Bldg Tech - Ramp: Dorf ARE Graphic Workshop Summary of Notes

(Note: This is MY summary of the notes notes from the Norman Dorf ARE Graphic Workshop, for complete notes, visit the areforum.com ftp site.)
Building Technology Division
General
- Don't tweak your designs if you have extra time - you will run out of time, most likely in the middle of tweaking.
- computer does not grade on quality of design, only check against code/program data

Accessibility Ramp

- Review Program & Code
o Make shorthand notes of specific requirements
o my last mock exam i made fatal flaw of doorswing from corridor to lobby drawing them based on the language in the program "provide wall and doors connecting the Lobby to the corridor". The swing was in the opposite direction of the egress path, FATAL FLAW.

- Keep solution simple, orthogonal

- Look for clues
o Doors, how many are shown
o Don't reduce exit clearance on ramp, keep all ramps same width

- Watch for obstacles in layout

- Use sketch tools to layout ramps and landings

- Consider exiting circulation

- Computer grader looks at residual spaces, make sure they are accessible
o this does not mean ADA, if you have solved correctly there won't be any wierd unusable leftover spaces.

- Don't overbuild: provide minimum requirements

- Changes in direction require 5x5 minimum landing, 60" circular clearance is under much debate on the forums, it's safer to provide the clearance between the railings and not let encroach.
two issues (90d turns & 180d turns):
o 90d turns require 60" square, ramps can be widened to 5'.
o 180d turns require 60" CLEAR circle, provide deeper landing at these locations.

Fatal Errors:
- Program
o missing elements, check all rails, include at landings +6" or less
o don't violate edge of existing slab

- Design Logic
o more than one stair/ramp
o residual space unusable
o Inefficient solution, incorrect slope, not meeting code minimum
o unclear circulation

- Code
o New doors swing in right direction
o Riser height and ramp slope
o stair/ramp too narrow
o missing railings
o missing railing extension
o Landings too small
o circulation obstruction
o Clearance at virtual landings, top and bottom

- Extra Notes
o Unclear issue, existing landing, do not reduce width of existing landing. Instead draw new landing up to it maintaining it's existing width.
o ie. don't have railings overlap existing landing
o See code note "No portion of the ramp or stairs may encroach on the existing upper level".
o there have been many discussions as to acceptability of utilizing the existing landing but it boils down to going safer route.
o Ref: REF LINK

o added door does not need to be double, wall with single door is deemed safest route by forum members.

Bldg Tech - Structural: Dorf ARE Graphic Workshop Summary of Notes

(Note: This is MY summary of the notes notes from the Norman Dorf ARE Graphic Workshop, for complete notes, visit the areforum.com ftp site.)
Building Technology Division
General
- Don't tweak your designs if you have extra time - you will run out of time, most likely in the middle of tweaking.
- computer does not grade on quality of design, only check against code/program data

Structural (general)
- Only design for vertical loads, no lateral (pretend you're on the moon)

- Watch for two level roof

- Read entire program, make shorthand notes of requirements
- high ceiling areas
- clerestory location, etc.

- Show all elements of support (think checklist, see below)
- Identify high ceiling roof (see program)
- Dorf suggests column and beam only
- Bearing walls and Lintels can be used but can be more complicated
- Personally I only suggest for low roof structure

Drawing order:

Lower level:
(note: Dorf suggests starting at Upper, I prefer switching between upper and lower plans a couple times to get familiar and starting at lower. Do what's comfortable to you.)
(time saver note: draw all of one element at the same time, zoom into one room and pan around with scroll bars at side and bottom of screen. This will save from switching to different tools.)

- Bearing walls first
- Most solutions can be solved without bearing walls, use at your own risk
- Don't use at window walls
- No bearing walls on top of col's BUT col's on top of bearing walls acceptable
- Don't forget Lintels: Extend into wall 4-6 inches

- Columns next (or first if not using bearing walls)
- See timesaver note above
- Layout for maximum spans (typically not in program)
- See Joist and Beam below
- See program but typically ok in window walls and clerestory.
- Must be in walls/window, NOT in open space or openings

- Beams: ~20'-40' spans +/- is considered economical
- Extend beams to middle of column, DO NOT stop at edge of column
- Beam can be continuous over intermediate columns

- Joists = ~30' span range is considered economical
- Span in shortest direction, keep all spans same direction if possible
- Joist spacing = Max Deck span in program requirements
- Move/adjust joist spacing layout to middle of existing walls on ALL sides
- Ensure Joists are showing at parallel endwalls to provide decking support
- Provide bearing at end span walls perpendicular to joists only, none required at parallel walls.

- Decking: draw to middle of existing walls / new beams
- Runs perpendicular to Joists

- Clerestory: Dont' draw on lower level but:
- Don't forget beam at this level under clerestory for support, check program for clerestory location.


Upper Level:

- Columns: draw and stack over lower level colums at high roof area

- Beams: if you add any columns to reduce spans, be sure to add it on lower level plan too.
- see beam rules above

- Joists: See joist rules above
- check program for high roof requirements

- Decking: (Don't forget the decking!)
- See decking rules above


Fatal flaws:

- Missing elements

- Columns inside rooms (keep in walls)

- columns in openings

- clerestory location

- too many columns

- over structured

- redundancy

- un-needed bearing walls / beams

- over max spans

- Upper columns missing columns below

- column offsets (asume this means upper and lower not aligning (zoom people!))

- Beams / Joists: be sure they overlap bearing structure, nothing stops adjacent, everything sits on something
- beams onto columns: passover or to middle of end column
- joists to center of walls/beams: align joist over ends at non bearing parallel walls (how else will you support the decking)

- decking to center of walls

- Bearing wall openings, Don't forget the lintels, make sure they overlap the wall 4"-6"


Checklist:

- review
- program (take shorthand notes)
- review plans (switch between upper and lower)
- some requirements will show up in plan that are not mentioned in the program and vise versa

- draw stacking columns on both levels

- beams or bearing walls at all perpendicular joist bearing points

- Lintels in bearing walls

- beam at lower level to support under clerestory

- Joists

- Decking

Bldg Tech - Section: Dorf ARE Graphic Workshop Summary of Notes

(Note: This is MY summary of the notes notes from the Norman Dorf ARE Graphic Workshop, for complete notes, visit the areforum.com ftp site.)

Building Technology Division

General

- Don't tweak your designs if you have extra time - you will run out of time, most likely in the middle of tweaking.

- computer does not grade on quality of design, only check against code/program data

Building section

- Read plan with all layers on

- Draw section over plan right below cut line.

- Draw grade first

- Draw slab on TOP of grade

- Slab is discontinuous between bearing/stem walls

- Draw footings (check frost depth requirement)

- perimeter footings: stem wall starts at top of slab, top of footing aligns with frost depth

- frost depth: measure from grade line, not top of slab

- interior footings: be sure to place at any bearing walls as indicated.

- Stem breaks slab

- Top of footing aligns with bottom of slab & grade line, unless program states otherwise

- Ceilings: Draw sketch lines/rectangles for required ceiling height first

- Draw ceiling line

- Draw lighting clearance sketch rectangle (usually 8" but read program)

- Duct / joist size: Look for largest joist/duct COMBINATION that share common ceiling area in entire floor area.

- Click here for detailed description see comment posted on Sun Mar 15th by Sinkwcal

- Draw sketch rectangles again for duct(even though that size duct may not show up in the actual section) and joist

- Draw joists: check size being cut through and direction

- be sure to move to align with layout on plan

- overlap halfway into bearing walls

- Draw ducts being cut: put right under joist

- Non-rated & Non bearing wall Partitions: stop 6" above ceiling line & cut ceiling

- Rated wall partitions: cut ceiling line and stops underside of floor/roof deck above

- For 2nd floor and high ceiling spaces, repeat ceilings and duct/joist size above

- Don't forget parapets, see program for required height

Common Fatal Errors

- Missing Program requirements: Read thoroughly and write a checklist, also, check it off as you go or at end(when you think you are finished)

- Missing elements: Ducts, Partitions, Interior Footings, Parapets (see checklist)

-Joists spanning in wrong direction

- improper dimensioning: check and re-check floor & roof heights

- Technical errors:

- Footing depths

- Rated partitions & their height

- Joists NOT supported on walls, Carry into wall 4-6 inches

Studying for Building Tech. Exam

I take the exam this Tuesday, 3/17.
I studied for 8 hours yesterday, ran through all of the tests and posted them to the areforum for feedback.
I feel pretty good about them except I need to do the following:
- Better my timing on the section, mech/elec & stair tests.
- List requirements to avoid fatal flaws, ie. forgetting roof decking on structural test.

Today, i will be typing up notes on the Dorf seminar notes. only items that will have a benefit to my memory.
Then i will retake all mock exams again.

cheers!

Updated Exam Schedule

After much thought and more research I have slightly changed my exam order and schedule. I was going to complete all seven tests I have left in six months. I've hit delays due to work schedule and don't see a good reason to kill myself over this. So, I have pared it down to only five tests in the next five months. I will put off structural until after June when the two 3.1's are combined as one test in 4.0.
Here it is, final revision:>

2/21 - Building Technology
Must pass this in order to get credit for four other tests. If not, all is lost.

3/17 - Building Planning
This is safe to take while waiting for Building Tech. results. It transitions to only one test so IF I fail Bldg. Tech. I won't have wasted time studying a test I have to retake in July.

4/18 - Mechanical and Electrical
This one is tied to Building Tech. but I plan on passing both so no worries.

5/18 - Site Planning
Site planning and Pre-Design are tied together in v4.0. Must pass both to avoid retakes later.

6/17 - Pre-design
Has been touted as a summary exam of all other tests.

7/21 - Structural v4.0
This is one test instead of two in v3.1.

OK this is it, I will be studying Building planning this afternoon. Enjoy the rain in California.

Bldg. Tech - Structural, Ramp & Roof

Study for this test is mostly all on the practice software and on the forum. Not many review notes to type up. My entries will Mostly be about logging study time for the graphic series.
I may get into more detail later.

Took practice tests for structural, Ramp & Roof alternates tonight.

Structural took 26 minutes to take, posted on areforum for review.

Ramp took 35 minutes to take, posted on areforum for review.

Roof took 52 minutes to take, posted on areforum for review.

Studied a total of 2 hours tonight(1/23)

Bldg. Tech Study for Stair & Ramp

1/21 - Took 2nd stair test. Completed in 32 minutes. Forgot one railing and landing too narrow at one door. Must remember to check all rails and door landings, even doors not engaged with stairway.
Received some good comments back on forum. LOOK

1/22 - took 2nd ramp test. completed in 32 minutes, (strange). Just posted to areforum for comments. Awaiting reviews.
LOOK

Study log

Studied Saturday 1/10 for approximately 5 hours. Took Practice tests for Ramp, Stair, Structure and Section. Posted them on ARE forum for review comments.

Just finished studying Sunday night for 2 hours (11:20pm-1:10pm)
Took Practice Stair and Mechanical/Electrical tests and posted to forum.

areforum posts

Building Technology - Mech / Elec practice

Here's my first pass at the M/E section of the BT test. This took 62 minutes to complete. Practiced the Roof layout last night but forgot to upload it. Next time... This is on review at the AREFORUM.ORG

Back on the Wagon

Finally set a new study & test schedule.
Seven more to go, in the following order, every two weeks.
01/17/09 - Building Technology
01/31/09 - Site Planning
02/14/09 - Building Design
02/28/09 - Mechanical and Electrical Systems
03/14/09 - General Structures
03/28/09 - Lateral Forces
04/11/09 - Pre-Design

Studied for BT tonight. Spent 1.5 hours taking roof test on NCARB practice software.

delays delays delays!

working way too much overtime, will be stepping back in line soon, no progress on building Technology study or test date set . . .

Second Pass Letter!

Yes! Took MM on 7/21 and received my letter today (8/9). I passed! I knew I passed when I took the test but it's still hard to open once you receive it.

I'm studying for Building Technology now, gonna take it probably a week from Monday.