Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction (Ramsey/Sleeper Architectural Graphic Standards Series) [Hardcover]

American Institute of Architects (Author), Nina M. Giglio (Author), Dennis J. Hall (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470395834 | ISBN-13: 978-0470395837 | Publication Date: April 26, 2010 | Edition: 2

Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction 1.0 CD-ROM Network Version provides the complete content of Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction, Second Edition, in an easy-to navigate electronic format. This network version CD-ROM is compatible with Mac and Windows and includes downloadable architectural details and drawings, a visual search feature, a bookmark tool to save and annotate content, and a search engine. This must-have resource is essential for architects and related designers who work with residential structures.

--This text refers to the CD-ROM edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The residential construction market may have its ups and downs, but the need to keep your construction knowledge current never lets up.

Now, with the latest edition of Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction, you can keep your practice at the ready. This edition was expertly redesigned to include all-new material on current technology specific to residential projects for anyone designing, constructing, or modifying a residence. With additional, new content covering sustainable and green designs, sample residential drawings, residential construction code requirements, and contemporary issues in residential construction, it’s a must-have resource. And now it's easier to get the information you need when you need it with references to the relevant building codes built right into the details and illustrations. These new "smart" details go beyond dimensions with references to the International Residential Building Code—presenting all the information you need right at your fingertips. New features and highlights include:

• Loads of previously unpublished content—over 80% is either new or entirely revised
• Sustainable/ green design information in every chapter—a must today's practicing building and construction professionals
• Coverage of contemporary issues in residential construction—aging in place, new urbanism, vacation and small homes, historic residences…it’s all here.
• Coverage of single- and multi-family dwellings—complete coverage of houses, row homes and quadraplexes as dictated by the International Residential Building Codes.

Amazon-Exclusive: Q&A with Editor-in-Chief Dennis Hall

What is the most challenging or memorable residential project you’ve worked on?
Designing my own home.

Why?
1. Really tough client.
2. No budget.
3. High client expectations
4. Have to live with the results for the last 19 years and think about all the things I would do differently.

Architects design houses, contractors build houses, and owners maintain and live in houses. That is the natural state of things. But when you design, build, and live in the same house, you have a unique perspective and only one person to blame (it is all my wife's fault). And, you learn from mistakes in a profound way (just kidding, Janice dear).

Houses are a lot like marriages. There are happy surprises and disappointing ones, and never enough money or time to do everything you want. In the end, it is not the big issues that determine happiness; it is the details that matter.

Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction is a book about getting the details right. While having Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction in your firm's library won't necessarily improve your marriage, why take that chance? I know I wish I had it 20 years ago.

What’s “new” about the new edition?
The minimum standard of care is compliance with building code. But with thousands of codes and standards, some conflicting with each other, how do you know you have not forgotten something? This new book informs and educates the reader on specific code requirements and how they can be applied.

Remember, our clients pay us because we have knowledge of building design and construction and know how to apply that knowledge to their situation. While no architect promises a perfect set of construction documents, this is often the expectation of the client. The better we are able to convey building information to the client, contractor, and building official, the happier the client will be. Is that not what we all want?

What new content are you excited to see specifically covered in the book?
As a forensic architect, one of the biggest problems we see is the lack of understanding of the design and construction of exterior vertical enclosures. There are three basic types of walls: barrier walls, drainage cavity walls, and pressure-equalized walls. Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction explains how each of these wall types work and the importance of the water-resistive barrier and flashing in drainage cavity and pressure-equalized walls. Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction also provides details with code cites for the design of exterior vertical enclosures of numerous construction materials including masonry, wood, stucco, and others.

Armed with the knowledge of how walls work and the related building code requirements, keeping the water out of your project and having a happy client is easier. It is also far more economical for the home owner, designer, and contractor.

Review

"Now, with the latest edition of Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction, you can keep your practice ready." (ChicagoArchitectureToday.com, June 2010)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 720 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (April 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470395834
• ISBN-13: 978-0470395837
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have reference, April 20, 2010

By 

Kathryn A. Bourgoine (Forest Hills, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction (Ramsey/Sleeper Architectural Graphic Standards Series) (Hardcover)

Whether you're designing a new residential structure or renovating an existing one, this book is a must-have. Found exactly what I needed, including a reference to the building code--what a time-saver! Also have the CD-ROM version so that I could have the details to work with(Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction 1.0 CD-ROM (Ramsey/Sleeper Architectural Graphic Standards Series)

And, as I delve deeper into Building Information Modeling (BIM), I can really appreciate the organization. BIM needs you to think in terms of building elements, and that is exactly how this book is organized.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, July 18, 2011

By 

Stephen Martinson (St. Paul,MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction (Ramsey/Sleeper Architectural Graphic Standards Series) (Hardcover)

I have been an architect for many years, but most of my work has been on large scale commercial projects, so I approached this book as someone that knows about construction, but also as one wanting a refresher on residential construction.

The introductory notes to Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction (AGS Res) set high expectations. The Publisher says that the book "captures the best practices and current standard of care in residential construction." The AIA's notes state that the second edition "becomes the new authoritative source on residential construction." and the Editor-in-Chief says "every page is rich with graphics to represent how residential structures are built and text to describe why they are built that way." Hyperbole aside, with over 666 pages dense with information, the book is impressive. But can you find what you need, and how easy is it to find?

Reading through the book I found a wealth of information, but found it a challenge to coax information from the book when searching for something specific. I found the AGS Res Index somewhat pedantic and oddly unhelpful. Looking for green roofs or specifications? They are not in the index, but try "vegetated roof or project manual" and you will find that information.

There is no bibliography. Contributors of information and references are noted in the body of the book, but a comprehensive bibliography would have been a nice addition. In fact, the book would have done well to emulate the listing of website resources and Professional and Trade Associations categorized by CSI Divisions that are included in the 3rd edition of Building Construction Illustrated, by Ching and Adams. A listing of the CSI master format divisions would also be handy.

The new references to the International Residential Code (IRC) are a great addition to the book, but are missing a few items that would make them more useful. First, I could not find what edition of the IRC was used until a discussion of energy codes in the electrical section, halfway through the book. Second, where is the fire sprinkler requirement (R313) referenced? Finally, a note indicating that the IRC is available online for free would be useful.

Prior to opening the book, I came up with 3 specific construction types related to colder climates that I wanted to know more about - a concrete/insulation sandwich (Thermomass) wall, a wall with a majority of the insulation on the outside of the sheathing (a REMOTE wall), and double stud walls. I could find none of these in AGS Res. The book does have sections on ICFs, SIPs, straw bale construction and log construction. I also found some information on the r-values of glass block that I had not been able to find anywhere else.

Construction details are often vetted by ease of construction, cost and performance over time, so change slowly. This is reflected in AGS Res. Most of the details in the book are very familiar, but newer information seems under-represented and often handled by notes rather than drawings. For example, I was concerned about the vast number of wall section details that seemed to have no concern for thermal bridging, insulation, air barriers and vapor barriers. This information was not covered in the details, but rather in notes later on in the section. As a result, unless you already know what to do, or are very familiar with AGS Res, you would probably be missing some key parts of a successful detail.

The drawings themselves are in general quite good, but vary in consistency. Sometimes the details are complete and easily understood, while at other times the line weight concept is inconsistent and does not add clarity to what is going on. The drawing style is similar to the standard edition of Architectural Graphic Standards (or at least to the 7th edition that I own), but with lighter line weights.

In order to determine whether a wall will work in a certain climate zone it is often helpful to do some quick calculations. This is another area that is underrepresented in AGS Res. I miss the heat flow calculations that my older Architectural Graphic Standards has. Also, the newer Climate Zones of the International Energy Conservation Code are not to be found. AGS Res has the older heating degree days map. AGS Res does, however, include useful weather data from many US and Canadian cities, with average monthly heating degree days and winter design temperatures.

The short section on BIM versus CAD covers the basic concepts, but one would need to do a lot more research to be up and running with BIM

The sample project at the back of the book is also a good addition, although a paragraph extolling the benefits of the project manual style of material callouts would have been good, along with some explanation of how the specifications link to the products listed.

If I had to summarize my impressions of the book it would be this. Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction fits very well into the Architectural Graphic Standards family of books. It provides one with a huge amount of helpful information and a little knowledge. Whether it is little enough knowledge to be dangerous depends on the user.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IRC references are ideal, April 23, 2010

By 

Nina Giglio (Charlotte, NC, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction (Ramsey/Sleeper Architectural Graphic Standards Series) (Hardcover)

The code references that are included in the graphics make a great shortcut to being able to compare with my local code requirements. The contemporary issues is really a great guide for issues that are relevant to the residential designer and architect.