The purpose of the California Building Code is to ensure that barrier-free design is incorporated in all buildings, facilities, site work and other developments to which this code applies and…

Interior designers are never permitted to do structural or seismic work.  This work is the responsibility of structural engineers and/or other qualified professionals. Structural engineers in particular, design structures to withstand stresses and pressures, such as…

Who monitors the building code compliance for safety? Building departments in every city and/or county are fully empowered.  The local building official is responsible for making sure the building is…

Building permits are issued on the front end of the project and a Certificate of Occupancy is issued on the back end.  The buildings or structures are issued a Certificate of Occupancy because…

So what if you do not like a building official’s code interpretation? Every city and/or county is directed to establish a local Board of Appeals.  The local Board of Appeals hears…

Occupancy Groups The key to using the California Building Code (CBC) are the Occupancy Groups.  There are 12 Occupancy Groups.  You must learn these groups to navigate the codes and to classify…

Occupancy Loads Occupancy loads covers fixed seating, outdoor areas and exiting. Occupant load for fixed seating shall not be less than the number of seats based on one person for…

Types of Construction Types of construction govern the type of allowable building materials for fire resistance.  All construction types have A and B subdivisions based upon the building height and…

Ceiling and Wall Surfaces According to the Gypsum Association, 80% of interior ceiling and wall surfaces are covered with gypsum board, AKA wallboard, drywall or sheetrock.  These are the classifications…

Fire Doors, Walls and Blocking The fire door assembly consists of any combination of a fire door, frame, hardware and other accessories that together provide a specific degree of fire protection to…

Fire Protection Systems and Alarms California fire codes are the information source for fire alarm and detection systems.  The fire code official shall approve any fire extinguishing systems installed as…

Commercial Corridors as Means of Egress The means of Egress is a continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building to…

 Accessible Means of Egress Accessible means of egress is a continuous and unobstructed way of egress travel from any accessible point in a building to a public way. Means of…

Doors have fire ratings for commercial installations.  Fire door assemblies include the entire door frame.  Fire doors shall have approved and permanently affixed labels. Fire doors are required to have…

Stairway Dimensions:            Width: 44 inches/48 inches Minimum headroom: 80 inches Minimum risers: 4 inches Maximum riser: 7 inches Minimum tread with no nose extension: 11 inches Minimum nose: 1-1/4…

Handrails or Handgrips Handrails with a circular cross-section shall have an outside diameter of at least 1-1/4 inches to a maximum of 2-1/4 inches.   The perimeter shall be 4 inches…

Ramp Criteria The maximum ramp slope of 1:12 has the following requirements: The maximum rise between landings is 30 inches The length of incline is 30 feet Handrails are required…

Elevators for Multifamily Buildings Passenger elevators for multifamily buildings shall be located on a major accessible route. A door reopening device shall also be capable of sensing an object or person…

Accessible Side Reach The following minimum dimensions are where clear floor space allows a direct parallel approach to an element. The unobstructed side reach shall have a maximum high of 48…

Light and Ventilation Light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum and is termed as sine waves.  Sine waves can be reflected, transmitted and absorbed. The minimum net glazed area for natural…

Electrical Light sources can serve three functions to meet human needs: Ambient lighting is background or fill light that spreads an even, overall luminosity and reduces harsh contrasts between pools…

Carpet and Doormats Carpet shall have a level loop, textured loop, level-cut pile or level-cut/uncut pile texture.  The maximum pile height shall be ½”.  Exposed edges of carpet shall be…

Interior Space Dimensions Occupiable spaces (working) such as in commercial buildings and habitable spaces (living) such as bedrooms, living rooms, family rooms, offices, etc., shall have a ceiling height of 7…

Sound and Acoustical Rating Noise travels in two ways.  Airborne sound insulation is the acoustically rated separation of the wall and floor-ceiling assemblies.  Impact sound insulation is echoed from surface…

Accessible Water Closet (WC) Back Wall Blocking The drawing above shows an example of 40-inch blocking in the back wall to install a 36-inch grab bar.  The grab bar shall…

Accessible Single Accommodation The minimum clear space required for the water closet (WC) from the wall to the adjacent side edge of the lav or the adjacent side wall shall…

Fireplace Clearance to Combustibles A minimum distance is required between an exposed combustible edge of sheathing material such as wood siding and the firebox in a masonry fireplace.  A combustible material…

Interior Finishes This part of the code governs the use of materials used in interior finishes, trim and/or decorative materials based upon the location and the Occupancy Group. The third…

Legal protection of personal assets starts with types of legal formations that protect personal assets.  Choices could include corporations or LLCs. Business consultants are critical in starting a business.  Of…

Design Contracts Contracts and Letters of Agreement are very important, especially if you want to be paid.   A Letter of Agreement is a less formal contract.  It affords a designer the same legal consideration…

Quoting Investment projections include: Quality ranges Typical arrangements Square-foot factor Standard materials and labor Budget is a limiting word.  Use the word investment with your client as the returns for…

State and Local Sales Taxes Every interior designer or decorator should have the booklet on tax tips “State Board of Equalization Bulletin for Interior Designers and Decorators”.  This booklet is…

Liabilities Liabilities always have first claim on the firms’ assets.  All liabilities shall be paid before owners or stockholders receive any funds. Current liabilities are obligations that are due within…

Complete Scope of Services Design phases drive the design process from the beginning to completion of the project.  They provide the scope of services in a design contract.  The design…

Sustainable Design Environmental consideration is part of the evolution of the FF&E specifications.  LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design from the USGBC – U.S.Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org/leed).  The practice focuses on…

Phase 2 – Schematic Design (AKA Concept Design) Written concepts Adjacency matrix Bubble diagrams Block plans Preliminary floor plans Preliminary F,F&E schedules Design sketches This phase consists of the preliminary formulation…

 Phase 3 – Design Development F,F&E specifications Final space plan Final furniture plan Working drawings Presentation graphics Project budget It is very important for the designer in the Design Development phase…

Phase 4 – Contract Documents Phase 4 embodies Contract Documents and is sometimes called the CD or the Document Phase.  This phase consists of all of the documents needed to build, bid or purchase materials…

Phase 5 – Contract Administration At this point the designer must have the approval of all technical/shop drawings and have completed the submittal review. Contract Administration involves the results of the…

Building Permits A building permit is required to build, construct, remodel, repair, demolish, remove or move any building or structure including garages, patios, fences, accessory buildings, car ports, etc.  Examples…

Registered Design Professional This title is defined as “An individual who is registered or licensed to practice their respective design profession as defined by the statutory requirements of the professional registration…

Notice of Completion The Notice of Completion  is primarily designed to protect the owner but it also serves to show completion of the contractor’s work for payment or for filing…

Ethics The definition of ethics in the business context is: “A consensus of what constitutes right or wrong behavior in the world of business and the application of moral principles…

Business & Professions Code Section 5801 “A Certified Interior Designer may obtain a stamp that shall include a number that uniquely identifies and bears the name of that Certified Interior…

Elements of Design Elements of Design are the most basic visual components of any composition.  The elements are the materials upon which the principles of design act.  Interior designers discover, incorporate, and…

Principles of Universal Design Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people without adaptions or specialized design.  The seven principles were developed by…

Basic Types of Design Structural Design results from the size and shape of design of structural materials.  It depends upon simplicity and appropriateness of material used.   Ornamentation or Decorative Design…

Textiles Protein fibers include wool and silk. Wool is expensive but has good wearability.  It resists dirt and cleans well.  Advantages include excellent resilience and elasticity and flame retardance as it…

Cabinetry Construction There are three primary construction styles for cabinetry: Framed Frameless or European Tambour These front view drawings demonstrate these three types of cabinets. Framed cabinetry has inset, lipped, overlay and…

Proxemics Proxemics is the study of a use of space by human beings in a particular culture.  It merges cultural, physical and psychological components to create adequate space in interior environment. …

The Quiz Shuffle Review is designed to re-enforce your study of the class contents.  This review covers ALL 51 lessons with each quiz question randomized, so you can take it…

The Original IDEX CA® Prep Class Evaluation Please give us your honest opinion of the class. We appreciate your comments as it helps us improve the class for future students.…