Design Development Flashcards
What seismic zone in California poses the greatest earthquake hazard?
Seismic Zone 4
Zone 4 is located nearest to active earthquake faults.
There are four seismic shaking zones in the U.S.. All of CA lies within zone 3 & 4.
According to the California Geological Survey, what is a fault and how are they defined on fault zone maps?
A fault is a fracture in the crust of the earth along which rocks on one side have been moved relative to those on the other side. An active fault is one that has ruptured in the last 11,000 years.
Earthquake fault zones are plotted on a topographic map at a scale of 1” equals 2,000 ft and typically average about one quarter mile wide.
Name three fire zones in CA and what factors the severity of each is based on?
Medium, High and very high.
These areas or “ zones” are based on factors such as fuel(material that can burn), slope and fire weather. Fire burns faster uphill and weather conditions such as high temperature, winds or low humidity can cause a fire to grow rapidly.
Name five ground effects on earthquake can cause on a site.
- Ground shaking - cause over 90% of the damage
- Landslide - Shaking causes soil and rock to slide off a slope.
- Fault rupture - crack forms as ground is offset along the two sides of a fault.
- Lateral spreading - shaking causes soil to break into blocks and separate.
- Liquefaction - loose, wet, sandy soil causes the foundation to sink.
What must occur before a project can be permitted in relation to earthquake fault zones?
Before a project can be permitted, cities and countries require a geologic investigation to show the building will not be constructed across active faults. If an active fault is found a structure for human occupancy must be set back 50 ft from fault.
The Alquist-priolo act(1972) is intended to prevent construction of builings used for human occupancy on the surface of active faults.
What are the two key elements of the fire hazard severity zone model?
- Probability of burning
- probability of behavior
CalFIRE has developed a model that serves as the basis of zone assignments that is based on factors such as fire history, existing and protential fuel, flame length, blowing embers, terrain, weather and likelihood of buildings igniting.
What are three methods to reduce the chance of building loss due to fire?
- Defensible space - reduce flammable material around homes to keep diret flames and heat away ( law requires 100’ around builings)
- exterior wilfire exposure protection - construct builings of fire resistant materials.
- Green zone - clearing an area of 30 ft immediately surrounding homes, keep roof clear of flammable material, trim tree branches and keep a spark arrester on the chimney.
What types of disasters is FEMA responsible for?
Reducing damage from hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires, hazardous spills, acts of nature and terrorism.
FEMA also creates and maintains Flood Insurance Rate Maps(FIRMS_ which delineate both the special hazard areas and the risk of premium zones applicable to the community.
What site design measures can an architect use to mitigate flood damage?
- Locate building pads above 100 year floodplain.
- Avoid large areas of concrete/hard surface.
- Use of swales to direct water runoff.
Define the three wind exposure categories from most protected to least protected.
- Exposure B - Urban & Suburban areas, wooded areas or other terrain with closely spaced obstructions
- Exposure C - Open terrain with scattered obstructions with heights less than 30’.
- Exposure D - Flat, unobstructed areas * water surfaces not in hurricane prone regions.
**Wind exposure categories are determined by “ground surface roughness” that arises from natural and constructed features.
It is discovered that there are hazardous materials present on a site. What mitigation measures should be followed?
There are two main methods to mitigate hazardous materials:
1. Removing hazardous material from the site and properly disposing per federal state and local guidelines.
2. Encapsulating and permanently sealing the material on the site per federal, state and local guidelines.
What building design measures can an architect implement to mitigate damages from a flood?
- Avoid building in a flood prone area unless the structure is elevated and reinforced.
- Elevate the furnace, water heater & electrical panels if susceptible to flooding.
- Install “check valves” in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into drains.
- Seal walls of basement with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage.
What are the acts, laws and regulations applicable to hazardous material mitigation?
- Toxic Substance Control Act(Federal)
- Superfund aka: Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and liability act(Federal)
- Federal EPA Brownfields Program
- California EPA Brownfields Program
- Federal EPA Clean Air Act
- Federal EPA Clean water Act
What drawings and documents are produced during schematic design?
- Conceptual site plan
- Preliminary building plans sections and elevations
- Outline specification
- Estimate of the cost of work
Name the four drawings or documents developed during Design Development and state how they differ form schematic design drawings?
- Plans, Sections, Elevations
- Typical construction details
- Outline specification(Updated)
- Updated estimate of the cost of work
**The main difference between SD and DD drawings is the DD drawings focus on one design strategy and are more developed than SD.
