NCIDQ EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The initial determination of the area required for a client's program gives the
A. Gross area
B. Net are
C. rentable area
D. Usable area - Answers- The answer is B. Regardless of how the information is
collected, area is based on the actual space that a client needs to perform a function.
This is the net area or the net assignable area. For example, a client would know that a
150 ft2 (14 m2 office is required but would not give consideration to the corridor
required to get to the space or the wall thickness needed to create the office. Based on
the net area and knowledge of the project type, the programmer can estimate how
much additional space is required for secondary circulation. The usable space can then
be used as a basis for calculating the rentable and, if necessary, the gross area.
Due diligence requires the investigation and documentation of which of the following?
(Choose the four that apply.)
A. client's requirements for specialized spaces
B. adequacy of the existing mechanical and electrical systems
C. accuracy of any existing drawings of the space
D. structural capacity and existing means of egress in the building
E. elements related to the condition of the existing space
F. types of adjacent tenants and the spaces they occupy - Answers- The answer is B,
C, D, and E. Due diligence requires the investigation, understanding, and
documentation of a space and its surrounding context. However, the client's
programming requirements and determining the specific types of adjacent tenants are
not part of the process.
Who is responsible for determining the condition of an existing floor as part of a due
diligence investigation?
A. flooring subcontractor
B. general contractor
C. interior designer
D. structural engineer - Answers- The answer is C. The due diligence investigation of
an existing floor involves verifying the general floor condition and generally requires no
special expertise. Therefore, the interior designer is responsible for it, and should be the
one to call in other experts if necessary. However, such aspects as the structural
capacity of the floor must be determined by a structural engineer.
Which type of plan is always needed to begin space planning in an existing building?
A. base plan
B. circulation plan
,C. exiting plan
D. reflected ceiling plan - Answers- The answer is A. A base plan shows the layout of
the existing building. It is always needed to begin the interior design space plan.
For most planning problems, the MOST efficient type of circulation system is a
A. radial system
B. single-loaded corridor system
C. double-loaded corridor system
D. grid system - Answers- The answer is C Because a double-loaded corridor system
serves rooms on both sides of it in a straight line, this is the most efficient option for
most interiors. Radial and grid systems generally have much higher proportions of
corridor to space served than double-loaded systems do.
According to William Pena's book, Problem Seeking, all design problems can be stated
in terms of form and which three other factors?
A. analysis, synthesis, and function
B. function, economy, and time
C. goals, facts, and function
D. economy, time, and synthesis - Answers- The answer is B. Design problems can be
stated in terms of form, function, economy, and time. Each of these statements can be
further broken down into more specific terms. For example, economy can be studied in
terms of initial cost, operating cost, and life-cycle cost.
To determine the necessary rentable floor area for a project, the interior designer must
know which of the following? (Choose the three that apply.)
A. net assignable area
B. number of employees
C. efficiency factor
D. expected growth rate
E. corridor size and configuration
F. rentable-usable ratio - Answers- The answer is A, C, and F Once the interior designer
has determined the net assignable area, this value is divided by the efficiency factor,
which takes into account nonusable spaces (such as corridors) to calculate the usable
area. The rentable-usable ratio (or load factor) is multiplied by the usable area to
account for common building spaces as established by the building owner. Although the
number of employees does affect the required net assignable area, it does not
determine the required floor area. If the expected growth rate needs to be accounted
for, it should already be factored into the net assignable area. The corridor size is
reflected in the efficiency factor, and corridor configuration would be determined at a
later date.
An interior designer has been hired to redesign a large Victorian house into a bed and
breakfast inn. During an initial interview, the client says that he wants to restore the
, interior to an authentic Victorian look, as well as enlarge some of the bedrooms into
suites so that the inn will be the best in town. After hearing these comments, what
should be the designer's FIRST course of action?
A. Suggest that the client also retain an architect to determine the feasibility of enlarging
rooms and removing walls.
B. Ask the client if he has a budget, and suggest conducting a preliminary cost estimate
to see if he can afford what he wants.
C. Tell the client that he needs to define what he means by "the best in town," to give
the designer a more definite idea of how to proceed.
D. Recommend to the client that field measurements of the house be conducted, and
begin research on authentic Victorian furnishings and finishes. - Answers- The answer
is B. Feasibility should be determined before any other work is done. In a case like this,
the client is not likely to have a good grasp of the costs required for remodeling and may
not have enough of a budget to do the job as he wants to. Option A is the second-best
choice, but would require additional costs to the client even before the feasibility was
determined. Options C and D are important issues but should be considered only after
the overall feasibility of the project has been determined.
A designer can MOST improve the safety of a restaurant's design by
A. making the exits highly visible
B. maintaining adequate spacing between tables
C. avoiding a level change of one or two steps
D. keeping the entrance to the kitchen away from seating - Answers- The answer is C.
While all the options are important in developing a safe restaurant design, a level
change of just one or two steps is especially dangerous for any public space that will be
used by people with a wide variety of physical abilities and limitations. Steps are also
dangerous for servers carrying food.
A residential design in a rural area involves the addition of two bedrooms and two
bathrooms. Which of the following should be the two GREATEST concerns during the
home's due diligence investigation?
A. neighborhood character and zoning setbacks
B. zoning setbacks and septic capacity
C. heating system capacity and septic capacity
D. zoning height limitations and heating system capacity - Answers- The answer is C.
Rural areas tend to use septic tank systems rather than sewer systems. Because the
addition includes two bathrooms, the home's septic capacity should be a primary
concern during the due diligence investigation. The addition of two bedrooms would
also increase the home's heating requirements, so the heating system's capacity should
also be a primary concern of the investigation.
Although zoning setbacks, neighborhood character, and zoning heights should be
reviewed in any due diligence investigation, they are less of a concern in rural areas
than in cities because rural houses are typically much farther apart.