NCIDQ IDFX cheat sheet

Programming sequence: goals → facts → needs → concepts; problem seeking precedes design synthesis.

Area formula: net assignable area ÷ gross building area = efficiency ratio; typical office efficiency 0.75–0.85.

Adjacency matrix records required proximity on a 1–4 scale; a bubble diagram converts it into relative position, not dimensions.

Stacking diagram assigns floor levels by weighted adjacency, structural load, and vertical circulation demand.

Site circulation separates pedestrian, service, and vehicular paths; conflict points are minimized at building entries.

Solar orientation rule: long axis east–west reduces east/west glare; north light is the most stable daylight source for studios.

Wind rose shows prevailing direction frequency; winter wind protection and summer cross-ventilation drive entry and window placement.

Existing-conditions survey documents structure, MEP capacity, egress paths, and hazardous materials before design begins.

Space program includes occupancy count per room, which later sets egress width and fixture counts.

Clear width for a primary circulation path: 44 in (1,120 mm) minimum; secondary aisles 36 in (915 mm).

Wheelchair turning space: 60 in (1,525 mm) diameter circle or T-shaped space within a 36 in stem.

Reach ranges: 15–48 in above floor for forward reach; 9–54 in for side reach over an obstruction, per ADA.

Desk workstation module: 48–60 in wide × 60–72 in deep including circulation; panel height 42–60 in balances speech privacy and daylight.

Open-plan density rule of thumb: 100–150 usable sq ft per person in benching layouts; 150–250 sq ft in enclosed offices.

Conference room sizing: 20–25 sq ft per seat plus 2 ft clearance at the table edge for chair pull-out.

Kitchen work triangle: each leg 4–9 ft, sum of legs 13–26 ft.

Conceptual design deliverables: parti diagram, adjacency/bubble plan, massing study, and preliminary space allocation table.

Universal design principles: equitable use, flexibility, simple intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, size and space for approach.

Live load vs. dead load: dead load is self-weight of construction; live load is occupancy, furniture, and movable equipment.

Concrete fire-resistance is achieved by cover thickness over reinforcement; steel requires spray-applied fire-resistive material or encasement.

Wood framing: joist span tables govern depth; blocking and bridging control deflection and lateral movement.

HVAC sensible heat equation: Q (Btu/h) = 1.08 × CFM × ΔT; latent heat: Q = 0.68 × CFM × Δgrains.

All-air VAV systems serve multiple zones; fan-coil and induction units suit perimeter loads; radiant slabs suit high ceilings.

Plenum depth rule of thumb: 18–24 in for ducted distribution plus structure and sprinkler; verify with MEP coordination.

Acoustical ceiling tile NRC 0.55–0.90; gypsum board NRC ≈ 0.05 and is used for sound isolation, not absorption.

Material selection criteria: durability, maintenance, fire rating, VOC content, recycled content, and embodied carbon.

Adhesive and sealant VOC limits are set by SCAQMD Rule 1168; carpet cushion and carpet by CRI Green Label Plus.

Egress width: 0.2 in per occupant for sprinklered spaces, 0.15 in for corridors in unsprinklered occupancies (IBC values; confirm edition).

Travel distance limits vary by occupancy and sprinkler status; commonly 250 ft sprinklered, 200 ft unsprinklered for business.

Two exits required when occupant load exceeds 49 in most occupancies; common path and dead-end limits apply.

Exit access separation: two exits must be separated by at least one-half the diagonal of the floor area served.

Doors in a means of egress swing in the direction of travel when serving 50 or more occupants.

Accessible route: 36 in minimum clear width, 1:12 maximum ramp slope, 30 × 48 in clear floor space at fixtures.

Accessible parking: one van-accessible space per six accessible spaces; 96 in wide access aisle for van spaces.

Guard height 42 in at openings; handrail height 34–38 in above stair nosing.

Occupant load factors: business 100 gross sq ft per person; assembly unconcentrated 15 net sq ft per person.

Illuminance targets (IES): open office 300–500 lux, conference 300–500 lux, corridors 100 lux, drafting 750 lux.

Inverse-square law: illuminance falls with the square of distance from a point source; cosine law adjusts for incidence angle.

Lumen method: average maintained illuminance = (lamps × lumens × CU × LLF) ÷ area.

Color rendering index ≥ 80 for general interiors; ≥ 90 for color-critical retail and healthcare tasks.

Power density caps come from ASHRAE 90.1 or IECC; lighting controls required include occupancy sensors and daylight dimming in perimeter zones.

Reverberation time (Sabine): RT60 = 0.049 V ÷ A (imperial, ft) where A = total absorption in sabins.

STC rates partition isolation; NIC rates installed performance; background noise targets 30–40 dBA in offices, ≤ 35 dBA in classrooms.

Sound transmission loss increases about 6 dB per doubling of mass per unit area (mass law).

IEQ levers: outdoor air ventilation per ASHRAE 62.1, source control of VOCs, humidity 30–60% RH, and thermal comfort per ASHRAE 55.

Drawing scales: plan 1/8 in = 1 ft typical for interiors; enlarged plan 1/4 in = 1 ft; detail 1 1/2 in = 1 ft.

Plan, elevation, section, and detail form the core drawing set; reflected ceiling plan shows ceiling and lighting layout.

Line weights: cut elements heaviest, visible elements medium, beyond-cut and grid lightest.

Finish schedule columns: room number, floor, base, wall, ceiling, and remarks; keyed to a finish legend.

Door and hardware schedule references door type, frame, hardware set, and fire rating.

Specification formats: MasterFormat for work results, UniFormat for assemblies, SectionFormat for the three-part section.

BIM LOD 100 is conceptual massing; LOD 200 generic placeholders; LOD 300 specific measurable elements; LOD 350 includes interfaces.

Construction document set typically includes cover, general notes, plans, elevations, sections, schedules, details, and specifications.

Revision clouds and delta symbols mark changes; addenda are issued during bidding, ASIs and bulletins during construction.

Standard AIA agreements: B101 owner–architect, A101 owner–contractor stipulated sum, A201 general conditions.

Basic services typically cover schematic design through construction administration; additional services are billed separately.

Fee structures: percentage of construction cost, lump sum, hourly, and cost plus fee.

Bidding methods: sealed competitive bid, negotiated, and design-build; CM at-risk holds trade contracts.

Payment cycle: contractor pay application → architect certification → owner payment; retainage commonly 5–10%.

Substantial completion starts warranty and owner use; final completion releases retainage and closes the contract.

Change order requires owner approval; construction change directive directs work before price agreement.

Standard of care is the skill and care of a reasonably prudent practitioner, not a warranty of perfection.

Professional liability insurance covers errors and omissions; general liability covers bodily injury and property damage.

Programming sequence: goals → facts → needs → concepts; problem seeking precedes design synthesis.

Area formula: net assignable area ÷ gross building area = efficiency ratio; typical office efficiency 0.75–0.85.

Adjacency matrix records required proximity on a 1–4 scale; a bubble diagram converts it into relative position, not dimensions.

Stacking diagram assigns floor levels by weighted adjacency, structural load, and vertical circulation demand.

Site circulation separates pedestrian, service, and vehicular paths; conflict points are minimized at building entries.

Solar orientation rule: long axis east–west reduces east/west glare; north light is the most stable daylight source for studios.

Wind rose shows prevailing direction frequency; winter wind protection and summer cross-ventilation drive entry and window placement.

Existing-conditions survey documents structure, MEP capacity, egress paths, and hazardous materials before design begins.

Space program includes occupancy count per room, which later sets egress width and fixture counts.

Clear width for a primary circulation path: 44 in (1,120 mm) minimum; secondary aisles 36 in (915 mm).

Wheelchair turning space: 60 in (1,525 mm) diameter circle or T-shaped space within a 36 in stem.

Reach ranges: 15–48 in above floor for forward reach; 9–54 in for side reach over an obstruction, per ADA.

Desk workstation module: 48–60 in wide × 60–72 in deep including circulation; panel height 42–60 in balances speech privacy and daylight.

Open-plan density rule of thumb: 100–150 usable sq ft per person in benching layouts; 150–250 sq ft in enclosed offices.

Conference room sizing: 20–25 sq ft per seat plus 2 ft clearance at the table edge for chair pull-out.

Kitchen work triangle: each leg 4–9 ft, sum of legs 13–26 ft.

Conceptual design deliverables: parti diagram, adjacency/bubble plan, massing study, and preliminary space allocation table.

Universal design principles: equitable use, flexibility, simple intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, size and space for approach.

Live load vs. dead load: dead load is self-weight of construction; live load is occupancy, furniture, and movable equipment.

Concrete fire-resistance is achieved by cover thickness over reinforcement; steel requires spray-applied fire-resistive material or encasement.

Wood framing: joist span tables govern depth; blocking and bridging control deflection and lateral movement.

HVAC sensible heat equation: Q (Btu/h) = 1.08 × CFM × ΔT; latent heat: Q = 0.68 × CFM × Δgrains.

All-air VAV systems serve multiple zones; fan-coil and induction units suit perimeter loads; radiant slabs suit high ceilings.

Plenum depth rule of thumb: 18–24 in for ducted distribution plus structure and sprinkler; verify with MEP coordination.

Acoustical ceiling tile NRC 0.55–0.90; gypsum board NRC ≈ 0.05 and is used for sound isolation, not absorption.

Material selection criteria: durability, maintenance, fire rating, VOC content, recycled content, and embodied carbon.

Adhesive and sealant VOC limits are set by SCAQMD Rule 1168; carpet cushion and carpet by CRI Green Label Plus.

Egress width: 0.2 in per occupant for sprinklered spaces, 0.15 in for corridors in unsprinklered occupancies (IBC values; confirm edition).

Travel distance limits vary by occupancy and sprinkler status; commonly 250 ft sprinklered, 200 ft unsprinklered for business.

Two exits required when occupant load exceeds 49 in most occupancies; common path and dead-end limits apply.

Exit access separation: two exits must be separated by at least one-half the diagonal of the floor area served.

Doors in a means of egress swing in the direction of travel when serving 50 or more occupants.

Accessible route: 36 in minimum clear width, 1:12 maximum ramp slope, 30 × 48 in clear floor space at fixtures.

Accessible parking: one van-accessible space per six accessible spaces; 96 in wide access aisle for van spaces.

Guard height 42 in at openings; handrail height 34–38 in above stair nosing.

Occupant load factors: business 100 gross sq ft per person; assembly unconcentrated 15 net sq ft per person.

Illuminance targets (IES): open office 300–500 lux, conference 300–500 lux, corridors 100 lux, drafting 750 lux.

Inverse-square law: illuminance falls with the square of distance from a point source; cosine law adjusts for incidence angle.

Lumen method: average maintained illuminance = (lamps × lumens × CU × LLF) ÷ area.

Color rendering index ≥ 80 for general interiors; ≥ 90 for color-critical retail and healthcare tasks.

Power density caps come from ASHRAE 90.1 or IECC; lighting controls required include occupancy sensors and daylight dimming in perimeter zones.

Reverberation time (Sabine): RT60 = 0.049 V ÷ A (imperial, ft) where A = total absorption in sabins.

STC rates partition isolation; NIC rates installed performance; background noise targets 30–40 dBA in offices, ≤ 35 dBA in classrooms.

Sound transmission loss increases about 6 dB per doubling of mass per unit area (mass law).

IEQ levers: outdoor air ventilation per ASHRAE 62.1, source control of VOCs, humidity 30–60% RH, and thermal comfort per ASHRAE 55.

Drawing scales: plan 1/8 in = 1 ft typical for interiors; enlarged plan 1/4 in = 1 ft; detail 1 1/2 in = 1 ft.

Plan, elevation, section, and detail form the core drawing set; reflected ceiling plan shows ceiling and lighting layout.

Line weights: cut elements heaviest, visible elements medium, beyond-cut and grid lightest.

Finish schedule columns: room number, floor, base, wall, ceiling, and remarks; keyed to a finish legend.

Door and hardware schedule references door type, frame, hardware set, and fire rating.

Specification formats: MasterFormat for work results, UniFormat for assemblies, SectionFormat for the three-part section.

BIM LOD 100 is conceptual massing; LOD 200 generic placeholders; LOD 300 specific measurable elements; LOD 350 includes interfaces.

Construction document set typically includes cover, general notes, plans, elevations, sections, schedules, details, and specifications.

Revision clouds and delta symbols mark changes; addenda are issued during bidding, ASIs and bulletins during construction.

Standard AIA agreements: B101 owner–architect, A101 owner–contractor stipulated sum, A201 general conditions.

Basic services typically cover schematic design through construction administration; additional services are billed separately.

Fee structures: percentage of construction cost, lump sum, hourly, and cost plus fee.

Bidding methods: sealed competitive bid, negotiated, and design-build; CM at-risk holds trade contracts.

Payment cycle: contractor pay application → architect certification → owner payment; retainage commonly 5–10%.

Substantial completion starts warranty and owner use; final completion releases retainage and closes the contract.

Change order requires owner approval; construction change directive directs work before price agreement.

Standard of care is the skill and care of a reasonably prudent practitioner, not a warranty of perfection.

Professional liability insurance covers errors and omissions; general liability covers bodily injury and property damage.

Clear width for a primary circulation path: 44 in (1,120 mm) minimum; secondary aisles 36 in (915 mm).

Wheelchair turning space: 60 in (1,525 mm) diameter circle or T-shaped space within a 36 in stem.

Reach ranges: 15–48 in above floor for forward reach; 9–54 in for side reach over an obstruction, per ADA.

Desk workstation module: 48–60 in wide × 60–72 in deep including circulation; panel height 42–60 in balances speech privacy and daylight.

Open-plan density rule of thumb: 100–150 usable sq ft per person in benching layouts; 150–250 sq ft in enclosed offices.

Conference room sizing: 20–25 sq ft per seat plus 2 ft clearance at the table edge for chair pull-out.

Kitchen work triangle: each leg 4–9 ft, sum of legs 13–26 ft.

Conceptual design deliverables: parti diagram, adjacency/bubble plan, massing study, and preliminary space allocation table.

Universal design principles: equitable use, flexibility, simple intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, size and space for approach.

Live load vs. dead load: dead load is self-weight of construction; live load is occupancy, furniture, and movable equipment.

Concrete fire-resistance is achieved by cover thickness over reinforcement; steel requires spray-applied fire-resistive material or encasement.

Wood framing: joist span tables govern depth; blocking and bridging control deflection and lateral movement.

HVAC sensible heat equation: Q (Btu/h) = 1.08 × CFM × ΔT; latent heat: Q = 0.68 × CFM × Δgrains.

All-air VAV systems serve multiple zones; fan-coil and induction units suit perimeter loads; radiant slabs suit high ceilings.

Plenum depth rule of thumb: 18–24 in for ducted distribution plus structure and sprinkler; verify with MEP coordination.

Acoustical ceiling tile NRC 0.55–0.90; gypsum board NRC ≈ 0.05 and is used for sound isolation, not absorption.

Material selection criteria: durability, maintenance, fire rating, VOC content, recycled content, and embodied carbon.

Adhesive and sealant VOC limits are set by SCAQMD Rule 1168; carpet cushion and carpet by CRI Green Label Plus.

Egress width: 0.2 in per occupant for sprinklered spaces, 0.15 in for corridors in unsprinklered occupancies (IBC values; confirm edition).

Travel distance limits vary by occupancy and sprinkler status; commonly 250 ft sprinklered, 200 ft unsprinklered for business.

Two exits required when occupant load exceeds 49 in most occupancies; common path and dead-end limits apply.

Exit access separation: two exits must be separated by at least one-half the diagonal of the floor area served.

Doors in a means of egress swing in the direction of travel when serving 50 or more occupants.

Accessible route: 36 in minimum clear width, 1:12 maximum ramp slope, 30 × 48 in clear floor space at fixtures.

Accessible parking: one van-accessible space per six accessible spaces; 96 in wide access aisle for van spaces.

Guard height 42 in at openings; handrail height 34–38 in above stair nosing.

Occupant load factors: business 100 gross sq ft per person; assembly unconcentrated 15 net sq ft per person.

Illuminance targets (IES): open office 300–500 lux, conference 300–500 lux, corridors 100 lux, drafting 750 lux.

Inverse-square law: illuminance falls with the square of distance from a point source; cosine law adjusts for incidence angle.

Lumen method: average maintained illuminance = (lamps × lumens × CU × LLF) ÷ area.

Color rendering index ≥ 80 for general interiors; ≥ 90 for color-critical retail and healthcare tasks.

Power density caps come from ASHRAE 90.1 or IECC; lighting controls required include occupancy sensors and daylight dimming in perimeter zones.

Reverberation time (Sabine): RT60 = 0.049 V ÷ A (imperial, ft) where A = total absorption in sabins.

STC rates partition isolation; NIC rates installed performance; background noise targets 30–40 dBA in offices, ≤ 35 dBA in classrooms.

Sound transmission loss increases about 6 dB per doubling of mass per unit area (mass law).

IEQ levers: outdoor air ventilation per ASHRAE 62.1, source control of VOCs, humidity 30–60% RH, and thermal comfort per ASHRAE 55.

Drawing scales: plan 1/8 in = 1 ft typical for interiors; enlarged plan 1/4 in = 1 ft; detail 1 1/2 in = 1 ft.

Plan, elevation, section, and detail form the core drawing set; reflected ceiling plan shows ceiling and lighting layout.

Line weights: cut elements heaviest, visible elements medium, beyond-cut and grid lightest.

Finish schedule columns: room number, floor, base, wall, ceiling, and remarks; keyed to a finish legend.

Door and hardware schedule references door type, frame, hardware set, and fire rating.

Specification formats: MasterFormat for work results, UniFormat for assemblies, SectionFormat for the three-part section.

BIM LOD 100 is conceptual massing; LOD 200 generic placeholders; LOD 300 specific measurable elements; LOD 350 includes interfaces.

Construction document set typically includes cover, general notes, plans, elevations, sections, schedules, details, and specifications.

Revision clouds and delta symbols mark changes; addenda are issued during bidding, ASIs and bulletins during construction.

Standard AIA agreements: B101 owner–architect, A101 owner–contractor stipulated sum, A201 general conditions.

Basic services typically cover schematic design through construction administration; additional services are billed separately.

Fee structures: percentage of construction cost, lump sum, hourly, and cost plus fee.

Bidding methods: sealed competitive bid, negotiated, and design-build; CM at-risk holds trade contracts.

Payment cycle: contractor pay application → architect certification → owner payment; retainage commonly 5–10%.

Substantial completion starts warranty and owner use; final completion releases retainage and closes the contract.

Change order requires owner approval; construction change directive directs work before price agreement.

Standard of care is the skill and care of a reasonably prudent practitioner, not a warranty of perfection.

Professional liability insurance covers errors and omissions; general liability covers bodily injury and property damage.

Programming sequence: goals → facts → needs → concepts; problem seeking precedes design synthesis.

Area formula: net assignable area ÷ gross building area = efficiency ratio; typical office efficiency 0.75–0.85.

Adjacency matrix records required proximity on a 1–4 scale; a bubble diagram converts it into relative position, not dimensions.

Stacking diagram assigns floor levels by weighted adjacency, structural load, and vertical circulation demand.

Site circulation separates pedestrian, service, and vehicular paths; conflict points are minimized at building entries.

Solar orientation rule: long axis east–west reduces east/west glare; north light is the most stable daylight source for studios.

Wind rose shows prevailing direction frequency; winter wind protection and summer cross-ventilation drive entry and window placement.

Existing-conditions survey documents structure, MEP capacity, egress paths, and hazardous materials before design begins.

Space program includes occupancy count per room, which later sets egress width and fixture counts.

Clear width for a primary circulation path: 44 in (1,120 mm) minimum; secondary aisles 36 in (915 mm).

Wheelchair turning space: 60 in (1,525 mm) diameter circle or T-shaped space within a 36 in stem.

Reach ranges: 15–48 in above floor for forward reach; 9–54 in for side reach over an obstruction, per ADA.

Desk workstation module: 48–60 in wide × 60–72 in deep including circulation; panel height 42–60 in balances speech privacy and daylight.

Open-plan density rule of thumb: 100–150 usable sq ft per person in benching layouts; 150–250 sq ft in enclosed offices.

Conference room sizing: 20–25 sq ft per seat plus 2 ft clearance at the table edge for chair pull-out.

Kitchen work triangle: each leg 4–9 ft, sum of legs 13–26 ft.

Conceptual design deliverables: parti diagram, adjacency/bubble plan, massing study, and preliminary space allocation table.

Universal design principles: equitable use, flexibility, simple intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, size and space for approach.

Live load vs. dead load: dead load is self-weight of construction; live load is occupancy, furniture, and movable equipment.

Concrete fire-resistance is achieved by cover thickness over reinforcement; steel requires spray-applied fire-resistive material or encasement.

Wood framing: joist span tables govern depth; blocking and bridging control deflection and lateral movement.

HVAC sensible heat equation: Q (Btu/h) = 1.08 × CFM × ΔT; latent heat: Q = 0.68 × CFM × Δgrains.

All-air VAV systems serve multiple zones; fan-coil and induction units suit perimeter loads; radiant slabs suit high ceilings.

Plenum depth rule of thumb: 18–24 in for ducted distribution plus structure and sprinkler; verify with MEP coordination.

Acoustical ceiling tile NRC 0.55–0.90; gypsum board NRC ≈ 0.05 and is used for sound isolation, not absorption.

Material selection criteria: durability, maintenance, fire rating, VOC content, recycled content, and embodied carbon.

Adhesive and sealant VOC limits are set by SCAQMD Rule 1168; carpet cushion and carpet by CRI Green Label Plus.

Egress width: 0.2 in per occupant for sprinklered spaces, 0.15 in for corridors in unsprinklered occupancies (IBC values; confirm edition).

Travel distance limits vary by occupancy and sprinkler status; commonly 250 ft sprinklered, 200 ft unsprinklered for business.

Two exits required when occupant load exceeds 49 in most occupancies; common path and dead-end limits apply.

Exit access separation: two exits must be separated by at least one-half the diagonal of the floor area served.

Doors in a means of egress swing in the direction of travel when serving 50 or more occupants.

Accessible route: 36 in minimum clear width, 1:12 maximum ramp slope, 30 × 48 in clear floor space at fixtures.

Accessible parking: one van-accessible space per six accessible spaces; 96 in wide access aisle for van spaces.

Guard height 42 in at openings; handrail height 34–38 in above stair nosing.

Occupant load factors: business 100 gross sq ft per person; assembly unconcentrated 15 net sq ft per person.

Illuminance targets (IES): open office 300–500 lux, conference 300–500 lux, corridors 100 lux, drafting 750 lux.

Inverse-square law: illuminance falls with the square of distance from a point source; cosine law adjusts for incidence angle.

Lumen method: average maintained illuminance = (lamps × lumens × CU × LLF) ÷ area.

Color rendering index ≥ 80 for general interiors; ≥ 90 for color-critical retail and healthcare tasks.

Power density caps come from ASHRAE 90.1 or IECC; lighting controls required include occupancy sensors and daylight dimming in perimeter zones.

Reverberation time (Sabine): RT60 = 0.049 V ÷ A (imperial, ft) where A = total absorption in sabins.

STC rates partition isolation; NIC rates installed performance; background noise targets 30–40 dBA in offices, ≤ 35 dBA in classrooms.

Sound transmission loss increases about 6 dB per doubling of mass per unit area (mass law).

IEQ levers: outdoor air ventilation per ASHRAE 62.1, source control of VOCs, humidity 30–60% RH, and thermal comfort per ASHRAE 55.

Drawing scales: plan 1/8 in = 1 ft typical for interiors; enlarged plan 1/4 in = 1 ft; detail 1 1/2 in = 1 ft.

Plan, elevation, section, and detail form the core drawing set; reflected ceiling plan shows ceiling and lighting layout.

Line weights: cut elements heaviest, visible elements medium, beyond-cut and grid lightest.

Finish schedule columns: room number, floor, base, wall, ceiling, and remarks; keyed to a finish legend.

Door and hardware schedule references door type, frame, hardware set, and fire rating.

Specification formats: MasterFormat for work results, UniFormat for assemblies, SectionFormat for the three-part section.

BIM LOD 100 is conceptual massing; LOD 200 generic placeholders; LOD 300 specific measurable elements; LOD 350 includes interfaces.

Construction document set typically includes cover, general notes, plans, elevations, sections, schedules, details, and specifications.

Revision clouds and delta symbols mark changes; addenda are issued during bidding, ASIs and bulletins during construction.

Standard AIA agreements: B101 owner–architect, A101 owner–contractor stipulated sum, A201 general conditions.

Basic services typically cover schematic design through construction administration; additional services are billed separately.

Fee structures: percentage of construction cost, lump sum, hourly, and cost plus fee.

Bidding methods: sealed competitive bid, negotiated, and design-build; CM at-risk holds trade contracts.

Payment cycle: contractor pay application → architect certification → owner payment; retainage commonly 5–10%.

Substantial completion starts warranty and owner use; final completion releases retainage and closes the contract.

Change order requires owner approval; construction change directive directs work before price agreement.

Standard of care is the skill and care of a reasonably prudent practitioner, not a warranty of perfection.

Professional liability insurance covers errors and omissions; general liability covers bodily injury and property damage.