The Post Where I YELL!!

Ok, so this is a humorous, but firm reminder to meet the program requirements and not focus on the prettiest plan you ever did see. The graders are NOT judging your handwriting, your wispy window treatments, or your plump throw pillows on the bed. And the sofa. And the club chairs. 

I noticed a few of the sample solutions in which the candidates were able to draw 8 throw pillows on a bed and 6 on a sofa, but they didn't draw electrical outlets in the Bedroom. And they didn't draw a 30 X 48 clear floor space at the sink in the kitchen. 

Really, the pretty and "omg so clever!" solutions don't PASS. The thorough ones do. 

So, don't worry about including the cute chandelier. And don't fuss over dimmers (if you're uncertain about a dimmer, safely specify standard down lights (75W) and add a "D" to your switch). And don't squiggle curtains at your dining room windows. 

I saw the prettiest architectural lettering and straightest lines in a Millwork solution. AS THE FAIL EXAMPLE. 

We're not taking this test to pick cute pillows. We're not decorators. This is not a decorator license. This is your DESIGN LICENSE. This is what sets you apart in the design world. This is what shows that you're more than a fandeck of paint chips and a pillow karate-chopper (please don't do this). This is your expensive, hard-earned license proving your ability to design a space which ensures the health, welfare, and safety of its occupants.

So no over thinking. No unnecessary cute-sy stuff. Slow down. Check your work. And read your scale properly. 

Best of luck,
Carolyn

Your Tips!

I've truly enjoyed sharing what works for me and now I'm wondering what has worked for you! It seems we've all been learning as a group, near and far. While things may seem obvious to us, they may not only be brand new to others, but truly life-saving come test day. 

Bloggy Views!

So please, if you have any tips, please post in the comments and I will compile them for a post tomorrow evening (Wednesday). (I know that font below is hard to read... sorry!)

Base on last night's posts, I'm still finding room for improvement!

Also, this is a great post by Q-Practice: 
Common Exam Mistakes

Thanks!
Carolyn

Space Planning: 64 SF ADA Restroom

Me: Can the turning radius in an ADA restroom - with a closed door, not a stall - overlap the door swing or not?

Dad: It depends on the state and jurisdiction. 

Me: What about PA?

Dad: <insert confusing, but sensible answer(s)>

Me: So, I'm just going to be safe and assume it should not overlap. 

Dad: Yeah, that's a good idea. 

I had to... hehe. 

Reason for asking: the 2010 test did not mark candidates off, but the 2012 test did. 

After a little tweaking, I figured this is a safe layout for an 8x8 Accessible restroom. That's 64 SF, FYI, and required on the Space Planning exercise. It has to do with door placement. It also has to do with a wee bit of common sense. I placed the door in such a way that a person in a wheelchair could not sit on the pull side and actually open the door without trouble. And here's what I came up with... (Click image for larger)

{ Compliant }

{ Non-Compliant }

Incorrect overlay in red...

See how there is no room for the 30 x 48 accessible floor at the sink? And not much room at all to pull the door open if one's in a wheelchair? Even though I drew my toilet a wee-larger (oops), doesn't it seem like there's less room to pull up beside the toilet? 

Keep it spacious,

Carolyn

TIP: Swap Base Plans

This time around, I purchased TWO PDP's instead of one and I highly recommend it. Heck, I probably would have loved THREE. The nice thing about 2 or more tests is the ability to do the following (TIP Alert!):

Swap exercises and double your practice!

That is, if your entire space square footage is close. If it's off by quite a bit - make your own "extension" or take away some area. 

I have a commercial space and a residential space. For instance, if the SF is close enough (within 200 SF), trace your commercial base plan and use your residential program requirements. (I'm adding a few windows since the commercial space only has windows at the entrance.

Go for it!
Carolyn

Space Planning: Combination Tip

If you're like me, no matter how much you practice Space Planning, you still have a frozen moment or two in the fast paced 3 hour exercise. In an effort to replace bad habits with good, I've been trying new tricks and strategies. 

I find that maintaining balance while trying to accomplish the following is tough...

• a list of spaces
• square footages for spaces in list
• adjacency requirements for spaces in list
• specific location requirements for spaces in list (i.e. fireplace as a feature in the living room will mean that's the only place for that room, foyer/entry should be AT the main entrance)
• plumbing trench 
• plumbing trench extension limits
• fitting FFE requirements in said spaces
• fitting clearances around and in said spaces
• dimensions
• electric
• notes

{ Challenge }

Meeting square footage requirements with a layout that makes the best use of the space is where I get stuck. AKA, the transition from somewhat-to-scale-but-not-really bubble diagram. I'm guilty of not feeling comfortable until my plan is hard-lined, so I rush this step. I'm then left with a bedroom without a walk-in closet and no choice but to take SF from the bedroom itself. 

TIP: Combine spaces where possible. The walk-in closet is obviously going to be in the bedroom, right? Chances are, the master bath too, right? 

Try adding the bedroom SF + master bath SF + walk-in closet SF together. You might have (1) large rectangle like this:

Let's say your Walk-in Closet is to be 40SF, your Master Bath 120, and your Master Bedroom 240. Add them up:

40 SF + 120 SF + 240 SF = 400 SF

Next, if it helps, draw a rectangle on trace which equals 400 SF. See how the one above is 17'-0" wide? Divide 400 by 17 to get your approx length = 23'-6". Move this around on your plan (as you would in AutoCAD) to find it's best place. TIP: The toilet/shower will need to be on the plumbing trench or an extension. 

TIP: Don't forget to share plumbing walls where possible! Back to back or side by side. 

Other spaces this will help with:

• Kitchen+Break Room
• Workroom+Storage
• Kitchen+Pantry
• Kitchen+Laundry
• Kitchen+Pantry+Laundry (whoa!)
• Accessible Bedroom+Closet+Bathroom
• Public space vs. Private space

Hope this quick tip helps! I plan to practice it tonight with both a commercial exercise and residential. Though from research and experience, I'm confident the space planning with be residential (usually is for Spring). 

Happy prepping!
Carolyn

Transition time...

... Less prep, more nature. It's officially the ONE WEEK mark! 

{ Part 1: Butterflies and Swimming }

I've found a calming way to nearly eliminate my test anxiety and after practicing it for about 3 weeks, I can confidently say it has healed me! Remember what I said in this post about test anxiety being a habit? Well, to break a bad habit, we must replace it with a good one. Can't quite shake it completely? Begin by following a negative feeling with a positive thought. 

I've been getting random bouts of butterflies in my stomach (nerves, anxiety, surges of bad energy). I thought back to my days as a competitive swimmer. I got butterflies before every race and they were GOOD butterflies. And another thing? Whether I won or not, I would kick some serious booty and usually improve my time. Silly worry. 

Every time I get butterflies, I think of my swim meets. And the memory makes me smile. I find these butterflies to be a surge of strength and happiness now instead of doubt and fear. 

{ Part 2: Swimming and Test Prep }

Because my connection to swimming helped so much with my test anxiety, I've adapted my test prep plan to mimic my pre-championship meet training schedule (which always yielded best times and great swims!). 

Before a big meet, we'd train hard for months (with the hairiest man legs you've ever seen) and taper down two weeks before the meet. I'm entering my "taper week" and doing a lot more relaxing, exercising, and spending time with family/friends/nature. 

Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming,
Carolyn

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