DIDP430
Exam Preparation
Bachelor of Interior Design
unit learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, students
will be able to
• review methods of field measuring and
recording,
• explain industry standard reference
systems, drawing symbols, and their
application, and
• describe technical drawing conventions
used in professional practice and their
application.
Unit 7
Measuring, Drafting,
and Technical Drawing Conventions
Introduction
Three important skills that all interior designers must have are the ability to
measure existing buildings prior to starting a project, the ability to determine
required rentable area, and the ability to produce the technical documents
needed for construction.
An interior designer may assist the client in determining how much rentable
area the client needs in a particular building based on the client’s
programmed area. The interior designer may also evaluate a potential lease
space in an existing building to determine if the client’s programmed area
will work.
Finally, when the design is completed and the base building is selected,
construction documents must be produced, including the drafting of the
construction drawings. The interior designer needs a knowledge of the
standard drafting conventions used in the profession.
Methods of Field Measuring and Recording
The following method is one technique for field measuring an existing space if
no drawings exist of the building:
1. Sketch a rough floor plan showing perimeter walls, interior partitions,
columns and other fixed elements such as doors, windows, steps, plumbing
fixtures. Make sketches of elevations and other vertical dimensions that
will be needed. Ceiling plan information may also be required.
2. Draw dimension lines showing the important measurements that must be
taken to give an accurate representation of the space. Make notes
concerning what portions of the space will need to be studied and
measured in more detail.
3. Take field measurements of the key dimension lines and mark them on the
plans and elevations. As these measurements are taken it will become
apparent that others may be needed. Note these as well. Use a tape
measure or electronic measurement device.
Methods of Field Measuring and Recording
4. When measuring try to measure to the accuracy
that will be required by the new construction. An
accuracy of ¼” is sufficient for most interior design
work.
5. Double check existing drawing measurements if
they will be important to the interior design
planning. A building is not always built exactly to
the dimensions on architectural drawings, and
mistakes can be made during construction. These
dimensions can be invaluable in resolving
questions with the final plan is drawn and can help
avoid a second trip to the job site.
6. Using the measurements collected on site, draft
the floor plan(s) at scales that will be ultimately
used for design and construction drawings.
7. Discrepancies of 8” (200mm) or more generally
indicate that a significant mistake was made in the
measurement, and thus should be re-measured.
Measuring Tools and Techniques
Although simple tape measures are suitable for many uses, the development of
more precise measuring instruments has augmented the use of the tape. Low-
cost, line-of-site sonic devices can be used by one person and give reasonable
accuracy for many uses. However their range is limited and they cannot
precisely differentiate between closely spaced elements.
A more accurate procedure is to use electronic distance measurement (EDM).
This process uses a laser-based instrument with an onboard computer to
measure the distance, horizontal and vertical angles of the instruments laser
beam to a reflective prism target. EDM instruments are accurate to 1/64”.
A similar technique uses a reflectorless electronic distance measurement
(REDM) device. This type of device does not require the use of a prism reflector;
instead it relies on the return signal bounced from the object being measured.
The accuracy is less precise (1/8”)
Measuring Tools and Techniques
Several other image-based techniques, other than standard photography, are
available to assist in the accurate surveying of existing structures. These include
the following:
Rectified photography: uses large format film based view cameras to
photograph facades. The camera’s focal plane is set parallel to the façade and
gives a flat image with no perspective distortion. Dimensions can be scaled off
the image.
Orthophotography: similar to rectified photography, except that it relies on
digital photography and correction of optical distortion through computer
software.
Photogrammetry: surveying of objects or spaces by using photography and
associated software.
Measuring Tools and Techniques
Stereophotogrammetry: uses two overlapping photographs that are loaded into a computer
program to produce a digital stereo image. The image can then be used to extract information
to make a #D drawing. This technique is accurate, and produces a photographic record.
Trained technicians and computer software is required.
Convergent Photogrammetry: uses multiple, oblique photographic images of an object taken
at different angles. Measurements and 3D models are derived by using software that traces
the multiple overlapping photographs taken from the different angles. Reference points need
to be established by standard surveying techniques or by measureing distances between the
reference points to establish a correctly scaled coordinate system that the software can use.
Although relatively inexpensive it is slower than laser scanning.
Laser scanning: uses medium-range, pulsing laser, beams, which systematically sweep over an
object or space to obtain 3D coordinates of points on the surfaces of the object or space be
scanned. The resulting image is a “point cloud” forming a 3D image. From the image, plans,
elevations, sections and 3D models are developed by computer software. The laser scans from
one or more points. Unlike photogrammetry, no surveyed reference points are required; all the
information can be gathered from a single point rather than from multiple photographs.
Determining Total Required Area –
Determining Total Client Occupant Area
Once the space needs are established using one or more of the methods
described, the total amount of space required to accommodate the clients
needs must be calculated. First the total area must be determined. Second,
if the client is leasing space the rentable area required must be determined.
When analyzing space needs, it is important to be aware that the amount of
floor space required (gross area) will be greater than the total of all the
required net areas. The net area (net assignable area) is the actual occupant
area required by a client to accommodate specific functions.
Net area does not include circulation space or incidental space. Circulation
space is the amount of space needed for passage from one work area to
another. Incidental space (non-usable space) includes area that are not
occupied by the tenant, such as closets, structural columns, and walls.
Determining Total Required Area –
Determining Total Client Occupant Area
For preliminary planning, the total amount of
space required is estimated with efficiency factors.
An efficiency factor is the mathematical ratio of
one area to another. Interior layout efficiency
factors take into account the required circulation
space needed per tenant, as well as the non usable
area required for partitions, columns, etc. The
efficiency factor for a leased space is the ratio of
the net area to the total occupant area. The
occupant area is the total portion of a building
being actively used by the tenant.
Efficiency factors depend on the type of occupancy,
the size of individual spaces, and how well the
space is planned. Generally efficiency factors
range from 0.60 to 0.80, with some building types
having efficiency factors outside of this range.
Most office and retail spaces have an efficiency
factor of approx. 0.70-0.80. this means that
approximately 20-30% of the net area is devoted to
non useable areas.
Determining Total Required Area –
Determining Total Client Occupant Area
The estimated required occupant area of a space is calculated by dividing the net
area by the efficiency factor. Alternatively the required net area can be increased
by multiplying by the inverse of the efficiency factor to arrive at an approximate
occupant area.
For example an efficiency factor of 0.75 is often used for planning office space.
Therefore the net area can be multiplied by the inverse of the efficiency factor
(1/0.75 = 1.33) to determine the occupant area. The calculation of occupant area
during the initial planning stage is only an estimate.
The actual area required can only be precisely determined by completing space
planning and laying out the required rooms, spaces, and corridors. Sometimes,
the occupant area is estimated during the programming phase and is included in
the data collection forms.
Determining Total Required Area –
Determining the Rentable Area
Once the clients required occupant area is determined, the required rentable
area must be calculated. In a leased office, retail, residential or industrial
building, the building owner bases rent on the actual area each tenant uses
(occupant area) in addition to a prorated share of portions of the building used
by all tenants. These common building areas include shared corridors,
restrooms, elevator lobbies, and mechanical rooms, as well as amenity areas
such as conference rooms, food service facilities, vending areas and day care
centers. The rentable area is the product of the tenant’s occupant area and a
load factor to account for the shared portions of the building.
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International produces
standards detailing common methods of measuring space for retail, industrial,
multi-unit residential, and mixed use building. For office buildings the standard
is Office Buildings: Standard Methods of Measurement (ANSI/BOMA Z65.1)
Determining Total Required Area –
Determining the Rentable Area
When an office lease space only occupies a
portion of a floor the occupant area as
defined by ANSI/BOMA Z65.1, is measured
in one of 2 ways. If glass is more than 50%
of the wall area, occupant area is measure
from the inside glass surface of exterior
walls to the finished surface (inside face)
of the tenant side of the multi-occupant
corridor partition and from the centerlines
of partitions separating adjacent tenant
spaces (demise partition).
If glass is less than 50% of the wall area,
space is measure to the inside surface of
the exterior wall. Columns, recessed
entries and structural projections are
disregarded.
Drafting of Construction Drawings
Regardless of the size or configuration of an individual project, there are
common drafting concerns that must addressed with any project whether
the project is manually drafted or completed with CAD. These concerns
include the sheet size to use, the makeup of the title block and how the
individual sheets are organized.
The size of a drawing sheet used for interior design projects depends on
several factors. Sheet size depends on the typical size of the office’s projects,
the filing system used, the capabilities of reproduction and plotting
equipment and client requirements.
Standard sheet sizes are used in interior design, architectural and
engineering industries. These standard sizes are based on one of 3 systems:
architectural, American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and
International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Drafting of Construction Drawings
Drafting of Construction Drawings
Title Blocks:
These contain identifying information about the project on each sheet of the
drawing set. In addition, they contain information specific to each sheet,
such as the number, name, revision dates, etc. Title blocks contain general
notes and key-noting information. A keynote is a note placed in the title
block or elsewhere on the drawing sheet with an identifying number that is
used in the field of the drawing itself. Instead of making a lengthy note next
to the item it annotates, it uses a number that refers to the list of keynotes.
The design and placement of title blocks varies with each office. Most
offices design their own with the type of information they want. Title blocks
are usually placed along the full length of the right side of the sheet.
Drafting of Construction Drawings
The following is a list of the information that should be on every title block:
• Designers name, address, phone number, logo
• Consultants’ names, addresses, and phone numbers
• Project title and address
• Owners name and address
• Project number
• Space for professional stamps
• Revision column
• Sheet title
• Sheet number
• Drawn by
• Checked by
• Approved by
• Space for key plan
• Scale
• North arrow
• Notes
Coordination with the Consultant’s Drawings
On nearly all projects there are one or more consultants working with the interior designer. Small to
medium size jobs may only require a mechanical and electrical engineer. Larger projects may have
additional consultants in architectural design, structural design, fire protection, food service, security
systems and acoustics.
Each consulting firm develops its own drawings, so coordination among everyone on the team is
critical.
If the interior designer is responsible for retaining the services of other consultants, then the
designer is usually responsible for directing and coordinating the consultants’ work so the final set of
construction documents represents a complete set of coordinated information. They are NOT
responsible for the work of any consultants, rather that they are managing the efforts of the team.
The following list includes the information typically found on interior design consultants drawings:
• Structural Drawings
• Mechanical and plumbing drawings
• Electrical drawings
Reference Systems
A complete set of construction drawings is a carefully coordinated and
interrelated grouping of individual graphic components. To refer someone
looking at the drawings from one element to
another, standard graphic symbols are used.
To make any referencing system work, each
drawing element, whether plan, elevation,
or detail, must have a unique number.
Drawing numbers are always combined with
the title of the drawing.
Drawing Symbols
Standard drawing symbols are
used to efficiently communicate
various types of graphic
information.
Drawing Symbols
Drawing Symbols
Drawing Symbols
Handout(s):
No handouts this Unit.
discussion
No discussion this Unit.
assignments
DUE
Quiz 3
Opens at 9 a.m. ET on Day 4 of Unit 7 and
closes at 11 p.m. ET on Day 7 of Unit 7
Worth 15% of final grade
