Activity 3.3.6

1.    What is important to consider when designing an HVAC system?

The code requirements as well as the building requirements and building budget.

2.    How does the HVAC system affect the design of the building structure?

The building may have to be built around the design requirements of the HVAC system and vice versa.

3.    How does an engineer know the requirements for mechanical design of an HVAC system?

Prior knowledge, college courses, on site training, code requirements, etc., all contribute to an engineer's knowledge of the mechanical design.

4.    Why is it important for architects to be aware of how mechanical systems are designed or constructed?

Because if they were unaware of how mechanical systems are designed and constructed, they may be designed and constructed incorrectly and unsafely.

5.    What information must an architect provide to a mechanical engineer to ensure proper design and placement of the mechanical systems?

Proper measurements and specifications and such.

Activity 3.1.2

1.    Identify the Building Code that applies in Noblesville by reviewing Section 154.04 Adoption of Rules by Reference in the Noblesville Code of Ordinances.

 Section 154.04 Article 13 b

2.    Visit the Indiana Association of Building Officials website at http://www.iabo.com/ and follow the link to Current Codes. On which model code is the current Indiana Building Code based?

 The 2006 version of the International Building Code with Indiana revisions.

3.    Using the International Building Code, find the Use and Occupancy classification of the proposed new Keystone Building.

 The proposed library would be classified as A-3

4.    Using the International Building Code, describe each of the four types of construction. Based on the existing structure, under which of these types of construction could the Keystone Building fall? See section 503.1.
602.2 Types I and II. Types I and II construction are those types of construction in which the building elements listed in Table 601 are of noncombustible materials, except as permitted in Section 603 and elsewhere in this code. 602.3 Type III. Type III construction is that type of construction in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible materials and the interior building elements are of any material permitted by this code. Fire-retardant-treated wood framing complying with Section 2303.2 shall be permitted within exterior wall assemblies of a 2-hour rating or less. 602.4 Type IV. Type IV construction (Heavy Timber, HT) is that type of construction in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible materials and the interior building elements are of solid or laminated wood without concealed spaces. The details of Type IV construction shall comply with the provisions of this section. Fire-retardant-treated wood framing complying with Section 2303.2 shall be permitted within exterior wall assemblies with a 2-hour rating or less. Minimum solid sawn nominal dimensions are required for structures built using Type IV construction (HT). For glued-laminated members the equivalent net finished width and depths corresponding to the minimum nominal width and depths of solid sawn lumber are required as specified in Table 602.4. 602.5 Type V. Type V construction is that type of construction in which the structural elements, exterior walls and interior walls are of any materials permitted by this code. 

The building selected would fall into Type 1

5.    Compare the allowable Building Heights and Areas (IBC 2009 Table 503) for the Keystone Library using different construction types. What is the least restrictive construction type that can be used for the Keystone Library? Is a fire-protective layer required over the structural elements? Note: The letter A indicates that the structural members are protected by a fire-rated coating or cover (sheetrock, spray on, or another approved method). The letter B indicates that the structural members are not protected by an additional fire-rated coating or cover.
 Type  V-A construction is the least restrictive type of construction because there is no restriction on the materials that can be used.

6.    What materials do you propose to use for the new interior walls and floor for the Keystone Building? Justify your answer.
A wood frame and drywall interior would be suitable for the current structure

7.    Use the IBC to determine the Occupant Load (IBC 2009 Section 1004) for the Keystone Building assuming a second floor is added per the Keystone Library Renovation Preliminary Building plans (see Revit file). For now, conservatively assume that the second floor is entirely stacks and that the first floor is entirely reading rooms. In addition, because there is currently no plan to include an outside stairway to the roof, assume that the occupants of the green roof must exit through the 2^nd floor. The building inspector has determined, based on the planned use of the green roof as additional reading area, that the occupant load for the green roof may be based on the requirements for reading rooms.
 Reading Room- 178

 Stacks- 47

 Total- 225

8.    The occupant load is used to determine the minimum egress width for the building. Use the IBC to determine the required total egress width (IBC 2009 Section 1005) for the Keystone Building including the second floor.
The minimum egress width for the building is 47 inches. 

9.    What is the minimum number of exits required for the Occupant Load (IBC 2009 Section 1021)?
4 exits.

10. Read IBC 2009 Section 1021.2. Is it permissible to have only a single exit from the ground floor? From the second floor? Justify your answers.
Single exits. Only one exit shall be required from Group R-3 occupancy buildings or from stories of other buildings as indicated in Table 1021.2. Occupancies shall be permitted to have a single exit in buildings otherwise required to have more than one exit if the areas served by the single exit do not exceed the limitations of Table 1021.2. Mixed occupancies shall be permitted to be served by single exits provided each individual occupancy complies with the applicable requirements of Table 1021.2 for that occupancy. Where applicable, cumulative occupant loads from adjacent occupancies shall be considered in accordance with the provisions of Section 1004.1. Basements with a single exit shall not be located more than one story below grade plane. 

The answers to the following questions should be researched in the Noblesville Code of Ordinances and the Noblesville Zoning Map.

11. In which zoning designation does the Keystone building property lie? (Refer to the Keystone Library Site Location Map to help locate the site on the zoning map.)
Planned business.

12. Describe the purpose of this zoning designation. Document your answer with a section number from the code.
The purpose of the PB District is to encourage well-planned business uses, particularly with respect to unified design, safe ingress-egress, adequate and properly located parking and service facilities and convenient and safe pedestrian accessibility. 

 Found in 159.107

 13. What is the minimum lot size within this designation? Does the Keystone Property meet this requirement? Document your answer with a section number of the code.
 The minimum lot size is 20,000 square feet

According to section 159.107, the lot meets the minimum requirements.

14. What is the maximum building height according to the Noblesville ordinance?
 The maximum building height is 3 stories or 35 feet.

15. Read Section 159.120 of the Noblesville Code of Ordinances. Record any information that is important to the redevelopment of the Keystone building.
(A) Allowable Use of Land and Building.
(B)Property Access.  Every building hereafter erected or moved shall be located on a lot with frontage and access on a street, and provide for safe and convenient access, fire protection, and required off-street parking, except as otherwise provided in § 159.107
(C)Number of Buildings Per Lot.  Every building hereafter erected shall be located on a lot unless otherwise specified for planned developments.  In no case shall there be more than one principal building used for residential purposes, and its accessory buildings, located on one lot, except as otherwise provided in this chapter for a mobile home park or planned development.  If two or more principal non-residential buildings are located on a lot, the space between such buildings shall be as established by the yard setback requirements of the district in which the use is located.

16. Is the Use proposed in Keystone Building Project permitted on this property?  Document your answer.

Yes, the use proposed in Keystone Building Project is permitted on this property, as per section 159.120

17. When developing a property, when is landscaping and screening required?
Landscaping and Screening.  Landscaping and/or screening may be required in the following situations:
          (1)     Interior parking lot islands;
          (2)     Perimeter parking lot buffering;
          (3)     Buffering for non-residential uses abutting residential uses;
          (4)     Surrounding outdoor storage and waste disposal areas;
          (5)     Other situations as required in this chapter or as determined by the Director of Planning and Development, Technical Advisory Committee, Plan Commission, or Board of Zoning Appeals, as applicable.

Essential Questions 2.3

1.     How do you achieve a balance between cost-saving measures, important features, and environmental responsibility when designing a residential structure?

 These three things are very important in the design of a residential structure, and, when constructed in conjunction with each other, they can combine to form a cost-effective, energy efficient structure.

2.     What are the advantages and disadvantages of using 3D architectural software rather than creating hand-produced plans?

Both methods have distinct advantages and disadvantages. 3-D architectural modeling software can provide a much greater degree of precision than a hand-drawn model, however, such software can be hard to learn.

3.     Why are organizations such as LEED important?

 Organizations such as LEED, that reward architects and engineers for building energy-efficient structures, are important because they provide incentive to go the extra mile to construct a more cost-effective building that will require less energy to maintain.

4.     When planning a project, how does the availability of public utilities impact the design?

 A house's plumbing systems could differ slightly depending on whether a municipal water system is available or not. Such knowledge beforehand will help to avoid problems during the design phase.

5.     What options are available for the management of wastewater from a building?

 Both municipal water systems as well as a localized septic system are common options for wastewater management. Greywater systems, however, are sustainable design elements that reuse water for non-potable uses.

6.     What are the important considerations when design a plumbing system?

Some things that are important to consider are: whether or not a septic/well water system should be used or not; psi and gpm of water output both from a water tower or from a well, and the static and dynamic head loss as well as the effective length of the pipe from a water tower.

7.     Why should a designer know about the different types of lighting and their applications?

 Different types of lighting are better at illuminating different areas. For example, recessed lighting on a dimmer switch is good for a media/living room area, however, areas that require greater amounts of light (like a kitchen), should have non-recessed lighting fixtures with at least 100 watt bulbs. Interior lighting should never be used outdoors.

8.     What are the important considerations when designing an electrical system?

 Some important things to remember are: Which switches control which light(s), how much electricity a certain type of light will consume, where to place electrical outlets, and how to reasonably arrange switches and outlets.

9.     What information is important when documenting the design of a building

Keeping all the information located in an easy to find area while keeping the sheets un-cluttered is important, as well as giving all the information necessary for a construction team to build the building to design specifications.