Mixed Deck — All NCIDQ Topics Flashcards

Which lighting control strategy dims electric lights to a predetermined level based on the space's actual usage needs, rather than maximum design levels?

Answer: Task tuning

Task tuning (or institutional tuning) permanently sets the maximum light output of fixtures to match the actual illuminance needs of a space, reducing energy waste from over-lit areas.

What does the Wyzenbeek test measure for upholstery fabric?

Answer: Abrasion resistance (durability)

The Wyzenbeek test measures upholstery fabric abrasion resistance by rubbing a wire mesh back and forth across the fabric and counting double rubs until wear shows.

Which provision of the ADA requires that alterations to an existing facility also make a path of travel to the altered area accessible?

Answer: Path of travel obligation

The ADA path of travel obligation requires that when a primary function area is altered, the accessible path of travel to that area (including restrooms, phones, drinking fountains) must also be made accessible.

What does 'submittals' refer to during the construction administration phase?

Answer: Documents and samples (shop drawings, product data, samples) sent by the contractor for designer review

Submittals are contractor-prepared or collected documents — including shop drawings, product data sheets, and physical material samples — sent to the designer for review and approval before work proceeds.

The contractors and the? usually attend bid openings.

Answer: Owner and interior designer

The general contractors, owner, and interior designer are typically in attendance, even though most bid openings are available to anybody who wishes to attend.

What is the required minimum clear floor space at a side-approach accessible lavatory per ADA standards?

Answer: 30 inches × 48 inches

ADA requires a 30 × 48-inch clear floor space for a parallel (side) approach at lavatories, positioned to allow wheelchair users to reach controls.

Per NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), emergency egress lighting must remain operational for a minimum of how long after a power failure?

Answer: 1.5 hours

NFPA 101 requires emergency egress lighting to provide a minimum of 1.5 hours of illumination at required levels following loss of normal power.

What is the purpose of 'record drawings' (as-builts) at the end of a construction project?

Answer: To document actual conditions as built, reflecting all field changes from the original construction documents

Record drawings capture all field changes, substitutions, and as-installed conditions, providing the owner with an accurate document of what was actually constructed.

What does the term 'scope creep' mean in interior design project management?

Answer: Gradual expansion of project scope beyond the original contract without corresponding fee adjustment

Scope creep occurs when additional work or deliverables are added to a project incrementally without formally amending the contract or adjusting the designer's compensation.

In space planning, what does 'blocking' refer to?

Answer: Assigning departments to zones before detailed layout

Blocking assigns broad departmental zones to areas of the floor plate before detailed furniture layout begins.

Which drawing convention uses a symbol with a triangle pointing to a wall to indicate an interior elevation drawing?

Answer: Interior elevation reference bubble

Interior elevation reference bubbles with triangular arrows pointing toward walls indicate that an interior elevation of that wall exists on the referenced sheet and detail number.

When specifying paint for a high-traffic corridor, which finish is most appropriate for durability and cleanability?

Answer: Semi-gloss

Semi-gloss paint is highly durable and washable, making it ideal for high-traffic areas like corridors where walls are frequently cleaned.

When planning an open-office landscape, which workstation arrangement maximizes natural daylighting penetration?

Answer: Low panel heights and workstations perpendicular to windows

Low panels and workstations arranged perpendicular to windows allow daylight to penetrate deeper into the floor plate.

Which layer of the three-layer lighting approach is specifically intended to illuminate a task surface like a desk or countertop?

Answer: Task lighting

Task lighting provides concentrated, focused illumination directly on work surfaces to support specific visual activities like reading or food preparation.

What are the three sections of the NCIDQ examination?

Answer: IDFX, IDPX, and PRAC

The NCIDQ exam comprises the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX), the Interior Design Professional Experience Exam (IDPX), and the Practicum (PRAC), a design problem.

Which of the following is NOT factored into a live load calculation?

Answer: building components

The live load calculation excludes building components. The sum of the living and dead loads determines the building's overall gravity load. The main difference between these loads is that the live load's components can be relocated, but the dead load's components cannot. Movable items, furniture, and people are all included in the live load. The building's structural elements and mobile equipment are all included in the dead load.

Which material standard applies to hardwood veneer plywood used in casework and millwork?

Answer: HPVA HP-1 (Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association)

HPVA HP-1 is the industry standard for hardwood and decorative plywood, covering veneer grades, core types, and tolerances used in architectural millwork.

What is the IBC-required minimum door width for a means of egress door serving an occupant load over 49?

Answer: 32 inches clear

IBC requires a minimum 32-inch clear width for egress doors serving occupant loads above 49 persons.

What is the primary purpose of a 'test fit' in commercial interior programming?

Answer: Verifying the program fits within the available floor plate

A test fit is a quick schematic layout used to confirm that the programmed square footage and key spaces will fit within a candidate leased floor plate.

Which resilient flooring type consists of a photographic layer protected by a clear urethane wear layer?

Answer: Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank (LVT/LVP)

LVT/LVP uses a photographic film layer under a urethane wear layer to simulate wood, stone, or tile patterns with high dimensional stability.