Interior Design Quality Control & Assurance 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A specified fabric for contract upholstery must meet a minimum of 50,000 double rubs on the Wyzenbeek test. The designer receives a submittal showing 45,000 double rubs. The correct action is:
- Accept it since 45,000 is close enough for most commercial applications
- Reject the submittal and require the contractor to source a fabric meeting the 50,000 double rub specification (Correct answer)
- Ask the client if they want to lower the standard to save money
- Approve it with a notation that the reduced performance is acceptable
Correct answer: Reject the submittal and require the contractor to source a fabric meeting the 50,000 double rub specification
The submitted fabric does not meet the specified durability requirement and must be rejected; the contractor must provide a compliant material.
Question 2: The primary purpose of a Request for Information (RFI) in the construction administration phase is to:
- Allow the contractor to propose substitutions for specified materials
- Enable the contractor to seek clarification on unclear or missing information in the construction documents (Correct answer)
- Request additional budget from the client for unforeseen conditions
- Submit material samples for designer approval
Correct answer: Enable the contractor to seek clarification on unclear or missing information in the construction documents
An RFI is a formal process by which the contractor requests clarification or additional information about the construction documents from the designer.
Question 3: When specifying a wood floor finish, a designer requires a gloss level of 30 (satin) measured by a 60-degree gloss meter. This type of requirement is an example of:
- A prescriptive specification
- A performance specification (Correct answer)
- A proprietary specification
- A reference standard specification
Correct answer: A performance specification
Specifying an outcome (gloss level measured at 30 GU) rather than a specific product or process is the definition of a performance specification.
Question 4: Which of the following is the MOST reliable method for verifying that installed acoustical ceiling tiles meet the specified Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) value?
- Listening for sound differences in the completed space
- Reviewing the manufacturer's published NRC test data for the approved product against the specification (Correct answer)
- Asking the installer to certify the NRC verbally
- Conducting a post-occupancy acoustical test at the designer's expense
Correct answer: Reviewing the manufacturer's published NRC test data for the approved product against the specification
Comparing the manufacturer's published, laboratory-tested NRC data for the approved product against the specification requirement is the standard method of verification.
Question 5: A designer discovers during a site visit that a contractor has installed recessed lighting at 9 feet on center instead of the specified 8 feet on center. The designer should:
- Ignore it since the difference is minor and will not affect the final appearance
- Issue a non-conformance notice and require the contractor to correct the installation or submit a formal variance request (Correct answer)
- Verbally tell the contractor to fix it without documentation
- Issue a change order to update the documents to reflect the installed condition
Correct answer: Issue a non-conformance notice and require the contractor to correct the installation or submit a formal variance request
Any deviation from the construction documents must be formally documented as a non-conformance; corrections or formal variances must be processed in writing.
Question 6: For a healthcare interior project, which standard most directly governs surface cleanability and infection control requirements for finish materials?
- ANSI/ASHRAE 62.1
- FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals (Correct answer)
- ASTM E84 Surface Burning Characteristics
- NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
Correct answer: FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals
The FGI Guidelines set specific requirements for finish materials in healthcare settings, including surface cleanability and resistance to hospital-grade disinfectants.
Question 7: A close-out document package delivered by the contractor at project completion typically includes all of the following EXCEPT:
- As-built drawings reflecting field changes
- Warranty documentation for installed products
- The designer's original fee proposal (Correct answer)
- Operation and maintenance manuals for installed systems
Correct answer: The designer's original fee proposal
The designer's fee proposal is a contractual document between the client and designer; it is not part of the contractor's close-out package.
Interior Design Quality Control & Assurance 4
A specified fabric for contract upholstery must meet a minimum of 50,000 double rubs on the Wyzenbeek test.
The designer receives a submittal showing 45,000 double rubs.
The correct action is: