Sim Day Results: Millwork

I did not like this exercise!  But despite my personal aversion, I passed. I guess I need to explain why on that first statement... not that it will help you or me pass. This exercise was more of a test in furniture design, rather than millwork. It's not unlike millwork, but this seems to be another part of the test to have evolved since 2010. 

Need inspiration? This is a great piece of student work by a student in Florida (link here), which shows a wide range of detail and ADA compliance. It is NOT an NCIDQ test. Click image for larger view.

Something I didn't know: You can draw more than one elevation if it helps convey your design intent/ADA compliance. However, I've never needed to do this on the newer exams.

{ Room for Improvement }

• I don't know if this is incorrect, but I indicated the 30X48 clearance at the accessible portion of the counter as "side approach". The toe kick and counter height were compliant, but I saw the other solutions literally left room under the surface for knee/foot room - a.k.a. totally open. 
• I missed a few "depth" dimensions in my section (counter and transaction counter). 
• Again, not sure if this is wrong, but I only provided one elevation and it was of the front of the piece (approach/welcome side). It conveyed accessibility, relationship between height of transaction counter and ADA height surface, toe-kick height, counter thickness, materials, and front design (which seemed to be emphasized in the program). I showed the section of this, which as a section should, went into more detail on ADA vs. standard components and construct-ability.

I think this 2010 PDP continues to confuse me more than help me... Sadly. 

Keep Going,

Carolyn

Sim Day Results: Systems Integration

Today's Sim Day Results comes in the form of a few tips/reminders, rather than a list of rights and wrongs. This pretty much sums up my common mistake with this exercise. I only got one wrong, so I'm thinking I passed ;) 

TIP: Don't forget the P of MEP! Most of the problems in this exercise will have to do with the ceiling, but in a rare (and possibly phased-out) instance, we must look down. Conflicts with plumbing trenches and structural portions of the floor may arise. In addition to looking down, reference the building section provided. 

TIP: As I shared in this post, it's very important to use the building section provided. You might not need to solve every problem, but there will definitely be one or two which will prove difficult without it. See below. 

{ What the section clarifies }

Structural beams, joists, and columns (Sizes and locations)
What this means: you cannot run a duct, sprinkler line, or plumbing trench through these solid (usually concrete or steel) building components.

Ceiling height changes 
What this means: If a ceiling pops up, you cannot run duct work at the same height or it would continue through the wall and *exposed* across the pop-up. Same goes for sprinkler lines. If a beam is running across your ceiling plan, the section might also show this - it would be the opposite of a pop-up and because it's structural, you still cannot run components through it (see above).

Happy Prepping,
Carolyn

Millwork Exercise: How I Did!

PASS!

MILLWORK EXERCISE

(1) Hour is Recommended for this Portion

I used my entire hour for this exercise and was feeling great until I realized I only had 14 minutes to create my section. Eeep! I did pretty well despite. Before taking this, I reviewed last year's practice test and pooled some problems I remembered from my actual test day so I was more careful and knowledgeable going in.

The Right Stuff:

• Divided the counter as shown (standard and ADA), dimensioned the depth on the plan, provided adequate knee-space per the program for each user.
• Met all ADA codes for clearance below the worksurface, proper height, met 44" maximum reach height for wall-mounted receptacles and shelves.
• Met all program requirements for the components and sizes. 
• Drew Elevation marker in plan.
• Drew Section marker in elevation.
• Correctly dimensioned/labeled the standard height counter and the ADA height.

Oops, missed these:

• Did not dimension mobile peds (one test-taker was marked down for this, another was not) in plan.
• I drew a dashed rectangle indicating clear space for accessible pull-up but I drew it too large at 42x48 instead of 30x48. Even though I know this, I shouldn't have made it bigger than the minimum.
• I did not place a "2" and a "3" in my elevation & section titles (below the plans). Um, how easy is that!?
• I didn't include the wall and blocking within the wall in my *hurried* section.
• I didn't include the depths of the shelves and the counter in my *hurried* section.

This is a shot of my "practice sketch"

{ TIPS }

• I took some time to draw a "perfect" section and I've been studying it. I did it carefully and thoroughly and it didn't take much time. I'm sure if I did it again and again, the practice would make me speedier. I plan to draw this a few more times until I'm fast.
• Think like a contractor - what information would you need to build this? right down to the blocking in the wall. When we hang heavy pictures, mount a toilet tissue holder, or install brackets for shelves, we make sure to hit a stud rather than half-inch GWB.
• Give way more information than you think is necessary. Chances are its still not enough!
• I know it's not required, but poche-ing and hatching my section really helped me to show the different materials and "cut line". It also looks like a true section that way! 

Yours in detail,

Carolyn