Sim Day Results: ADA Washroom

ADA Washroom is another easy-breezy section for me. Along with Systems Integration, I find it's less intense than Space Planning, Egress, and Life Safety. It's 30 minutes and it's pretty straightforward. It's always a men's restroom (as we must know urinal clearances) and it almost always has the exact same requirements. Below is a breakdown, not my actual results. Results follow and they're boring because I only missed one dimension.

{ The Deets }

• (1) Accessible min 60 x 60 toilet stall with 36W grab bar behind the toilet, a 42W grab bar beside the toilet, a 60" turning radius, side access, a 36W door, and dimensions/tags of all; door swings out.
• (1-2) Standard toilet stalls 36W by 48D with a 30W min door or a 32W door, dims to center-line of toilet and indication of the width and depth; door swings out.
• (1-2) Standard urinals tagged and dimensioned; TIP: min space between two urinals center-line to center-line is 32".
• (1) Accessible urinal tagged/dimensioned and a 30 x 48 clear wheelchair space.
• A degree of privacy from door sight line, screens between each urinal
• Tag all fixtures
• Fill in fixture schedule provided like this one
• Fill in finish schedule for substrate and finish:
• Cement backer board
• Ceramic tile (if you want to get fancy, glazed ceramic tile or glazed ceramic subway tile are also acceptable)

TIP: My dad's an architect - so I'm often calling him with questions. I was chatting with him about the ADA Washroom exercise and he said (which may be obvious to others and it's how I've been doing it, but still a good reminder!) to start with the ADA toilet stall in the corner and work your way over with the remaining space. 

[ start at wall furthest from door -> 60 x 60 -> 1.5 panel -> 36 x 48 -> 1.5 panel -> 36 x 48 -> 1.5 panel -> 16-18" to cL of urinal -> 1.5 privacy screen -> 16-18" to cL of next urinal -> 1.5 privacy screen -> 16-18" to cL of ADA urinal -> 1.5 privacy screen ]*

*this is just an example. Your actual test requirements for quantities of stalls/urinals may vary. 

I did very well on the 2010 PDP which I used for my Sim Day. However, the test is formatted differently now. All clearances were shown, tags added, and dimensions to fixtures. I saw one example where a candidate didn't tag any of her fixtures, but labeled a few. It was still a passing solution.

Good luck,

Carolyn

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

Sim Day Results: Egress

Grade: Borderline Pass

How I felt during: A little confused at first, but determined

Why confused? I couldn't figure out what the furthest travel distance was in the existing space and I was taking a ton of time trying to measure different routes. Well, it didn't matter anyway, because along with all THREE solution examples, I got it wrong. In fact, I still disagree and I'm sure many other candidates would as well. Another pre-revamp, I suppose. Also, the restrictions really left only one reasonable layout, which took me a while to figure out. 

{ How I Did }

• I chose the incorrect "furthest common path of travel" in the existing suite. (All three examples also got this wrong and 2 passed despite)
• Because of the above, my calculations for Travel Distance to Stair 1 and Travel Distance to Stair 2 were off, but correct for what I had. (Again, still doesn't constitute a failing solution)
• Where I would say I tipped into Borderline Pass was this: I miscalculated my Occupancy for one of the 4 suites, which affected my occupancy load per stair.

2287 SF / 50 (Exercise Room) = 46

I *somehow off in la-la-land* got 12...

However, I noticed this same mistake on several sample tests and graders would note that despite a math error, if the candidate still demonstrated knowledge of how to actually apply the correct method of determining load per stair, they were not automatically FAILED.

Now, combine these errors... I don't know what to take away as far as correct grading, but I will learn from it!

I am happy that I have overcome the hurdles of laying out my spaces and understanding the difference between "common path of travel" and "distance to stair 1 & 2."

Now exiting, 

Carolyn

Sim Day Results: Life Safety

Grade: PASS

How I felt during: Strong, efficient, and thorough

{ How I did }

Door/Frame/Hardware Schedule 

(26/28 Selections Correct)

• Got my door heights right this time! All 7'-0"
• Used HM (Hollow Metal) for a storage room door, and SCW (Solid Core Wood) for all others
• Kept it consistent: AL (Aluminum) frames for all
• Kept it consistent: Same door type for all single doors, with the exception of one double door (no visibility requirements)
• Rated all doors requiring it to 20 minutes (not one hour!)
• I selected 2 of 4 locksets incorrectly. Bummer. Well, really - who knows if they could be right? The solutions are not helpful. I'd love to learn this!!
• (X) One was for a rated storage room (TIP: greater than 100 SF must be rated) requiring controlled access. I selected a Lever Passage Set with Maglock and Card Reader. Correct: Lever Passage Set with Maglock, Closer, and Card Reader. TIP: Rated doors (like this one) require a closer. 
• (X) For a rated assembly space, I specified: Lever Passage Set with Closer. Correct: Lockset with Panic Bar and Closer.**
• **Still not sure why a panic bar is required in a training room. Panic bars are typically required on exits from a tenant space, doors to stairways, and exits from stairways/buildings. Anyone know for sure?

Partition Schedule 

(14/15 Selections Correct)

• (X) I got everything right except a Conference Room wall with acoustical properties needed to extend to the deck not 4" above finished ceiling; TIP: Acoustical = to deck. 

Plan

• (X) Missed an Exit sign
• (X) Drew arrows on an exit sign in the wrong direction

I will be featuring a post this week titled "Hardware: Rules of Thumb." I'm determined to get this right!!!

Luck with locks,

Carolyn

Sim Day Results: Space Planning

Take 1. Grade: Borderline Pass
Take 2. Grade: Pass

Here are some sketches on trace... TIP: Embrace color! Color-code your program requirements. Highlight key points. Draw duplex symbols in the room chart where they're required so you don't forget!

I break this exercise down into THREE phases (not unlike the Process of Design):

1. Conceptual - After reading the program, Develop 3-4 Adjacency/Bubble Diagrams (as close to scale as you can, draw loose squares/circles for spaces) placing required spaces in different layouts that work. Then, still in the conceptual phase, develop them further - if you choose 1 of your 4 layouts, sketch what I call a "Detailed Bubble Diagram" in which you start to sketch straight walls ROUGHLY. Then, move on to #2.
2. Soft-to-hard line drawing. Place your walls, doorways, millwork, and plumbing using pencil. This is a critical phase where you're scaling each space per required square footage. You might run into "reality checks" here, where you're rough layout from #1 might not fit as perfectly as you envisioned. During this phase, you're sketching in big furniture, etc. to make sure they fit (and fit well!!). 
3. Dimensions & Details. This is where I transition from pencil to extra-fine-point black Sharpie. I've established my walls and I can confidently solidify my drawing. Once walls are set, I add room names and SF. During this phase, I'm drawing in all required FFE, adding my WC turn-circles, dimensions, electric, appliances, details, and notes. 

This exercise is 3 hours, but while it might make sense to spend 1 hour per phase above, it doesn't always work out that way. Sometimes I've only spent 30 minutes on Phase one, which might not have been enough because Phase 2 would take the next 1.5 hours - me fixing problems stemming from a hasty start.

{ The Most Turrrrible Layout }

You might have noticed above that I took this twice. Exactly one week apart. Why? Because I HATED my first plan. It was compliant, met the program requirements, and only had about 6 omissions & errors, but it was terribly laid out. I felt I needed more practice in space planning in an empty space. Normally, I'm partially planning the space. And I'm almost never aware of a plumbing trench (not because I don't care about it, but because laying out offices, conference rooms, and workstations rarely involves kitchens/bathrooms). 

{ Take 1 }

• Did not label built-in bookshelves, just drew 'em. 
• One of my doors was less than 36"W.
• My storage room was long and narrow and not truly functioning efficiently, even though the SF was met.
• The program stated "storage nightstands" and I just drew circles. I didn't draw drawers/knobs, nor did I label it as "storage". I might be a little strict here as I did not notice others being marked off for this. 
• I did not include single-pole hanging in a closet. Hello? A woman's closet needs hanging space for long dresses! My own closet ONLY has single pole storage!
• My master bathroom is super long and narrow. And while it meets the requirements, I would certainly mark me down for it.

{ Take 2 }

• Missed a dimension designating the width of my corridor. 
• Did not label the wall-mounted mirror in the Master Bathroom.
• Did not label my pantry shelving. 

NCIDQ isn't looking for the perfect and ideal floor layout. They're looking for ADA compliant, accurate SF, somewhat sensible layout, adjacency attention, dimensions, details, notes, and properly scaled FFE, etc. However, while I'm not determined to provide some award-winning floor plan, I find that the layout takes the longest for me. Hence, my spending extra time practicing this. My space plan in TAKE 2 is not only compliant, it's clever, functional, and desirable. I'd want to live there! I'm happy I took the time to practice because my confidence is elevated. 

Make the most of the next 2 weeks!
Carolyn

Sim Day Results: Lighting

Grade: PASS!

not my plan, but photo from: Katy Higley

I've really come through on this exercise. My practice has paid off, as I only made (2) mistakes on the plan. Hooray! Happy dance!

• I designated a night-time security light (a 2x4 Fluorescent fixture) as required, but I switched it. It should not have the ability to be switched off. Lesson learned! (Though, I believe this requirement has been omitted in the new format of the test.)
• I miscalculated one of my fixture wattage totals: a 4-piece under-cabinet task light (4-piece meaning 4x9" segments). I entered it as 4 x 20W per fixture = 100W. Oops.  It didn't affect my totals much at all (20 Watts) and I was still within wattage allowed. 

Strategies Employed

• First off, I started with my entire hour available. No space planning spill-over. Good start!
• I read the directions thoroughly and wrote down key points on the side of my plan.
• I started by calculating my wattage allowed. 
• 1.5W/SF x Total SF = Total Watts Allowed
• Lightly (in pencil) drew in small lights with symbols, adding roughly as I went.
• Adjusted my plan a few times until it was right, rather than rushing into the "pretty pen drawing" stage.
• I wasn't familiar with the "NL" night light requirements, so I did spend some time trying to find limits or restrictions in the Code information. No such luck!
• Included any fixtures the exercise provided.
• Checked thoroughly.

Good Luck,

Carolyn