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Week 13 blog: regulations

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  Week 13 blog: regulations This section is all about regulations for building and the different codes and jurisdictions to consider. It also talks about the phases of a design project which are very interesting because we have used them over the course of the semester to do our studio projects. The phases of design are Programming, Schematic design, design development, contract documents, construction administration, and post occupancy evaluation.  There are also building codes. The international building code council (ICC) promulgates a new international building code every 3 years through the ICC Code development process. The current version of the IBC is the 2021 edition (ICC IBC - 2021). Building codes can be used to describe means of egress. The primary purpose of a building code is to get people out of a building safely in the event of a fire or other emergencies. A designer can provide alternative paths of travel to avoid fire, protect occupants from smoke, accommodate...
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Week 12 blog: Indoor Building Systems

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  Week 12 blog - Indoor Building Systems Interior systems that impact the design of a successful interior environment are data voice and telecommunication systems, energy control systems, security systems, vertical circulation systems, and how system’s furniture interfaces with the building itself. Data voice and telecommunications systems Telephone lines and the internet are necessities in the interior environment. Many clients also request wireless service, which requires careful placement of routers throughout the building. Interior Designers are involved in placement of telephone lines, internet connections, wireless services, and routers. Many clients also request interior spaces dedicated to teleconferencing . Placement of the LED projector and phone jacks is important.  Projection space planning requires that all occupants of the space can see the projected image. The closest person should be no closer than 2 times the height of the screen and the top of the screen sho...
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Week 11 Blog: Indoor Air Quality

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Week 11: Indoor Air Quality  Acoustics  Describes how sound travels and it is heard. Noise is considered unwanted sounds. There are even typical decibels of various sounds, but the limit of human comfort is about 110-120 decibels.   Principles of Sounds control  Noise reduction coefficient (NRC) describes how typical materials are rated as far as the materials absorption capacity. Sound transmission class (STC) describes the capability of a material to absorb sound. There is also transmission loss (TL) and reverberation time (RT). RT is the sound that is built up in a room over time (echo), but it can be controlled. It's important to consider acoustics when designing auditoriums, classrooms, lecture halls, music rooms, and performance facilities. Some methods to control acoustics and create sound separation include acoustic clouds and canopies and other materials such as carpet, acoustical ceiling tiles, and textiles. Different types of spaces need different levels o...
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Week 10 blog - Plumbing Systems

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  Week 10 - Plumbing Systems Water  It's important to understand the different types of water which are and are not suitable for certain uses. Potable water is water suitable for drinking. However, black water is waste water that contains sewage and gray water is waste water from sinks, bathtubs, and washing machines.  Plumbing systems are created to eliminate water and human byproducts t o and from a building.  Fixtures and Water Conservation Toilets are the single largest use of interior water High efficiency toilets: use less than 1.28 gallons of water per flush Low flow toilets: provided by all manufacturers. Legislation requires that new toilets require less water than those of the past Dual- flushing toilets: use a mechanism that allows for two flushing possibilities. One flush when less water is required. Two flushes when more water is required Urinals Waterless urinals: do not require water to operate. Odors can be released into the bathroom Low water urinals...
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Week 9 - Electrical Systems and Lighting

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  Week 9 - Electrical Systems and Lighting Electricity  Electricity travels from the utility company to the user through overhead and underground electrical lines and transformers. The components of electrical systems include its connection to a building, cable types, electrical symbols, energy management devices. Some common symbols used for components of electrical plans are below: Energy management devices Energy management devices are used for keeping buildings well-insulated and lowering the thermostat temperature. Other energy management devices include lighting control devices, motion and daylight sensors, and dual switching options.  Interior design implications  Developing a good lighting design is an essential part of our job as an interior designer. Our plan and design impacts energy efficiency and the ultimate sustainability of a building. A common mistake that's made is to over-light a space. The less lighting used, the less air conditioning needed becau...
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