ExAC Podcast | Examitect

ExAC Podcast | Examitect

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ExAC Podcast | Examitect episodes

  • S3 | EP039 - Insulation: The Main Types
    Loose fill, spray foam, rigid boards, batts, mineral wool, and fibreglass all have places where they make sense. We introduce the main insulation families and compare how they are installed and used. Performance, fire behaviour, and moisture become the questions to keep in mind when choosing between materials that may look similar on a schedule.
    4 min
  • S3 | EP038 - Wood Framing and Its Vocabulary
    Knowing the names of framing components makes drawings and site conversations easier to follow. We introduce the vocabulary of wood-frame construction and why it remains useful even if your main work is in other building types. The episode also points to the importance of Canadian references when similar terms vary between sources and regions.
    4 min
  • S3 | EP037 - Mixing Materials in One System
    A single structural assembly can bring masonry, steel, wood, and concrete together. We follow a mixed-material example and look at how one part hands its load to the next. The choice also involves availability, cost, and timing, showing why the most interesting material decisions often happen at the connections between systems.
    4 min
  • S3 | EP036 - Pre-Stressed and Post-Stressed Concrete
    Prestressing changes the forces inside a concrete member before it carries its full working load. We look at tensioned steel cables and the distinction between stressing before and after the concrete is placed. The discussion explains the idea behind the process and how it helps concrete perform in situations where ordinary reinforcement may be less efficient.
    4 min
  • S3 | EP035 - Pre-Cast and Tilt-Up Concrete
    Concrete can arrive as a finished component instead of being poured in its final position. We explore precast members, tilt-up panels, and the connections that bring them into the building. The episode also considers the appeal of controlled production and the practical planning needed when large pieces have to be transported, lifted, and assembled on site.
    4 min
  • S3 | EP034 - Cast-in-Place Concrete: Formwork and Curing
    Cast-in-place concrete is made where it will stay, and that brings formwork, sequencing, and curing into the picture. We look at the moulds that hold the wet material, including climbing systems, and the time needed before the next stage. The discussion connects construction speed to the properties the concrete needs to develop.
    4 min
  • S3 | EP033 - Retaining Walls and Slabs
    A retaining wall and a floor slab face different loads, but both rely on putting strength where it is needed. We explore how each element works and how its shape and reinforcement respond. Reading the direction of the load becomes a useful way to understand the detail instead of treating it as a shape to memorise.
    4 min
  • S3 | EP032 - How Rebar Sits Inside Concrete
    Reinforcing bars need to be in the right place inside the concrete to do their job. We look at bar arrangements, cover, chairs, ties, and laps, connecting the pieces to the forces they support. The discussion turns the hidden cage inside a member into a system you can recognise on a drawing or during construction.
    4 min
  • S3 | EP031 - Reading Structural Steel
    A short steel designation can tell you several useful things about a member. We look at common structural shapes, the ways steel pieces are joined, and how to read a label for shape, depth, and weight. For the architect, that information also helps reveal the space the structure will take within a coordinated building section.
    4 min
  • S3 | EP030 - Concrete and Reading Rebar
    Concrete arrives with properties that need to be checked, and reinforcement arrives with markings you need to understand. We introduce the slump test, concrete strength, and the shorthand used to identify reinforcing bars. The episode connects familiar site materials to the information shown in documents, helping you recognise what has actually been specified.
    4 min

About ExAC Podcast | Examitect

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Prepare for all four sections of the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC) with the Examitect Podcast. Each episode breaks down official ExAC objectives into clear, easy-to-understand concepts…