Please be advised of the following failures in the "Passing Solutions" of NCARB's solutions as provided on their website. It is critical to understand that the information presented as a passing solution may in fact not be, as these vignettes do not conform with the programs and criteria which they have developed.
Building Design & Construction Systems [Note: “Copyright 2011” and “effective July 2011”] Accessibility/Ramp Suggestions: 1) Passing Solution: There is an exception to the Handrail requirement, whereby a ramp with a rise of 6" or less does not require a handrail. Therefore, the western-most ramp from 26" to 30" does not require a handrail on the wall, and the ramp from 0" to 3" does not require a handrail. 2) Failing Solution: Handrails are not required for the upper ramps from 25" to 30". Stair Design Suggestion: 1) Passing Solution: Although it is acceptable to show the plan entirely on the 2nd level (if the entire solution can be seen from above), NCARB fails to indicate the proper use of the cut-stair. We have a thread started that does show instructions we received from NCARB.
Roof Plan Errors: *1) Passing Solution: gutters are missing on eastern edge of upper and lower roofs *2) Failing Solution uses an incorrect slope on the upper roof and does not call it out as an error (5:12 pitch is lower than the minimum per the program)
Building Systems [Note: “Copyright 20119” and “effective July 2011”]
Mechanical and Electrical Plan Errors: 1) 2x4 lights in Architect’s Office are not spaced correctly per lighting diagrams and therefore cause overlighting in between the fixtures 2) lights in Drafting Studio are not centered (if they were, they would line up horizontally with the Conference Room lights) and therefore do not provide even light distribution Suggestions: 1) lights in Reception could be more centered in the East-West direction to provide even light distribution 2) return grilles in Drafting Studio and Conference Room are not supported on three sides by the ceiling grid (lights do not count for support) 3) for efficiency’s sake, there is no need to jog the rigid duct to the west after it exits the south riser shaft wall (the only reason would be to leave room to properly show the flex duct from the Supply Closet diffuser connecting to the rigid duct) 4) it is possible to connect the rigid duct for the supply air to the long side of the Supply Riser *5) Failing solution does not call out the incorrect Accent light layout *6) Failing solution does not call out the error of bending the flex duct
Construction Documents & Services [Note: “Copyright 2011” and “effective July 2011”]
Building Section Error: 1) slab should not be continuous through interior bearing foundation wall Suggestions: 1) although it is passable to show t.o. foundation wall at b.o. slab, it is logical to show t.o. foundation wall in line with t.o. slab *2) Failing solution does not point that the interior footing does not need to extend down to the frost line
Programming, Planning & Practice [Note: “Copyright 2011” and “effective July 2011”]
Site Zoning Suggestions: 1) although passable based on an assumed 12” tolerance, the buildable area could be tighter to the sketch circles at the water line setback 2) due to the snap tolerance, you will probably find that your vertical building profile lines do not exactly touch the grade line as shown… see Site Zoning FAQ for assistance 2) due to the snap tolerance, you will probably find that your vertical building profile lines do not exactly touch your angled restriction sketch line as shown… see Site Zoning FAQfor assistance
Schematic Design [Note: “Copyright 2011” and “effective July 2011”]
Interior Layout Errors: 1) the west chair of the T44 is blocked because the T44 is too close to the west wall in JO 2) lounge chairs in RBO are too close and are blocking each other Suggestions:
3) furniture can be placed against walls (sometimes inches count)… check overlaps with the Check tool 4) it is not necessary to rotate chairs 45 degrees when placing them in a corner
Building Layout
Suggestions:
1) double doors are not necessary 2) due to egress provided through Stair, egress door at end of Corridor is not necessary (redundant) 3) although possibly passable, L-shapes for major spaces (i.e. Game Room and Large Meeting room) is not recommended 4) though not absolutely necessary, "sound design logic" would suggest that EE would be adjacent to E
Note that interior windows are not visible in the PDF provided by NCARB. They do indicate with red arrows the view lines, so the windows are there...just not visible due to the resolution of the PDF.
Site Planning & Design [Note: “Copyright 2011” and “effective July 2011”]
Note the written version of the SG program in the published study guide says the min slope required is 1%. This is a typo. The actual software says the min slope required is 2%. This error was in previous versions of the study guide for this vignette. - edit from lug-nut.
Site Grading
Error:
1) March 2008 version error: min. slope requirement of 2% not met between 106 & 105. This should be a fatal error. Error corrected in the July 2010 & 2011 versions. 2) Note the written version of the SG program in the published study guide says the min slope required is 1%. This is a typo. The actual software says the min slope required is 2%.
Suggestion:
1) better placement of Locomotive Display could reduce number of topography lines affected, this “passing” solution should be considered as the maximum for topography disturbance
Site Design
Suggestions:
1) many more coniferous trees added than necessary 2) extra coniferous trees limit view of Bentley Avenue from Office Tower
Structural Systems [Note: “Copyright 2011” and “effective July 2011”]
Structural Layout
Suggestions:
1) bearing walls should go all the way to the edges of openings 2) lintels should bear 4” on the bearing walls on each side of the openings 3) bearing wall and lintel shown to the west of Shop 2 are not necessary – could use single column in SW corner of Common Area (this would make the upper level column above Shop 2 wall better suited to be in NW corner of Shop 2) 4) although bearing walls are shown in the solution, it is not necessary to use them… you can pass with an all-steel solution 5) upper level joists should be drawn to the centerline of the wall on the east side 6) NCARB drafting is inconsistent, though it makes the most logical sense to draw all joists, beams, lintels and bearing walls to centerline of walls *7) this is a roof framing plan, and as such the walls above should not be considered as requiring support… the 2011 version includes an unnecessary beam along the west side of the Covered Entry on the Lower Level
In order to keep this thread clear and concise, please PM sbyrktct if you would like to add to or dispute this list of errors & suggestions.