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Project Development & Documentation (PDD)

This division will assess objectives related to the integration and documentation of building systems, material selection, and material assemblies into a project. The division will focus on issues related to the development of design concepts, evaluation of materials and technologies, selection of appropriate construction techniques, and appropriate construction documentation. Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of and abilities in integration of civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and specialty systems into overall project design and documentation.

Integration Building Materials Systems

Analyze Integration Architectural Systems

7/7 topics

Material Properties at the Detail Level: Thermal Expansion, Moisture Movement, Compatibility, and Dimensional Tolerance

Architects working at the detail level must understand how individual materials behave under changing temperature and moisture conditions, how those behaviors interact when dissimilar materials are assembled together, and how dimensional tolerance affects the constructability of assemblies. This topic covers the physical properties that drive joint design, connection detailing, and material selection decisions in construction documentation.

Floor Assembly Detailing: Slab-on-Grade, Elevated Slabs, Raised Access Floors, and Joint Types

Detailed analysis of floor assembly systems from a project development and documentation perspective, covering slab-on-grade construction with vapor barriers and reinforcement, elevated slab design loads and structural considerations, raised access floor integration for wire management, and the specification and placement of construction, control, isolation, and expansion joints.

Roof Assembly Detailing: Membrane Types (BUR, TPO, EPDM, PVC), Insulation Placement, Drainage, and Parapet Details

Resolving and detailing low-slope roof assemblies across membrane types, insulation configurations, drainage strategies, and parapet conditions. Covers the documentation-level decisions architects face when integrating roof systems with the broader building envelope, including flashing sequences, vapor retarder placement, thermal bridging at parapets, and coordination of drainage with structural slopes.

Window Installation Detailing: Head, Sill, and Jamb Conditions, WRB Integration, and Performance Specifications

Detailed examination of window installation conditions at head, sill, and jamb locations, including flashing sequencing, WRB integration strategies for flanged and non-flanged windows, expansion joint coordination at openings, and fenestration performance specifications including U-factor, SHGC, and NFRC labeling requirements.

Exterior Wall Assembly Composition: Vapor Barriers, Air Barriers, Insulation Continuity, and Material Layering

Analyzes how vapor retarders, air barriers, continuous insulation, and material sequencing interact within exterior wall assemblies, including thermal bridging consequences, climate-based positioning logic, and condensation risk at component connections.

Curtain Wall System Detailing: Stick-Built vs. Unitized, Thermal Breaks, Mullion Profiles, and Glazing Methods

Resolve and detail curtain wall assemblies by evaluating stick-built versus unitized construction methods, integrating thermal break strategies to control mullion thermal bridging, selecting appropriate mullion profiles for structural and visual requirements, and specifying glazing methods that balance thermal performance, daylighting, and constructability.

Exterior Cladding and Rain Screen Detailing: Pressure Equalization, Drainage Cavity, Veneer Anchoring, and Back-Ventilation

Resolving and detailing exterior cladding systems with emphasis on rain screen principles, pressure-equalized wall design, drainage cavity sizing and continuity, veneer anchoring to backup walls, and back-ventilation strategies for moisture management.

Determine Size Mep Systems

7/7 topics

Ductwork Sizing and Distribution Layout: Friction Rate, Velocity, Supply/Return Balance, and Plenum Depth

Covers the methods architects use to size ductwork, determine air velocities, balance supply and return systems, and coordinate plenum depths with structural and architectural elements in building HVAC design.

Electrical Service and Distribution Sizing: Load Calculations, Panels, Transformers, and Voltage Selection

Covers how architects determine the size of electrical service entrance equipment, distribution panels, transformers, and voltage systems for buildings. Includes load calculation methods, demand factors, equipment selection thresholds, spare capacity requirements, and coordination with utility providers.

HVAC Load Calculations and Equipment Sizing: Sensible and Latent Loads, CFM, and Capacity Determination

Covers the methods and formulas used to calculate heating and cooling loads for buildings, including sensible heat, latent heat, airflow rates in CFM, and how these calculations drive HVAC equipment sizing decisions in architectural practice.

Mechanical Room and Equipment Space Requirements: Sizing Ratios, Access Clearances, and Ventilation

How to size mechanical rooms and equipment spaces relative to total building area, required clearances for maintenance and equipment replacement, ventilation requirements for mechanical and electrical rooms, and coordination of mechanical penthouses with building systems.

Plumbing System Sizing: Fixture Units, Pipe Sizing, DWV Slope, Water Supply Pressure, and Pipe Materials

Covers the methods and criteria for sizing plumbing systems in buildings, including water supply fixture unit calculations, drain/waste/vent pipe sizing, required drainage slopes, water supply pressure requirements, and the selection of appropriate piping materials based on application and code compliance.

Renewable Energy System Sizing: Photovoltaic Capacity, Panel Orientation, Inverters, and Building Integration

How architects determine the size and configuration of photovoltaic systems for building projects, including calculating PV array capacity based on energy loads, selecting optimal panel orientation and tilt, specifying inverter types and sizing, and integrating solar systems with building structure, envelope, and electrical infrastructure.

Lighting Layout and Illumination Calculations: Zonal Cavity Method, Foot-Candles, LPD, and Fixture Spacing

Covers the zonal cavity method for calculating required lighting levels, lighting power density (LPD) compliance with ASHRAE 90.1, foot-candle targets by space type, and fixture spacing rules. Includes worked examples of the lumen method, coefficient of utilization tables, and how to verify that a proposed lighting layout meets both illumination and energy code requirements.

Determine Size Structural Systems

6/6 topics

Structural Load Path and Tributary Area: Dead Loads, Live Loads, Snow, Wind, and Seismic Force Distribution Through Building Systems

How gravity and lateral loads originate, accumulate through tributary areas, and travel along continuous load paths from roof to foundation . including dead, live, snow, wind, and seismic forces, load combinations under ASD and LRFD, and the structural systems that carry each load type.

Beam and Girder Sizing: Moment, Shear, Deflection Limits, and Span-to-Depth Rules of Thumb

How to determine preliminary beam and girder sizes using bending moment, shear capacity, deflection limits from IBC Table 1604.3, and span-to-depth ratios for steel, concrete, and wood members in architectural practice.

Concrete Reinforcement and Detailing: Rebar Sizing, Cover Requirements, Control Joints, and Slab Types

Covers the selection and sizing of reinforcing steel for concrete structures, minimum cover requirements per ACI 318, control joint placement to manage cracking, and characteristics of common slab types including slab-on-grade, one-way, two-way, and post-tensioned systems.

Foundation Sizing and Detailing: Footing Area Calculations, Soil Bearing Capacity, and Foundation Types

Covers footing area calculations using soil bearing capacity values, presumptive bearing pressures from the IRC, and the selection of foundation types based on soil conditions, loading, and environmental hazards. Includes spread footings, continuous footings, pile foundations, pier foundations, mat foundations, and grade beams.

Steel Connection Types and Detailing: Shear Connections, Moment Connections, Bolted and Welded Details

Steel structural connections transfer forces between members and determine how a frame behaves under gravity and lateral loads. This topic covers shear (simple) connections, moment (rigid) connections, bolted and welded joining methods, connection detailing for seismic performance, and the prequalified connection standards that govern steel moment frame design.

Structural Span Ranges and System Selection: Comparative Capabilities of Steel, Concrete, Wood, and Masonry

Comparing the span capabilities, load-carrying behavior, and selection criteria for steel, concrete, wood, and masonry structural systems as they apply to sizing decisions in building design.

Integrate Specialty Systems

3/3 topics

Acoustic Design and Sound Control: STC, IIC, NRC, Reverberation Time, and Assembly Performance Comparisons

Acoustic rating systems that govern sound isolation, absorption, and reverberation in buildings. Covers STC for airborne sound through partitions, IIC for impact sound through floor-ceiling assemblies, NRC for material absorption, and reverberation time (RT60) calculated via the Sabine formula. Includes performance targets by space type and strategies for integrating acoustic design into project documentation.

Fire Detection, Alarm, and Suppression Systems: Detector Types, Sprinkler Systems, Standpipes, and Zoning

Covers the selection, integration, and coordination of fire detection devices, alarm and notification systems, automatic sprinkler systems, standpipe classes, and fire zone strategies within building projects.

Conveying Systems: Elevator Types, Height Limitations, Shaft Sizing, Machine Room Requirements, and Escalators

Covers the selection, integration, and coordination of vertical conveying systems including hydraulic and traction elevators, machine-room-less configurations, escalators, and platform lifts. Addresses shaft sizing, pit depth, overhead clearance, machine room placement, fire service access elevator requirements, accessibility scoping under ABA/ADA, and traffic analysis methodology for determining elevator quantity, speed, and grouping.

Detail Integration Building Systems

5/5 topics

Curtain Wall-to-Floor Slab Interface: Fire Safing, Spandrel Insulation, Structural Deflection, and Slab Edge Details

How curtain wall systems meet the floor slab, including perimeter fire containment, safing insulation, spandrel panel detailing, structural movement accommodation, and slab edge conditions required by the IBC and ASTM E2307.

Foundation-to-Wall and Below-Grade Transitions: Waterproofing Termination, Insulation, and Drainage Details

Detailing how waterproofing membranes, insulation layers, drainage systems, and capillary breaks integrate at the transition between below-grade foundation walls and above-grade wall assemblies. Covers positive-side and blindside waterproofing, footing drain systems, sill plate capillary breaks, and coordination of air/vapor barriers across this critical building envelope junction.

Window and Door-to-Wall Interface: WRB Integration, Flashing Sequences, Sealant Joint Design, and End Dams

Detailing the intersection of windows and doors with wall assemblies, including water-resistive barrier integration, proper flashing installation sequences for flanged and non-flanged units, sealant joint design principles, and end dam construction to prevent moisture intrusion.

Thermal Bridging Identification and Mitigation: Shelf Angles, Balcony Slabs, Parapets, Studs, and Window Frames

Identifies common locations where thermal bridges occur in building envelopes and applies appropriate detailing strategies to mitigate heat loss at shelf angles, cantilevered balcony slabs, parapets, metal studs, and window frame connections.

Roof-to-Wall Intersection Detailing: Flashing Continuity, Air Barrier Transitions, and Insulation Termination

Detailing the intersection where roof assemblies meet wall assemblies, including continuous flashing strategies, air barrier transition methods, insulation termination techniques, and moisture management at parapets, eaves, and penetrations.

Coordinate Mep Structural Specialty

4/4 topics

MEP Penetrations Through Rated Assemblies: Firestopping Systems, Sleeves, Fire Dampers, and Access Doors

Covers the coordination of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing penetrations through fire-resistance-rated walls, floors, and ceiling assemblies. Addresses firestopping systems (F, T, and L ratings), penetration sleeves, fire and smoke dampers, access doors for maintenance, and the testing standards and IBC requirements that govern these elements during project development and documentation.

Clash Detection and System Routing Priority: Hard Clashes, Soft Clashes, Gravity-First Routing, and Resolution

How architects identify and resolve conflicts between building systems using BIM-based clash detection, distinguish between hard and soft clashes, apply gravity-first routing hierarchy, and coordinate resolution across disciplines during project development and documentation.

Ceiling Plenum Coordination: Ductwork, Structure, Piping, Sprinklers, Conduit, and Lighting Integration

Coordinating the placement of HVAC ductwork, structural members, plumbing lines, fire sprinkler piping, electrical conduit, and lighting fixtures within the ceiling plenum space. Covers conflict identification, priority sequencing, clearance requirements, and the role of reflected ceiling plans in documenting coordinated systems.

Structural-MEP Interface: Equipment Support, Vibration Isolation, Seismic Bracing, and Web Openings

How structural and MEP systems interact at the detail level, including equipment support on housekeeping pads, vibration isolation for mechanical equipment, seismic bracing and anchorage of nonstructural components, and coordination of web openings and penetrations through structural members.

Construction Documentation

Determine Documentation Building Design

9/9 topics

Documentation Approach by Project Delivery Method: DBB, CM-at-Risk, Design-Build, and IPD Drawing Requirements

How project delivery method shapes the documentation strategy, including the scope of construction drawings, level of prescriptive detail, phasing of document releases, and the architect's shifting responsibilities across Design-Bid-Build, CM-at-Risk, Design-Build, and Integrated Project Delivery.

Door and Window Schedules: Type, Size, Fire Rating, Hardware Group, Glazing, and Frame Documentation

How to assemble, coordinate, and evaluate door and window schedules within construction documentation, covering type designations, sizing, fire-rating labels, hardware group assignments, glazing specifications, and frame documentation standards.

Drawing Types and Scale Selection: Plans, Sections, Elevations, Details, and Scale Appropriateness

Evaluating how to select and organize the right drawing types and scales to communicate building design clearly in construction documentation, based on project complexity, materials, assemblies, and delivery requirements.

Finish Schedules and Material Selection Documentation: Room Finish Schedules and Material Designations

How architects document interior finish selections through room finish schedules, material designations, and coordinated finish documentation across construction drawing sets.

Hardware Schedules and Groups: Locksets, Closers, Hinges, Panic Devices, and Fire-Rated Hardware

How architects document door hardware selections through hardware schedules and groups, covering lockset types, closer specifications, hinge selection rules, panic and exit devices, and fire-rated hardware requirements for construction documents.

Material Indication and Keynoting: Hatch Patterns, Keynote Systems, and Specification Cross-References

How architects indicate materials on construction documents through standardized hatch patterns, keynote annotation systems, and cross-references to project specifications. Covers graphic conventions for representing concrete, masonry, steel, wood, and insulation in plan and section views; the distinction between sheet keynotes and reference keynotes; and the coordination between drawing annotations and CSI MasterFormat specification sections.

Level of Detail by Project Phase: SD, DD, and CD Drawing Requirements and Content Progression

How architectural documentation evolves across Schematic Design, Design Development, and Construction Documents, including the expected drawing content, level of geometric definition, coordination requirements, and deliverables at each phase, along with BIM Level of Development (LOD) frameworks that define element reliability and progression from conceptual massing to construction-ready detail.

Partition Type Schedules: Stud Size, GWB Layers, Insulation, Fire Rating, STC Rating, and Height

How architects organize and document interior partition assemblies through partition type schedules, covering stud gauge and depth, gypsum wallboard layer count, insulation type, fire-resistance rating, Sound Transmission Class, and limiting height for each partition type designation.

Drawing Revision Management: Revision Clouds, Deltas, Addenda, Bulletins, and Change Tracking Protocols

Protocols for managing revisions to construction documents throughout project development, including the use of revision clouds, delta symbols, addenda during bidding, bulletins during construction, and systematic change tracking methods that maintain document integrity and coordination across disciplines.

Determine Documentation Site Features

4/4 topics

Site Plan Documentation: Property Lines, Setbacks, Easements, Utilities, and Existing Conditions

How architects coordinate site plan documentation with civil engineers and surveyors to accurately represent property boundaries, zoning setbacks, easements, utility infrastructure, and existing site conditions in construction documents.

Setting and Environmental Sustainability Documentation: Plant Schedules, Irrigation, Resilience, and Green Infrastructure

Documentation of setting elements including plant schedules, irrigation systems, resilience strategies, and green infrastructure within construction documents. Covers coordination with civil engineers and setting architects, stormwater management documentation, and environmental sustainability features in site documentation.

Site Circulation and Parking Documentation: ADA Accessible Routes, Vehicular Paths, Parking Layout, and Loading

Documenting site circulation systems including ADA-compliant accessible routes from arrival points to building entrances, vehicular circulation paths, parking lot layout with required accessible space ratios, passenger loading zones, and coordination with civil engineers and setting architects to produce clear construction documentation for site features.

Stormwater and Grading Documentation: Contour Lines, Spot Elevations, Flow Arrows, Retention, and BMPs

How architects coordinate and verify site documentation for stormwater management, including grading plans with contour lines and spot elevations, drainage flow indicators, retention and detention systems, and best management practices (BMPs) for environmental compliance.

Determine Documentation Detailed Drawings

9/9 topics

Window Detailing in Construction Documents: Head, Sill, and Jamb Conditions by Frame Type and Glazing System

How to resolve and document window openings at the head, sill, and jamb conditions for punched windows, storefront, and curtain wall systems, including flashing integration, air barrier continuity, thermal performance, and constructability in CD drawings.

Stair Design and Detailing: Tread/Riser Dimensions, Handrails, Guards, Landings, and Construction Types

Resolving, detailing, and documenting stair systems for construction documentation, including tread/riser geometry per IBC and ADA, handrail and guard requirements, landing configurations, and common stair construction types with their documentation requirements.

Door and Frame Detailing: Hollow Metal, Wood, and Aluminum Frames, Fire-Rated Requirements, and Thresholds

Covers the documentation and detailing of door and frame assemblies across hollow metal, wood, and aluminum frame types. Includes fire-rated assembly requirements, threshold details for accessibility and weatherproofing, frame anchoring methods, hardware coordination, and flashing integration with the building envelope.

Enlarged Plan Details: Toilet Rooms, Stairwells, Elevator Lobbies, and Specialty Areas

How architects develop enlarged plan details for core building areas including toilet rooms, stairwells, elevator lobbies, and specialty spaces, with emphasis on ADA clearance requirements, fixture coordination, accessibility documentation, and constructability of these high-complexity zones.

Expansion Joint and Control Joint Detailing: Location, Sizing, Cover Assemblies, and Fire Rating Continuity

Detailing expansion joints and control joints in construction documentation, including placement criteria based on structural configuration and movement, joint sizing and sealant selection, cover assembly options, and maintaining fire-resistance-rated assembly continuity across joints.

Reflected Ceiling Plans: Grid Layout, Fixture Coordination, Soffits, Bulkheads, and MEP Integration

How to document reflected ceiling plans (RCPs) including ceiling grid layouts, light fixture placement, diffuser and sprinkler coordination, soffits, bulkheads, and the integration of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing elements above the ceiling plane.

Louver and Mechanical Opening Detailing: Sizing, Rain Defense, Acoustic Treatment, and Flashing

Covers the documentation and detailing of louvers and mechanical openings in construction drawings, including sizing calculations based on free area and CFM requirements, rain defense through AMCA-tested water penetration performance, acoustic treatment at mechanical penetrations, and flashing integration with the building envelope.

Interior Partition Detailing: Head-of-Wall, Base Conditions, Shaft Walls, Bracing, and Deflection Track

Resolving and documenting interior partition conditions including head-of-wall joints, base details, shaft wall enclosures, lateral bracing, and deflection tracks for construction documentation.

Wall Section Documentation: Full Building Sections from Foundation to Roof with All Assemblies

How to document a complete wall section cut through an entire building, showing every layer from footing to parapet. Covers foundation waterproofing, slab-on-grade connections, exterior wall assemblies, floor-to-floor transitions, window and penetration integration, roof connections, and the control layers (air, vapor, thermal, moisture) that must remain continuous across every transition.

Apply Standards Construction Documentation

6/6 topics

CAD and BIM Documentation Standards: Layer Guidelines, Level of Development, and Model Coordination

Standards governing CAD layer naming conventions, BIM Level of Development (LOD) definitions from LOD 100 through LOD 500, model coordination protocols, and the documentation framework that ensures construction drawings and BIM models communicate design intent clearly and consistently across disciplines.

Cross-Referencing and Drawing Coordination: Detail Marks, Section Marks, Key Plans, and Match Lines

Understanding and applying the standard graphic conventions that link construction drawings together, including detail marks, section marks, key plans, and match lines, and how these cross-referencing tools enable clear coordination across disciplines within a complete set of construction documents.

Construction Document Sheet Organization: NCS Discipline Prefixes, Sheet Types, and Numbering Conventions

How construction document sets are organized using the National CAD Standard discipline designators, sheet type codes, and numbering conventions to create clear, coordinated drawing packages.

Drawing Requirements by Delivery Method: Early Release Packages, Bridging Documents, and Phase Sequencing

How the project delivery method determines the drawings required, the sequence in which they are produced, and the level of completeness at each milestone. Covers Design-Bid-Build documentation standards, Design-Build bridging documents and performance specifications, CM at Risk early release packages, multiple-prime bid packaging, IPD collaborative documentation, and the phase sequencing strategies that coordinate drawing production with construction schedules.

Title Block and Cover Sheet Standards: Project Directory, Sheet Index, Code Summary, and Professional Seal

Standards and conventions for title blocks, cover sheets, project directories, sheet indexes, code summaries, and professional seal placement in construction documentation sets.

Quality Control in Construction Documentation: Review Processes, Backcheck, Coordination Reviews, and Standard of Care

Examines QA/QC procedures used during the production of construction documents, including internal review workflows, backcheck procedures, interdisciplinary coordination reviews, and the legal concept of the architect's standard of care as it applies to documentation quality.

Determine Impact Project Changes

5/5 topics

Value Engineering Impact on Documentation: Material Substitutions, System Changes, and Drawing Updates

How value engineering decisions ripple through construction documentation, from material substitutions and system changes to revised drawings, updated specifications, and coordinated communication with the owner and design team.

Submittal Types and Requirements: Shop Drawings, Product Data, Samples, Mock-Ups, and Review Procedures

Covers the types of construction submittals, the contractor and architect responsibilities in the submittal process, review scope and limitations under AIA A201, submittal scheduling, and the impact of resubmittals and substitutions on project documentation and additional services.

Scope Changes and Additional Services: Owner-Initiated Changes, AIA B101 Authorization, and Fee Implications

How owner-initiated scope changes trigger additional services under AIA B101, the contractual mechanisms for authorizing those services, and the fee consequences that ripple through the documentation process.

Impact Assessment of Design Changes: Schedule, Cost, Cross-Discipline, and Code Compliance Effects

Assessing how design changes ripple through schedule, budget, consultant coordination, and code compliance, and determining when those changes trigger additional services or require revised documentation methods.

Change Documentation Methods: ASI, Bulletins, Addenda, Construction Change Directives, and Change Orders

Covers the different instruments used to communicate and authorize changes throughout a construction project, from pre-bid addenda through post-award change orders, including when each is appropriate and how they affect contract sum, time, and documentation requirements.

Project Manual Specifications

Project Manual Components

3/3 topics

Project Manual Organization: Bidding Requirements, Contract Forms, and General/Supplementary Conditions

How the project manual is structured beyond the drawings and specifications, covering bidding requirements, contract forms, general conditions (A201), and supplementary conditions (A503) that together define the contractual framework for a construction project.

Division 01 General Requirements: Submittals, Quality Assurance, Temporary Facilities, and Closeout Procedures

How Division 01 of the project manual organizes and specifies submittals, quality assurance programs, temporary facilities, and project closeout procedures that apply across all trade divisions, and how the architect determines, assembles, and refines these requirements.

AIA A201 General Conditions: Owner, Architect, and Contractor Roles, Rights, and Responsibilities

Covers AIA Document A201-2017, the 'keystone' general conditions document for construction contracts, including the distinct roles, rights, and responsibilities assigned to the Owner, Architect, and Contractor under the conventional design-bid-build delivery method.

Project Specifications Components

7/7 topics

CSI Divisions 07-08: Thermal and Moisture Protection, Openings, and Glazing Specifications

How to write and coordinate specifications for Division 07 (thermal and moisture protection systems including firestopping, flashing, and air barriers) and Division 08 (openings including curtain walls, steel doors and frames, and louvers), including applicable testing standards, material classifications, and installation sequencing requirements.

Specification Types: Prescriptive, Performance, Proprietary, Reference Standard, and Selection Criteria

Covers the four primary specification types used in construction documents, their characteristics, advantages, limitations, and the criteria architects use to select the right type for each project condition.

Material Testing and Submittal Protocols: ASTM Standards, Mock-Up Requirements, and Field Testing

How architects specify material testing protocols, manage the submittal process, reference ASTM and industry standards in specifications, and use mock-ups and field tests to verify construction quality and conformance with project requirements.

Material Selection and Substitution: Performance Criteria, "Or Equal" Evaluation, and Substitution Procedures

How architects specify materials using performance criteria, evaluate 'or equal' product submittals, and manage substitution requests during design and construction to maintain design intent while meeting project requirements.

CSI MasterFormat Organization: Division Structure, Three-Part Section Format, and Section Numbering

How CSI MasterFormat organizes construction specifications into 50 divisions using a six-digit numbering system, and how each specification section follows the three-part format of General, Products, and Execution.

CSI Divisions 03-06: Concrete, Masonry, Metals, and Wood/Composites Specification Content

Writing and organizing specifications for CSI Divisions 03 (Concrete), 04 (Masonry), 05 (Metals), and 06 (Wood, Plastics, and Composites). Covers the three-part SectionFormat structure, key ASTM testing standards, quality assurance levels, material-specific specification provisions, and how architects determine which divisions and sections to include based on project requirements.

CSI Divisions 09-12: Finishes, Specialties, Equipment, and Furnishing Specifications

Covers the specification requirements for CSI MasterFormat Divisions 09 through 12, including finishes (plaster, gypsum board, flooring, ceiling, painting, wall coverings), specialties (signage, lockers, toilet accessories, fire protection specialties), equipment (institutional, commercial, residential), and furnishings (casework, window treatments, furniture). Addresses how architects select, specify, and coordinate these product categories using appropriate specification types and testing standards.

Coordinate Specifications Documentation

4/4 topics

Consultant Specification Coordination: Structural, MEP, and Specialty Consultant Integration

Coordinating specifications across structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and specialty consultant disciplines to produce a unified, conflict-free project manual that aligns with construction drawings.

Document Precedence and Conflict Resolution: Governing Documents, Specification Language, and NIC/NIS

How construction contract documents relate to each other, which document governs when conflicts arise, and how specification language like NIC and NIS directs responsibility across the project team.

Drawing-Specification Coordination: Material Designations, Keynotes, and Cross-Referencing

How architects coordinate specifications with construction drawings through material designations, keynote systems, and cross-referencing practices to produce a unified, conflict-free document set.

Hardware Coordination: Door Schedules, Hardware Groups, and Division 08 Specification Alignment

How architects coordinate door hardware specifications in Division 08 with door schedules on drawings, organize hardware into logical groups (hardware sets), and ensure that specification language, drawing annotations, and consultant documents all reference the same products, standards, and fire-rating requirements.

Codes Regulations

Building Regulatory Requirements

6/6 topics

Means of Egress at Detail Level: Stair Enclosures, Door Swing, Corridor Width, Exit Signs, and Separation

Covers IBC means of egress requirements as applied to project documentation: stair enclosure fire-resistance ratings, minimum stair widths, riser/tread geometry, door swing direction and hardware, corridor width and rating requirements, exit sign placement and illumination, exit separation distance rules, and how automatic sprinkler systems modify these provisions. Focuses on detailing and documenting egress components in construction documents.

Interior Finish Requirements: Flame Spread Index, Smoke-Developed Index, and Material Class by Location

IBC Chapter 8 requirements for interior wall, ceiling, and floor finishes classified by flame spread index and smoke-developed index (ASTM E84/UL 723), with material class restrictions varying by occupancy group, building location, and sprinkler status.

Impact of Occupancy and Area Changes on Code: Reclassification, Mixed-Use Provisions, and Documentation Updates

How changes to a building's occupancy classification, floor area, or mixed-use configuration trigger cascading code requirements under the IBC, including reclassification thresholds, the three mixed-occupancy compliance paths, and the documentation updates architects must coordinate.

Fire-Rated Assembly Documentation: Fire Walls, Fire Barriers, Fire Partitions, Smoke Barriers, and Opening Protectives

How the IBC classifies and documents fire-rated separations, from fire walls that create separate buildings to fire partitions that protect corridors, including the opening protectives required at each level of separation.

Construction Types and Fire Resistance: Tables 601/602, Hourly Ratings, and Material Requirements by Type

How the IBC classifies buildings into five construction types (I through V), the fire-resistance ratings required by Table 601 for structural elements, and the exterior wall ratings required by Table 602 based on fire separation distance. Covers material restrictions (combustible vs. noncombustible), hourly rating values for structural frames, bearing walls, floors, and roofs, and the 2021 IBC addition of mass timber subcategories (IV-A, IV-B, IV-C, IV-HT).

Fire Protection of Structural Elements: SFRM, Intumescent Coatings, Encasement, and Membrane Protection

Methods and materials for protecting structural steel, concrete, timber, and composite members from fire, including spray-applied fire-resistive materials (SFRM), intumescent coatings, concrete encasement, gypsum board enclosure, and membrane ceiling protection, with IBC requirements and ASTM E119 testing criteria.

Specialty Regulatory Requirements

5/5 topics

Energy Code Compliance at Detail Level: Envelope Values by Climate Zone, LPD Limits, and Continuous Insulation

How architects apply energy code requirements at the detail and documentation level, including selecting envelope assembly U-values and R-values by climate zone, meeting lighting power density limits, specifying continuous insulation to avoid thermal bridging, and navigating prescriptive versus performance compliance paths.

ADA Accessibility at Detail Level: Maneuvering Clearances, Restroom Requirements, Ramps, and Protruding Objects

Detailed application of ADA and ABA accessibility standards to architectural documentation, covering door maneuvering clearances, restroom layout requirements, ramp design criteria, grab bar specifications, protruding object limits, and the building block standards that underpin accessible design at the construction detail level.

Historic Preservation at Detail Level: Secretary of Interior's Standards, Rehabilitation Tax Credits, and SHPO Review

Applying the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties to project documentation, understanding the four treatment types, working with SHPO on Section 106 review, qualifying projects for federal rehabilitation tax credits, and using the IEBC's historic building provisions at the detail level.

Fair Housing Act and Multifamily Accessibility: Covered Dwelling Requirements, Accessible Routes, and Design Standards

How the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 applies to multifamily housing design and construction, including which buildings qualify as covered multifamily dwellings, the seven accessibility requirements, accessible route standards, usable door widths, kitchen and bathroom design, reinforced walls for grab bars, and the relationship between Fair Housing Act requirements and ADA, Section 504, and the Architectural Barriers Act.

Environmental Regulations and Hazardous Materials: Asbestos, Lead Paint, VOC Limits, and Indoor Air Quality

How architects apply environmental regulations governing hazardous materials in building projects, including asbestos identification and abatement, lead paint assessment and remediation, VOC limits for interior materials, radon mitigation, and indoor air quality standards during construction and occupancy.

Construction Cost Estimates

Analyze Construction Cost Estimates

5/5 topics

Cost Estimating Methods and Accuracy Ranges: Order of Magnitude, Square Foot, Assemblies, and Unit Price

Covers the four primary cost estimating methods used on building projects, their appropriate design phases, accuracy ranges, advantages, and limitations. Candidates must analyze which method fits a given project stage and evaluate whether an estimate's accuracy is appropriate for the decision at hand.

Budget Reconciliation and Cost Control: Contingencies, Allowances, Alternates, and Escalation Factors

Evaluating how design contingencies, cost allowances, bid alternates, and escalation factors interact within construction cost estimates, and reconciling those estimates against the project budget through value engineering and material substitution decisions.

Value Engineering Process: Function Analysis, Alternative Systems, Life-Cycle Cost, and Timing

How the VE process works through its structured phases, from function analysis through alternative evaluation to life-cycle cost comparison, and when to apply it during project development for maximum cost impact.

Quantity Takeoffs and Unit Cost Analysis: Measuring from CDs, RSMeans Data, and Regional Adjustments

How architects evaluate construction cost estimates understanding quantity takeoff methods, unit cost composition (labor, material, equipment), cost data sources like RSMeans, and regional adjustment factors that affect project budgets during documentation.

Material Substitution Evaluation: Performance Equivalence, Code Compliance, and Specification Impact

Evaluating contractor-proposed material substitutions for performance equivalence, code compliance impacts, and specification alignment during project development and documentation.