Systems Integration Tips and Tricks

Systems Integration focuses on a designer's ability to consider other consultants and building systems while designing both a reflected ceiling plan and a subsequent lighting plan. 

Methinks this might be a leeeetle hard to plan around...

While an architect usually has a heavy hand in the ceiling design and features, it may require aesthetic input from an interior designer. As there are many trades involved once you're above eye level in a space (read: Exit signage, sprinklers, HVAC, lighting, power, and access panels to the plenum), it is important to be well-versed in the integration of every trade. This is an area of design where those involved must not only compromise often, they must be clear and communicate soundly to ensure each system is functioning efficiently. 

Systems Integration 

Time suggested: 1/2 hour

This portion of the test is my personal breather. It's the "easy" part for me where my brain isn't racing, measuring, sketching, and re-reading the program constantly. Reasons why:

• They don't make you go in cold and hunt for conflicts - they bubble them for you. After 6-7 hours of testing, this is much appreciated.
• I love comparing, checking, and considering other trades. I enjoyed it in college (my favorite class was the technical one, oddly) and I enjoy it at work. 
• I have a lot of experience in this area from my time in an architectural firm where I was designing among HVAC and sprinklers often. I worked on many RCP's, sections, and details. 
• I had a lot more exposure to the construction of and components within the plenum than I ever bargained for when I learned Revit. 
• I grew up with an architect for a father who pointed out every code violation anywhere we went. He is always looking up. I was looking at complicated reflected ceiling plans, roof plans, sections, and details asking questions. 

For all this knowledge and enjoyment, this part of the test is worth a whopping 12%.

Boo on that. 

{ TIPS }

1. The lighting schedule and legend: I've found that if you stick to 84" (7'-0") for all mounting heights, you're in the safe range.

• Pendants over a counter: 6'-6" to 7'-6" AFF  - - - - 84" OK here
• Chandelier / pendant over a table: 6'-8" to 8'-6" - - - - 84" OK Here
• Sconces on wall: between 27" and 80" must protrude less than 4"... stick above 80" at 84" and you're good.

Don't over-think this one. They're looking for compliant not creative. 

2. When tackling conflicts, I prefer not to go in numerical order. Why? Because your solution for Conflict #2 might affect Conflict #8. I go by areas or rooms with #'s nearby. It may not always be the case, but personally - it keeps me sharp. 

3. When writing your conflict descriptions, use terms like "interferes" and "conflicts with" even though it's obviously a conflict. Don't just write "recessed down light and sprinkler head." Don't assume the graders know what you mean.

4. When suggesting relocation for your solution, use north, south, east, and west to describe the direction you're recommending an item be shifted. Also, you can write "move one 2x2 ceiling tile to the north" or "shift approx. 6" to the east."

5. Be as descriptive in your drawn solution on the plan. I use arrows and my own revision clouds and I reiterate what my suggestions are there. 

6. Pay attention to ceiling heights and HVAC ducts. Use the section drawing. With the ceiling dropping down in some areas or being vaulted in others, a supply duct could be truncated before it reaches a register!

If anyone has their own trials or tips, please feel free to share in the comments below!!

More tips to come in my "How I Did" Post! 

Happy comparing!

Carolyn

Coming up...

Up this week...

Life Safety Practice Test and Results Posts

Integrated Systems and Results Posts 

I took these last week and over the weekend, but didn't post just yet! I am already on to ADA Restroom and falling behind over here. I guess focusing on my test is a good thing? Although, my repetition system has really been working:

• Review Section Requirements
• Take Old Practice Test / Refresh / Review results
• Take New Practice Test
• Review / Grade
• Blog Report

I also took a bit of a study break to visit a very good friend in New York this weekend. I was still able to do some test prep, but taking a long Saturday to enjoy myself and clear my head really helped. I think my everyday-test-prep was starting to burn me out. Once I felt like I couldn't possibly sit for another minute or take in anymore information, I knew I needed a breather. 

Don't forget to take study breaks. And most people say to just get up and walk around for 15 minutes, but this really is not enough to truly refresh and re-energize yourself.

Look for updates tonight!

Stay focused,

Carolyn

Egress Exercise - How I did!

PASS!

But... I did this with serious help from my wonderful husband and a wee learning-all-over-again-because-I-never-get-to-do-this-curve. While I know what I'm doing, I freeze on the time limit, which is (1) hour.

Staying true to my inner toddler, I stomped downstairs and begged Andrew for 20 minutes of engineer logic. 1 hour of training wheels later, he was letting me ride off into the sunset of exit stairs and dotted lines and calculations! Wee!

See a list of strategies and approaches I found helpful in completing this exercise quickly and accurately in this post! 

How I did:

• All spaces meet minimum SF requirements
• All walls drawn to columns, not mullions
• All doors recessed into spaces, so as not to protrude more than 7" into corridor
• All Rooms labeled with Name, SF, and Occupancy
• All Occupancy totals rounded UP!
• All corridors 60" and dimensioned
• All turning circles for ADA clearance placed at corridor changes of direction
• Attention paid to dead end corridors
• Diagonal drawn across space requiring 2 exits, calculation done, dimensioned doors distance from one another

Could work on:

• Pay attention to dead end corridors - mine conformed to code and so did some of the solutions... the graders marked this as wrong (?) or they just said "watch it, kid!"
• Didn't do that whole ADDING farthest path of travel to common path of travel to each stair. Oops!

Helpful to do and the grader's do look at it.

• I scribbled my little "grid block" strategy on the side of my plan
• I scribbled some calculations on the side of my plan

They say to hand in everything: trace, post-its, calculations. 

Between this review and this one, I feel a lot stronger. Repetition with plan practice is key. Using strategies that work for you is also key. I love having this blog of references, tips, and facts - it's easy to study briefly during lunch at work or on a night when I'm not feeling motivated to pull out the plans, but I want to review what I've done. After all, you can't do a test every night (unless you buy all of the practice tests!). I'm actually looking forward to my simulation test day. 

Feeling better,

Carolyn

Egress Exercise: A Smart Approach

A few strategies to keep in line with the clock...If you're like me, you know all of this but creating an accurate plan within an hour is tough!

cute calculator from anthropologie

• Before you even start, roughly determine each space's Occupancy using the provided minimum SF in the program. Doing this early on gives you an idea of which space will need two doors! HINT: it's usually the Assembly space!
• Write Space Names into chart on vellum - an on-sheet checklist!
• Using your grid lines on the plan, find the SF of (1) grid block; Divide by (2) for half block. My husband taught me this logical method!
• Next, divide the minimum SF provided for each space by (1) grid block SF to determine how many "blocks" & "half blocks" per space. This allowed me to lay out the entire floor in less than TWO MINUTES!

{ EXAMPLE }

A 1200 SF minimum cafeteria

Block SF = 325 SF

1200 / 325 = +/- 3.75 grid blocks 

• Recessed doors = 15 SF (5' wide by 3' deep) which can affect the SF of your space. If it helps, add door SF into each minimum SF before drawing out spaces so you don't risk going under the minimum. If you have a 1280 SF rectangle without your recessed doors drawn in, you can now place your 5' wide by 3' deep recess without losing 15 SF.

{ EXAMPLE }

1250 SF minimum cafeteria

1250 / 15 = 84 (>49) = (2) doors 

2 x 15 SF = 30 SF 

1250 + 30 SF = 1280 SF Min

• Sketch rough wall-lines using "blocks"created by the grid on trace paper over plan.
• Slide your trace under the vellum test sheet to trace final plan.
• Write in Space Names & Actual SF as you go.
• Add doors recessed 3'-0" in from corridor with 12" on push side and 18" on pull side (see above).
• Calculate actual Occupancy factor with your actual SF by referencing the provided Occupancy Load Chart
• Then continue with your "travel distance," "door placement and reasoning," "stair distance," and load per stair. Divide by (2) if there are (2) stairways.
• If you have an odd total divided by 2, it will look something like this:

59 / 2 = 29.5

Translate to: 29 for stair #1 and 30 for stair #2

• Remember: the total travel distances to the stairs =

farthest path of travel within the existing suite

+ 

common path of travel to each stair once in the corridor

More lessons learned in my "How I Did!" post!

Now Exiting Safely,

Carolyn

Millwork: Tips & Tricks

Requirements & Codes:

These are provided, but can't hurt to know 'em. We learned this in design school and in our careers thus far.

• 36" standing height counter
• 30-34" ADA height counter
• 27" clear height from floor to underside of counter
• 30" wide clear space below counter
• 30"x48" clear floor space at accessible counter
• Locate a required sink by hot/cold water & plumbing lines
• Label exposed pipes to be wrapped/insulated
• 4" high/deep toe kick standard 
• 9" high and 6" deep toe kick ADA
• Accessible = Barrier-Free
• Accessible wall-mounted controls (light switches, outlets, etc) @ 15" - 44" AFF
• Outlets WITHIN 36" of a water source must be GFI
• Upper open shelves above a counter must not exceed 44"

I drew a little study card for myself. 

TIPS:

• Simplify your elevation; capture the most information - ideally half of your elevation is standard and half is ADA
• Call out / label everything (upper cabinets, base cabinets, toe-kick, counter, apron, etc.)
• Include a dimension showing the intended depth of the counter (24") even though it's drawn for you to scale. 
• Don't forget to label at least (2) finish materials in detail
• Leave space for important dimensions
• Label all mounting heights with: @ # " AFF
• Meet the criteria rather than your most beautiful design intent
• Place elevation tags on plan
• Place section tag in elevation
• Make your section as detailed as possible, right down to the joinery
• Read the directions thoroughly and check off each requirement as you accomplish it
• Refer to Section 5.0 and 7.0 of the BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS

Happy Detailing,
Carolyn

Not my finest moment...

I took my Millwork Exercise of my practice test from last year. It was easy to do so with a blank vellum page as apparently I did not complete the Millwork exercise last year. I didn't even recognize the problem page. #alreadyofftoabetterstart

It turns out the best way to prepare for this portion of the test is not to study clearances and heights ahead of time - as everything you need to know is provided - but to just dive in and draw. Literally, anyone could take this test and pass. Everything - I mean everything is spelled out for you. It's actually a bit humorous. This leaves the challenge at: time. 

Here's a run-down of how my totally successful exercise went:

• Taped vellum to desk. 
• Start clock at 10:28. 
• Hands shaking whole time - not sure if it's 2 cups of coffee or anxiety?
• 25 minutes in - white out tape broke and I angrily threw it under the futon. Productive. Sane.
• 43 minutes later, break down crying and frozen. 
• 17 minutes of a therapy session with Andrew, who happen to come up right when I lost my cool and knew all of the perfect things to say.

I was so caught up in time that I psyched myself out and shut down. I also feel as though I've waste valuable time when I "fail" which just makes things worse. I need to realize that even failure is time well-spent. 

{  They're not asking you to do this....  }

Since I can't change either variable: the length of an hour nor the content of the exercise, I must practice until I'm "fast." Thing is, in real life, it would not take an hour to create a sound Laundry Room / Craft Room / Kitchen / Mail room plan, elevation, AND section. It would take about double or triple that. Or maybe half a day. Or maybe a whole day. 

Things I learned today (in no particular order):

• This is a "practice" test. 
• This is not the actual test. 
• The test is not next weekend. 
• The test is 7 weeks from today. 
• No coffee before practice test.
• Don't leave your scale at work in your pencil cup. You'll need one that's longer than 6 inches.
• You have all of the information you need.
• You are capable. 
• Remember swimming? You had to practice to get as fast as you were! (This line is epic and chock-full of relativity and perspective!)
• Slow down to speed up. 
• A bunch of ADA clearances (memorized - will help with speed!)
• What to dimension. 
• The plan is #1 on the sheet so your elevation will be #2 and section #3. 
• Design for the requirements not for beauty and perfection.
• Practice - whether it feels like it or not - will make perfect. 

Back to the drawing board .. with a wee bit more confidence.

Strength & Love, 

Carolyn

My Prep Plan

Oh, when did I say I'd share this!? Last week? Oops. 

So, here's my plan of attack. Day by day. Yeah, it seems less daunting when I break it down. Or does it seem more daunting? Either way. I'd rather be water-skiing in Maine, drinking wine in Cape May, fishing in the mountains, snorkeling in Oahu, or eating everything in Italy. Mostly, though, I'd rather be passing this exam. 

THE OFFICIAL PREP SCHEDULE

Feb 1-7 See this post for my Prep-Prep 
Feb 8 OFF
Feb 9 Review Blog 
Feb 10 Lighting Prep, ADA Restroom Prep - review old practice test (6 hours)
Feb 11 Lighting Prep (1 hour)
Feb 12 Take Lighting Exercise (1 hour)
Feb 13 Grade Lighting Exercise, document, review solutions book (2.5 hours)
Feb 14 

• Review Millwork (1 hour)
• Late dinner with my Valentine :) (2 hours)

Feb 15 Review Millwork (1 hour)
Feb 16 

• Review Millwork (1 hour) - Really 2 hours
• Review Space Planning Exercise from old test, corridors, codes, heights, restaurant design, plumbing trenches (3 hours) - Move to Feb 24
• Review Egress (1 hour) - Really 3.5 hours

Feb 17 

• Review Space Planning (continue, 2 hours)  Week of Feb 19-22
• Take Egress Exercise (1) hour
• Grade Egress Exercise and document (2 hours)

Feb 18 (President's day!)

• Take Millwork Exercise (1) hour
• Grade Millwork Exercise, Review, and document (1.5 hour) - Really 4 hours

Feb 19 

Feb 20 OFF / Blog (1 hour)

Feb 21 Review Life Safety (1 hour)

Feb 22 OFF / Blog (1 hour) (Happy birthday Laura Jane!)
Feb 23 

• Take ADA Restroom Exercise (1/2 hour)

Feb 24 

• Take Life Safety Exercise in morning (1 hour)
• Review Systems Integration again (1 hour)
• Grade Life Safety Exercise and document in evening (1.5 hours)

Feb 25 Take Systems Integration Exercise (1 hour)

Feb 26 Grade Systems Integration Exercise & document (1.5 hours)

---------- END PRACTICE TEST #1 ----------

Feb 27 OFF

Feb 28 Review Part A (2 hours)

Mar 1 OFF

Mar 2 

• Review Part B (2 hours)
• Purchase portable drafting table, drafting dots, and any other supplies
• Do mock-lighting plan (1 hour)
• Do mock-egress plan (1 hour)
• Review Blog

Mar 3

• Take Space Planning Exercise (3 hours)
• Grade Space Planning Exercise & document (2.5 hours)
• Review Blog

Mar 4 OFF

Mar 5 Do mock-Millwork plan (1 hour)

Mar 6 Do mock-ADA restroom plan (1 hour)

Mar 7 Symbols Review

Mar 8-10 OFF for Wedding / study Ballast book, articles, and blog in car (6 hours total)

Mar 11-14 Review all of above and blog

Mar 15 Wawa trip for next-morning breakfast

Mar 16 ----- TEST SIMULATION DAY -----

Mar 17 OFF

Mar 18 Grade Space Planning & Document

Mar 19 Grade Lighting & Document

Mar 20 OFF ----Birthday!!----

Mar 21 Grade Egress & Document

Mar 22 OFF
Mar 23 

• Grade Life Safety & Document (1.5 hours)
• Grade Restroom & Document (1.5 hours)
• Grade Systems Integration & Document (1.5 hours)

Mar 24 

• Grade Millwork & Document (1.5 hours)
• Study blog 

Mar 25-30 Study Blog 

Mar 31 OFF ----Happy Easter!!----

Apr 1-2 Study Blog

April 3 OFF (Happy birthday, Julie!)

April 4 OFF

April 5 OFF

April 6

-----TEST DAY-----

April 7 - OFF. No, really. I need a day of recovery and this is non-negotiable. 

Last year, I did NOT do this. Like, any of it. I think I spent about 6 Saturdays practicing. And really, I have no clue what I was actually doing - it was all a blur and I remember hating it. I skipped Andrew's first dirt bike race. And I looked at the solutions before I took the test to "teach myself" what to do. How, in any normal world, does that last part make sense?

I'm actually excited for test simulation day. I'll post about that later on! 

Love and motivation,

Carolyn

Lighting Exercise: How I Did!

(This is long, but it's my favorite post to date). :)

Source unknown, but I love this!

Last night, (Feb 12th), I took the Lighting Exercise of my first practice test. On Monday night (the 10th) and over the weekend, I studied my old practice test to refresh my knowledge. I also thought back to my Spring 2012 exam and where I had room for improvement. I did it in 1/3 of the allotted time - that's a problem!! 

After taking the test, I was seriously drained (this will get better and I will be able to handle the full 9 hour day). I helped Andrew with taxes, did a 30-day shred workout, actually washed my face before bed, and even watched part of an SNL episode before falling asleep. It felt amazing to exercise my mind, my creativity, my body, and my ability to laugh uncontrollably. I felt accomplished and HAPPY.

I sat down for exactly (1) hour. I didn't read/study before. I didn't check my work right after. I used my watch from Andrew and my Kimball Office calculator. 

TIP (day off): For your tools, bring personal items that remind you of the moment you received them, a special person, or a happy place help to set your mind at ease, relieving anxiety and providing familiar refuge. I'm using my pretty watch from Andrew and my lucky Sharpie.

TIP (prep time): Quality over quantity when it comes to test prep. Don't force yourself to sit there for 3 hours. If you can't fill the time effectively, you'll a) retain very little and b) feel disappointed and defeated if you don't make it for your goal time. Be smart with study goals. If you get one hour in and you're mind shuts down, don't force it. Take a break for 15 minutes or 15 hours. Sleep on it. And if you want to keep going even if it's late at night, embrace that!!

Here goes...

Start time: 7:47 pm

End time: 8:47 pm

This included me opening the crisply folded test vellum (2 pieces). It took me a minute alone to straighten it out! I won't need to do this on the test day as they hand you a flat set of test vellum in a HUGE Ziploc (love that!). 

TIP: Write your start time and end time in the corner of your test vellum. Not only will you remember when you started, I like to think that the graders see that you're a focused and committed candidate. I'm not saying this will cancel out the wrong stuff, but I believe if you are actually that invested in marking your time, chances are it will show in your solution.

I taped my pages to the desk and read my test booklet. Next, I determined how much wattage I was allowed by multiplying the watts/SF by the SF like I shared with you in this post.

I'd love to tell you what the space I designed the lighting plan for, but it's confidential! Though, I'll tell you one juicy detail: I was allowed 900 watts total.

TIP: Picture a real person in your life as your "client". It sounds cheesy, but it helps me focus, relieve anxiety, and feel more invested in my work.

I accomplished the following:

• Created a design solution including fixtures which provide an appropriate level of general lighting (ambient, task, accent).

• Drafted a sound switching diagram:
• Adjustable levels of illumination where required 
• Separate switching per function and per lamp source
• Graphically depicted switching connections
• Appropriately tagged all fixtures
• Properly dimensioned fixtures where required
• Properly labeled mounting heights for fixtures per egress/accessibility guidelines
• Complete lighting schedule
• Watts per SF don't exceed 1.5 W/SF

Tonight (Feb 13th), I graded my test using the Pass, Borderline Pass, and Fail examples. 

Pass - 5 problems

Borderline - 8 problems

Fail - 12 problems

I had (6) problems! I'd say I was close to Pass! Here's what I missed:

• { X } Placed (2) of (5) switches in the room behind one door of a double door **Graders say this is actually OK as one door could be fixed. I found a discrepancy in the plan on their part regarding this and another mark-down. Not getting into it, but it's very poor design! And so obvious!
• { X } I applied a 3-way switch to (2) of (3) fixtures. All three should be on the 3-way. 
• { X } Put a "D" (standard dimmer) where a "DLV" (dimmer low voltage should be) in one space (a single wall washer).
• { X } Put a "D" (standard dimmer) where a "DLV" (dimmer low voltage should be) in another space (a single down light).
• { X } Did not specify the mounting height of a pendant fixture hanging from the ceiling. Height to bottom of (b.o.) fixture is sufficient. I did indicate heights for all sconces, though!
• { X } I don't think they would have docked me for this, but I started filling in my lighting schedule with "Fixture Description" (i.e. "Recessed down light") and "Rational." Halfway through, I started omitting the "Fixture Description" and writing my own shortened version.

I feel much sharper than I was on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. This was a tremendously helpful refresher since I do not have the opportunity to do lighting plans often. I played a part in designing many lighting plans with various task/ambient/general lighting applications when I worked at a commercial firm in the city and when I was fresh out of college at a residential business. 

I really enjoyed this exercise. I have a little tear from being able to say that. 

Level of confidence: ELEVATED!

Stay bright and hopeful,
Carolyn

Nature Break

A very wise friend and I like to have fully charged batteries (I'm lookin' at you, Steph!). To charge my battery, I seek encouraging and uplifting people, fresh air, and a sense of accomplishment in each day. Yesterday, going outside to play for a few hours in the sunshine with my husband was just what I needed to make this weekend be what I looked forward to all week long...

Happy Trails,

Carolyn

Lighting Exercise Tips & Strategies

Below are my tips and strategies for creating a sound lighting plan. I may or may not have had some bit of help from my engineer of a husband. He's so grrrreat! Before we dive in to the technical stuff, an example of a very well-lit kitchen!

Source unknown,  but if you know, please comment!

 { Weight & Time }

It is recommended that you allow (1) hour for this portion. You'll need to keep track of time carefully on Part A of the Practicum:

• Space Planning Exercise (3) hours* 23%
• Lighting Exercise (1) hour 11%

*The Space Planning Exercise is chock full of requirements and can include up to 20 spaces within one 1/4" floor plan (hence why it is the most heavily weighted at 23% of the exam and requires the most time). See lesson learned here under point #2: Bring a watch or small silent clock! TIP: Take the Lighting Section FIRST so you can rest easy once you start your Space Planning. You won't be worrying about Lighting the whole time!

{ Strategy: Be a Math Wiz }

TIP: Before you begin, determine how much wattage you can use throughout the entire space.

Multiply the Energy Allowance noted in the exam booklet by the total Square Footage noted on the plan.

Energy allowance: 1.5 watts/SF

Total SF: 595 SF

1.5 x 595 = 892.5

This is the number of watts allowed for the space. TIP: Round down and aim for 892 or less. 

When selecting light fixtures and quantities, keep in mind that you'll need to take an inventory of these fixtures to multiply the total fixtures by their watts.

For example, if you are using Recessed Down-lighting with 30 W per fixture and you have placed (4) lights in the living space, (2) in the foyer, (1) in the study alcove, and (3) in the kitchen, you will multiply the total of all fixtures by 30(W).

(4) + (2) + (1) + (3) = 10 fixtures

(10) x 30 watts = 300 watts 

Subtract that from your 892 and you have 592 watts left to use in the space. Keep rough track of this as you go, but do not let it eat away your time.

{ Strategy: Know Your Time }

I (from personal practice) find that if you're well-prepared, the 60 minutes should look something like this:

• 3 minutes to read the directions (thoroughly)
• 30-35 minutes to design lighting plan/draw fixtures/switching/dimension
• 10 minutes to work on calculations/fill in the table provided
• Remaining 12-17 minutes to check your work. This last part seems like a lot, but chances are, you might have missed something in the plan below and need to re-work your fixtures and switching and possibly tweak your quantities & calculations. 

{ Strategy: Draw Accurately & Label }

TIP: Be sure to draw the symbols as they're shown in the specifications AND label them. During one of my practice exams, I just drew all circles thinking if I labeled them, they'd be okay. While in architectural world, there may be more fixtures than symbols, you wouldn't use the same circle for a pendant that you would for a recessed down light. The NCIDQ makes it easy for you by providing the symbols so use 'em! In another test, I didn't label the chandelier because it had a distinctive symbol and there was only one. But you'll get docked for that, so keep it real and l-a-b-e-l!

{ Other Tips }

TIP: While vellum is mostly clear, be sure to press down to see architectural details - I missed a sliding (not pocket) door interfering with a wall sconce because my vellum had lifted slightly and I couldn't see the lines below. 

TIP: Pay attention to sloped ceilings. This is the difference between a recessed down light and a recessed down light for sloped ceiling. This is an important distinction we're being tested to know.

TIP: Pay attention to feature walls. Use lowered (drop) track fixtures or wall washers with artwork and more COMPACT track fixtures with shelving. 

TIP: Don't forget required dimensions. Thank goodness they don't make you dimension every fixture, but the NCIDQ will ask you to dimension lighting over islands, feature walls, pieces of furniture, or bar counters.

I could go on and on with lighting rules of thumb, but well, chances are - you're a designer - and you're well-versed in what sort of lighting should be used for each function of a space. You can do it!

Stay bright,
Carolyn

Exit Signs: Useful Facts

This is a problem area for me (and likely, many designers) as it is typically done by a registered architect. However, designers should have a knowledge of exit sign symbols, locations, and regulations as it affects the safety and well-being of those occupying a given space. It also determines location of sprinklers, lighting, and other systems components. 

Note: while I would be capable of laying out a life-safety plan (even as a licensed designer), I would always have a registered architect review, approve, and alter (as fit) my layout. 

Some helpful facts

- All exit signs with a directional indicator must be placed in every location where the direction of travel to reach the nearest exit is not apparent. [NFPA 101, Section 7.10.2] 
- At each door providing access to the area of refuge
- At all exits providing an accessible mean of egress
- Where necessary to indicate clearly the direction to an area of refuge
- All doors opening to corridors, to an exit, to an exit passageway
- Within Exit Stairs, horizontal extensions in exit stairs

- There MUST be an audio/visual fire signal device located in each restroom, hallway, lobby, and general assembly area. Also, MUST be visible from any location in the room or space and MUST be mounted between 6’-8” to 7’-6" AFF. 
- The minimum number of fire extinguishers MUST be calculated based on one (1) fire extinguisher per 3000 SF
- Fire extinguishers MUST be located no more than 75’ from the furthest occupant. 
- Smoke and Heat Detector coverage MUST include all rooms, corridors and storage areas.

Sample Symbols

Now Exiting,
Carolyn

Prep-Prep

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” 

― Benjamin Franklin

I didn't plan my test prep last year. I just dove in (this approach only really works with early morning swim practice). And I ran out of practice material. Before I could order more, it was too late. I also practiced sporadically and took poor inventory of my time. This year, I'm going in with a plan. And I'm stickin' to it. 

Get it? Tape? Stickin' to it? Eh? Anyone?

Slow and Steady. Moderation. Building. Easing. There's a reason Couch to 5K takes 9 weeks. There's a little thing called "burn-out" I'm a wee familiar with...

Here's Prep-Prep Week:

Week 1 (Feb 1-7)

Friday

Stay in. For once. Work out. Then, rest. Get a good night's sleep. Watch an episode of Shark Tank to entertain your inner entrepreneur and motivate your little booty. 

Saturday

Wake up early, clean house (chores don't stop), open Ballast book. Refresh. 2.5 hours. 

Sunday

Identify where I went right/wrong. Find purpose, motivation, accountability, and organization in the form of an unplanned blog. Begin to heal tortured and ignored test-spirit. Research test bundles. Peruse last year's practice test (<-so helpful).

Monday

Order tests (baby steps)

Tuesday - Thursday

Get plan down on paper, Spend 1 hour each night reviewing last years test, gather (1) set of plans from dad (architect) and (1) set of RCP and HVAC plans from engineers who work next door. Refresh knowledge of door closers, locksets, exit sign locations and symbols, HVAC layouts, sprinkler spacing, ADA toilet stall sizes, grab bar sizes, and millwork sections. 

Friday

Off. Rest brain and sanity for a studious weekend. Fill brain with happy place images... like this one of toes in the sand...

Above, I aim to spend one hour each night. So far, since this turns out to be interesting and fun, I actually spent almost 4 hours on Tuesday night. I will try to limit myself, but if I'm on a roll, I will go with it!  

Love and Lists, 
Carolyn

NCIDQ: Practice Analysis Research Report

(Disclaimer: This post is irrelevant and boring to anyone who is not preparing to take the NCIDQ. Perhaps, People.com, Pinterest, HGTV, or Young House Love will be more enjoyable uses of your time). 

USEFUL LINK:

Refer to Appendix K and Appendix M of the Practice Analysis Report for relevant information regarding the criteria on which the NCIDQ is based (MC and Practicum). 

Codes, Building Systems, and Construction Standards
Design Application, Project Coordination & Professional Practice
Interior Design Practicum
Final Test Blueprint

(and about a billion details under each section)

I'm printing this and highlighting key areas. The book recommends to color code your strengths and weaknesses. 

Here's a link to the Publications tab on the official website:

http://www.ncidq.org/Publications.aspx

Scroll to the link at the bottom "current Practice Analysis Research Report":

*Every link and tip I share is something I've thought to be useful, something we should have learned in design school, or is readily accessible on the public site.

Happy Highlighting,
Carolyn