IDFX Flashcards
WaterSense
a program created by the EPA that helps consumers identify water efficient programs and products by the WaterSense Label. Products are certified by independent, third-party licensed certifying bodies based on the EPA’s criteria for water efficiency and performance. These bodies evaluate products according to testing and certification protocols specific to each product category.
Sick-Building Syndrome
generally not linked to any particular cause, but occupants find that symptoms disappear after they leave the building.
Building-Related Illness
Symptoms can be directly attributed to certain building contaminants.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
a condition brought on by exposure to VOCs or other chemicals.
Criteria Matrix
allows for an expanded number of factors that can be considered in the pre-design process, such as access, acoustics, lighting, color, and materials.
SMaRT
a sustainable product standard and label controlled by the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability (MTS), and is used to evaluate individual products and finishes rather than complete buildings or spaces (such as LEED). It is considered the standard for the Sustainable Furnishings Council
Passive Solar Energy
refers to the harvesting of solar heat without the use of mechanical or electrical systems, such as pumps or fans.
Correct sequence of process drawings completed in the schematic design phase
bubble diagrams, prototype sketches, block diagram, schematic space plan
Schematic Design Phase
preliminary conceptual, spatial, and technical design of project – includes preliminary space planning often using relationship diagrams, matrices, bubble diagrams, blocking diagrams, stacking and fit plans, as well as initial furnishings, fixtures and equipment design/layout.
Programming Design Phase
exploring the functional requirements and relationships of the design
Prototype Sketch
Primary purpose is to determine how much square footage each function or space will potentially take up in the finished design.
four basic kinds of communication in a design office
- work assignment
- instructional
- reward and punishment
- social
Min. door clear opening width when door is at 90 degrees
32”
Openings more than 24” deep must have a clear width of
36”
minimum clear floor space required for a wheelchair
30” x 48”
MasterFormat
pre written specifications that cover nearly all types of products, methods of installation, and other variables that relate to a specific product or construction activity
Candlepower
The measurement of the intensity of a light source. This distribution of light can be represented either numerically or graphically and represents the shape and direction of the light coming from a luminaire
Noncombustible
material that will not ignite and burn when subject to fire
Parquet Flooring
prefabricated as panels with square edges, tongue-and-groove joints, or splines, and can be installed as a floating floor or nailed. Can go over most existing flooring
Building Commissioning
the process of inspecting, testing, starting up, and adjusting building systems and then verifying and documenting that they are operating as intended and meet the design criteria of the contract documents.
Environmental Design Research
AKA Evidence Based Design: making decisions about the planning of physical space based on
Pilaster
a shallow rectangular projection from a wall, architecturally treated as a column
Register
the devise that controls the volume of air and its distribution in an HVAC System
Convector
transfers heat from a hot water system to the air
Minimum Size of an Access Panel
2’x2’
Beam and Girder System
common steel structural system
Open-Web Steel Joists
typically in one story or low-rise buildings with wide-column spacing; suspended ceilings and other lightweight interior elements can be easily hung from the bottom of the joists
Ventilation
Refers to the process of replacing all or part of a space’s air to control temperature or other factors. It is required to provide fresh oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, to remove odor and to carry away contaminants. It includes the circulation of air within the space as well as exchange of air to the exterior.
Centralized Organization
a central, dominant space around which a number of secondary spaces are grouped i.e. atriums
Parti Diagram
Communicates the intent of your design concept. It communicates the organizing idea behind behind the project, such as a concept based on geometry and organized in a curvilinear or angular layout. They use graphic images to represent abstraction in a more direct visual manner to provide the main organization concepts of the theme.
Isometric Drawing
projection lines make equal angles to the picture plane and all axes are drawn to the same scale
Anthroprometrics
the measure of size, proportions and range of motion of the human body
5:1 Brightness Ratio
between task and nearby general surroundings
3:1 Brightness Ratio
between task and immediate surroundings (ex: between a piece of paper and the desktop
10:1 Brightness Ratio
between the task and more remote surroundings
Task-Ambient Lighting System
the most common in commercial settings; this system provides a general illumination level with separate light fixtures used at individual work stations or wherever task focused light is needed. They are energy efficient and respond to what each individual need, creating a more pleasant work environment
Transmission Loss
only accounts for the sound lost through partitions
ASHRAE Standard 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
voluntary standard, however most building codes require it
In addition to setting minimum outdoor air requirements for ventilation, the standard includes provisions for managing sources of contamination, controlling indoor humidity, and filtering building air, as well as requirements for HVAC system construction and startup, and operation and maintenance of systems.
Accessible Forward Reach Dimensions
15”-44”
Accessible Side Reach Dimensions
9”-48”
Oblique Drawing
has one of its planes parallel to the picture plane so an existing floor plan or elevation can be used as the starting point
Parti Diagram
comes after bubble diagram and design concept and having a thorough understanding of the site, the client, and the functional and spatial aspects of your design
Laminated Glass
2 layers of glass with an inner layer of PVB, and provides superior acoustic privacy.
Stainmaster is the trade name for:
Nylon
Scotchguard is the trade name for
3M
Avora FR is the trade name for
Polyester
Active Design
focuses on the role of designers in dealing with the urgent health crises of obesity and related diseases such as diabetes
Form
generated with lines, planes volumes, and to a lesser extent points
Ergonomics
the scientific study of the physical functioning of humans in the environment
ASHRAE
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
ASTM
American Society for Testing Materials
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Benchmarking
a process of studying performance statistics of a firm against performance statistics of other firms — especially those producing similar types of projects, and those considered the top of the pyramid in terms of best firms using best practices.
Isometric
all axes are drawn to the same scale; the projection lines make equal angles to the picture plane
Convergent Photogrammetry
using photographs from different angles to create a three-dimensional model. This process takes a long time but is relatively inexpensive.
Stereophotogrammetry
superimposing one photograph of a building over another, creating an image that can easily be converted into a 3-D depiction. This process requires special software and equipment.
Rectified photography
a technique for producing scalable images of building façades
Orthophotography
a technique for aggregating digital photographs into a single, three-dimensional image, using sophisticated computer programs.
A vertical change in floor finish cannot exceed what height without a sloped transition piece?
1/4”
Human Factors
the correctness of fit between objects and spaces and the needs of the people using those objects and spaces, as it relates to the human scale — an environment designed to fit a person as opposed to equipment, such as a vehicle.
GREENGUARD Certification
helps manufacturers create –and helps buyers identify–interior products and materials that have low chemical emissions, improving the quality of the air in which the products are used.
Greenguard certified products include building materials, furnishings, furniture, cleaning and maintenance products, electronic equipment, and personal care products.
No special seismic design is required for:
- structures in seismic design category a or b
- ceilings with areas less than 144 sq ft
- gypsum wallboard suspensions systems
- plaster and lath ceilings
Foot Lamberts
describe brightness either reflected or transmitted from a source or surface (luminance), and account for the projected area (i.e., only the area that you see when looking at the source). It is measured in candela per square meter.
Luminance
the perception of brightness of the light reflected from a surface - measured in candela per square meter
Illuminance
measures the amount of light hitting a surface - defines the luminous flux
Luminous Flux
the perceived power of light
Candela
the base unit of luminous intensity
Footcandles
tell us how much of that light is directed at a specific object we want to illuminate when it is 12 inches (or 1 foot) away.
Candlepower
a way of measuring how much light is produced by a lamp – a light bulb, or LED. It is a measure of light at the source (as equivalent to an ordinary wax candle) but not at the object you are lighting.
Noise Reduction
dependent not only on the transmission loss but also on the area of the partition separating the two spaces and the absorption of the surfaces in the quiet room (the one not producing the noise).
Sweets Directory
the building product source for the design and construction professional: Architects, Contractors, Subcontractors, Designers, Engineers, Facility Managers and Building Owners; indexes products by MasterFormat number
Resilient Channel
used to improve the acoustical properties of a wall by isolating the wallboard from rigid attachment to the framing.
Sprinkler Spacing
15’ max spacing from heads and 7.5” max spacing from the wall
