Practicum Exam Guide. CIDQ 1602 L St NW, Ste. 200 Washington, DC phone: fax:

Transcription

1 Practicum Exam Guide CIDQ 1602 L St NW, Ste. 200 Washington, DC phone: fax: info@ncidq.org

2 Table of Contents Dates and Details...1 Accommodations...2 Cancellations...3 Exam Day...4 After the Exam...5 Supply List...6 Units of Measurement...7 Content Areas...8 Space Planning...9 Lighting Design...11 Egress Life Safety...16 Restroom [Washroom]...18 Systems Integration...20 Millwork Council for Interior Design Qualification, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted for reproduction without the prior written permission of the publisher. This guide provides information about the NCIDQ Examination Practicum Exam. If you are taking other sections, it is your responsibility to read those guides as well. When you register, you attest that you have read this document.

3 Dates and Details Exercises: The Practicum Exam (PRAC) consists of seven unique exercises in three parts: Part A Space Planning Lighting Design Part B Egress Life Safety Restroom [Washroom] Design Part C Systems Integration Millwork Design The exercises are a combination of commercial and residential problems. For more details on each exercise, click here to see a description. Your solutions must address the principles of accessible design. Where: Any testing location in North America. See the list on the website here. Submitting Payment: Register and pay via your MyNCIDQ account by the deadlines found here. If you are paying by check, we must receive payment by the close of business on the last day of regular registration. If your payment is received after that, you must include the late fee and it must be received by the last day of late registration. Cost: The cost of the examination can be found here. Codes are provided for you to use during the exam. You can review them on our web site. Timing: You have four hours to complete the Part A exercises, then you have a lunch break, then you have four hours to complete the exercises in Parts B and C Dates and Details 1

4 Accommodations Testing Accommodations To apply for testing accommodations for disabilities, you must thoroughly review our Non-Discrimination Policy for People with Disabilities. Complete the Application for Test Accommodations and submit all required supporting documentation. We may contact you and/or your medical professional or specialist regarding your request. You must have completed your exam registration and payment before NCIDQ will review your request for accommodations. Applications for test accommodations must be received by CIDQ in hardcopy format no later than 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on the last day of late registration. If you have submitted documentation for a previous examination administration, additional verification may be required to process your request. A new application with required documentation must be submitted for this exam administration. Previously granted requests do not constitute a guarantee for accommodations. Courtesy Accommodations Courtesy requests for conditions not generally covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, such as pregnancy or diabetes, as well as requests for alternative test dates for religious observances, are reviewed on an individual basis. Complete the Application for Courtesy Accommodations and submit all required supporting documentation. If you need accommodations for supplies, medication or for food and/or drink, you should register for the exam and then complete the Application for Courtesy Accommodations. We must receive your courtesy request in hard-copy format by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on the last day of late registration. That date can be located here. We recommend that you submit your application well before the deadline. Documentation is often incomplete, so allow time to submit additional information, if required. All requests must be reviewed and approved 30 days before the exam. Accommodations 2

5 Exam Cancellations Cancellations You may cancel your exam registration for any reason until the regular registration deadline. To cancel your registration and receive a refund, complete the Exam Cancellation Form and mail or fax it to CIDQ as soon as possible. We must receive your complete Exam Cancellation Form by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on the late registration deadline. The cancellation fee is $110. CIDQ will refund your exam fee minus this amount. The late registration fee is not refundable. CIDQ processes all refunds within 30 days of the exam administration. Your exam fee cannot be credited or transferred to the next exam period. If you do not follow the cancellation procedure described above, you will not receive any refund or credit for exam sections you do not take. You must register and pay again the next time you want to take Practicum. Emergency Cancellations We accept emergency cancellation requests up until 10 days after the exam administration of the PRAC section. Cancellation requests made after the end of the late registration deadline must include documentation of a serious personal medical or family medical emergency that prevents you from being able to take the examination. Emergency cancellation requests and documentation must be received by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) 10 days after the exam administration. Late requests will not be honored. You must submit the Emergency Cancellation Form and attach supporting documentation. The emergency cancellation fee is $210. Scheduling conflicts, business engagements, preparatory class cancellation, inadequate preparation and other personal reasons for cancellation are not accepted. Cancellations 3

6 Exam Day Admission to the Test Center Approximately two weeks before the exam, you will receive your admission letter in the mail. You must bring this personalized admission letter to the test center. Your admission letter will confirm your testing location. A printout of your admission letter and a current (non-expired) ID with your signature and a photograph of you (driver s license or state ID card, passport, etc.) are required for entrance to the testing room. The name on your admission letter must match the name on your ID. If you have not received your admission letter notification within 10 days of the examination, call CIDQ at If your name has changed since you registered for the PRAC exam, you must bring some proof of name change (such as a marriage license) as an additional ID in order to be admitted to take your exam. Seat and Room Assignments You should arrive at the examination center before the reporting time noted in the examination schedule. After the check-in and identification process, you will receive a seat assignment. Some examination centers have seating in more than one room. If you cannot hear the test supervisor, feel that the lighting is inadequate, or have other problems with your seat and/or room assignment, please let the test supervisor know immediately. As soon as everyone has verified their identification and been seated, the test supervisor will close the testing room door and begin the instructions. You cannot enter the testing room once the door has been closed and the instructions are under way. If you are driving to the test center, we recommend that you allow extra time or find an alternate route to your location in case you encounter traffic or other delays. TESTING ROOM Cell phones, tablets, mobile devices, pagers, digital cameras, music players and all other electronic devices are not permitted in the testing room. CIDQ makes every effort to ensure a quiet and comfortable testing environment for all candidates. We suggest that you bring a jacket or sweater to help you adapt to temperatures in the examination room. Bring earplugs if you are sensitive to noise distractions. You may not listen to music during the exam. There may not be a clock in the testing room or you may not be able to see a clock if there is one. You should bring a watch or small travel clock. You may not use your phone as a clock. FOOD/DRINK You may bring food and beverages to the test center, but you may NOT eat or drink in the testing room unless you have been approved in advance by CIDQ for specific courtesy accommodations. You may eat and drink outside the testing room in a break area if one is available, as designated by the test supervisor. If you leave the testing room, you will not be permitted make up the lost time. Be sure to bring secure containers for your food and beverages, as open containers will not be permitted in the testing room. BREAKS If you wish to take a restroom or refreshment break during testing, you must raise your hand. Only one person will be permitted to leave the testing room at a time. You must cover your work before you leave the room. You will not be permitted to make up time lost while you are away from the test. LATE ARRIVALS You must be present for instructions or you will not be permitted to take the examination. If you arrive late, you will not be permitted into the testing room and you will forfeit your examination fees. Cancellations 4

7 After the Exam Comments and Concerns CIDQ encourages feedback about the examination experience and exam conditions from all candidates. Your test supervisor will have Candidate Comment Forms available for you to report any comments. This feedback is reviewed by our testing consultants and CIDQ staff but does not result in a written response from CIDQ. If you feel that the testing procedures or environment seriously affected your performance, do not wait until you receive your test results to express your concerns. A candidate comment form is not sufficient for CIDQ to open an investigation of your case. In order for CIDQ staff to investigate any examination administration problems, we must receive a written letter from you by 5 p.m. Eastern time 10 days after the exam administration. If CIDQ determines your case to be warranted, you may be permitted to retake the section(s) at no cost. Exam condition concerns must be made in writing to CIDQ. We do not accept these concerns via or fax. Retakes If you do not pass the Practicum exam, you must retake and pass the entire Practicum exam, not just the exercises you did not pass. You will be required to pay all applicable registration fees for each exam that you retake. Your scores will be provided well ahead of the registration deadline for the next exam. You must pass all sections of the examination within a five-year period or retake the sections that are more than five years old. If you started taking the exam in 2009 or earlier, you must complete all sections by the end of At that time, any scores more than five years old will be voided, and you must retake those sections. If you started taking the exam in 2010 or later, you must complete all sections within five years. Scores more than five years old will be voided, and you must retake those sections. After the Exam 5

8 Supplies Supplies All testing centers will provide desks and/or tables suitable to work on the examination. Test centers are asked to provide at least a 30 D x 48 W surface space for each candidate to work on, but we cannot guarantee the condition of the table surface. We recommend you bring a flat illustration board or portable drafting surface that will fit within a 30 x 48 surface. You may bring your own chair or cushion, if desired. If you prefer an angled work surface, you may bring a portable drafting board. You may bring a small, silent clock or timer into the paperbased exams, but it must have a silent alarm. (You may not use your phone as a clock.) You may complete your solutions in pencil or ink and/or in color, as long as they area readable. If the testing site has fixed drafting tables, they will be laid flat and any moving parts will be disabled. We recommend you bring a flat illustration board or portable drafting surface that will fit within a 30 x 48 surface. Required Supplies #2 (HB) pencil Eraser (not electric) Calculator with single memory (either battery-powered or solar-powered) Calculators with advanced memory storage, programming, communicating or printing capabilities, or those that require an outside power source are not allowed. (You may not use your phone as a calculator.) Optional Supplies Allowed Pens Pencils, including mechanical pencils, lead holders and colored pencils Highlighters/markers Manual pencil sharpener Tracing paper and/or graph/grid paper Architectural scales Triangles Templates (mass-produced only) Homemade templates (drawn or printed with a computer) are not allowed. T-square Tape Portable drafting board or flat illustration board (see note on the opposite side of this page) Related small drafting equipment/tools Post-it notes White-out A clock/timer with a silent alarm Prohibited Supplies Books, including dictionaries (English, technical or language) Reference materials Personal electronic devices Supplies 6

9 Practicum Details Exam Format The examination includes both Imperial and SI Metric Units (Système International d Unités) as well as references to both United States and Canadian standards or terms. Unless referring to an established code or drafting standard, metric units are approximate and have been rounded for simplicity and clarity. No conversions are required from one scale to the other. Such conversions may result in an incorrect answer. All project descriptions, project code requirements, project design requirements and the list of drawings will be provided in an examination booklet. Each part of the exam is provided in a separate envelope. Write your control number in the proper boxes on each sheet. You may draft or sketch your solution; however, it must be clearly understandable and drawn to scale. Do not waste time on highly refined drafting. Solving the problems and effectively communicating your solutions are essential. All solutions must be presented on the sheets provided. Any information on tracing paper taped to the drawing sheets will be removed before grading and will not be scored. Scales Drawing scales will vary according to the project size and amount of detail required to be shown. 1/4 Scale [1:50] Space Planning Lighting Design Restroom [Washroom] Millwork 1/8 Scale [1:100] Egress Life Safety Systems Integration 3/4 Scale [1:20] Millwork elevations and sections Codes Codes are provided for you to use during the exam. You can review them on our website. PRAC Details 7

10 Practicum Details Content Areas Tested 1. Knowledge of and skills in developing a design concept: Programming Design theory Weight: 10% 2. Knowledge of and skills in design communication methods and techniques: Written design communication methods and techniques Visual design communication methods and techniques Weight: 15% Exam Content The Practicum Exam requires candidates to produce several design solutions. Candidates are given a series of unique exercises covering Space Planning, Lighting Design, Egress, Life Safety, Restroom [Washroom] Design, Systems Integration and Millwork Design. All candidates for a given test date receive the same exercises. The exercises require candidates to interpret a program into schematics, produce plan drawings and develop appropriate specifications and schedules. Work products must address codes and the principles of universal design. Click here to download a PDF of the exercise descriptions. 3. Knowledge of and skills in measuring, drafting and technical drawing conventions: Construction drawings and schedules Architectural woodwork Specifications Lighting Weight: 30% 4. Knowledge of and skills in analyzing and synthesizing the programmatic information: Theories about the relationship between human behavior and the designed environment Building construction Sustainable design practices Building systems Interior finishes and materials Weight: 30% 5. Knowledge of and skills in space planning: Code requirements, laws, standards and regulations Site analysis procedures Furniture, fixtures and Equipment, including window treatments and textiles Weight: 15% PRAC Details 8

11 Space Planning 9

12 Space Planning Exercise Requirements Weight: 23% 3 hours - 1/4 [1:50] scale - 1 sheet - 2,200-2,600 sq ft. [ m 2 ] Design a plan solution meeting all program requirements for spaces Label all spaces and indicate actual area (square footage or m 2 ) of each space Fully furnish the space, using the minimum program requirements as a guide Meet three (3) primary adjacency requirements Meet three (3) secondary adjacency requirements Provide access to designated plumbing trench as required Provide for accessibility in designated spaces, drawing barrier-free clearances as required Provide accessible route, drawing barrier-free clearances as required Provide specified power/voice/data requirements in three (3) spaces identified in the program. This exercise will be either commercial or residential. Common Errors Some common errors made by cadidates on the Space Planning exercise include: 1. Candidates overlook the Quantity column in the Program Requirements and provide only one (1) of a required space when two (2) or more are called for. 2. Candidates create dead-end corridors greater than 20 [6m]. 3. Furniture is not drawn to scale. 4. Additional plumbing trench totals more than allowed in the program 5. Additional plumbing trench is drawn but not dimensioned. 6. Additional plumbing trench is not drawn when required. 7. Fixture drains are not actually drawn within the plumbing trench, but merely touching it. 8. Plan solutions ignore existing interior column locations and window mullions. 9. Candidates indicate the required minimum area for a space, rather than the actual area drawn on the sheet. 10. Primary and/or secondary adjacencies are not met in the plan. 11. Barrier-free clearances and dimensions are not indicated on the plan. 12. Power/voice/data requirements are not noted on the plan. Space Planning 10

13 Lighting Design 11

14 Lighting Design 12

15 Lighting Design Exercise Requirements Weight: 11% 1 hour - 1/4 [1:50] scale - 2 sheets sq ft. [ m 2 ] Overlaying Sheet ID-3 with ID-2, design lighting and switching solutions for an area of work using cut sheets provided Provide general ambient lighting for required areas Provide task lighting for required areas Provide accent lighting for required areas Provide adjustable levels of illumination for required areas Dimension location(s) of selected fixtures in a designated ceiling area Note mounting height for sconces and pendant fixtures Complete a lighting schedule Fill in Tag, Symbol and Watts/Fixture for each light fixture selected Calculate Total Watts for each fixture selected Calculate total energy use within a required limit. Fill in description of each light fixture selected Fill in rationale (why this fixture was chosen) for each light fixture selected. Common Errors Some common errors made by cadidates on the Lighting Design exercise include: 1. Fixtures are missing at required locations. 2. Fixtures are not tagged on the Reflected Ceiling Plan. 3. Switching for fixtures is not drawn to a wall switch. 4. Mounting heights are not provided for pendant fixtures or sconces. 5. Dimensions for fixture locations are not drawn from fixed, measurable points or are not included for both directions. 6. Space is underlit given the allowance for watts/square feet [m2]. 7. Total wattage for each fixture is not added correctly. 8. Total wattage exceeds the allowance provided in the program. 9. Rationales are incomplete and do not explain why a fixture was selected. 10. Candidates run out of time and do not complete this exercise. This exercise will be either commercial or residential. Lighting Design 13

16 Egress 14

17 Egress Exercise Requirements Weight: 18% 1 hour - 1/8 [1:100] scale - 1 sheet - 10,000-13,500 sq ft. [ m 2 ] Taking an upper floor in a multi-story building with 1 existing tenant Subdivide the remaining floor area for four (4) to seven (7) additional spaces Label and indicate actual area and occupancy load for each new space on the plan Create and dimension a common egress corridor, demonstrating barrier-free clearances as required Draw the farthest common path of egress travel from the existing suite and fill in the dimension in Notes box Draw the total travel distance to exit stairs from the existing suite and fill in the dimension in Notes box Calculate occupant load for each exit stair and fill in in Notes box Fill in actual area and occupancy load for each space in Calculations box This exercise will be either commercial or multi-family residential. Common Errors Some common errors made by cadidates on the Egress exercise include: 1. Draw the plan using the minimum requirements for each space and have space left over that is not identified. 2. Indicate the area of space using the minimum required areas, rather than the actual areas which leads to incorrect total occupant load per stair. 3. Create dead-end corridors greater than 20 [6m] in the common corridor. 4. Doors to new suites do not open in the correct direction for egress. 5. Doors to new suites do not have the correct push/pull clearances. 6. Candidates do not demonstrate the correct way to determine distance between two required exits. 7. Candidates do not consider balconies or showers when locating the farthest common path of egress travel. 8. Candidates do not draw and/or calculate the farthest common path of egress travel to the actual point where someone can go two directions, most commonly not to the middle of the egress corridor from a single entry suite. 9. Candidates do not round up when they calculate occupant loads, which leads to an incorrect total occupant load per stair. 10. Candidates do not include the occupant load of the existing suite when calculating the total occupant load per stair. Egress 15

18 Life Safety 16

19 Life Safety Exercise Requirements Weight: 18% 0.5 hour - 1/8 [1:100] scale - 1 sheet - 3,000-5,000 sq ft. [ m 2 ] Indicate life safety equipment in a tenant suite, elevator lobby, public restrooms [washrooms] and public corridors Exit signs Wall-mounted emergency lights with battery backup Audible/visible fire alarms Fire extinguishers Smoke detectors Complete a door/frame/hardware schedule for specified doors Complete a partition schedule for specified partitions. This exercise will always be commercial. Common Errors Some common errors made by cadidates on the Life Safety exercise include: 1. Candidates place too many exit signs, emergency lights and/or fire alarms which indicates they do not understand proper placement. 2. Candidates leave out required equipment for the public restrooms [washrooms]. 3. Exit signs are not drawn correctly on the plan, but rather the legend symbol is copied everywhere with no regard for the requirements of a particular location. 4. On the door/frame/hardware schedule, door frames are selected that do not match the partitions as drawn on the plan. 5. On the door/frame/hardware schedule, the particular hardware needs for double doors are not considered. 6. On the partition schedule, candidates do not indicate height to the deck when required in the program or the code. Life Safety 17

20 Restroom [Washroom] 18

21 Restroom [Washroom] Exercise Requirements Weight: 9% 0.5 hour - 1/4 [1:50] scale - 1 sheet Draw and tag specified plumbing fixtures and accessories in a public restroom [washroom] for men Lavatories, with at least one (1) accessible Toilets, with at least one (1) accessible Urinals, with at least one (1) accessible Grab bars as required Mirror at each lavatory Soap dispenser(s) Accessible hand dryer Accessible trash receptacle Dimension Fixture centerlines Toilet stalls Grab bars Draw barrier-free clearances Complete a fixture and accessory schedule indicating proper mounting heights Accessible mounting heights for all accessible fixtures Indicate front or side approach for designated height of hand dryer and trash receptacle Standard mounting heights for non-accessible lavatories, toilets and urinals Indicate acceptable substrate and wet wall finish in the Notes box. Common Errors Some common errors made by cadidates on the Restroom [Washroom] exercise include: 1. Plumbing fixtures are drawn on walls that do not have a plumbing chase. 2. Specified fixtures are drawn but not tagged as required in the program. 3. Plumbing fixtures, particularly urinals, are drawn without consideration of site lines from the entrance or between fixtures. 4. Accessible fixtures are located so that someone using the fixture would block access to the entrance or to other fixtures. 5. Barrier-free clearance in accessible toilet stall is encroached by the stall door swing. 6. Grab bars are not drawn at correct scale. This exercise will always be commercial. Restroom [Washroom] 19

22 Systems Integration 20

23 Systems Integration 21

24 Systems Integration Exercise Requirements Weight: 12% 1 hour - 1/8 [1:100] scale - 2 sheets - 1,500-5,000 sq. ft. [ m 2 ] Overlaying Sheet ID-8 with ID-7, evaluate plans to understand eight (8) identified conflicts between lighting, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural systems Describe the conflicts in the Notes box Describe solutions to those conflicts in the Notes box Draw the recommended solutions on the Reflected Ceiling Plan On the reflected ceiling plan, indicate the location of an access panel for a designated air handling unit (AHU) In the Lighting Schedule and Legend Indicate mounting height for selected pendant light fixtures and sconces shown on the Reflected Ceiling Plan Common Errors Some common errors made by cadidates on the Systems Integration exercise include: 1. Items are relocated to a location that creates another conflict. 2. When there is a conflict between lighting and another system, candidates will relocate one light fixture which throws off the lighting plan, rather than relocate the other system (e.g. sprinkler head or diffuser). 3. Recommended solutions are not always drawn on the Reflected Ceiling Plan. 4. Lighting Schedule and Legend is not filled in. This exercise will always be commercial. Systems Integration 22

25 Millwork 23

26 Millwork Exercise Requirements Weight: 9% 1 hour - 1/4 [1:50] scale and 3/4 [1:20] scale - 1 sheet Using only the unit location on the plan, draw a millwork solution in the Floor Plan indicating Required components and equipment visible in the plan Barrier-free clearances Elevation tag(s) Location and heights of required receptacles and task lighting Draw elevation(s) indicating Dimensions required for constructability Section cut Minimum of two (2) appropriate finishes Location and heights of required receptacles and task lighting Draw a full-height section at a designated accessible element indicating Dimensions for constructability and accessibility Substrates and joinery Common Errors Some common errors made by cadidates on the Millwork exercise include: 1. Candidates do not use the designated millwork location, but show the millwork in another location on the Floor Plan. 2. Elements and/or dimensions in the Section do not match the Elevation. 3. Substrates and joinery are not clearly indicated in the Section. 4. Sections are not cut through the element designated in the program. 5. Sections cut through a double-sided fixture do not show the full amount of millwork visible in the section cut, but only the specified element on the accessible side. 6. Candidates run out of time and do not complete this exercise. This exercise will be either commercial or residential. Millwork 24