INTRODUCTION + FAQsDESIGN EXAM

What to expect• About 200 questions, give or take

• About 10 problems, give or take

• 10 hours to answer (8am - 6pm)

• Just words, no illustrations in questionnaire

• Multiple choice, no drawing

• 40% of your total score

What to bringEverything you brought on Day 1,

+ Lunch

+ Drawing instruments

+ Graphing paper

+ NBC Rules 7 and 8

The questionnaire• About 10+ problems, 200 questions

• The 10+ problems are given first, the 200 questions follow

• The 200 questions are arranged randomly, and not according to the order of the 10+ problems

• Question #1 may be about Problem #3, while Question #2 may be about Problem #11

The Board• Rolando Cordero (November 2012)

• Yolanda Reyes (March 2013)

• Fidel Siapno (March 2013)

What the exam covers• Most questions come from three areas:

• Building laws

• Design

• Estimates

Building laws• National Building Code

• Accessibility Law

• BP 220

• PD 957

• Fire Code

Estimates• Quantities of construction materials, such as:

– Concrete

– Paint

– CHB

– Tiles

– Plywood

Design• Space sizing

• Furniture sizing

• Parking design

• Selection of finishes

• Building character

TABS/BOOKMARKSRules 7 + 8

Tabs for Rules 7/8Aerodromes (96)

Parking (100)

Group A Dwellings (116)

FLAR (119)

Zones (48)

Firewalls (81)

TGFA (84)

BHL (89)

Tabs for Rules 7/8Cemeteries (128)

PSO/USA/ISA (131)

Lot types (135)

Setbacks (137)

GFA to TGFA (120.5)

Formulas (123-125)

GFA (124)

TGFA (125)

Tabs for Rules 7/8RROW (152)

Arcades (158)

Sidewalks (160)

TOSL (166)

Side increments (141)

Front increments (159)

Abutments (142)

Easements (147)

Tabs for Rules 7/8Lot sizes (170)

Basements (173)

AMBF/PSO

PSO + AMBF computation1. Plot the required setbacks to determine AMBF.

Compute for PSO.

2. If building will have firewalls, plot the allowable firewalls and extend footprint where possible. Determine AMBF and PSO.

3. Check Table VIII.1 (PSO/USA/ISA). Get PSO and determine AMBF.

PSO + AMBF computation4. Check Table VII.1 (TGFA Table) on p.84. Get PSO

(percentage value without the multiplier). Determine AMBF.

5. Check VII.G.6 (TOSL Table) on p.166. Use the TOSL values to derive PSO. Compute AMBF.

6. Compare all values and use the most restrictive requirement.

Sample problem #1• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 24,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 120m

• Determine PSO and AMBF, no firewall

Sample problem #2• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 1,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 20m

• Determine PSO and AMBF, no firewall

USA, ISA, TOSL, MACA

USA + ISA computation1. Check PSO Table (p. 131). Determine value of

USA and ISA. This depends on zoning and whether or not firewalls will be used.

2. If the PSO computation yields a value that is lower than the value in the PSO table, the remainder must be added to the USA because ISA is a maximum value.

Sample problem #1• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 24,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 120m

• Determine USA and ISA based on actual PSO.

TOSL computation1. Check PSO Table (p. 131). Determine value of

USA and ISA. TOSL = ISA + USA.

2. Check TOSL Table. Get TOSL.

3. If actual TOSL is required, compute for actual PSO. TOSL = TLA PSO.

MACA computation1. Check PSO Table (p. 131). Determine value of

USA and ISA. MACA = PSO + ISA.

Sample problem #1• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 24,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 120m

• Using Table 8.1, determine MACA.

GFA + TGFA

GFA computation1. Determine the maximum FLAR designation

applicable to the project from the FLAR Table on p.119.

2. Multiply TLA by FLAR to determine the GFA.

Sample problem #1• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 24,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 120m

• Determine GFA.

Sample problem #2• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 1,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 20m

• Determine GFA.

TGFA from Table VII.11. Get number of storeys and PSO from Table VII.1

on p.84.

2. Convert PSO to AMBF (% to square meters).

3. Multiply AMBF by the number of storeys. This is the TGFA.

Sample problem #1• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 24,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 120m

• Determine TGFA using Table 7.1.

TGFA from GFA1. Determine GFA using the TLA and FLAR

designation (TLA x FLAR = GFA).

2. Determine the GFA-TGFA conversion factor applicable to the project from Table VII.G.2 on p.120.5.

3. Multiply the GFA by the conversion factor. This is the TGFA.

Sample problem #1• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 24,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 120m

• Determine TGFA using GFA.

TGFA from AMBF1. Determine the AMBF.

2. Obtain maximum number of storeys that will be permitted for the project (BHL Table on p.89).

3. Multiply the AMBF by the number of storeys. This is the TGFA.

Sample problem #1• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 24,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 120m

• Determine TGFA using actual AMBF.

BHL

Determining BHL1. Check BHL table on p. 89.

2. If only one RROW services the lot, check RROW width. If width is 7.00m wide or less, check requirements on p.93.

Sample problem #1• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 24,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 120m

• Determine BHL if RROW is 10.00m wide.

• Determine BHL if RROW is 2.75m wide.

AMVB / Bulk

Building bulk by AMBF projection• Determine the AMBF

• Determine the BHL (in meters)

• AMBF x BHL = Building bulk

Building bulk from FLAR• FLAR : Floor to lot area ratio

– Total floor area / lot area

– For example, a FLAR designation of 1.50 means that a lot measuring 100sqm may accommodate a building whose total floor area is 150sqm.

Building bulk from FLAR• Bulk = Footprint x Height

• To get footprint:

– FLAR x TLA = Total floor area

– Total floor area/Number of storeys = Footprint

• Hence:

– [(FLAR x TLA)/number of storeys] x BHL

Building bulk from AMVB1.

2. Superimpose the angular plane originating

– Angular plane: a plane originating from the RROW that establishes the outer limit for walls and building projections.

3. Use the angular plane to reduce the volume of the prism. This is the AMVB.

Angular planes from RROW

Building bulk from AMVB

Building bulk from AMVB

Building bulk from AMVB

Building bulk from AMVB

Sample problem #1• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 24,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 120m

• Determine PSO and AMBF, no firewall

Sample problem #2• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 1,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 20m

• Determine PSO and AMBF, no firewall

Sample problem #3• Zoning: R-5

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 24,000 sqm.

• Frontage: 120m

• Determine PSO and AMBF, with firewall on both sides

Sample problem #4Given:

• Zoning: R2 Basic

• Lot type: Inside lot

• TLA: 2450sqm

• Frontage: 35m

Compute:

– Maximum PSO/AMBF with firewalls

– GFA

– TGFA from GFA

– Bulk from AMBF

Sample problem #5Given:

• Zoning: Max R3

• Lot type: Inside

• TLA: 6000 sqm

• Frontage: 120m

Compute:

– Maximum PSO/AMBF without firewalls

– GFA

– TGFA from AMBF

– Bulk from AMBF

Sample problem #6Given:

• Zoning: R5

• Lot type: Corner

• TLA: 6000 sqm

• Frontage: 120m

Compute:

– Maximum PSO/AMBF without firewalls

– GFA

– TGFA from GFA

– Bulk from FLAR

Sample problem #7Given:

• Zoning: R4

• Lot type: Inside

• TLA: 125sqm

• Frontage: 8.50m

Compute:

– Maximum PSO/AMBF with firewalls

– GFA

– TGFA from GFA

– Bulk from FLAR