Ballast - PPD Personal Cards Flashcards
What is positive drainage?
Positive drainage is a slope that goes away from the building, parking area, and walkways.
Name the two systems of drainage systems and key elements of each.
Aboveground: pervious paving, sheet flow, gutters built into roadways and parking areas, ground swales as part of the landscaping, and channels to manage runoff and direct it appropriately.
Underground: use perforated drains and enclosed storm sewers to carry the runoff from the site, either to a municipal storm sewer system or to a natural drainage outlet such as a river.
What is sheet flow?
Water that drains across a sloping surface, whether that surface is paved, grassy, or otherwise landscaped.
Sheet flow is directed to gutters or channels.
What is the minimum slope needed for drainage?
1.5% is needed to account for paving roughness and variations in installation tolerances.
Although a slope as little as 0.5% may be sufficient for some drainage, this is only true fro very smooth, carefully constructed surfaces.
What is a catch basin and name a key element of it and why.
A catch basin is an underground reservoir.
It has a sump built into it which allows debris to settle into the sump instead of flowing down the sewer and potentially clogging the pipe.
What is a sump?
A sump is a low space that collects water and debris.
Define the runoff coefficient.
The fraction of water NOT absorbed.
What is a holding pond?
If the site development creates a volume of runoff in excess of the capacity of the existing municipal storm sewer or natural drainage course, a holding pond may be constructed on the site.
The holding pond collects the site runoff and releases it into the sewer system at a controlled rate.
What is the building sewer?
The portion of the horizontal piping of the sanitary sewer system outside the building.
What is the minimum slope of the building sewer?
0.5% - 2.0% depending on the size of the pipe.
A greater slope is required for smaller pipes.
The location of main electric lines may dictate what?
The location of transformers and service entry to the building.
How should roads in parking areas be laid out?
- So a driver can go directly to the parking area, to a drop-off area, or to the loading area without intersecting the roads to the other areas.
- Forcing traffic through the parking area to reach the loading area or a drop-off point should be avoided.
- A road should NOT be laid out perpendicular to a slop unless the slope is very gentle. The road should slightly cross the slope, to minimize the grade.
- A road should be limited to a maximum slope of 15% for short distances, although 10% or less is preferred.
- A road should have a gradual cross slope for drainage from the center of the roadway, called the crown, to the sides.
- If a road has a gutter it should be 6”.
When are handrails required for ramps?
If the rise is greater than 6”.
Handrails must extend 12” past the top and bottom of the ramp.
When are handrails required for stairs?
If over 4 risers or where icy conditions exist.
Handrails must extend 12” past the top, and 12” + one tread at the bottom.
What is the width of accessible parking stalls and its associated access aisle?
Standard: 8’ stall width + 5’ access aisle (13’ total)
Van Option 1: 8’ stall width + 8’ access aisle (16’ total)
Van Option 2: 11’ stall width + 5’ access aisle (16’ total)
What are some benefits to landscaping, in addition to its pure aesthetic qualities?
- Can improve energy conservation;
- Moderate noise;
- Frame desirable views;
- block undesirable views;
- create privacy;
- fashion outdoor spaces;
- provide shade;
- retard erosion;
- visually connect a building to its site
What is a drip line, in regards to trees?
The edge of its canopy.
Contours of the land cannot be changed within the drip line of an existing tree.
What is the difference between a direct gain and indirect gain system (in reference to passive solar design)?
Direct gain systems collects heat through south facing glass and then stores the heat in high mass materials.
Indirect gain systems heat the mass by room air temperature and reflected sunlight.
A direct gain system will capture about 4 times as much energy as an indirect system with the same mass.
What is a roof pond?
A roof pond stores heat in large water-filled bags on the roof of a building.
Winter: During the day the bags heat up, at night the insulation is moved over the roof pond, and the bags release heat downward into the building.
Summer: During the day the bags are covered with insulation so that they absorb heat only from the building. At night, the insulation is removed and the absorbed heat is transferred upward and away from the building.
What are the three components that make up a typical active solar system?
- A collector: either a flat-plate collector or a focusing collector
- A storage device: water for water systems and rock beds for air systems, phase change materials can also be used, but they are more expensive
- A distribution system: same as for standard HVAC systems; ducts for air, pipes for water, and associated fans, pumps, registers, and control devices
What is the difference between an open-loop system and a closed-loop system?
An open-loop system, the water is heated directly in the solar collector.
In a closed-loop system, antifreeze or some other transfer medium is heated in the collector and circulated to a heat exchanger, where the domestic water is heated by the transfer medium.
For maximum energy generation, what should the tilt angle be for a PV system?
For most of the year, about the same as the latitude of the building.
During the winter, the tilt angle should be 10-15 degrees greater than the latitude.
Where is the best place for the entrance for the following climates:
- Cold
- Temperate
- Hot
- Cold: leeward side to avoid winter winds
- Temperate: south side to make them more inviting and to capitalize on the natural snow-melting effects of the sun.
- Hot: the long side of the building to catch cooling breezes.
Which has less surface area if the volume is the same: a square/cube or a rectangle?
A square/cube
A building with a _____ total surface area will generally use less energy.
smaller
What is the difference between an external-load dominated building and an internal-load dominated building?
An external-load dominated building (also called a skin-load dominated building) uses energy based mainly on the amount of heat loss or gain through its exterior envelope. (Examples: houses, apartments, condos, warehouses)
An internal-load dominated building uses energy driven by high heat gain from occupants, lighting and equipment. (Examples: offices, hospitals, retail stores, schools, and labs)
What is the best shape of building for:
- Cool zones
- Temperate zones
- Hot-arid zones
- Hot-humid zones
- Cool zones: square or cube
- Temperate zones: elongated in the east/west direction (1.5-2:1)
- Hot-arid zones: squarer shapes with courtyard
- Hot-humid zones: elongated in the east/west direction (3-4:1)
South-facing facades should have _____ louvers, while east- and west-facing facades should have _____ louvers.
South: horizontal
East/West: Vertical
What is superinsulation?
A technique of providing higher levels of insulation than normally used.
I.E: tightly sealing all joints and cracks, and preventing any thermal bridges between the outside and inside, such as through studs. All portions of the building are carefully detailed so that every piece is insulated.
What is infiltration and exfiltration as it relates to air?
Infiltration is when air comes IN to a space.
Exfiltration is when are LEAVES a space.
I.E. in a cold climate, air will be warmer in the upper part of the building and cooler in the lower part, which causes exfiltration at the top and consequently infiltration near the ground to replay the lost air.
What is the stack effect (or chimney effect)?
It is the difference in pressure between the top and bottom of a building due to a temperature differential.
The effect is most pronounced in high-rise buildings.
What helps control/mitigate infiltration and exfiltration?
Air barriers
What are the three types of earth-sheltered design?
- Built above grade, and fill earth is bermed against the walls on one or more sides.
- Built into the excavated side of a hill. Ideally, the north side of the building is built into the hill and the south side is exposed for solar heating, views, and daylight. The east and west sides may be partially or completely buried.
- Built completely buried below grade with a courtyard in the middle to allow for access, daylight, and outdoor living area, and ventilation.
What are some practical considerations in regards to earth-sheltered designs?
- Ideally, there should be a natural slope to the land so that earthmoving can be minimized.
- The soil should be granular. Gravel, sand, and sandy loam are all appropriate soils. Clay soils are not appropriate for earth-sheltered designs because they do not drain well and can expand with moisture.
- The site should be tested for radon concentrations.
- The groundwater level must be below the building, and positive drainage away from the building should be maintained.
- Extra care must be taken to waterproof the underground portions adequately.
What are some advantages of a green roof?
- Conserving energy by reducing cooling and heating loads.
- Reducing storm runoff
- Absorbing carbon dioxide
- Reducing ambient air temperatures
- Filtering the air and binding dust particles
- Reducing the heat island effect normally caused by exposed roofing membranes
- Protecting roofing membranes from UV light degradation, temperature extremes, wind, and hail
- Adding acoustical insulation
- Adding aesthetic appeal to the roof
What are the two types of green roofs?
Extensive: uses soil less than 6” deep, which is capable of supporting meadow grasses, sedums, herbs, and perennials.
Intensive: uses deeper soil (usually 12” or more) and supports complex landscapes, including shrubs and small trees.
What is the general range of weight for a green roof?
12 psf to 300 psf
What are the layers involved in a green roof over a concrete deck (starting from the bottom)?
1) A waterproof membrane is placed over the structural deck.
2) If necessary, a root barrier is placed over the waterproofing.
3) Rigid insulation is placed over the root barrier.
4) A drainage layer is installed over the insulation to allow water that is not absorbed by the plants and growing media to flow to drains or scuppers. A slope of at least 1.5% is necessary for proper drainage.
5) A filter fabric above the drainage layer prevents the find particles of the soil or growing medium from entering and clogging the drainage layer.
6) The growth medium (i.e. engineered soil mixture) is placed in thicknesses from 2” to 12” or more.
What are the layers involved in a green roof over a metal deck (starting from the bottom)?
1) A thermal barrier is placed over the metal deck to protect the insulation from heat transfer.
2) Rigid insulation is placed over the thermal barrier in a thickness appropriate for the climate and as required by the local code.
3) A waterproofing membrane is placed over the insulation. If necessary, a separation layer is placed between the waterproofing membrane and the insulation.
4) If necessary for the type of waterproofing membrane selected, a root barrier is placed over the membrane.
5) A drainage layer is placed over the membrane (or root barrier, if used).
6) The growth medium (i.e. engineered soil mixture) is placed in thicknesses from 2” to 12” or more.
What does a flood test, test? And how do you test it?
It is a test to verify watertightness.
The area is flooded with 2” of water for 48 hours, and the interior of the building is inspected for leaks.
What is a cool roof?
Also known as a reflective roof, it is a roof covered with a light-colored material that reflects more of the sun’s heat than it absorbs.
What is the minimum reflectivity of a cool roof?
0.65 when new, and a three-year aged value of at least 0.5
What are some concerns regarding cool roofs?
Glare into adjacent buildings and aesthetic aspects.
Define solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)?
The amount of solar radiation that is transmitted through the entire window assembly, expressed as a fraction of the total amount that strikes it.
The SHGC is a decimal fraction between 0 and 1; a value of 1 would indicate a window assembly lets all solar radiation pass through.
What is the shading coefficient (SC)?
The ratio of the amount of solar radiation that passes through a piece of glass to the amount that would pass through a similar piece of unshaded, clear, double-strength glass 1/8” thick.
What is insulated glass?
Two or more panes of glass where the sealed air space between the panes acts as the insulation.
What are two important variables to consider when designing windows for daylighting?
Height of the window head above the floor, and the effective aperture.
What is the daylight zone?
How much daylight gets into a space from a window.
With a standard window, with no overhang protection or light shelf, the effective daylight zone extends about 1.5x the window head height into the room.
When a light shelf is used, the effective daylight zone is from 2.0 to 2.5 x the window head hight.
What is the effective aperture (EA)?
It is the product of two variables: visible light transmittance and window-to-wall ratio.
VLT x WWR = EA
Generally an EA between 0.20 and 0.30 provides good daylighting.
Example: If the glazing has a low VLT, the size of the window should be increased.
Define visible light transmittance (VLT).
The percentage of visible light that passes through a glazing material.
Define window-to-wall ratio (WWR).
The NET glazing area in a room or space divided by the GROSS exterior wall area.
It does not include window frames or mullions.
Small, punched windows have low WWRs, while large, continuous windows have high WWRs.
What is effective height (as it relates to site acoustics)?
The distance from the top of the barrier to the point where the acoustical line of sight intersects the barrier.
The critical factor in reducing noise from a source is NOT the actual hight of the barrier by the effective height.
Name some basic principles for designing outdoor sound barriers.
- Solid barriers are generally better at blocking high-frequency sounds than they are at blocking low-frequency sounds.
- The barrier is best placed as close as possible to either the source of the noise or the receiver.
- If the barrier is placed close to the noise source, it should be at least 4 times as high as the distance from the source to the barrier.
- The greater the effective height, the greater the attenuation.
- For blocking noise from a point source, a shorter barrier should be at least 4 times as long as the distance from the barrier to the source, or the distance from the barrier to the receiver, whichever is shorter.
- A barrier should have a density of at least 5 lbm/sqft and be solid. However, densities greater than this do not improve sound attenuation significantly.
Name some ways of controlling site noise.
- Maximize the distance between the source of the noise and the receiver.
- Avoid hard surfaces near the source of noise.
- Avoid parallel hard surfaces.
- Plant evergreen trees and shrubs densely between the noise source and the receiver.
- Control sources of noise that are in or near the building.
- Make use of masking sounds.
- Design building features to block noise.
Design for site security can be accomplished by viewing the site at four different levels; what are they?
- Perimeter protection: first line of defense on a site.
- Access and parking
- On-site security
- Building envelope protection
What are the four ways water can be classified?
- Potable: water that is been treated to make is suitable for drinking.
- Rainwater: natural precipitation that falls on a site.
- Graywater: wastewater from sinks, showers, bathtubs, washing machines (NOT from toilets).
- Blackwater: water from toilets/urinals.
Some jurisdictions consider water from sinks and laundry as blackwater due to the detergents and other contaminants it may contain.
What are the four phases to a Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA)?
1) Define the goals and scope of the study.
2) Perform an inventory analysis.
3) Perform an impact assessment.
4) Perform an improvement analysis and report the results of the study.
What are the four main stages of a product’s life cycle?
1) Raw material acquisition;
2) Manufacturing;
3) Use in the building; and
4) Disposal or reuse.
Name the four main causes of poor indoor air quality.
- Chemical contaminants from indoor sources
- Chemical contaminants from outdoor sources
- Biological contaminants
- Poor ventilation
What are the three grouped classifications for symptoms of poor IAQ (Indoor Air Quality)?
- Sick Building Syndrome (SBS): temporary and goes away when the person leaves the building.
- Building-Related Illness (BRI): can be directly attributed to specific building contaminants. Legionnaires’ Disease is an example.
- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS): condition induced by exposure to VOCs or other chemicals.
Name five strategies an architect and suggest to an owner for maintaining good IAQ (Indoor Air Quality).
- Eliminate or reduce the sources of pollution
- Control ventilation rates in the building
- Establish good maintenance procedures
- Control occupant activity as it affects IAQ
- Provide appropriate filtration
What are three basic types of filters that can be incorporated into an HVAC system?
- Particulate filters (i.e. HEPA)
- Absorption filters (i.e. activated carbon)
- Electronic filters (i.e. creates electrostatic charges)
What is the difference between a life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) and an life-cycle analysis (LCA)
Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA): is a method for determining the total cost of a building, building component, or system over a period of time.
Life-cycle analysis (LCA): analyzes the environmental impact of a product or building system.
What is a fire damper?
A devise installed in ducts and air transfer openings that is designed to close automatically on detection of heat, to resist the passage of flames.
What is a smoke damper?
A devise installed in ducts and air transfer openings that is designed to resist the passage of smoke.
They may be controlled by a smoke detection system to operate automatically, or may be operable, where required, from a fire command center.
What is the difference between a Fire Partition and a Fire Barrier?
A Fire Partition is a wall assembly with a 1-hour fire-resistance rating.
A Fire Barrier is a vertical or horizontal assembly that is fire-resistance rated and that is designed to restrict the spread of fire, confine it to limited areas, and/or afford safe passage for protected egress.
Fire Barriers must ALWAYS be continuous from the floor slab to the underside of the floor or roof slab above.
In general terms, a Fire Barrier offers MORE protection than a Fire Partition.
What is a Fire Wall?
A Fire Wall is a fire-resistance-rated wall that is used to separate a single structure into separate construction types or to provide for allowable area increases by creating what amounts to separate buildings, even though they are attached.
They MUST extend continuously from the foundation to or through the roof, and they must be designed and constructed in such a way that the structure on one side can collapse without affecting the structural stability of the adjacent building.
How does the IBC define a high-rise building?
A building with occupied floors more than 75’ above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
When is an accessible route not required?
When the only means of access between the following is a vehicular way not providing pedestrian access:
- accessible buildings
- accessible facilities
- accessible elements
- accessible spaces
What is the minim clear floor space required to accommodate one stationary wheelchair?
30” x 48”
What is the minimum clear width for an accessible route?
36” continuously and 32” clear at passage points such as doorways
The passage point cannot be more than 24” long
In an accessible route, how narrow can a passage point get, and for how long?
32” and no longer than 24”
If an accessible route is less than 60” wide, what is the passing space width and how often must this occur?
60” and intervals of not more than 200’
180 degree turns in corridors or around objects:
- If the space moving around is LESS than 48” what is the minimum width of each corridor legs, and what is the minimum depth of the connecting space?
- If the space moving around is MORE than 48” what is the minimum width of each corridor legs, and what is the minimum depth of the connecting space?
Less than 48”:
- Legs need to be at least 42” wide
- “landing”/connecting space at least 48” deep
More than 48”:
- Legs need to be at least 36” wide
- “landing”/connecting space at least 36” deep
What is the reach range above the floor?
15” - 48” minimum above the floor
What is the maximum opening force required to push or pull open interior hinged doors?
5 lbf-ft
This may be greater if the door is a fire door and regulated by the local code jurisdiction
