systems in achieving safe, durable and compliant floor constructions. It focuses on the “architecture beneath” the floor finish, explaining how primers, damp proof membranes, smoothing compounds and adhesives work together as an interdependent system influencing performance, safety and longevity.The session highlights the most common causes of flooring failure, including moisture, incompatibility, poor surface preparation and incorrect sequencing, and explains how these can be prevented through appropriate testing, specification and documentation. It also covers substrate assessment, moisture testing in line with relevant British Standards, and the selection of suitable moisture control systems where required.Key regulatory considerations are addressed, including Approved Documents A, B, C and M, CDM 2015 and the Building Safety Act 2022. The CPD outlines designers’ responsibilities in ensuring compliance, maintaining the “golden thread” of information, and specifying systems that do not compromise structural fire performance, accessibility or durability.Additional topics include adhesive selection and compatibility, underfloor heating interfaces, programme sequencing, and sustainability considerations such as low-VOC materials and whole-life performance.By the end of the session, participants will understand how to specify compliant, compatible flooring systems, reduce the risk of failure, and support safe, sustainable and well-performing buildings.

OverviewAs the built environment moves towards net zero, greater focus is being placed on the cumulative impact of the carbon embedded in construction materials — including paint and coatings.Paint and coatings are often overlooked, yet they contribute to embodied carbon, maintenance cycles and indoor air quality.This seminar explores how more informed specification decisions can reduce lifecycle carbon while supporting durability and long-term performance.What you’ll learnWhere carbon is embedded within paint formulationsThe difference between embodied and lifecycle carbon How VOC content relates to carbon and indoor air quality The role of durability in reducing long-term emissions How specification choices impact maintenance, cost and waste Learning outcomesBy the end of the session, you will be able to:Identify key carbon drivers in paint and coatings Make more informed, lower carbon specification decisions Balance durability with lifecycle impact Align finish specifications with wider sustainability goals

This CPD provides an overview of best practice in the design and construction of tiled swimming pools, with particular reference to relevant British and European Standards. It covers key pool types and construction methods, substrate preparation, levelling and screeding, waterproofing systems, tile fixing materials, grouts, and movement joint detailing. The session highlights common causes of failure and explains how correct specification, material selection, and installation sequencing can improve durability, safety, and long-term performance in both pools and associated surround and spa areas. The presentation lasts for approximately 45 minutes and viewers should achieve a greater understanding of tiled pool design, construction methods and appropriate selection of materials.

The aim of this CPD is to address the sanitary accommodation requirements laid out in Approved Document M Volume 2, which provides guidance on meeting the needs of Part M of the UK Building Regulations, with regards to accessibility in buildings other than dwellings. It covers the type of buildings affected, locations in the building, layouts, specific product specification requirements and surrounding finishes. importantly the CPD also looks at the role of new Part T of the Building Regulations and Approved Document T in the design of accessible WC facilities.

Considerations for designing an accessible bathroom - the 6 steps to a well planned and compliant project delving into layout considerations, compliance, product specification and selection. An in-depth look at bathing, showering, washing and hoisting product features. If you design bathrooms in Care Homes or within Home Adaptations, this session will help to upskill you, and give in-sight to the range of products available and layout considerations for each.

This CPD provides analysis of timber frame construction, when it is appropriate and a comparison against masonry in areas such as flexibility, speed, engineering, energy efficiency and sustainability. The training then explores the process through design to completion and covers areas such as SAP, fire mitigation and differential movement.

This CPD will look at how to deliver speed, sustainability, and precision by using advanced closed panel technology.From this CPD delegates will:Understand the principles and benefits of factory injected closed panel building systems.Identify the key features and performance characteristics of advanced closed panel systems.Evaluate the sustainability credentials of injected closed panels and its contribution to achieving net-zero targets.Identify various building typologies and understand the design flexibility.Appreciate the speed and efficiency advantages of offsite construction using injected closed panels.Understand the technical specifications and installation process of advanced closed panel systems.Recognise the quality control and assurance measures implemented in the manufacturing process.Explore the integration with other building systems and technologies.

This CPD introduces new regulations for school buildings and discusses how they affect the selection of sports and multi-purpose floors for new build and refurbishment school buildings.

This CPD provides a clear, practical introduction to smoke behaviour, smoke control measures, and how smoke ratings are applied within modern building design.Attendees will gain a solid understanding of how smoke moves through a building, and why controlling smoke spread is essential for life safety and safe evacuation.The session breaks down the key standards and regulations that govern smoke control—such as BS EN 1634‑3, and Approved Document B. By the end of the CPD, attendees will feel more confident in the smoke control specification, and its relation to fire ratings. The session is designed to give clear, actionable insights.

This CPD presentation explains the requirements, standards, and possibilities for using fire‑resistant timber flooring in fire escape routes and protected stairways. 

This session provides an overview of the implications of the Future Homes Standard on heating systems for those designing buildings and specifying building services.UK building regulations are evolving to reduce both embodied carbon and carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency in new developments, whilst creating healthier built environments. Whilst standards are performance based rather than technology specific, the changes do make certain technologies (such as heat pumps, MVHR and solar) much more likely to be required to achieve compliance.In this short online or in-person session we take you through what the changes are and how you need to adapt your thinking and design to accommodate them and provide the most cost effective and practical solutions to meet the regulations.