The California Legislative Coalition for Interior Design (CLCID) sponsors The Original IDEX CA Prep Class©. This class is designed to prepare you to sit for the IDEX California®. The IDEX California® is the only California approved exam for Interior Design certification.
The Original IDEX CA Prep Class© is the only IDEX California® prep class that gives back to the profession through the efforts of a dedicated group of CLCID volunteers who represent the entire profession on issues critical to interior designers and their practice.
Quiz questions throughout the class will reinforce the learning process. These questions are designed in the format of the IDEX California® questions but are not the exact questions on the IDEX California®. However, these questions are similar to those on the exam. There is also a Quiz Shuffle Review at the conclusion of the class. The Original IDEX CA Prep Class© is inclusive of all of the IDEX California® content.
A link to printable handouts for more difficult lessons is located at the bottom of the corresponding lesson.
To start a lesson, click the lesson title
(You must complete each quiz question correctly before proceeding to the next lesson.)
Lessons
Lesson 01 – Code Overview
Lesson 02 – Human Dimensions and Closure
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…
Lesson 03 – Limitations
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…
Lesson 04 – Code Enforcement
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…
Lesson 05 – Certificate of Occupancy
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…
Lesson 06 – Appeal Boards
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…
Lesson 07 – Use and Occupancy Classifications
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…
Lesson 08 – Means of Egress for Occupancy Loads
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…
Lesson 09 – Types of Construction
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…
Lesson 10 – Structural and Fire Retardance
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…
Lesson 11 – Fire Code Door Assemblies and Walls
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…
Lesson 12 – Fire Code Systems
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…
Lesson 13 – Routes and Exits
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…
Lesson 14 – Exit Doorways
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…
Lesson 15 – Doors and Hardware
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…
Lesson 16 – Stairways
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…
Lesson 17 – Handrails
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…
Lesson 18 – Ramps
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…
Lesson 19 – Elevators, Ceilings and Hazards
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…
Lesson 20 – Reach Accessibility
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…
Lesson 21 – Natural Light and Glazing
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…
Lesson 22 – Artificial Lighting
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…
Lesson 23 – Flooring
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…
Lesson 24 – Interior Space Dimensions
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…
Lesson 25 – Sound and Acoustical Ratings
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…
Lesson 26 – Toilet Room Accessories and Fixtures
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…
Lesson 27 – Toilet Room Clearances
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…
Lesson 28 – Fireplaces
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…
Lesson 29 – Interior Surfaces and Finishes
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…
Lesson 30 – Establishing a Business
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…
Lesson 31 – Contracts and Letters of Agreement
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…
Lesson 32 – Estimating Costs and Design Fee Methods
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…
Lesson 33 – Sales Tax
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…
Lesson 34 – Liabilities and Insurance
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…
Lesson 35 – Programming
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…
Lesson 36 – Sustainability
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…
Lesson 37 – Schematic Design
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…
Lesson 38 – Design Development
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…
Lesson 39 – Contract Documents
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…
Lesson 40 – Contract Administration
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…
Lesson 41 – Building Permits and Post Occupancy
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…
Lesson 42 – Contractor License Law
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…
Lesson 43 – Notices, Liens and Health Standards
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…
Lesson 44 – Business Ethics and Legal Notices
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…
Lesson 45 – Protection and Responsibilities
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…
Lesson 46 – Elements and Principles of Design
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…
Lesson 47 – Principles of Universal Design
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…
Lesson 48 – Basic Types of Design and Color Theory
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…
Lesson 49 – Textiles, Furniture and Finishes
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…
Lesson 50 – Cabinetry and Construction Joining Methods
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…
Lesson 51 – Proxemics
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. …
Quiz Shuffle Review
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…
Class Evaluation
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.…