NCIDQ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026
# Term Definition
1 15-20 sq ft
How much room does one
person sitting in a classroom need?
2 100 to 250 sq ft
how much space does an office worker
need including furniture and
circulation?
3 what is included in net area?
rooms meant for certain uses and functions. includes
partitions and columns. Does not include required
areas such as corridors, closets, Or ext walls. Rr? Also
ref to net assignable area Secondary space is
unassigned area
4 Usable area vs Rentable area
usable is net plus secondary circulation - all,of the
activities in perimeter of leased space Rentable is usable
plus part of ext wall and devising wall. Plus portions of
public spaces. Structural colums - measured from inside
glass surface to finished surface of tenant side of public
corridor -
5 primary circulation
public circulation of leased building. Lobby elevator
corridors exits
6 secondary circulation
corridor in private leased areas - connects net assignable
areas to primary circulation
7 Interior layout efficiency factor
ratio btwn net area and usable area - usually .7-.8 in
office and retail (20% circ)
8 required usable area net are /efficiency factor
9 rentable-usable ratio rent area/usable area
,10 Linear workflow
work process proceeds from one location to another In a
strict sequence.
11 Centralized workflow work is controlled from one central position
12 Departmental flow
hierarchy - one group controlling work divided into sep.
Depts.
# Term Definition
13 network workflow no strict organized method.
14 Programmatic concepts vs design
statements about functional solutions to the clients
concepts
performance requirements. Attempt at an actual
physical solution
15 conceptual plan arrangements
open- no partitions, just furniture and accessories -
changes frequently, no hierarchy Linear- spaces in a row
connected by corridorspractical and efficient way to
connect different spaces Axial - aligns spaces on
significant features- view, arch element. Combines
centralized and linear
16 conceptual plan arrangements 2
centralized - single dominant space with secondary
spaces grouped around it Grid arranges spaces on
predefined regular pattern of points - overall regularity
and pattern Clustered - organize spaces based on
proximity to each other - well suited to expansion or
change
17 wet column
structural columns located away from the core of the
building, next to which water supply pipes and drains
are located to make it easier to tap into them as
required for tenant finish work
18 circulation pattern - dumbbell layout
simplest and most flexible. Straight path
connects two major elements (entrance and exit)
, 19 circ pattern - doughnuts configuration
efficient, creates continuous exit way so easy if two
exits are required. Only appropriate for larger groups of
spaces so circulation percentage is kept low
20 circ pattern - radial layout
one major space with paths extending from the center.
Ex hotel lobby. Dead end corridor codes.
Must lead to an exit or loop around.
21 Orthographic drawings and projection
Use orthographic projection so that a 3d object can be
represented in 2d Projection - view of an object
perpendicular to every point on the nearest face of the
object- no distortion for lines and planes parallel to the
view - used for floor plans rap elevations and sections
# Term Definition
22 Axonometric drawings
View of an object inclined to the picture plane in such a
way that the three principal axes are foreshortened-
three types - isometric, diametric, trimetric
23 Isometric drawings
Object is tikted - All lines of projection from the object to
the picture plane are parallel - vertical lines are vertical
and horizontal are at 30 degree angles. Lengths are
drawn all the same standard cube drawing
24 Dimetric & trimetric
Two of the principal axes are equally foreshortened \- all
three foreshortened
25 Oblique drawings
One plane of object is parallel to picture plane while
third axis is oblique to picture plane orthographic floor
plan is starting point
26 Convergence
Apparent diminishing size of objects as they get farther
from the eye - used in perspective drawings
# Term Definition
1 15-20 sq ft
How much room does one
person sitting in a classroom need?
2 100 to 250 sq ft
how much space does an office worker
need including furniture and
circulation?
3 what is included in net area?
rooms meant for certain uses and functions. includes
partitions and columns. Does not include required
areas such as corridors, closets, Or ext walls. Rr? Also
ref to net assignable area Secondary space is
unassigned area
4 Usable area vs Rentable area
usable is net plus secondary circulation - all,of the
activities in perimeter of leased space Rentable is usable
plus part of ext wall and devising wall. Plus portions of
public spaces. Structural colums - measured from inside
glass surface to finished surface of tenant side of public
corridor -
5 primary circulation
public circulation of leased building. Lobby elevator
corridors exits
6 secondary circulation
corridor in private leased areas - connects net assignable
areas to primary circulation
7 Interior layout efficiency factor
ratio btwn net area and usable area - usually .7-.8 in
office and retail (20% circ)
8 required usable area net are /efficiency factor
9 rentable-usable ratio rent area/usable area
,10 Linear workflow
work process proceeds from one location to another In a
strict sequence.
11 Centralized workflow work is controlled from one central position
12 Departmental flow
hierarchy - one group controlling work divided into sep.
Depts.
# Term Definition
13 network workflow no strict organized method.
14 Programmatic concepts vs design
statements about functional solutions to the clients
concepts
performance requirements. Attempt at an actual
physical solution
15 conceptual plan arrangements
open- no partitions, just furniture and accessories -
changes frequently, no hierarchy Linear- spaces in a row
connected by corridorspractical and efficient way to
connect different spaces Axial - aligns spaces on
significant features- view, arch element. Combines
centralized and linear
16 conceptual plan arrangements 2
centralized - single dominant space with secondary
spaces grouped around it Grid arranges spaces on
predefined regular pattern of points - overall regularity
and pattern Clustered - organize spaces based on
proximity to each other - well suited to expansion or
change
17 wet column
structural columns located away from the core of the
building, next to which water supply pipes and drains
are located to make it easier to tap into them as
required for tenant finish work
18 circulation pattern - dumbbell layout
simplest and most flexible. Straight path
connects two major elements (entrance and exit)
, 19 circ pattern - doughnuts configuration
efficient, creates continuous exit way so easy if two
exits are required. Only appropriate for larger groups of
spaces so circulation percentage is kept low
20 circ pattern - radial layout
one major space with paths extending from the center.
Ex hotel lobby. Dead end corridor codes.
Must lead to an exit or loop around.
21 Orthographic drawings and projection
Use orthographic projection so that a 3d object can be
represented in 2d Projection - view of an object
perpendicular to every point on the nearest face of the
object- no distortion for lines and planes parallel to the
view - used for floor plans rap elevations and sections
# Term Definition
22 Axonometric drawings
View of an object inclined to the picture plane in such a
way that the three principal axes are foreshortened-
three types - isometric, diametric, trimetric
23 Isometric drawings
Object is tikted - All lines of projection from the object to
the picture plane are parallel - vertical lines are vertical
and horizontal are at 30 degree angles. Lengths are
drawn all the same standard cube drawing
24 Dimetric & trimetric
Two of the principal axes are equally foreshortened \- all
three foreshortened
25 Oblique drawings
One plane of object is parallel to picture plane while
third axis is oblique to picture plane orthographic floor
plan is starting point
26 Convergence
Apparent diminishing size of objects as they get farther
from the eye - used in perspective drawings
