Project Planning & Design 3 Flashcards
How should the performance of materials be considered during the design phase?
Materials should be tested to assure they will perform as expected and designed.
The life span of the material should be evaluated to make sure it will withstand normal wear and tear.
If a building extends underground below the level of the ______ there is a need for an active drainage system, including a sump pump.
Water table.
What are two things that should be done in a plumbing system design to prevent contamination of the water supply.
Provide for secondary drain access at all fixtures to prevent any used or supplied water coming into contact with a supply spigot.
Faucets need to be above the level where a basin (such as a kitchen sink) would overflow.
ADA showers must be equipped with:
A fold-down seat, a showerhead attached to a flexible supply hose, grab bars, and the absence of a front curb or step-in that would prevent access via a wheelchair.
What is a valve that operates by placing a barrier or gate in the path of water flow called, and name an advantage.
Gate valve.
One advantage of the gate valve is that when the valve is open there is nothing restricting the water flow.
What is a valve that pushes water from one chamber into the next, thus, losing some water pressure.
Globe valve.
An electronically controlled valve that can go from open to closed rapidly is called a:
Solenoid valve.
Every vent needs to connect to the stack vent or otherwise be part of a _______ that exhausts at least a foot above the roof surface.
vent stack
Waste (sewage) is conveyed from the building’s waste system to a public sewer system through a portion of pipe referred to as the building:
Sewer.
In systems where waste water may be collected below the level of the sewer - such as a house with a washing machine in a basement - waste water would need to be pumped back up high enough so that it could be fed by gravity into the building sewer. Typically this requires some sort of a catchment area and pump mechanism. The pump is know as a:
Sump pump.
In cases where there is a commercial kitchen (such as a restaurant) a place to collect grease is required. This is called a:
Grease trap.
The main vent for a building is called the:
Stack vent.
What does DWV stand for?
Drain, waste, and vent.
What is a trap and where is it in a plumbing system?
Each fixture is required to have a trap. From there, the waste connects to a sloped drain pipe and that in turn is connected to a vent.
Depending on the building code, there may be a requirement for an additional trap that would trap gases from the sewer traveling to the building.
What are drains?
These pipes eventually lead to the lowest level of drain pipe, which is called the building drain.
Water suitable for drinking is called:
Potable water.
A fire sprinkler system that has water in the lines is called?
A wet-pipe system.
A fire sprinkler system that has pressurized air in the pipes is called?
A dry-pipe.
Dry-pipe systems are necessary if there is a concern about water freezing in the pipes, otherwise a wet-pipe system is a simpler solution.
At an absolute minimum a roof will need a slope of _____ down to drain pipes.
1/4” per 10’
In the context of Architectural design, the delivery of water and the elimination of waste via water handling systems is part of which type of architectural service?
The Architect’s Scope of Basic Services.
Generally speaking, water will be delivered to where it is needed either from below, via pumping systems, or from above using a combination of gravity and pumping. These two methods may also be called:
Upfeed or downfeed systems.
Why should the plumbing system designer strive to have as few bends and turns in the supply piping as possible?
To avoid having significant friction losses in the supply pipes.
In the discipline of HVAC what are the primary means for delivering heat?
Air and Water.
What does HVAC stand for?
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
Define humidity.
A measure of how much water vapor is in the atmosphere.
What is conduction?
The transfer of heat between two parts of a stationary system caused by a temperature difference between the parts.
What is the unit of measure that corresponds to the insulating value of clothing needed to maintain a person in comfort sitting at rest in a room at 70 degrees - typically a business suit?
1 CLO.
Term used to describe the concept of heat transfer by mass motion of a fluid such as air or water when heated molecules are caused to move away from the source of heat, carrying energy with it.
Convection.
The process in which energy is emitted as particles of waves by one body, transmitted through a medium or space and absorbed by another body.
Radiation.
A temperature change that we can feel is called:
Sensible heat.
When water changes in to water vapor we call this process:
Evaporation.
The reverse of vaporization, the change in physical state from gas phase into liquid phase is called:
Condensation.
Which climates are the most difficult to cool passively or without mechanical means?
Hot and humid climates.
The typical day temperature used when calculating the number of heating or cooling degree days is:
65 F
Heat gain or loss when air moves through cracks or gaps in a building assembly is called:
Infiltration.
Relative to the current temperature, the measure of humidity expressed as a percentage is called:
Relative humidity.
What are VOCs?
Volatile Organic Compounds: a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short or long-term adverse health effects.
A naturally occurring fungus that grows when it has building materials to eat and moisture in the air.
Mold.
What is a BTU?
British Thermal Unit: This is a measure of heating capacity.
If you could apply one BTU of heat to a pound of water, the water would rise in temperature by 1 degree F.
The BTU is a way to simplify things into a single “unit of heat.”
What are CFCs?
Chlorofluorocarbons: no longer used as these particles can destroy the ozone.
How many BTUs per hour are equivalent to one ton of HVAC capacity?
12,000 BTUs
A _____ is what placed at the delivery end of a duct when the supply air is ducted through a wall or from under the floor.
Register.
If the register doesn’t have operable fins but just a grate or wire weave it is simply known as a:
Grill.
What are used to distribute air from above and can take on a variety of shapes?
Diffusers.
An active air-return system, without the ducts that collects return air in a sealed off area where air can be distributed is known as a:
Plenum.
The single best way to reduce reliance on the HVAC system, and thus reduce energy consumption and operating costs is:
Providing appropriate building assemblies.
What is R-value.
A building materials resistance to heat transmission.
Based on the time it takes for 1 BTU of heat to transfer through a material.
Conventional wisdom says to place a vapor barrier on the side of the insulation where it tends to be the _____.
warmest
A temperature at which water vapor is not condensing into water any faster than water would be vaporizing into the air is known as the:
Dew point.
Give a simple definition of electricity.
A fundamental form of energy observable in positive and negative forms that occurs naturally (as in lighting) or is produced (as in a generator) and is expressed in the flow of electrons.
Besides being a well-known rental car company, what is hertz?
A unit of frequency measured in cycles per second. One (Hz) is equal to one cycle per second.
Electricity flowing in a conductor is called _____ and is measured in _____?
current; amperes (amps)
The conduit that is most commonly used in construction and is most easy to bend is called:
EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing).
What are two basic electrical circuit arrangements and what is the difference between the two?
Series circuits: devices are wired one after another in a series.
Parallel circuits: two or more loads in a circuit are connected between the same two points.
A flow of electrical current that takes place at a constant time rate and in the same direction through a circuit is called:
Direct current (DC)
When the flow of electrical current moves in sine waves, this type of current is called:
Alternating current (AC)
What is Power as it relates to energy? What is the unit used to describe it?
Power is the rate at which energy is used or the rate at which work is done. The unit to describe it is the Watt (W).
What are some of these common electrical abbreviations: C/B; A; GND; AFF; NIC; SD; WP; HID.
C/B: Circuit Breaker; A: Amps / Amperes; GND: Ground; AFF: Above Finish Floor; NIC: Not in Contract; SD: Smoke Detector; WP: Weatherproof; HID: High Intensity Discharge Lamp
A device that either steps up or steps down alternating current of one voltage to an alternating current of another voltage is called:
A transformer.
A typical service meter measures power in what unit?
kWh: kiloWatt hours.
What is sub-metering?
Sub-metering refers to meters that separate different sorts of usages from each other, such as a meter for lighting and another for HVAC uses.
The ratio of the average power used and the maximum power demand is called:
The load factor.
When several busbars are assembled in a special metal housing it is called:
Busway or busduct.
Define the term grounding.
A safe path of travel for electricity to discharge to (typically the earth itself).
An overflow of electricity is called a _____. When two hot wires are unintentionally connected it is called a _____.
surge;
short circuit
True of False:
Typically the neutral wire is directly connected to the grounding wire at the breaker box.
True.
What is a circuit breaker?
A switch that trips itself if there is too much current in a specific circuit. It “breaks” the connection between the power deliver wires and stops the flow of electricity.
What is romex?
Romex is a brand name of non-metallic (NM) building wire that is sheathed in a plastic coating and is very commonly used especially in residential construction.
Electrical lines are called “cables” when the cross section is _____ AWG or larger.
6
Define resistance as it relates to electricity.
Resistance (R) is expressed in Ohms and mathematically defined as the amount of resistance in a conductor that would allow one amp of current if there is one volt of force.
The largest likely impacts on electric lighting requirements and design for a building are derived from:
Architectural orientation, ceiling height, massing, and section profiles determine daylight availability in the building.
The calculated amount of illumination on a surface is called a:
Foot candle (FC)
What is a lumen (l)?
SI unit of luminous flux, a measure of the total amount of visible light emitted by a source. One lumen of luminous flux uniformly cast on 1 square foot of area creates an illuminate of 1 foot candle.
There are two kinds of lighting to consider when planning the lighting of a space:
Natural light and artificial light.
The variables to be considered when designing for varying levels of illumination for different tasks include:
Nature of the task; age of occupants; reflectance levels in the room; and need for speed and accuracy with tasks being performed.
Two types of glare that a lighting designer should be aware of:
Direct Glare: a light source in the field of vision that causes interference/distraction with a visual task.
Reflective Glare: when a light source is reflected from a viewing surface into the eye and interferes with a viewing task. The critical zone for direct glare is in the area above a 45 degree angle from the light source.
When direct lighting is used to produce clearly defined lighting levels in accordance with the light required to complete detailed work such as reading, writing, paperwork, or scientific experiments, is called:
Task lighting
This type of lighting is generally used for circulation and general lighting to offer a “sense of space” throughout the structure. This type of lighting is similar to outdoor light experienced on an overcast day. There are no sharp shadows produced with this type of lighting, since the light is coming from all directions.
Ambient lighting.
This type of lighting is used to provide illumination to pathways for exiting a space should an emergency arise.
Emergency or egress lighting.
The illuminated “EXIT” sign is an example of emergency lighting.
This type of light output points all the light in the direction of the task.
Direct.
This type of light output throws all the light towards a reflective ceiling to illuminate a room.
Indirect.
Name some of the general types of luminaries.
Surface mounted; recessed; suspended; freestanding; wall mounted; and accessory lighting.
Define Sound Transmission Class (STC).
A number that signifies how well a building material will reduce the force of an airborne sound. Higher STC ratings means that a product will help insulate a space from noise intrusion, an important design aspect when developing a project near busy city streets or freeways.
What could be potential side effects of a space that has a high level of reverberation?
Too much reverberation in a space can cause normal speech to be difficult to hear and understand. As a contrast, too much absorption won’t allow a voice to carry across a space. A fine balance of acoustics is necessary to make a space function well when it comes to sound, particularly when hearing and understanding spoken words is important, such as in a classroom.
What happens when you double the distance between a source of noise and the receiver?
Doubling the distance from the source of sound and the receiver who is hearing it will lower the intensity by 6dB.
Where should you place a wall or row of tress if you want to reduce noise levels on a site?
Using a wall or row of trees to block noise on a site would best be placed close to the noise source to stop it before it reaches unwanted areas.
What is the most commonly used type of communication system within a building?
Telephone systems are the most common and popular form of communication within a building. Phones can be linked to server systems and can be accessed remotely or online through the computer system.
Which portion of an alarm system is important in order to receive assistance in the event of an intrusion?
The notification system must be in tact in order for police to be alerted of an alarm and to respond. Notification systems may also alert the building owner.
What is typically required for building wiring in order to reduce the risk of fire?
Conduits are used to protect cables and wiring within building systems. In addition to fire protection, the conduit limits the exposure of harmful gases, which may be emitted from the cables.
What are three design options that must be considered when designing an elevator system within a building?
- Size of the elevator based on building size and occupant load;
- Number of floors within the building and overall height;
- Elevator cap capacity and speed
How do you calculate elevator speed required based on the building height?
Elevator speed can be determined by multiplying 1.6 by the building height and adding 350.
For example, if a building is 50’ tall, the equation would be (1.6 x 50’) + 350’ ==> 80’ + 350’ ==> 430’/minute.
What safety features are included in elevator design?
There are several safety features equipped in elevator systems, including but not limited to:
- a main break;
- governor to regulate speed;
- bumpers in the pit to slow the car at the ground level;
- sensors at the doors which will reopen the door if a person or object is sensed in the opening
Can an elevator be included as part of the egress exiting system within a building?
No. Elevators are not considered a safe means of egress from a building in the case of an emergency such as a fire. If such an event occurs, the elevators will return to the lowest level and automatically open the doors.
Can an escalator be included as part of the egress exiting system within a building?
No. Due to the fact that escalators generally move in only one direction, they are not considered to be a safe means of egress from a building. They also are difficult to fire proof but are generally equipped with automatic emergency shut off features that stop the movement of the stair belt and allow them to be used as conventional stairs in the event of an emergency.
What type of fire alarm will detect the presence of smoke?
Photoelectric detectors will sense the presence of smoke when the sensor light on the device is obstructed by smoke present within a space. These are required as life safety devices since smoke inhalation is usually more lethal than the actual fire itself.
What are the requirements for fire detectors according to the building code?
Fire detection devices, such as smoke alarms, must be placed in all sleeping rooms such as hotel rooms or bedrooms in apartment buildings as well as in places of public assembly.
Fire dampers must also be located within the mechanical system so that smoke is not allowed to circulate throughout the building.
Describe a dry standpipe system.
Dry standpipes are not directly connected to a water supply until the fire department connects a hose to the connection point on the outside of the building. Water will then be supplied to the inside of the building to help combat the fire.
What is a wet standpipe system?
Wet standpipes are constantly primed with water and available at a moment’s notice to protect a building in the event of a fire. They are the most common type of standpipe and are required in buildings that are over three stories high.
Roofs and floors generally act as _____ and carry lateral loads.
diaphragms
When plywood is used in wood construction to create diaphragms, special attention should be paid to what?
Nailing patterns.
Building codes prescribe nailing patterns for plywood diaphragms. Nailing patterns are described for field and edge conditions. Nails are generally spaced closer at the edges.
Why is steel a commonly chosen structural material?
Its high strength, durability, ductile, availability, rapid fabrication and construction time make it an appealing system selection.
More economic than concrete, it conserves time through its inherit efficiency and ability to span long spaces.
Typical girders span 25’-40’;
Typical beams span 8’-10’;
It is most typically used for multi-flor construction due to its strength and continuity in beams, columns, floors and roof decks.
Concrete poured over decking creates rigid diaphragms for the floor system.
What is one disadvantage of using a steel structural system?
One disadvantage, in regards to cost, code and construction, includes the fire proofing requirements of steel.
Name some of the benefits of using a wood structure in a building?
Wood - as an exemplary environmentally friendly building material - has low impact on air and water quality and has renewable, recyclable properties.
It promotes the future of the environment as well as its own.
Fewer greenhouse gasses are emitted in its processes than alternative building materials.
Even after being utilized as part of framing, finishes and end products, it continues to store carbon dioxide.
What is a critical element to consider when laying out the ductwork design for the mechanical system?
Due to the significant sizing of ducts, ceiling clearance must be provided and considered in the design phases of a project. Main ducts branching directly from the centralized system measure considerably large, whereas ducts branching from them diminish in diameter run to service spaces.
What are some elements required for consideration in the electrical system design?
Regardless of the function or size, service voltage supplied to a wall receptacle remains 120 volts.
Considerations in selecting an electrical distribution system include initial cost and maintained cost.
Priorities must be accessed, including initial expense for flexible configurations or selecting permanent solutions to satisfy the requirements of the space.
What is a “sustainably harvested” material?
- A material that is gathered without killing or destroying the original source.
- Rather than chopping down an entire tree to get to the wood, a sustainably harvested material is collected by trimming the plant. Nothing else dies in this process, ensuring material for future generations.
- These materials are often referred to as “rapidly renewable” materials, since they typically grow back within 5 to 7 years.
- Examples of such sustainably harvested materials include: cork, bamboo, or palm wood.
What are 4 things you should consider when selecting resource efficient materials?
- Recycled content
- Renewable
- Resource efficient
- Locally sourced
Hazardous materials can be mitigated in what two ways?
- Removing hazardous materials from the site and properly disposing per federal, state and local guidelines.
- Encapsulating and permanently sealing the material on the site per federal, state and local guidelines.
