Free NCIDQ Exam Flashcards

The number of people a space is designed for in life-safety terms. Without fixed seating, divide the floor area by the occupant load factor for the space's function (gross or net, per IBC Table 1004.5); fixed seating is counted by seats. It drives the required number of exits and egress width, so it is a code calculation, not the client's headcount.

Changing a space's occupancy classification (for example, office to assembly) requires building-department review even when little construction is planned: the IBC requires a permit and a new certificate of occupancy for a change of occupancy, because egress, fire-protection, and accessibility rules follow the occupancy group, not the amount of physical work.

A design process that bases decisions on credible research and measured outcomes (such as studies linking daylight or acoustics to occupant well-being) rather than on precedent or personal preference alone. CIDQ lists it as a pre-design best practice, and it still requires judging whether a study actually fits the project's users and setting.

Accessibility codes set an enforceable legal minimum for specific conditions. Universal design is a broader best-practice goal: creating environments usable by the widest range of people, including those without disabilities, and it can exceed code minimums rather than simply satisfy them.

An adjacency matrix is a grid that records which spaces must be near or far from each other and how strongly. A bubble diagram is the graphic translation of that matrix: circles sized and positioned to show priority and proximity before any real geometry is drawn.

A programming diagram that allocates departments or functions to specific floors or building levels before detailed space planning begins. It is used on multi-floor projects to test vertical relationships (for example, keeping a loud function away from quiet floors) ahead of floor-by-floor layout.

Net assignable area is the usable floor area dedicated to a program function. Gross area adds circulation, walls, and building service space on top of that. Programming square-footage allocations must state which figure is being used, because the two can differ substantially on the same project.

Primary circulation is the main path linking entries, vertical cores, exits, and major destinations, so it carries the most traffic and often forms the egress route. Secondary circulation branches off it into individual rooms or workstations. Treating a primary route as secondary can leave a main path too narrow or obstructed.

A drawing that shows the ceiling as if mirrored onto the floor below, documenting ceiling height, lighting layout, and locations such as diffusers or sprinkler heads. A preliminary RCP is produced during space planning to coordinate early lighting intent with the floor plan.

Column spacing and bay dimensions set fixed obstructions that a space plan must work around. Furniture layouts, partition locations, and circulation widths are planned against the structural grid rather than against an open, unconstrained floor area.

The time between placing an order for furniture, fixtures, or equipment and its delivery to the site. Items are identified at the preliminary FF&E stage partly because long lead times can govern the overall project schedule if selections are delayed.

Hue is the color itself (red, blue). Value is how light or dark it is. Chroma (saturation) is how intense or muted it is. Two finishes can share a hue yet read very differently in a space because their value or chroma differs.

A finish material's sustainability profile (recycled content, sourcing, embodied carbon) is a separate consideration from its indoor air quality impact (such as VOC emissions). A material can score well on one and poorly on the other, so preliminary selections should screen for both.

Schematic design establishes and communicates the design concept through preliminary drawings, such as early elevations, finish direction, and space-planning refinements, so the client can confirm overall direction before the project moves into detailed, construction-ready documentation.

The program document is the quantitative record of space needs and requirements developed during programming. The design concept statement is a later, qualitative expression of the design's intent and character during schematics. Confusing the two can lead to mismatched client expectations.

Wayfinding is the full system of cues, such as sightlines, landmarks, and spatial sequencing, that helps people understand and navigate a space. Signage is only one tool within that system; a space can have excellent signage and still have poor wayfinding if the underlying spatial logic is confusing.

The distance a person travels from the most remote point on a story to the entrance of the nearest exit, measured along the natural, unobstructed path of travel. The 2021 IBC limit is not one fixed number: Table 1017.2 varies it by occupancy group and by whether the building is sprinklered.

Under the 2021 IPC, the IBC occupant load is divided in half by sex, unless approved statistical data show a different split, and the Table 403.1 ratio for the occupancy is applied to each half. Fractional results round up to the next whole fixture; for mixed occupancies, the fractions are summed first and then rounded up.

A fire barrier (IBC 707) is a fire-resistance-rated wall assembly, with continuity maintained, that restricts the spread of fire; its hourly rating depends on what it separates, such as shaft or exit enclosures. A smoke barrier (IBC 709) is a continuous membrane that restricts smoke movement and generally must also carry a 1-hour rating. The unrated smoke-control wall is a smoke partition (IBC 710).

In code terms, a plenum is an enclosed space, such as the cavity above a ceiling, that is part of the air-distribution system (for example, a return-air plenum). Then the mechanical code limits combustible materials exposed in it, so cabling and similar items must be plenum-rated. A ceiling cavity where all air stays inside ductwork is not a plenum. Its depth often trades off against ceiling height.

Line-voltage systems carry standard building power for general lighting and receptacles. Low-voltage systems, such as data, security, and many lighting controls, operate at a much lower level and typically have different cable, pathway, and separation requirements from line-voltage wiring.

Elevator hoistways, pits, any machine rooms, and code-required elevator lobbies or hoistway-opening protection (IBC Chapter 30) are fixed early and constrain the surrounding layout. Interior planning, finishes, and lobby design are coordinated to these fixed positions rather than moving them late in design.

A drawing that documents which existing elements will be removed versus retained before new work begins. It coordinates with hazardous-material abatement, structural constraints, and construction phasing, and it is a separate sheet from the new construction plan, so the contractor can price and sequence demolition on its own.

Construction documents assign each wall a partition type that specifies its assembly and, where applicable, its fire-resistance rating. The designation (not just the wall's location on the floor plan) is what tells the contractor which materials and detailing are legally required.

General notes apply to an entire drawing or sheet type. Keynotes are numbered references tied to specific symbols or locations and cross-referenced to a legend. Sheet notes apply only to the single sheet they appear on. Misreading which note type governs a detail is a common documentation error.

A detail showing how two different floor or wall materials meet, using a strip, reveal, or threshold to resolve differing material thicknesses and allow for movement. Transitions must be documented even when the finish plan shows a clean line between materials.

Furniture plans must show that furniture leaves required clearances open: accessible routes, door maneuvering clearances, clear floor space at accessible elements, and egress aisle widths. Loose furniture is often laid out after the base plans are set, so checking it against those clearances prevents a layout from blocking a route the code plan assumed was clear.

Elevations covering feature walls, wet walls, or glazing require more detailed annotation than typical wall elevations because they combine multiple materials, waterproofing, or structural glazing conditions that a standard interior elevation does not need to address.

Interior designers coordinate with specialty consultants, such as structural, electrical, lighting, mechanical, and plumbing engineers, rather than producing those disciplines' drawings. Construction documents must reflect agreements reached with each consultant, not just the designer's own assumptions.

When drawings from different disciplines conflict, a documented hierarchy of information, not the interior designer's unilateral judgment, determines which document governs. Identifying a conflict should prompt coordination with the responsible consultant rather than a silent fix on the interior drawings alone.

This plan coordinates outlet and device locations for AV, low-voltage, and FF&E needs with the electrical engineer's circuiting and the energy code. The interior designer locates and specifies devices; the electrical engineer determines circuits, loads, and code compliance behind them.

A standardized numbering system that organizes construction specifications into divisions by work type. Interior finishes are commonly organized under Division 09, and furnishings under Division 12, which keeps specification sections consistent and cross-referenceable across a project.

Open and closed describe whether substitutions are allowed. An open spec permits alternatives, such as several named products, "or equal" language, or performance criteria many products can meet. A closed spec allows only the named product or products, with no substitutions. A proprietary spec identifies a product by manufacturer and model, and it can be closed or open.

A specification approach that names a reference product or system to establish the required quality and performance standard, typically followed by "or approved equal" language. Whether substitutions are actually allowed depends on that qualifying language, not on the basis-of-design product alone.

A feasibility study evaluates whether a project is viable within site, zoning, budget, and schedule constraints before significant design resources are committed. A project can be programmatically desirable and still fail feasibility if those constraints cannot be reconciled.

Verifying actual as-built conditions, current zoning, and code status of an existing building rather than relying on old drawings or assumptions. Existing record drawings frequently do not match current field conditions after years of unrecorded alterations.

Identifying every party with interest or influence over a project's outcome, not only the paying client, such as end users, facilities staff, and code officials, and clarifying each one's role early so approvals and requirements are not discovered late in the process.

A scheduling technique that finds the longest chain of dependent tasks, which sets the shortest possible project duration. A delay to any task on the critical path delays the whole project, while a task with float can slip by that amount without moving the finish date, so not every late task is equally urgent.

A contingency is a reserve held for unknown or unforeseen costs that may never be spent. An allowance is a specific budgeted amount for an item not yet selected, such as a finish, that gets reconciled once the actual selection and price are known. The two serve different budgeting purposes.

A structured review process aimed at reducing cost or improving value while preserving the required function and performance of the design. Value engineering is distinct from simply cutting scope, because a true VE option must still meet the original design and performance intent.

In design-bid-build, design is completed first, then contractors competitively bid the finished documents, and the owner holds separate design and construction contracts. In design-build, one entity holds a single contract for both design and construction, which can overlap design and construction phases.

A Request for Proposal (RFP) solicits an approach, price, and scope for a defined project. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) solicits a firm's credentials and experience to build a shortlist, typically before fees or project-specific pricing are discussed at all.

Optional scope items priced separately from the base bid, allowing an owner to add or remove scope based on available budget after bids are received, without having to rebid the entire project just to adjust scope.

A building permit approval is a jurisdictional code-compliance review by the building department and is required before related construction can start. A design or budget sign-off is an internal client or owner approval that keeps the project moving forward but does not substitute for code review.

A shop drawing is a fabricator's detailed drawing showing exactly how an item will be built or installed. A submittal is the broader category, which can include shop drawings plus product data and samples, sent for the designer's review before fabrication or installation proceeds.

Under AIA A201, a change order records the owner, contractor, and architect's agreement on a change in the work, contract sum, and contract time, and all three sign it. A construction change directive, signed by the owner and architect, orders the change to proceed before price or time is agreed; a change order formalizes it once they are agreed.

A cutting for approval is a sample cut from the actual material run or dye lot to confirm color and finish match before full yardage ships. A strike-off is a sample produced from the actual printing or weaving setup to confirm a pattern is accurate before the full production run begins.

Substantial completion means the owner can use the space for its intended purpose even though minor items remain outstanding. Final completion means every contract obligation, including those remaining punch-list items, has actually been completed and accepted.

A list of remaining deficiencies or incomplete items identified around the time of substantial completion that the contractor must correct before final completion and final payment. It documents what still needs correction, not a record of everything the contractor has already finished.

A structured assessment of how a completed space actually performs for its users after move-in, feeding lessons learned into future projects. A POE happens after occupancy and is distinct from the punch-list process that closes out the construction contract itself.