Programming Planning Practice ARE4 Architectural Registration Exam

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May 052012
 

Programming and Analysis
• Asses Needs and Requirements
• Develop Master Plan and programs
• Design Objectives
• Site Characteristics
• Spatial and Functional relationships
• Building Systems
• Establish Project Scope
• Building Systems
• Establish Project Scope
• Phasing
• Budget
• Schedule

Environmental, Social, and Economics
• Building Surveys
• Physical Impacts
• Environmental Impact
• Social Impact
• Develop Concepts
• Sustainable
• Energy Efficient
• Alternate Energy
• New Materials
• Basic Design
• Historic Precedents

Codes and Regulations
• Identify, analyze, incorporate
• Manage Process
• Codes:
o Building
o Specialty Codes
o Zoning
o Other Regulatory AHJ

Project and Practice Management
• Develop Service and project delivery method
• Project Budgeting and finance method
• Team Members: Consultants …
• Project Meetings
• Manage Project Schedule
• Manage Project Design
• Assist Construction Procurement
• Manage: Legal issues, fees, insurance, professional contracts

Where does product liability begin and end?

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Apr 202012
 

Product can be an engineering design or manufacturers output. Fortunately, the historical data from the past or similar products has given sufficient input to respond to this question.

This question becomes far more interesting to respond on newly introduced products where it is not commonly known in the community. Of course, now when you purchase a hammer and a hammer incident does not have legal merit in the court system. The common sense is primarily used in the judgment.

It is true that the new products undergo major laboratory testing and analysis. During such control environment, all products and associated positioning are handles by factory employees and inventors. When the product is released, the circumstance is altered. A very controlled protocol is required to accompany the product. Till this product becomes a hammer like product, this protocol is mandatory and becomes part of the installation guidelines. The epoxy steel anchors in concrete are a very good example. Epoxy as an anchor supports an equipment during earthquake. Imagine a catastrophic failure of the anchor and its consequences. The International Code Councils codes mandate that all installation must be observed by independent approved inspectors for every installation across the country.

The coating industry now mandates many inspections in all projects by their local vendors prior to accepting the warranty of the coating. If the preparation of the project is not proper, the coating will not last and the manufacturer will by responsible for reinstalling the coating. This is similar to manufacturer recalls that can become a major issue for the manufacturer.

The relatively newly introduced polyethylene for the plumbing industry has shown a very unique business model to insure lower liability for the manufacturers. The PE pipe itself is not a major question, the connection of the PE pipe is. The manufacturer only insures the connection by licensed and specialized sub-contractors. This limits the liability of joint failures. Due to these measures, the PE piping is becoming more acceptable within the plumbing industry.

To limit the product liability, the critical component is how to insure and replicate the work in the laboratory in the field. The response is multi-fold and is categorized as Human factors, the machinery used, the climatic and the environment, the raw materials, and precision and tolerances available.

Human Factor:
The individuals handling, mixing, fabrication and installing the product must be capable, familiar, and thoroughly confident prior to any activities. A training basis must be established that may require special certified installers with full training.

Machinery Used:
The equipment used for mixing, preparing, and final application of product must mimic the laboratory with near same precision in any conditions, Alaska or Arizona. This equipment must have the same scrutiny as any equipment in any other industry. In case of organic compounds such as resins as adhesives require precise mixing for complete product. The non-Newtonian and highly viscous adhesive fluids are not very receptive for conventional buckets. This is specially amplified by large volumes. Wrong dosage and wrong viscosity levels during this mixing can become a major concern for the final product.

Climatic and Environmental:
The temperature, the moisture, the dust, and other climatic environmental issues can alter the result of product immensely. The viscosity and chemical behavior of adhesive are dependent on climatic and environmental conditions. This is true when mixing, applying and finishing the project using the materials prepared.

Raw Materials:
The Raw materials are made by other factories and their specifications and their liabilities are intertwined with all other liabilities. The probability of identifying best product is very high. Best formulation is a key for any adhesive products. This is true for fabrics, resins, and any other raw materials used for installation of the final product.

Precision and Tolerances:
This issue is culmination of all of the above. This is cumulating of permutation of all failures. The organic reaction of the final product must be accompanied with high tolerance of the mixtures.

Given the above positions, the evaluation of final product and manufacture must be based on having capabilities that has the least liability. This can be based on best practical human resources and technical capabilities, machinery used must be highly accurate and receptive for any climate of environment, the installation must be adaptable for all climates and environments, and raw materials must carry same specifications at all times.

How to you process a new innovation to industry?

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Apr 202012
 

Innovations and introduction of new products are introduced at different stages nearly every second. Some are still in drawing stage, some in laboratory, in beta testing, and final end user samples. Depending on the industry, the product cannot be used or implemented based on rules and regulations governing that industry.

In recent years, the construction industry consolidated many code bodies into one unified code, namely, International Code Council. This body governs nearly all of the states that have officially adopted, and several other countries. This code permits local authorities to alter depending on topography, climatic, or geological conditions of that jurisdictions. In addition, jurisdictions can only use these codes as minimum level of acceptance, which permits the jurisdictions to become more stringent in their compliance requirements.
For example in California, due to nature of the seismic activities, the governing bodies administering the hospitals and schools mandate mush tougher regulations that standard office or residential facilities.

The index of standards is at the end chapters of International Code Councils documentations. These include ISO, ANSI, ACI, ASME, and so on. The irony is that these standard committees are no longer scientific unbiased engineers and practitioners. The committee members are retired practitioners representing one interest or the other. The meetings are scattered around the country. It is very difficult for any practitioner to spend time away from their income, family, and with financial burdens to attend a meeting on creating a standard for a newly developed product. Therefore, politically savvy manufacturers pack these meetings with favorable individuals where during the voting process; the skewed results favor the appropriate groups. Like in any political assembly, even if in paper the process seems to be impartial, the manipulation of the process makes it impossible to be fully scientific. Especially, when an individual representing a manufacturer is the longest member of the group. By default, this individual will receive higher position in the committee and control of the group. The rest of the story can be predicted.

The above procedures, namely, compliance of a product by a test procedure of standards organization and processing this through the ICC for certification, provides a position for a new innovative product in the construction industry.

If the approved product is then focused on the most stringent local codes, i.e. State Hospitals and public Schools, then the acceptability of the product for the rest of the industry is far easier. In case of hospitals, the building must be stronger, since the patients are immobile. In the case of schools, the pupils are priceless commodity.

Architectural Registration Examination SPD- Environmental Site Selection Questions

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Mar 272012
 

Site selection

Site selection (Every Building): Sun orientation, topographic relief, scaleof adjacent buildings, location of trees and plants, landscaping, avoid erosion surfaces, and area prone to fire.

Next to flood lines 1 ft above and 100 ft away
Be next to public transportation

Flood Plain: Very limited construction: Agricultural or recreation, build only above flood plain, 100 year storm.

Notify Architect: When unknown object are uncovered during construction

CSI Specifications: Security steel gate is In section 10 for Specialties not doors, or metals, or equipments.

Site Preparation: Site clearing, Removal top soil, rough grading, then finish grading.

Environmental

Environmental impact considered site analysis: Reflection, air movement, and sun & shadow patterns. “Not” archeological finds

Development potential of parcel: Verify these issues: wetland/ endangered species/ hazardous waste. Not: acid rain has nothing be controlled.

After “sight” what other senses is important: hearing. “Not”: Touch, smell, taste
To remove noise: best way increase distance to receiver

Architectural Registration Examination SPD- LEED Sustainability Life Cycle Questions

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Mar 272012
 

Leed or sustainable design
Sustainable design: Economics, aesthetics, environments, mechanical systems

Natural step: Organized 1996, preservation of ecosphere & bio sphere (-5 within each to +5 miles above surface of earth).

Natural step principles
-Zone of earth that supports human life is highly fragile eco system last 100 years has affected the earth “wrong” biosphere affecting human is relatively stable & resistant 5 mile in/ out
–Vast majority of technological building environment is inefficient. innovation has improved, but not there
-Toxic substance affect large areas beyond time & space are above “great lakes” is toxic with DDT many years after it has been banned, jet streams bring toxicity elements & pesticides in other continents
-Recycling is only beginning: More buildings to be recyclable & biodegradable

LEED: Cost of design for Engineers & Architects increase
Vandalism: Impact is to use impact resistance materials
In housing projects
-Exterior paths & entrance doors are visible
-Surveillance, well lighted, avoid cursed paths
-Durable & vandal & tamper proof of elements

Planning phasing sustainable projects:
-Use native landscaping- functional, aesthetic..
-Sun orientation (neighbors…) topographic relief
-Scale of other buildings
-Location of project with respect to public transportation
Elements in sustainable design:
-Solar shading devices
-Urban heat island effect
-Fenestration & glazing

Sustainable goals: Use less, recycle, do not deplete natural resources, do not buy from long distance, least amount of demolition, keep existing

LEED indoor air quality: Sick building syndrome: Poor indoor Air Quality based on indoor tobacco smoking, inadequate ventilation, off gassing of fabrics and coatings

Leed substitution by Architects: Architectural supervision: Product substitution to insure original design standards are met

Leed: Requires Architect, Wetland Engineer, Energy Engineer Commissioners, Landscape Architect, Energy Model Engineers

Architectural Registration Exam- Climate- Wind- … questions

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Mar 272012
 

Climate

Temperature climate:
Best configuration for a temperature climate
-Short wall facing west
-Overhang on long side on south
-Primary heat gain on roof
– Stagger horizontal or vertical
-Stacked high rise

City Planning: City (Northern, CA) or Minnesota best climate design
-Town structure closely dense, larger buildings grouped sheltering wind, but utilize sun/ solar

“Not” design loosely/free layout
-Dense but with shades
-Town character to be loosed/scattered

City planning – Thermal environment: Character of existing & new structures affects thermal environment: Shadow pattern.
“Not”: Mechanical system, texture, foot prints

Climatic characteristics: Temperature, humidity, wind velocity

Solstice: Winter December 21st-Longest night, Summer June 21st- Longest day

In hot arid climate:
Thick walls-Thermal mass: Materials with high heat storage value used in arid lands. (Arizona, New Mexico)
Wide overhangs
High ceilings are good designs

Southwest desert buildings:
Most significant: Recognize the climate and other problems of the area.
Deeply recessed openings are best shading for glazing in any directions.
Shaded glass is more important than insulated glass.
Radiation is more value than conduction.
Roof area is not that critical when compared to recessed glazing.
Vertical louvers (especially south) diminish solar radiation

Solar radiation:
South wall get maximum winter radiation.
Roof and east / west walls receive maximum radiation in summer

Cold climates vapor barriers in attic: Minimize moisture migration.
Not: Serve secondary water proofing, support insulation, protection
from insects

Roof overhang built in northern hemisphere seasonal adjustment for solar radiation: South facing overhang

Most important factor in residential units: Recieve sun part of winter day
Not: -West facing @ a premium
-Bedrooms away from harsh wind
-Mask units from breezes

Innovative technologies – Cost effective:
Site driven technologies: Wind turbines, photovoltaic, small scale hydroelectric. They are also relatively cost effective.
Fuel cell technologies and groundwater aquifer for cooling and heating depending on climate/environment.

Solar energy is limited in building on north side of high rises. High rises cause shadow on their northerly buildings

Solar: Sun chart shows: A) Path of sun by means of attitude & azimuth (21st day month). Sunrise to Sunset
B) Amount of sunshine based
C) Cloudiness not in chart
D) Heating degree days in not in chart

Solar site depends on slope & latitude. All earth @ same latitude gets same sun regardless longitude

Building Orientations: External influences: Climate, noise, views & solar. Foundation is not related.

Town 1 @ base of mountain & town 2 @ 3000′ above town 1
Town 2 is always cooler

Rural versus urban climate – Planted rural area:
Stabilize microclimate hard surfaces swing temperature fast plants absorbs & store heat. Plats increase transpiration & increase rainfall. Plants purify air

Geothermal: Needs mechanical for design & Architect to implement. Landscape (& structural) not involved. Outside beneath earth

Best use of overhang:
Sun @ low angle is fully captured

Ideal orientation and fenestration based on climate:
Latitude
Adjacent reflective surfaces
Interior room functions
Building heights
Avoid tree screens of sunlight

HVAC is an external to building issue – Secondary concern

Wind

Air movement – Degree of comfort @75 F degrees, 30 R.M., 100 FPM = Quite pleasant.
Less than 50 FPM = Not noticeable.
> 25 F PM: Drafty & annoying

Wind: Open plaza windward side of high rise:
Shelter Hotel, relocate the entrance, placing walls, trees are not very effective

Wind: Two building, smooth surface and one is steps or jagged

-Smooth surface building creates more turbulance, “not” wind acts same way regardless
-Turbulence is more on stepped building energy is dissipated
-Turbulence is a minimum concern in high rise & street

Wind and pressure: When velocity doubles, the pressure quadruples.
P = c V2

Architectural Registration Examination SPD- Landscape Handicap and City Planning

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Mar 272012
 

Landscapes:

Trees: Used for screen wind, increase ventilation

Vegetation: Capture moisture, reduce fog, increase sunlight reaching ground

Plats: Aesthetic value, screen or disguise as required, trees absorb sound

Planted area: Cooler during hot days, less heat loss during night

Deciduous tree: Looses leaves in winter

Coniferous tree: Has leaves throughout the year

Handicap

Handicap design: Path less that 1: 20; ramp< 1:12; <30 ft. max. Handicap pathway surface: Asphalt surface is the best: smooth, no transition Bad: Tanbark, brick, flag stone are rough on wheel chair Handicap slope maximum: Ramp 1:12 and flatter the better ramp anything steeper than 1:20 is a ramp. Ramps other than those are used by non-handicap is limited 1:8 City planning City planning: Mixture of central business district & presidential -A viable community asset “Not “prohibited due to land cost; all substandard units converted to commercial; future units to be low income & elderly • Best orientation towards sea view: The maximum number of units facing the ocean Site preparation -Clear all object -Demolish her plan -All utilities to be dealt with -Undisturbed plants to be protected -Batter boards offset from building or excavations -Top 6 inches of soil Removed Catchment area: Market area or trade area, tributary area from which a facility derives its user population; depending on type & size of shopping center, the catchment area fluctuates with size on basis of traveling & convenience in reaching facility type & size of shopping center is primacy determined by its catchment basis To reduce cost: Compact low cost housing development main cost: Grading, road construction, utility Configuration of conventional suburban shopping mall Axial: Anchor tenants very similar to linear but anchors create main axis for design Precinctual organizational pattern: Graduak accumulation of self-contained building complexes. Each serving distinct activity & interrelated with neighbors. It allows growth in any direction. Flexible/compact Street Site issues- Bearing capacity, sub- surface, water shrinkage, seismic, stable earth

Architectural Registration Examination SPD- Parking Questions

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Mar 272012
 

Parking

Site parking calculation: 50000 sqft, building 10000 sqft, parking: Building (3:1) ratio, 400 sqft per car: Number of parking slots
Building: Parking
10K: ? 1:3–> parking (3X 10K)—> 30K
30000/400= 75 parking

New rental center factor: Accessibility to market area traffic

FAR (Floor to Area Ratio): 30% in 12000 sqft lot. Therefore (0.3*12000)=) 3600 sqft allotted. If four story building, 900 sqft per floor, and 2700 sqft will be above grade.

60 degrees parking= Easy to use, not efficient
90 degree parking= Most efficient
Parking ANSi standard for handicap: 8 ft stall plus 5 ft sides 3 ft curb for access

Parking lot large: Do not do: Dead level paved areas causes ponding of water and dead end aisles creates congestions

Entrance versus exiting parking lot: Slow exit even stop to yield. Entrance faster speed of advancement road

Parking layout
Correct: traffic aisles arranged to serve buildings they serve
> Angled parking requires one way traffic
> Circulation of traffic in parking is continuous
> Slow (not rapid) traffic towards 90 degrees
perpendicular parking layout

Area for parking cars: Good/car therefore 300 cars
300*400 cars= 120,000
For retail: 3000 to 4000 sqft parking per 1000 retail space

To reduce vehicle usage: Central city area:
Incentives for car pool, monthly rate parking fee,
-No parking (or united parking) with tax system earmarked for public transportation

Area for parking lot: 325 cars park @90 degrees parking.
325 cars x 400 square feet for = 130,000/ 43560 =2.98 acre

Road/carcirculations: Curviilinear is similar to natural environmental. Others “not” grid, radial, linear

Fastest volume of traffic- Free express way (no stops/lights). Not: Access, distributor, collector, arterial, highway, interchange

Land use and development use: Street system. Not: Topographic, climate (factors) or utility system

Shopping centers to be located @ intersection of arterial/collections

Street design criteria: Curb radii min.= 12′; traffic lanes (12ft); Intersections to be @ right angle; Avoid Compound curves; Parking lanes to be included

Street design criteria:
Light street: 4” roll-curb
Heavy traffic: 6” curb & gutter; 9’0” shoulder on each side of street and concrete paving. Asphalt is best choice. Vehicle width for lanes 11 to 12 ft

Power lines installed above: Are cheaper

Pedestrians circulations: Only safety matters
Non-ambulatory disabilities: Physical layout
2 Wheelchairs pass = 60” in diameter (clear 180 degree turn).
Walkway not interrupted by cracks or edge ½” or more in height.
Walkways not greater than 5% gradient.
Ramp minimum 36” side

Road Position: Gradient is 5%: 5:100
150 ft away elevation 142.5’ on hill
5% of 150 ft= 7.5 ft
142.50 +7.5 = 150 ft <<<<<<<<<<-- Parking 361 cars minimum Accessible requirements Over 150 - 249 5 + two cars per 100 250- 349 7 350- 449 9 Parking: 2 accessible cars stall: 8’+5’+8’ = 21 ft

Architectural Registration Examination SPD- Topography Questions

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Mar 272012
 

Topography

Find elevation on topography: The elevation on the two Contours are 60 and 55 ft the interval is 16 ft. What is the elevation 4 ft away from contour 55

60-55 = 5 ft elevation difference in 16 ft
4 ft is 25% of the distance (4/16)
5 (4/16) = 1.25 ft + 55 ft = 56.25 ft elevation

Slope: (Contour 1- contour 2)/ change in interval= V/H= G = 245-230/5 = 3:1
Topography: Land layout and Site Slope are critical in evaluating site worth and applicability. Cut and fill costs are not cheap.

Topography critical for routing storm water (natural slope)
not water, electric/ gas

Contour lines: Spaced @ given horizontal intervals show elevation of location_ terrain. Continuous elevation lines with equal elevation lines. Dashed lines are existing or natural topography. Solid lines: New modified contour lines. Lines never split and are always same elevations.

Contour lines: In building design: To minimize grading, buildings are designed in parallel to match hill side contour lines.

Contour lines: 5% grade, interval is 1 ft, G = V/H= 5/100= 1 ft/h= > H= 20 ft.

Highly irregular contour lines: Most appropriate for cluster type residential development. Concentrated grouping of residential space in open areas through clusters. Cluster was to condense large number of units. Lengths of street reduced, high roads, and moderate slopes.

Uniform slope: When spacing between contours is equal
Valley: When contours elevation increase outward
Ridge: Increase outward
Steep: When contour lines are close together

Topographic map includes: Property line, easements, and utilities, location of streams, roads, and buildings- Not shown: Soil conditions

Slope of land: Required for sanitary and sewer/storm. Slope is not required for gas, water, or electric

Arial photograph: Terrain conditions, nothing to do with sub-terrain

Architectural Registration Examination SPD- Zoning Legal Ordinances Questions

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Mar 272012
 

Legal surveying

Benchmark: Reference point of project

Public land of 1785: Created townships and sections

Easement on private property: Across created.
Not: Daylight, setbacks, landscaping

Land use restriction by authority having jurisdictions: Setbacks, height/area limits/zoning

Not: Covenants (Local restriction- Specific)
Not: Accessibility regulations: (No restriction) must do

Distance & compress bearings: Metes & bonds, “not” chaning- 66′, datum elevation, or benchmark

Restrictive covenants on behalf of property owner, not any Engineers, Architects
Right-a-way: A right belonging to a party to pass over land of another.
“Not” : Purchase of land, taking property, picketing/strike

Street

Roadways smallest to largest
Local access streets: Low intensity fronting houses & often in forms of
loops or cul de sac
Collector streets: Transition from local access to arterial intersections.
Intersections: Controlled by traffic signals, local streets with stop signs
Arterial streets: Continuous vehicular channels that connect with expressway through ramps generally two to three lanes
Expressways: Large movement between urban center and accesses are limited

Legal constraint on a proposed land:
Deed restrictions: zoning ordinances; easements. “Not” environmental impact statements (EIS). Only +/- impact on potential for the site

Practical & effective dry crawl space?
Provide tight & continuous ground cover using polyethylene film @ least 4 mil thick (vapor barrier floor & sub floor okay but not help)

Non confirming but legal existed prior to enactment of land use is grand fathered,
not: -easement -dedicated -aggrieved
Deed restrictions: Legal restrictions imposed on land by private parties on buyers to maintain integrity of property

Zoning ordinances include: limited population density; segregated permitted uses, restricted lot coverage, not include: diminished fire danger.

Spot elevation: Proposed finished elevation of single point. Elevation of key structures such as building corners, manholes, and catch basins.

Seismic or resistivity survey: Limited but reliable but enough for foundation.

Zoning ordinances include: Provide building interiors with natural light and ventilation, inhibit fire spread from building to buildings, eventual widening of the streets, preserve setbacks