IMBSIR 76-1064

Existing Architectural

Information Indexing Systems

Robert J. Kapsch

Office of Building Standards and Codes Services

Center for Building Technology

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

March 1 976

Final Report

U S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

NBSIR 76-1064

EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL

INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

Robert J. Kapsch

Office of Building Standards and Codes Services

Center for Building Technology

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

March 1976

Final Report

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Elliot L Richardson, S^entary

James A. Baker, III, Under Secretary

Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson, AssJstsnt Secretary for Science and Technology

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler. Acting Director

ABSTRACT

Architectural indexing systems are those mechanisms which we use to

organize information concerning how and what to build. Architectural

indexing systems are a means of organizing available information in a manner

that can readily be grasped by the user. As such, architectural indexing

systems are an important component part of architectural information systems.

This report reviews and summarizes existing architectural indexing systems

presently used in the United States and overseas. Indexing systems reviewed

are classified into (1) one way divisions, (2) two way divisions, (3) thesauri

and other indexing systems.

Keywords: Architecture; architectural indexing systems; building;

construction; design; information; information retrieval

system

i
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ABSTRACT i

INTRODUCTION 1

ONE WAY DR^ISION

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 10

The BOCA Basic Building Code 13

The National Building Code 14

National Building Code of Canada 1970 16

Southern Standard Building Code (SBCC) 17

Uniform Building Code GJBC) 19

Building Products Register 22

Uniform Construction Index (AIA/CSI) 23

TWO WAY DIVISION

Performance Specification for Office Buildings (PBS) 27

Guide Criteria for Operation BREAKTHROUGH 30

Literature Search: Hospital Bedrooms and

Nursing Units 33

THESAURI AND OTHER

Royal Institute of British Architects

Authoritative United Kingdom Version of the International

SfB Classification System (RIBA/SfB) 38

The BSAB System (Sweden) 45

Engineers Joint Council: Thesaurus of Engineering

Terms (EJC Thesaurus) 55

Industrialization Forum Thesaurus of Building

Sciences and Technology (IF Thesaurus) 58

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 63

ii
ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

Architectural information indexing systems are those mechanisms which

are used to organize information concerning how and what to build. Architectural information indexing systems are used for a variety of purposes

in the building community. These uses include mechanisms for organizing

information for use in the design process (such as organizing product

literature in some comprehensible manner) , for organizing building regulation provisions (such as in building codes and other regulations) , for

organizing information to bear upon building research investigations (such

as organizing pertinent information from a literature search) and organizing

information for retrieval (such as those used in architectural information

systems^/) . In all of these applications , the architectural information

indexing systems function is to provide a mechanism or framework for

organizing a great mass of available information. Architectural indexing

systems, thus, provide a subdivision of information to allow ready application

by the user.

Architectural information indexing systems vary from simple tables of

contents, used in building codes and similar documents, to sophisticated

thesauri that relate terms used to each other in a manner that permits

precise definition. This report provides summaries of some currently used

existing architectural information indexing systems for such purposes as

organizing building regulatory information, organizing architectural and

engineering information in sophisticated information retrieval systems,

organizing design and construction criteria and other applications.

1/Architectural information systems utilize architectural information indexing

systems as a tool for providing access to architectural information. For a survey of existing architectural information systems, see Lane, N.D., "An

Evaluation of Architectural Information Systems," Construction Engineering

Research Laboratory, Champaign, Illinois, October 1974.

1
Architectural information indexing systems, not a usual subject for

study, are an extremely important topic for consideration. At the very

least, a poorly conceived architectural indexing system can cause lost time

for the user attempting to retrieve building product information or ascertaining applicable building regulations to a given design problem. But

the use of improperly conceptualized architectural indexing can provide

even more serious consequences . Such consequences include the exclusion of

innovative building products from use by improperly drawn categories (subsets)

and boundaries and incurring of large processing costs for information systems

that rarely provide pertinent information when and where needed. The basis

of architectural indexing system is tlie subdivision of the total set of

information into smaller, readily grasped, subsets. The process of subdivision

results in the development and definition of boundaries to separate these

subsets. Incorrectly developed and defined subsets can cause large costs

and inefficient allocation of labor and material in the building process.

The purpose of this report is to emphasize the role of architectural

information indexing systems by summarizing and providing ready comparisons

between the existing architectural information indexing mechanisms.

The simplest of the existing architectural information indexing systems

is referred to in this report as a one way division. A one way division

is the definition of the body of architecture and building information

under consideration and the subsequent subdivision of that set into subsets.

Ideally these subsets would be mutually exclusive, roughly equivalent

in scope and based on a uniform method of division. Rarely, can this be

achieved in practice. For example, building regulations frequently contain

2
provisions applicable to both what is to be built (the building product)

an how it is to be built (the building process) . When these are combined

in a single one way division, they result in a dual method of division

with a resultant loss o£ mutually exclusivity of subsets . Although one

way divisions contain this deficiency, they tend to be the most common

method of architectural indexing. The reason for this is that many, if

not most, of our information storage media for architectural information is

linear in nature. That is, page follows page or card follows card. Because

of this linearity, they are readily adapted to a one way division. In

addition, one way divisions are the easiest in information indexing systems

to develop, use and apply. Examples of this one Avay information storage

media include files, books, reports, card files, and other storage media

that are physically arranged in a sequential manner.

Examples of one way divisions include the American National Standards

Institute (ANSI) divides their standards into nineteen categories (see

page 10), of which a few are directly applicable to architecture and building.

However, this ANSI categorization well illustrates a one way division of

information.

Building codes always use one way division for organizing their

information. The one way divisions used by the four American "model" , building codes have been included in the appendix. Included are the

BOCA Basic Building Code (see page 13) , the National Building Code (see

page 14) , the Southern Standard Building Code (see page 17) , and the

Uniform Building Code (see page 19). In addition, the index system

for the National Building Code of Canada is also described (see page 16)

.

3
One way indexing systems are also used to provide access to information

concerning available building products. For example, the American Institute

of Architects' produced a Building Product Register in 1962 (see page 22).

The most commonly used one way index system in the United States is

the Uniform Construction Index, jointly sponsored by a number of American

and Canadian architectural and building organizations (see page 23) . The

Uniform Construction Index provides categories for specifications, data

filing, cost analysis and project filing.

A second category of architectural indexing system is the two way

division. A two way division is the definition of the body of architecture

and building under consideration and the subsequent division of that set

into two series of subsets. Ideally these two series of subsets would be

mutually exclusive and each based on a uniform method of division. These

two series would be arranged at right angles to form a matrix. Intercepts

are formed between the rows and columns within which information bits may

be stored and retrieved. The two way division has been used to provide a

mechanism for organization of information for a number of projects. These

are shown in the Appendix. The advantage of this approach is that it

provides a greater number of subdivisions than a simple one way division,

and hence greater selectivity. The disadvantage is that most information

storage media are not arranged in a sequential physical arrangement and thus

not physically compatible with a two way division. Although no known

applications have been utilized, three way, four way divisions. . . n way

divisions are feasible.

4
An example o£ two way divisions of building information is the

Performance Specification for Office Buildings (see page 27) . The two

way division was formed by dividing the set of information on building

requirements first by what those requirements affected (building elements

and subsystems) and second by what those requirements were attempting to

achieve (attributes) . The built elements or subsystems were arranged at

right angles to the attributes to form the matrix. A similar two way

division is contained in the Guide Criteria for Operation Breakthrough

(see page 30)

.

Where the above two indexing systems dealt solely with the set of

information dealing with building requirements (i.e., describing the

product), the report, "Literature Search: Hospital Bedrooms and Nursing

Units," (see page 33) added a second matrix for the set of information

on planning, design and construction (i.e., describing the process).

A third category of architectural information indexing systems are

thesauri and modified thesauri. Thesauri indicate the relationship of

one word to another. Modified thesauri are those indexing systems which

contain a partial thesauries with a classification one or two way division

in information systems.

Thesauri, books defining relationships between words, have been

developed for architecture and building. Thesauri are used in information

systems as a list of authorized words for cataloguing for later, more accurate

retrieval of the catalogued information. In this respect, thesauri act as

input/output devices so as to provide a higher degree of quality control than

can be achieved in information retrieval using an open-ended system of key

words

.

5
1

The RIBA/SfB system (see page 38) and the BSAB system (see page 45) are

not true thesauri but contain enough similar features as to be described

in conjunction with thesauri. In contrast, the EJC Thesaurus (see page 551

and the IF Thesaurus (see page 58) are true thesauri.

The advantage of the simple one way division is that it is easy and |

inexpensive. The disadvantages of this type is that it is rarely adequate

for large or sophisticated information systems or for the application

where fine distinctions must be made. Although the process of one way division

is simple; in theory defining the body of information under consideration i

as a set and subdividing that set into subsets that would be mutually

exclusive, roughly equivalent in scope and based on a uniform method of s,

division; it is difficult to achieve this in practice. What is usually

||

used in practice, then, is a one way division based on custom. For example,

the ANSI division shown on pages 10-12 could not be considered mutually

j

| exclusive, equivalent in scope, based on a uniform method of division, \ \

i

' or exhaustive. Similarly, with the building codes shown on pages 13-18. M

Clearly these classifications have grown through the years. Although these

one way divisions don't adhere to the theoretical set-subset concept described

above, they do have the advantage of having been in-use for a long time

and therefore have achieved familarity with the users.

Two way divisions share many of the advantages and disadvantages of

one way divisions. They are not particularly difficult or expensive to develop and

use but, like one way divisions, are difficult to rigorously construct. An example

of this difficulty is shown on page 32 the Operation Breakthrough Guide

Criteria Matrix. This two way division was developed to assist researchers
in developing criteria for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's

program to achieve a "breakthrough" in the production and marketing of

industrialized buildings. The vertical subdivision, Built Elements, is

meant to be the definition of the completed building as the set, with subdivisions of that set into building subsystems. The horizontal subdivision,

Attributes, is meant to be the definition of the total needs of the building

user as the set, with subdivisions of that set into related performance

attributes. However, an examination of these subdivisions would indicate

that these subsets are not on a uniform method of division (i.e., an "apples"

and "oranges" list), overlap considerably, and are not equivalent in scope.

For example, the first two divisions are related to the building subsystem

(structures), the third subdivision, health and safety, is much broader

than the other subdivisions, etc. Such "uneveness" and lack of mutual

exclusibility is typical of these matricies. In reality, it is difficult

to construct satisfactory mutually exclusive subsets.

Thesauri and thesauri -like mechanisms tend to be larger, more difficult

to construct, more difficult to use, and more expensive than one and two

way divisions. However, the have the advantage of being able to provide close

comparisons and very narrow compartmentalization. By narrow compartmentalization, it is meant that a thesaurus used as an indexing mechansim can provide

thousands of compartments in which information or data may be stored for

later retrieval. Using each thesaurus term as a set and using combinations

of these terms to define new compartments (such as the new compartment formed

by set A union B, etc.), hundreds of thousands or even millions of compartments

can be formed. This degree of compartmentalization should be compared with

a 10 X 10 two way division resulting 100 compartments.

7
A second major advantage of thesauri information indexing mechanisms

is that they allow the expression of relationships between concepts , terms

and other information categories. One example of this is scale. Rarely

shown in one and two way divisions, thesauri information indexing mechanisms

allow the distinction of scale to be made between set, subsets, subsets of

subsets, etc. In building information, for example, the use of such a

mechanisms allows the distinction of information related to buildings from

information related to building subsystems (e.g.. Building Environment

Subsystem) for information related to building assemblies (e.g., furnaces,

air conditioning units, etc.) for information related to building components

(e.g., pipes, ducts, etc.) for information related to building materials

(e.g., copper, cast iron, aluminum, etc.).

But development of new thesauri mechanisms is a lengthy, arduous,

exacting and expensive task. Even the review of existing thesauri

mechanisms to assess suitability for a proposed application can be lengthy,

arduous, exacting and expensive. A complication for assessment of suitability

for a proposed application is that these mechanisms are rarely or never

accompanied by a list of definitions used. .Ambiguities and narrow

culture -bound uses are thus inevitably included in tliese existing thesauri

information indexing methods

In the absolute sense, there is no one best architectural information

indexing system. Rather, the merit of alternative existing architectural

information indexing systems should be assessed against the specific goals

and objectives to be achieved by the larger program of which the information

8
indexing system is to be a part. These program goals and objectives could

include the delivery o£ pertinent architectural information in a timely

manner, the organization of building regulatory provisions, the organization

of building cost information and similar applications. Assessment of

the suitability of these existing architectural information indexing systems

should be based on explicit statements of goals and objective, assessment

of ease of use, development and maintenance, assessment of costs incurred

and similar concerns. Similarly, the development of new architectural

information indexing systems should be preceded by the development of explicit

program goals and objective statements and an indepth analysis of factors

that bear on its intended use.

9
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ANSI)

Type : One Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to one or more standards

dealing with a select subject.

Description: All ANSI standards are given a unique alphanumeric

code. The first character o£ the number is alphabetic.

This alphabetic character identifies the category to which a particular standard belongs

Twenty-one categories are used, two of which are indicated by two alphabetic characters, MH and

PH. The letters E, F, I, Q, R, T, U and V

are not presently used by ANSI to denote categories of standards. Categories presently in

use by ANSI are shown below:

ANSI CATEGORIES

A Construction

B Mechanical

C Electrical and Electronics

D Highway Traffic Safety

G Ferrous Materials and Metallurgy

H Nonferrous Materials and Metallurgy

J Rubber

K Chemical

L Textile

M Mining

MH Materials Handling

N Nuclear

0 Wood

P Pulp and Paper

PH Photography and Motion Pictures

S Acoustics, Vibration, Mechanical Shock and

Sound Recording

SE Security Systems

W Welding

X Information Systems

Y Drawings, Symbols, and Abbreviations

Z Miscellaneous

Each of the larger categories is subdivided by subcategories . These

subcategories are indicated by numeric characters. Major subcategories

used for construction, mechanical and electrical are shown below.

ANSI CATEGORIES AND SUBCATEGORIES

A Construction

AlO Safety Requirements for Construction

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EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ANSI ) (cont 'd)

A21 Cast Iron Pipe and Fittings

A37 Road and Paving Materials

A62 Modular Coordination

A88 Oxychloride Cements

Alll Refractories

B Mechanical Engineering

Bl Screw Threads

B3 Ball and Roller Bearings

B5 Machine Tools and Components

b6 Gears

Bl6 Pipe Flanges and Fittings

Bl8 Bolts and Nuts

B29 Transmission Chains

B31 Pressure Piping

B36 Iron and Steel Pipe

B72 Plastic Pipe

B74 Abrasives

B93 Fluid Power Systems and Components

B94 Cutting Tools, Holders, Drivers, and

Bushings

B125 Iron and Steel Pipe

B141 Aerospace

C Electrical Engineering

C7 Bare Electrical Conductors

C8 Insulated Wire

C16 Radio

C29 Wet-Process Porcelain Insulators

C33 Electrical Devices and Materials

C37 Power Switchgear

C39 Electrical Measuring Instruments

C50 Rotating Electrical Machinery

C57 Transformers, Regulators , and Reactors

C59 Electrical Insulation Materials

C60 Electron Tubes Attachment"

C73 Dimensions of Attachment Plugs and Receptacles

C78 Incandescent Lamps

C78 Electric Discharge Lamps (Fluorescent)

,

Dimensional and Electrical Characteristics of

C78 Bactericidal Lamps

C78 Electrical Discharge Lamps (Mercury)

,

Physical and Electrical Characteristics of:

C78 Fluorescent Lamp Auxiliaries

C80 Conduits

C81 Electric Lamp Bases and Holders

C82 Lamp Ballasts

C83 Components for Electronic Equipment

-11-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE ( ANSI ) ( cont 'd)

Other categories are similarly subcategorized. The

remainder of each ANSI number uniquely Identifies that

standard and the date it was adopted. For example:

"AIO.8-1969 Scaffolding, Safety Requirements for

belongs in category A, "Construction," subcategory AlO, "Safety Requirements

for Construction," and was adopted by ANSI in 1969.

Ref: American National Standards Institute, "Catalog 1974."

-12-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

THE BOCA BASIC BUILDING CODE

Type : One Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to one or more provisions

contained in the BOCA.

Description: Related provisions of the BOCA are grouped

together in twenty articles. These are shown below:

Article Subject

1 Administration and Enforcement

2 Definitions and Classifications

3 General Building Limitations

k Special Use and Occupancy Requirements

5 Light and Ventilation

6 Means of Egress

7 Structural and Foundation Loads and

Stresses

8 Part A Materials and Tests

8 Part B Steel, Masonry, Concrete, Gypsum and

Lumber Construction

8 Part C Building Enclosures, Walls and Wall

Thickness

9 Fireresistive Construction Requirements

10 Chimneys, Flues and Vent Pipes

11 Heating Equipment and Appliances - Mountings, Clearances and Connections

12 Fire Protection and Systems

13 Precautions During Building Operations

14 Signs and Outdoor Display Structures

15 Electric Wiring and Equipment

16 Elevator, Dumbwaiter and Conveyor

Equipment, Installation and Maintenance

17 Plumbing, Drainage and Gas Piping

18 Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and

Mechanical Ventilation

19 Prefabricated Construction

20 Light- Transmitting Plastic Construction

Each section in the BOCA has a number relating it back

to the appropriate part. Thus Section 621.0, "Fire Escapes" is

• contained in Article 6, "Means of Egress."

Ref: Building Officials and Code Administrators International,

Inc., "The BOCA Basic Building Code, 1975," Sixth Edition,

1975.

-13-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE (NBC)

Type : One Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to one or more provisions

contained In the NBC.

Description: Related provisions of the NBC are grouped together

eighteen articles. These are shown below.

Article Subject

I Administration

II Definitions

III Classification of Occupancies

and Special Occupancy Requirements

rv Restrictions Within the Fire

Limits, Height and Area

Restrictions and Street

Encroachments

V Light and Ventilation

VI Means of Egress

VII Requirements for Types of Construction

VIII Fire Protection Requirements

IX Design Loads and General Building

Requirements

X Chimneys, Fireplaces and Venting

Systems

XI Heat Producing Appliances,

Heating, Ventilating, Air

Conditioning, Blower and

Exhaust Systems

XII Safeguards During Construction

XIII Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators and Amusement Devices

XIV Gas Piping and Plumbing

XV Electrical Installations

XVI Signs and Outdoor Display

Structures

XVII Safety to Life Requirements for

Existing Buildings

XVIII List of Standards and Publications

-14-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE (NBC ) ( cont ' d)

Each section in the NBS has a number relating it back to

the appropriate article. Thus Section 1003, "Masonry Chimneys

for Industrial Type Medium Heat Appliances," is contained in

article X, "Chimneys, Fireplaces and Venting Systems."

Ref: American Insurance Association, "The National Building

Code: 196? Edition," 1967.

-15-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF CANADA 1970

Type : One Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to one or more provisions

contained in the National Building Code of

Canada

Description: Related provisions of the National Building Code

of Canada are grouped together in nine parts.

These are shown below:

Part Subject

1 Scope and Definitions

2 Administration

3 Use and Occupancy

4 De s i gn

5 Materials

6 Building Services

7 Plumbing Services

8 Construction Safety Measures

9 Housing and Small Buildings

Each section in the National Building Code of Canada has

a number relating it back to the appropriate part. Thus

Section 6.5.2, "Elevators and Dumbwaiters," is contained in

Part 6, "Building Services."

RefAssociate Committee on the National Building Code,

National Research Council of Canada, "National Building

Code of Canada 1975."

-16-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

SOUTHERN STANDARD BUILDING CODE (SBCC)

Type : One Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to one or more provisions

contained in the SBCC.

Description: Related provisions of the SBCC are grouped

together in twenty-nine chapters. These are

shown below:

Chapter ' Subject

I Administration

II Definitions

III Fire District

rv Classification of Buildings by

Occupancy

V Special Occupancy Requirements

VI Classification of Buildings by

Construction

VII Fire Protection Requirement

VIII Chimneys, Fireplaces and Heating

Equipment

IX Sprinklers and Standpipes

X Fire Resistance Standards for

Materials and Construction

XI Means of Egress Requirements

XII Minimum Design Loads

XIII Foundations, Footings and

Excavations

Xrv Masonry Construction

XV Steel Construction

XVI Concrete Construction

XVII Wood Construction

XVIII Lathing, Plastering and Gypsum

Wallboard

XIX Rat-Proof Construction

XX Light, Ventilation and Sanitation

XXI Safeguards During Construction

XXII Use of Public Property

XXIII Signs and Outdoor Displays

XXrV Elevators and Escalators

XXV Prefabricated Construction and

Mobile Homes Over Eight Feet

Wide

XXVI Plastics

XXVII Glass

XXVIII Aluminum Construction

XXIX Acoustical Ceiling Systems

-17-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

SOUTHERN STANDARD BUILDING CODE (SBCC) (cont'd)

Each section in the SBCC has a number relating it back

to the appropriate chapter. Thus Section 1124, "Illumination

of Exits," is contained in Chapter 11, "Means of Egress

Requirements .

Ref: Southern Building Code Congress, "Southern Standard

Building Code," 1973.

-18-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

UNIFORM BUILDING CODE (UBC)

Type : One Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to one or more provisions

contained in the UBC

.

Description: Related provisions of the UBC are grouped together twelve parts and sixty chapters, ten

chapters of which are presently not being used.

These are shown below:

Part Chapter Subject

I ADMINISTRATIVE

1 Title and Scope

2 Organization and Enforcement

3 Permits and Inspections

II DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS

4 Definitions and Abbreviations

III REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY

5 Classification of all Buildings

by Use or Occupancy and General

Requirements for all Occupancies

6 Requirements for Group A

Occupancies

7 Requirements for Group B

Occupancies

8 Requirements for Group C

Occupancies

9 Requirements for Group D

Occupancies

10 Requirements for Group E

Occupancies

11 Requirements for Group P

Occupancies

12 Requirements for Group G

Occupancies

13 Requirements for Group H

14

Occupancies

Requirements for Group I

Occupancies

15 Requirements for Group J

Occupancies

-19-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

UNIFORM BUILDING CODE (UBC ) ( cont ' d

)

Part Chapter Subject

IV REQUIREMENTS BASED ON LOCATION IN FIRE ZONES

16 Restrictions in Fire Zones

V REQUIREMENTS BASED ON TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

17 Classification of all Buildings

by Types of Construction and

General Requirements

18 Type I Buildings

19 Type II Buildings

20 Type III Buildings

21 Type IV Buildings

22 Type V Buildings

VI ENGINEERING REGULATIONS - QUALITY AND DESIGN OF THE

MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION

23 General Design Requirements

24 ' Masonry

25 Wood

26 Concrete

27 Steel and Iron

2 8 Aluminum

VII DETAILED REGULATIONS

29 Excavations, Foundations and

Retaining Walls

30 Veneer

31 (No Requirements)

32 Roof Construction and Covering

33 Stairs, Exits, and Occupant Loads

34 Skylights

35 (No Requirements)

3b Penthouses and Roof Structures

37 Masonry or Concrete Chimneys, Fireplaces

and Barbecues

38 Fire-Extinguishing Systems

39 Stages and Platforms

40 Motion Picture Projection Rooms

41 (No Requirements)

VIII FIRE RESISTIVE STANDARDS FOR FIRE PROTECTION

42 Interior Wall and Ceiling Finish

43 Fire-Resistive Standards

-20-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

UNIFORM BUILDING CODE (UBC ) ( cont ' d)

Part

IX

Chapter Subject

XI

XII

REGULATIONS FOR USE OF PUBLIC STREETS AND PROJECTIONS

OVER PUBLIC PROPERTY

44

45

46

Protection of Pedestrians during

Construction or Demolition

Permanent Occupancy of Public

Property

(No Requirements)

WALL AND CEILING COVERINGS

47

SPECIAL SUBJECTS

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

LEGISLATIVE

60

Installation of Wall and Ceiling

Coverings

Film Storage

(No Requirements)

Prefabricated Construction

(No Requirements)

Plastics

(No Requirements)

Glass and Glazing

(No Requirements)

(No Requirements)

(No Requirements)

(No Requirements)

(No Requirements)

Legislative

Each section in the UBC has a number relating it back to

the appropriate chapter. Thus section 3304 "Corridors and

Exterior Exit Balconies," is contained in Chapter 33, "Stairs,

Exits and Occupant Loads," of Part 7, "Detailed Regulations."

Re£: International Converence of Building Officials, "Uniform Building

Code", 1973 Edition, 1973.

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EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

BUILDING PRODUCTS REGISTER

Type : One Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to commercially produced

building materials.

Descripton: The American Institute of Architect's Building

Product Register is subdivided into twenty four

(2^) divisions which are, in turn, subdivided

into two to fourteen sections. The divisions

used in this document are shown below.

Division Subject

1 Foundations

2 Structural Systems

3 Curtain Walls

4 Masonry

5 Wood

6 Metals

7 Glass, Plastics

8 Roofing, Siding

9 Masonry & Concrete Treatments

10 Thermal Insulation

11 Sound Control

12 Lath, Plaster & Trim

13 Flooring & Wall Covering

14 Surfacing, Paneling

15 Paints, Finishes

16 Doors

17 Windows

18 Door & Window

19 Hardware

20 Skylights, Roof Ventilators & Louvers

21 Store Fronts

22 Partitions & Wirework

23 Furnishings & Special Equipment

• 24 Residential Kitchen Equipment

Ref: The American Institute of Architects," 1962, Building

Products Register AIA."

-22-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION INDEX (A. I. A. /C.S.I.)

Type : One Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to information pertaining

to construction and construction products . Description: The Uniform Construction Index is sponsored by

The American Institute of Architects (A.I.A.).

The Construction Specifications Institute

(C.S.I.) , the Associated General Contractors of

America (A.G.C.A.) and other organizations in

the United States and Canada.

The Uniform Construction Index is composed

of four parts, or formats, as shown below:

PART ONE - SPECIFICATIONS FORMAT

PART TWO - DATA FILING FORMAT

PART THREE - COST ANALYSIS FORMAT

PART FOUR - PROJECT FILING FORMAT

The first three formats (i.e., specifications, data filing, and cost analysis) are each

broken into sixteen (16) divisions and numerous

sections. With one exception, these sixteen

divisions are identical for each of these three

formats. Divisions are shown in Figure i on

page 24.

The sections within the divisions do vary

between the three formats. For example. Figure

2 on page 25 shows a comparison between the three

formats for Division 11, Equipment. Note that

Part Two, Data Filing Format, does not exactly

match with the other sections.

Part Four, Project Filing Format, is shown

in Figure 3 on page 26. .

Ref: The American Institute of Architects, et al . , "Uniform

Construction Index," 1972.

-23-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

FIGURE 1

UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION INDEX

SIXTEEN DIVISIONS OF SPECIFICATIONS

FORMAT, DATA FILING FORMAT

AND COST ANALYSIS FORMAT

Division 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS*

Division 2 SITE WORK

Division 3 CONCRETE

Division 4 MASONRY

Division 5 METALS

Division 6 WOOD & PLASTICS

Division 7 THERMAL & MOISTURE PROTECTION

Division 8 DOORS & WINDOWS

Division 9 FINISHES

Division 10 SPECIALTIES

Division 11 EQUIPMENT

Division 12 FURNISHINGS

Division 13 SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION

Division l4 CONVEYING SYSTEMS

Division 15 MECHANICAL

Division l6 ELECTRICAL

*Titled, "Technical Aids" in Part Two, Data Filing Format.

Part Three, Cost Analysis Format, has one additional division.

Division 0, "Conditions of the Contract."

-24-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

FIGURE 2

COMPARISON OF SECTIONS OF DIVISION 11,

EQUIPMENT, - UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION INDEX

PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE

SPECIFICATIONS DATA FILING COST ANALYSIS

FORMAT FORMAT FORMAT

Built-in General Alternatives

Maintenance Information

Bank & Vault Athletic Built-in

Maintenance

Commercial Bank & Vault Bank & Vault

Checkroom Built-in Commcercial

Maintenance

Darkroom Checkroom Checkroom

Ecclesiastical Commercial Darkroom

Educational Darkroom Ecclesiastical

Food Service Detention Educational

Vending Ecclesiastical Food Service

Athletic Educational Vending

Industrial Pood Service Athletic

Laboratory Industrial Industrial

Laundry Laboratory Laboratory

Library Laundry Laundry

Medical Library Library

Mortuary Loading Dock Medical

Musical Medical Mortuary

Parking Mortuary Musical

Waste Handling Musical Parking

Loading Dock Parking Waste Handling

Detention Registration Loading Dock

Residential Residential Detention

Theater Theater & Stage Residential

Registration Vending Theater & Stage

Waste Handling Registration

-25-
FIGURE 3

QNIPORM CONSTRUCTION INDE.

PART POUR: PROJECT FILING FORMAT

P

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-26-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE BUILDINGS (PBS)

Type : Two Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to one or more performance statements contained in the Public Building

Service (PBS) Performance Specification for Office

Buildings

Description: The PBS Performance Specification for Office

Buildings used a two way division or matrix,

for facilitating reference to the performance

statements contained in this document. This

matrix was formed by dividing the material to

be referenced into two lists of subsets and

placing these two lists at right angles to form

a matrix. Both lists have to contain a comprehensive group of subsets describing the material

to be referenced.

The performance statements can be arranged into

subsets based on what building subsystems these

statements affect. Such a listing is shown

below:

LIST OF BUILT ELEMENTS OR SUBSYSTEMS

1 Structure

2 HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning)

3 Electrical Distribution

4 Luminaires

5 Finished Floor

6 Finished Ceiling

7 Space Dividers

The performance statements can also be, arranged into

subsets based on what the building ought to provide. These

are called attributes and a listing of these attributes is

shown below:

LIST OP ATTRIBUTES

a Conditioned Air

b Illumination

c Acoustics

d Stability, Durability

e Health & Safety

f Maintenance

g Planning

-27-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE BUILDINGS (PBS) (cont'd)

These two lists can then be placed at right angles to

form a matrix (see figure l\ , page 29). Performance statements are thus indexed in the intercepts of these two lists . For example, the performance statement that requires, "Provide

rigidity against human impact," would be indexed at the

intercept of the Built Element, "Structure" and the Attribute,

"Stability, Durability." This particular performance statement would then be assigned the number "Id." This number

designates the location of this performance statement in the

document

Ref: Hattis, D. B. and T. E. Ware, Building Research Division,

lAT, National Bureau of Standards, "The PBS Performance

Specification for Office Buildings," January 1971

(revised September 1971).

-28-
FIGURE 4

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE BUILDINGS (PBS)

The Matrix

Built Elements or Subsystems

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

-29-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

GUIDE CRITERIA FOR OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH

Type : Two Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to one or more performance statements contained in the Guide Criteria

for the evaluation of Operation Breakthrough

Housing Systems.

Description: The Guide Criteria for Operation Breakthrough

used a two way division, or matrix, for facilitating reference to the performance statements

contained in this document. This matrix was

formed by dividing the material to be referenced

into two lists of subsets and placing these

lists at right angles to form a matrix. Both

lists had to contain a comprehensive group of

subsets describing the material to be referenced.

The performance statements can be arranged into

subsets based on what building subsystems these

statements affect. Such a listing is shown

below: :

•

LIST OF BUILT ELEMENTS

A Structure

Walls and Doors, Inter-Dwelling

C Walls and Doors, Intra-Dwelling

D Floor-Ceiling

E Walls, Doors and Windows

P Roof-Ceiling, Ground-Floor

G Fixtures and Hardware

H Plumbing

I Mechanical Equipment, Appliances

J Power, Electrical Distribution, Communications

K Lighting Elements

L Enclosed Spaces

The performance statements can also be arranged into

subsets based on what the building ought to provide. These

are called attributes and a listing of these attributes is

shown below:

LIST OF ATTRIBUTES

1 Structural Serviceability

2 Structural Safety

3 Health and Safety

4 Fire Safety

-30-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

GUIDE CRITERIA FOR OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH (cont'd)

5 Acoustic Environment

6 Illuminated Environment

7 Atmospheric Environment

8 Durability/Time Reliability (Function)

9 Spatial Characteristics and Arrangement

These two lists can then be placed at right angles to

form a matrix (see Figure 5 page 32). Performance statements are thus indexed in the intercepts of these two lists.

For example, the performance statement that requires, "Provision should be made for acoustical privacy between dwelling

units," would be indexed at the intercept of the Built Element

"Interior Space Dividers, Floor-Ceiling," and the Attribute,

"Acoustic Environment." This particular performance statement

would then be assigned the character, "D5". This number designates

the location of this performance statement in the document.

Ref: Pfrang, E. 0., Manager, The Building Research Division

Team, "Guide Criteria for the Evaluation of: OPERATION

BREAKTHROUGH Housing Systems," Five Volumes, National

Bureau of Standards Report 10200, December 1, 1970.

-31-
FIGURE 5

GUIDE .^ITERIA FOR OPERATION BREA .HROUGH

THE MATRIX

Attributes

Serviceability

Safety

Safety

nvironment

Environment

c

Environment

Time

Reliability

aracteristics

and

nt

Built

Structural Structural

Health

and

Fire

Safety

Acoustic

E

Illuminated

Atmospheri

Durability/' (Function) Spatial

Chi

Arrangeme

Elements 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Structure A

lividers Walls and Doors,

Inter-Dwelling B

Space C

Walls and Doors,

Intra-Dwelling C

Interior Floor-Ceiling D

irior ilope

Walls. Doors and Windows E

«- > X C UJ UJ Roof-Ceiling,

Ground Floor F

Fixtures and

Hardware G

Plumbing H

Mechanical Equipment,

Appliances 1

Power. Electrical Distribution. Communications J

Lighting Elements K

Enclosed Spaces L

-32-
« EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

LITERATURE SEARCH: HOSPITAL BEDROOMS AND NURSING UNITS

Type : Two Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to the literature pertaining to the planning, design and construction

of hospital bedrooms and nursing units.

Description: All the literature pertaining to this subject were

divided into two sets, "Process" and "Product."

The set "Process" contains all literature on

how to plan, design and construct while the set

"Product" contains all literature on what to

plan, design and construct. The literature in

both of these sets is indexed by a two way

division, or matrix for facilitating reference

to this literature. These matrices were formed

by dividing the material to be referenced into

two lists of subsets and placing these lists at

right angles to form these matrices.

For the set "Process," the literature can be

arranged into subsets based on the scale to which

this literature is applicable. Such a listing is

shown below:

PROCESS - LIST OF SCALE

a Worldwide

b Nationwide

c Areav/ide

d City/Town

e Hospital/Clinic

f Nursing Unit

g Patient Bedroom

h Space

The literature can also be arranged into subsets based

on what programmatic level or phase is being discussed. This

listing' is shown below:

PROCESS - LIST OF PROGRAMIvmTIC LEVELS OR PHASES

1 Research

2 Planning

3 Programming

4 Modelling

5 Designing

6 Contracting

7 Constructing

8 Feedback

-33-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

LITERATURE SEARCH: HOSPITAL BEDROOMS AND NURSING UNITS (cont'd)

These two lists can then be placed at right angles to

form a matrix (see Figure 6 Page 36 ). The literature on

this subject are thus indexed in the intercepts of these two

lists. For example, an article dealing with the design of a nursing unit would be indexed at the intercept of the Scale,

'Nursing Unit,'^ and the Programmatic level, 'Desir.ning . " This particular article would then be assigned the number

"5f." This number designates the location of this article in

the matrix.

Simarly , for the set "Product," the literature can be

arranged into subsets based on what building subsystems these

statements affect. Such a listing is shown below:

PRODUCT - LIST OF BUILT ELEMENTS

A Enclosure

B Space Use

C Transport Systems

D Environmental Systems

E Power Distribution Systems

F Illumination

G Communications

H Equipment

A complete list of Built Elements would also include,

"Site" and "Structures," However, this particular list was

developed for referencing information dealing with only a portion of a building, hospital bedrooms and nursing units.

Because of this the Built Elements, "Site" and "Structure"

were not used in this particular matrix.

The literature can also be arranged into subsets based

on what the building ought to provide. These are called

performance attributes and a listing of these is shown below:

PRODUCT - LIST OF PERFORMANCE ATTRIBUTES

SAFETY/SECURITY

1. Fire

2. Physical

3. Chemical, Biological, Radiological

4. Electrical

-34-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

LITERATURE SEARCH: HOSPITAL BEDROOMS AND NURSING UNITS (cont'd)

CONVENIENCE/EFFICIENCY

5. Internal

6. External

7. Anthropometric Fit

COMFORT

8. Physiological

9. Social

10. Psychological

OTHER

11. Durability

12. Reliability

13. Controlability

14. Flexibility

15. Maintainability

These two lists can then be placed at right angles to

form a matrix (see Figure 7 » page 37 ) . Literature is thus

Indexed in the intercepts of these two lists. For example,

an article dealing with various nursing unit configurations

for the convenience and efficiency of the staff would be

indexed at the intercept of the Built Elements, "Space Use"

and the Performance Attribute, "Internal Convenience/Efficiency."

This particular article would then be assigned the number,

"5B" . This number designates the location of this article

in the document

.

-35-
FIGURE 6

LITERATURE SEARCH: HOSPITAL BEDROOMS AND NURSING UNITS

THE PROCESS MATRIX

\^ Programmatic

Level or

\v Phase

Scale

Research Planning

|

Programming

Modeling Design

Contracting

Constructing

Feedback

CM m ir\ \o CO Worldwide a Nationwide b

Areawlde c City/Town d

Hospital/Clinic e Nursing Unit f

Patient Bedroom g

-36-
FIGURE 7

LITERATURE SEARCH: HOSPITAL BEDROOMS AND NURSING UNITS

THE PRODUCT MATRIX

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BUILT

ELEMENTS

ENCLOSURE

SPACE

USE

TRANSPORT

SYSTEMS

ENVIRONMENTAL

SYSTEMS

POWER

DISTRIBUTION

ILLUMINATION

COMMUNICATIONS

EQUIPMENT

-37-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS AUTHORITATIVE

UNITED KINGDOM VERSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL

SfB CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (RIBA/SfB)

Type : Thesaurus

Purpose : To facilitate reference to information pertaining to building

Description: The RIBA/SfB system is essentially an information retrieval system with a limited thesaurus

'used as an input/output device.

The thesaurus for this system is the

construction indexing manual. This document is

used for both indexing and for referencing

indexed information. In indexing, when a new

article, book, etc., is received, the construction

indexing manual is consulted to assign a number

to this article, book, etc. In referencing,

the constuction indexing manual is consulted to

determine the number of the subject material

desired. It can be seen that the construction

indexing manual is therefore the input/output

device of the system. This manual is essentially

a thesaurus relating words pertaining to building to access numbers and vice versa.

A RIBA/SfB number is divided into four

parts or tables. These are shown below:

Material

Table 0 Built Environment

Table 1 Different parts or elements

of the building

Table 2/3 Construction forms and

materials

Table 4 Abstract concepts

Each of these four tables has a unique

notation. This is shown below:

Notation

Table 0 Built A number, usually 2 or 3

Environment digits long

Table 1 Parts or A bracketed number, usually

Elements 2 or 3 digits long

Table 2/3 Forms A capital letter with a lower

and Materials case letter, sometimes followed

by a number

-38-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS AUTHORITATIVE

UNITED KINGDOM VERSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL

SfB CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (RIBA/SfB) ( cont 'd)

Table 4 Abstract A bracketed capital letter.

Concepts sometimes followed by a number and a lower case

letter

.

These notations are entered into a standard

box divided into four parts and usually stamped

on the book or article. Tables are read from

left to right. A completed box would look as

follows

:

410 21.1 Fg2 E2g

In actual use, it would be very unusual

that a single book or article would have a notation in each of the four tables. This will

be seen below.

In referencing a new book or article, the

following four steps are followed:

STEP 1 The question is asked, "Does the document

refer specifically to a particular building

type or group of building types or the spaces

within or around them?" If the answer is no,

the referencer proceeds to Step 2 . If the answer

is yes, the referencer refers to Table 0, Built

Environment, to choose a number to assign to this

document. The following stepe are accomplished.

STEP lA Referring to Table 0, Built Environment, one of the following notations is assigned

to the document.

Notation Subject Covered

0 Land, planning, landscape

in general

1 Civil engineering works,

transport

2 Transport, industrial buildings

3 Administrative, commercial

buildings

-39-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS AUTHORITATIVE

UNITED KINGDOM VERSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL

SfB CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (RIBA/SfB ) ( cont 'd)

Notation Subject Covered

4 Health and welfare buildings

5 Refreshment, entertainment,

recreation buildings

6 Religious buildings

7 Educational, cultural,

scientific buildings

8 Residential buildings in

general

For example, if the document concerned the

design of hospitals, the notation 4 would be

assigned

STEP IB Once the first digit of the notation has been assigned. Table 0, Built Environment, is again referred to. Suppose the notation

"4" was chosen in Step lA, the following list

would then be reviewed.

Notation Subject Covered

40 Departments, internal and

external spaces

41 Hospitals

42 Other health buildings

43 Vacant

44 Homes

45 Vacant

46 Animal welfare buildings in

general

47 Vacant

48 Prison buildings

49 Vacant

For example, the document concerning the

design of hospitals would then be assigned the

notation "4l."

STEP IC Once the first two digits of the

notation have been assigned. Table 0, Built

Environment, is again referred to. Suppose the

notation, "42," was chosen in Step IB, the

following list would then be reviewed.

-40-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS AUTHORITATIVE

UNITED KINGDOM VERSION OP THE INTERNATIONAL

SfB CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (RIBA/SfB ) ( cont ' d)

Notation Subject Covered

410 Departments, internal and

external spaces

411 Teaching including postgraduate teaching centres

412 General, district general

hospitals, GP hospitals

413 Mental

414 Maternity

415 Isolation

4l6 Other special hospitals

417 Clinical research centres

4l8 Military

For example, the document concerning the

design of hospitals covers all of the special

types of hospitals shown in the above list.

Therefore, the document would not be assigned

a third digit but remains indexed as "41." This

completes the indexing required in Step 1.

STEP 2 The question is asked, "Does the document refer specifically to a particular building

or site element or groups of elements?" If the

answer is no, the referencer proceeds to Step 3.

If the answer is yes, the referencer refers to

Table 1, Elements, to choose a number to assign

to this document. The following steps are

accomplished

.

STEP 2A Referring to Table 1, Elements,

one of the following notations is assigned to

the document

.

Notation

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

Subject Covered

Substructure

Primary elements

Secondary elements

Finishes

Services

Installations

Fixtures

-41-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS AUTHORITATIVE

UNITED KINGDOM VERSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL

SfB CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (RIBA/SfB) ( cont 'd)

The referencer then continues with Steps

2B and 2C which are similar to steps IB and IC

described previously. The referencer then

continues to Step 3.

STEP 3 The question is asked, "Does the document refer specifically to a construction form

or material or to a particular group of any of

these things?" If the answer is no, the referencer proceeds to Step 4. If the answer is yes,

the referencer refers to Table 2/3, Construction

Form, to choose a number to assign to this

document. The following steps are accomplished.

STEP 3A Referring to Table 2/3, Construction

Form, one of the following notations is assigned

to the document

Notation Subject Covered

Notation Subject Covered

(8)

(9)

Loose equipment

Building and site

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

P

R

S

T

U

V

X

Y

Cast in situ

Bricks, blocks

Structural units

Sections

Tubes, pip.es

Wires, mesh

Quilts

Foils, papers

Foldable sheets

Overlap sheets and tiles

Thick coatings

Rigid sheets

Tiles

Flexible sheets

Papers, fabrics

Thin coatings

Components

Products in general.

-42-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

ROYAL INSTITUTE OP BRITISH ARCHITECTS AUTHORITATIVE

UNITED KINGDOM VERSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL

SfB CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (RIBA/SfB ) ( cont ' d)

The referencer then continues with Steps

3B and 3C which are similar to steps IB and IC

described previously. The referencer then

continues to step 4

.

STEP 4 The question is asked, "Does the document refer specifically to a particular activity,

property or requirement like insulation or fire

resistance or anything else which is not part

of any product, element or building, but appears

to be a basis for classification?" If the

answer is no, the indexing of this document has

been completed. If the answer is yes, the

referencer refers to Table 4, Activities and

Requirements, to choose a number to assign to

this document. The following steps are then

accomplished

.

STEP 4a Referring to Table 4, Activities

and Requirements, one of the following notations

is assigned to the document.

Notation Subject Covered

(A) Administration, management

(B) Construction plant

(C) Vacant

(D) Construction operations

(E) Requirements in general

(F) Layout, shape, dimensions

(G) Appearance, aesthetics

(H) Physical, chemical, biological

factors

(I) Air, water control

(J) Heat, cool in general

(K) Strength, statics, stability

(L) Mechanics, dynamics

(M) Sound, quiet, in general

(N) Light, dark, in general

(0) Vacant

(P) Vacant

(Q) Radiation

(R) Fire

(S) Durability, weathering

-43-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS AUTHORITATIVE

UNITED KINGDOM VERSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL

SfB CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (RIBA/SfB) ( cont 'd)

The referencer then continues with steps

4B and 4C which are similar to steps IB and IC

described previously. This then completes the

indexing process. Through these four steps,

access numbers are assigned to documents . To

gain access to documents that have been previously referenced, the researcher goes through

the same four steps that are required for

referencing. Thus, the construction indexing

manual acts as an input/output thesaurus for

access to information pertaining to building.

Notation Subject Covered

(T)

(U)

(V)

(W)

(X)

(Y)

(Z)

Vacant

Special requirements

Building surrounds, etc.

Maintenance, alteration

Vacant

Economics, time requirements

Vacant

Ref: Royal Institute of British Architects,

Indexing Manual," 1968.

"Cons truct ion

-44-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

THE BSAB SYSTEM (SWEDEN)

Type : One and Two Way Division

Purpose : To facilitate reference to building product

information and for reference to construction

specifications

.

Description: The BSAB System is composed of three interrelated tables. These three tables are:

Resource Table 1 - Commodities

Product Table 1 - Assemblies

Product Table 2 - Building Elements

Resource Table 1, Commodities, is a one

way division of the basic materials that go into

any given building. Commodities would include

such items as reinforcing rods, mortar, concrete

block, etc. The one way division of commodities

is shown in Figure 8 on page 46. . Information

pertaining to a particular commodity or material

would be filed under the appropriate category.

Product Table 1 - Assemblies, is a one

way division of the components that go into any

given building. Assemblies would include a block wall, a concrete slab, etc. The one way

division is shown in Figure 9 on page 47.

Information pertaining to assemblies or components would be filed under the appropriate

category

.

Product Table 2 - Building Elements is a

one way division of the subsystems that go into

any given building. Building Elements would

include structure, site, etc. The one way

division is shown in Figure 10 , on page 48.

Information pertaining to building elements or

subsystems would be filed under the appropriate

category

.

-45-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

FIGURE 8

THE BSAB SYSTEM

RESOURCE TABLE 1 - COMMODITIES

A Vacant

B Vacant

C Vacant

D Vacant

E Cast in situ commodities

F Blocks for bonding with mortar or adhesive or dry stacking

G Prefabricated components, carcase

H Sections and bars

I Pipes and tubes

J Wiring and conduits. electrical

K Insulating commodities

L Foils and felts, etc • N Overlapping tiles, etc.

0 Sheet commodities

P Commodities for surface treatment

Q Covering, lining and cladding commodities

R Services componentsvessels, pumps, heating and

refrigeration

S Services componentswater and drainage

T Services components

air treatment

U Services componentsmeasuring, monitoring and control

V Services components: electrical

W Services components: lifts and other transport

X Building components: doors, windows, etc.

Y Building components

storage units, tables, etc.

Z Miscellaneous commodities

-46-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

FIGURE 9

THE BSAB SYSTEM

PRODUCT TABLE 1 - ASSEMBLIES

A Vacant (Used in AMA 72 for administrative conditions)

B Preparations, excavations, etc.

C Fill, reinforcement, drainage, etc.

D Groundworks: surfaces, etc.

E In situ concrete

F Brickwork and blockwork

G Carcase assemblies of pre-fabricat ed units

H Section and bar assemblies

I Pipes, culverts, ducts, etc.

J Electrical conduits and wiring

K Thermal and sound insulation assemblies

L Isolating assemblies, etc.

M Flat sheet metal skin assemblies

N Skin assemblies of tiles, slates, etc.

0 Skin assemblies of sheet materials

P Plasterwork, painting, etc.

Q Coverings, cladding and lining

R Tanks, apparatus for cleaning and treatment, pumps and

compressors, boilers, burners, heating and cooling equipment, refrigerating plants

S Equipment for water and drainage installations

T Air treatment equipment

U Control and monitoring equipment

V Electrical apparatus

W Apparatus for lifts, etc.

X Secondary assemblies - doors, windows, etc.

Y Secondary assemblies - storage, units, tables, etc.

Z Vacant

-47-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

FIGURE 10

THE BSAB SYSTEM

PRODUCT TABLE 2 - BUILDING ELEMENTS

0 Complex

1 Ground

2 Vacant

3 Building

4 Vacant

5 Installations,

piped and

ducted

6 Installations,

electrical

7 Transport

8 Vacant

9 Other elements

-48-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

THE BSAB SYSTEM ( SWEDEN )( cont ' d

)

Unlike Resource Table 1, Cominodities , and

Product Table 1, Assemblies, this table may be

arranged into a two way division for use in

indexing and writing specifications for buildings.

These two way divisions are shown in Figures 11,

12, 13, 14, and 15, on pages 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54.

These two way divisions, or matrices,

provide the opportunity to organize the same

materials in two different ways. For example,

referring to the matrix referring to the Building

Element 3, Building, shown in Figure 1^ on page

51 ; information pertaining to "Building" is

assigned the number "3" identifying the appropriate matrix. Information can be indexed by

either entering the matrix from the left or

from the top. An example of Indexing by entering

the matrix from the left would be:

31/5/ Building, structure-load bearing, floor

An example of indexing by entering the

matrix from the top would be:

3/5/1 Building, floor, structure-load bearing

The matrix can also index a wider or

coarser categorization. For example:

3/ Building, structure-load bearing.

Ref: The Swedish Building Co-ordination Centre, "The BSAB

System: A Step Towards an Information System for the

Construction Industry in Sweden," 1972.

-49-
FIGURE 11

THE BSAB SYSTEM (SWEDEN)

MATRIX OF BUILDING ELEMENT 1, GROUND

sc^usmaxa aaqc^o /5/

/8/

/L/

/9/

uT^aaaq. i-BJ:nq.-BN /g/

s^adB pad'eospu'BT /ty/

s-eaa-e pao'Bjanspj'BH /£/

s-eadB cuing /i/

X9idmoo /o/

1

GROUND

0

Complex

1

Site

preparation

and

drainage

CO m 4

Built

elements

m 6

Surface

treatment

8

Secondary

elements

9

Other

elements

-50-
FIGURE 12

THE BSAB SYSTEM (SWEDEN)

MATRIX OF BUILDING ELEMENT 3, BUILDING

sq.usuiaia J:aqq.O /6/

SuxpiTng

JOOH /L/

saT^qS /9/

SJOOI^ /^/

/ti/

sil^M /£/

sam-SJ:^ /2/

/I/

xaidmoQ /o/

3

BUILDING

0

Complex

1

Structure

—

Loadbearing

2

Structure

—

non-loadbearing

3

Openings

4

Surfaces

outside

5

Floor

surfaces

6

Walls

surfaces

inside

7

Ceiling

surfaces

8

Secondary

elements,

rooms

9

Other

elements

-51-
FIGURE 13

THE BSAB SYSTEM (SWEDEN)

MATRIX OF BUILDING ELEMENT 5, PIPED AND DUCTED

^usuidinba j:ai:[:;o 76/

c^uaiudTRba i^ooq /g/

sioj^uoo /I/

9q.TS pu'e aJEnq.

(SuTpixnq) suiac^s/^s adTj 757

7ti7

S3ci:;uao uoT:;nqTa:;sTa 7£7

saac^uao ut^m 727

717

xaidmoo 7o7

5

SERVICES,

PIPED

and

DUCTED

0

Complex

j

i-H 2

Water,

drainage

00 4

Gas,

compressed

air

5

Refrigeration

6

Heating 7

Air

treatment

8

Control

Systems

,

9

Other

services

-52-
FIGURE 14

THE BSAB SYSTEM (SWEDEN)

MATRIX OP BUILDING ELEMENT 6, ELECTRICAL SERVICES

q.u9mdTnba j:9i:[q.o /6/

oTTaTiidmba Tpoon" /o/

CTDTnTIO'^ ^ 1 /

-onciq.sqns) maq.s/!s 2ut^ti\ /g/

SuTDTTna ) uiaq.sAs SuTJCTjv^ /^/

SuTi^unj:^ pup s:;Tnpuoo /fj/

/ c /

/I/

xsiduioo /o/

6

ELECTRICAL

SERVICES

0

Complex

rH 2

Switchboards,

transformers

3

Lighting,

heating,

motor

power

4

Telecommunications

5

Control

Systems

6

Lightning

protection

8

Special

9

Other

services

-53-
FIGURE 15

THE BSAB SYSTEM (SWEDEN)

MATRIX OF BUILDING ELEMENT 7, TRANSPORT

sc|.uaui3X9 <J^^Q•0 / 6/

nTiaTiidrnbs T'butlluq.t, /Q/

STO j; auof) / J /

oott:=itit;::5TPi o-LLAoUioLC' QirTanQ/Cc; oLUO_J.oiio ^TJTtlTM lULAUt-^uj*^ / 0 / / y /

T T /—V -T- ^ -ri T" /-I -y-N T TT^ *3 T T nr o o ~r T T / / uOTC|.0ytiQ. puy suT4biuH /b/

s jtQTci j'eop'BOT; /tj/

O —L OU-i \-7 [_ ^ J-* L. tA. t> W ^ x-^ _L / O /

AaauxqOBW /I/

xaidmoo /o/

7

TRANSPORT

0

Complex

1

Lifts

C\J 3

Passenger

transport

5

Goods

transport

7

Waste

transport

8

Special

systems

9

Other

systems

-54-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

ENGINEERS JOINT COUNCIL: THESAURUS OP ENGINEERING TERMS

(EJC THESAURUS)

Type : Thesaurus

Purpose : To facilitate reference to information pertaining

to engineering.

Description: The EJC Thesaurus is an information retrieval

system with a thesaurus used as an input/output

device

.

The thesaurus for this system is the

Engineers Joint Council (EJC) Thesaurus of

Engineering Terms. This document is used as an

input/output device or "gate" to indexed material.

In indexing, appropriate words are chosen from

the EJC Thesaurus to describe the contents of the

document to be indexed. In referencing, the EJC

Thesaurus is consulted to find the controlled

key words most adequately identifying the material

desired. These controlled key words can be used

in three basic modes; (1) intersection, (2) union

or (3) exclusion. These operations are detailed

below.

In indexing a new document using this system,

the following two steps are followed.

STEP 1 When a new document is received for

inclusion in this system, the first step is to

analyze the contents of this document.

STEP 2 Following analysis, controlled key words

contained in the EJC Thesaurus that best describe

the contents of the document are assigned to that

document

.

Before proceeding with a description of how

to reference indexed documents using the EJC

Thesaurus, it is necessary to describe the

Thesaurus in more detail.

The EJC Thesaurus contains a single list in

alphabetical order. An example of this listing

is shown below.

HOSES

UF RUBBER HOSE

RT CONDUITS (WATER) & PIPES &

TUBES 8c

-55-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

ENGINEERS JOINT COUNCIL: THESAURUS OF ENGINEERING TERMS

(EJC THESAURUS) (cont'd)

HOSPITALS

BT PUBLIC BUILDINGS

RT OPERATING ROOMS

RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

HOT BENDING

USE HOT WORKING

METAL BENDING #

This listing thus indicates authorized key

words and non-authorized key words. In the

above example, HOT WORKING is indicated as

authorized as compared to HOT BENDING, not

authorized. This is indicated by the term "USE."

Conversely, the thesaurus indicates by the

symbol "UP" (Used For), that HOSES is an authorized term for RUBBER HOSE.

The EJC Thesaurus also indicates relationships between words. In the above example,

PUBLIC BUILDINGS is designated "BT" meaning that

it is a broader term than HOSPITALS. For the

listing of PUBLIC BUILDINGS, HOSPITALS would

be designated "NT", meaning that it is a narrower term.

In the EJC Thesaurus, "RT" designates a related term. In the above example, CONDUITS

(WATER), PIPES and TUBES are all shown as related

terms to HOSES.

Referencing of indexed documents is accomplished then, by referring to, the EJC Thesaurus.

The Thesaurus leads through the use of the above

relationships, to the most descriptive, authorized

key words. Inquiries based on these key words

may be phrased in three basic modes (1) intersection, (2) union or (3) exclusion.

In an inquiry consisting of intersections,

references are obtained that are common to all

of the two or more key words given. An example

of an intersection inquiry would be, "What are

the document numbers of all documents dealing

with PLANNING of HOSPITALS?"

In an inquiry consisting of unions, references are obtained that are contained in at least

one of the two or more key words. An example of

-56-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

ENGINEERS JOINT COUNCIL: THESAURUS OF ENGINEERING TERMS

(EJC THESAURUS) ( cont ' d)

an union intersection would be ''What are the

document dealing with either HOSPITALS or

OPERATING ROOMS?"

Finally, an inquiry containing exclusions

references are obtained that are not common to

at least one key word. An example of an exclusion inquiry would be "What are the document

numbers of all documents dealing with OPERATING

ROOMS but not HOSPITALS?"

Ref : Engineers Joint Council, "Thesaurus of Engineering

Terms," May 1964.
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

INDUSTRIALIZATION FORUM THESAURUS OF BUILDING

SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY (IF THESAURUS)

Type : Thesaurus

Purpose : To facilitate reference to information pertaining

to building sciences and technology

Description: The IF Thesaurus is an information retrieval

system with a thesaurus used as an input/output

device

The thesaurus for this system is the IF

Thesaurus of Building Science and Technology,

preliminary edition. This document is used as

an input/output device or "gate" to indexed

material. In indexing, a unique number is

assigned to each new article, book, and other

material that is received. The IF Thesaurus is

used to identify this document by certain

controlled words. In referencing, the IF Thesaurus

is consulted to find the key controlled words

most adequately identifying the material desired.

These controlled key words then identify unique

document numbers of documents pertaining to the

subject desired. These operations are detailed

below:

In indexing a new document using this

system, the following three steps are followed:

STEP 1 When a new document is received for inclusion in this system, the first step is to

assign this document a unique number. As

presently used, new documents are assigned

serial numbers. These assigned numbers are

access numbers only, and by themselves do not

identify the contents or the author of a given

document

STEP 2 The second step involved in indexing of

a new document is the detailed review of the

contents of that document and the selection of

pertinent, authorized key words with the help

of the IF Thesaurus. Three types of key words

can be used.

a. DESCRIPTIVE KEYWORDS - key words describing the conceptual content of the

new document, i.e. what that document

is about. For example, if the document

concerned the design of hospitals,

the key words *DESIGN and ^HOSPITALS

-58-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

INDUSTRIALIZATION FORUM THESAURUS OF BUILDING

SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY (IF THESAURUS )( cont ' d

)

would be used as both of these key

words appear in the IF Thesaurus as

authorized terms, or descriptors.

b. IDENTIFYING KEYWORDS - Key words

identifying the physical characteristics of the new document, i.e. authored

by, a collection of, etc. For example

if the document was a collection of

hospital floor plans authored by the

American Hospital Association, the

key words *FLOOR PLANS and *AMERICAN

HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION would be used.

Unlike descriptive key words; identifying key words would usually not be

found in the IF Thesaurus but would

be developed by each user. Descriptive key words and identifying key words

are usually kept separately.

c. PROPER NOUNS - Key words identifying

proper nouns can also be used. For

example, if the document concerned the

design of the Ardmore Hospital, the

key word *ARDMORE HOSPITAL would be

used. Like identifying key words

proper nouns are not usually found in

the IF Thesaurus and would also be

developed by each user. Also like

identifying key words, proper nouns

are usually kept separately.

STEP 3 The third step in indexing a new document is entering it into the coordinate index,

that is, assigning the unique number assigned

in step 1 to each of the key word files . For

example, if the document concerning hospital

design (Step 2a above) was assigned the unique

number ^184; then the number 4l84 would be

entered into the file *DESIGN and into the file

*HOSPITALS. These files can be magnetic storage

devices (i.e. for computer storage) or hard copy

(i.e. for manual indexing cards).

-59-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

INDUSTRIALIZATION FORUM THESAURUS OF BUILDING

SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY (IF THESAURUS) ( cont 'd)

Before proceeding with a description of how

to reference indexed documents using the IF

Thesaurus it is necessary to describe the

Thesaurus in more detail.

The IF Thesaurus is organized in two parts,

the alpha-hierarchical list and the alpha-permuted

list

The Alpha-hierarchical list, the main part

of the IF Thesaurus, is an alphabetical collection of main entries with indicators and cross

references for each main term. For example,

the alpha-hierarchical listing for the authorized

descriptive key word *HOSPITALS would look as

follows

The designations *6*, BT and PT will be discussed later.

The alpha-permuted list is a alphabetical

listing of all single and composite key words

For example, the alpha-permuted list starting

with *HOMES would look as follows:

^HOSPITALS

BT health facilities

PT hospital wards

*6*

operating theaters

HOMES

. . . USE

CONVALESCENT HOMES

MOBILE HOMES

SECONDARY HOMES

. . . USE

HOMES FOR

HOMES FOR

DWELLINGS (HOMES)

OCCASIONAL DWELLINGS

THE HANDICAPPED

THE AGED

*6* ***

DWELLINGS (HOMES)

HOMOGENEITY

HOMOGENIZING

*6*

This listing thus indicates authorized key words, called

descriptors, versus non-authorized words, called non-descriptors. In the above example, HOMES and SECONDARY HOMES are both

-60-
I EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

INDUSTRIALIZATION FORUM THESAURUS OF BUILDING

SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY (IF THESAURUS )( cont ' d)

indicated as non-descriptors while DWELLINGS (HOMES) and

OCCASIONAL DWELLINGS are indicated as descriptors.

The numbers indicate the hierarchical level of each

descriptor from a high of 1 to a low of 9. For example,

*HOSPITALS is indicated at a hierarchical level of 6 while

*HEALTH FACILITIES is indicated at a hierarchical level of 5.

These hierarchical levels are determined by hierarchical

descriptors listed in the alpha-hierarchical list described

above. In the example shown above for ^HOSPITALS, two

hierarchical descriptors are shown; BT and NT. BT means broader

term. That is, health facilities is a broader term (BT) than

hospitals. Conversely, hospitals is a narrower term (NT) than

health facilities. Graphically, this relationship is shown by a solid line in the following diagram.

BT Hierarchical

Level 5

Health ! _^ac3^1ities

i

, BT/NT

NT

Hospitals! Hierarchical

! Level 6

The second hierarchical descriptor shown for the *HOSPITALS

example is PT meaning part term. That is, hospital wards and

operating theaters are part terms (PT) of the term Hospitals.

Conversely, the term Hospitals is a whole term (WT) of the

terms hospital wards and operating theaters. Graphically,

these relationships are shown by broken lines in the following

diagram.

WT

HOSPITALS

Hierarchical

Level 6

PT/WT J PT/WT

PT PT

rOPERATING

I THEATERS ^ HOSPITAL

WARDS

Hierarchical

Level 7

-61-
EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION INDEXING SYSTEMS

INDUSTRIALIZATION FORUM THESAURUS OP BUILDING

SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY (IF THESAURUS )( cont ' d)

Related terms (RT) occur at the same hierarchial levels

and are shown by dotted lines in the following diagram

RT RT

VILLAGES TOWNS | Hierarchical

Level 5

Other hierarchical descriptors used in the alpha-hierarchical list are as follows

SN explanatory or prescriptive note

UF non-descriptors for which this main entry is to

be used

GRT general related term

Referencing of indexed document is accomplished then by

referring to the IF Thesaurus. The Thesaurus leads the reader,

through the hierarchical structure, to descriptors (authorized key words). These descriptors would be entered into the

system. Document numbers appearing in all the files accessed

would then be provided to the reader. This could be accomplished through electronic data processing or through comparing hard copy (i.e. for manual indexing cards).

Ref: Industrialization Forum, "IF Thesaurus of Building

Sciences and Technology," Preliminary Edition, May 1972,

as revised by Corrections and Up-Dating, Dated October

1972.

-62-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report, originally intended to be a companion paper to

Dr. Robert Wehrli's paper entitled, "A Performance Indexing and Information

System," was largely completed as a member of the Architectural Research

Section of the Center for Building Technology and completed in final form

as a member of the Office of Building Standards and Codes Services of the

Center for Building Technology. The assistance of Dr. Wehrli, Chief of

the Architectural Research Section, in developing this paper is appreciated.

The encouragement given by Mr. James G. Gross, Chief of the Office of

Building Standards and Codes Services, to complete this report is also

appreciated.

USCOMM-NBS-DC -63-
NBS-1 14A (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO. NBSIR 76-1064

2. Gov't Accession

No.

3. Recipient's Accession No.

4. TITl.r- AND -SUin iTl.l'

Existing Architectural Information Indexing Systems

5. Publication Date March 1976

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTHOR(S)

Robert J. Kapsch

8. Performing Organ. Report No.

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 4601136

11. Contract/Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

National Bureau of Standards

Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C. 20234

13. Type of Report & Period Covered

Final Report

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary o( most si^ilicant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.) Architectural indexing systems are those mechanisms which we use to organize

information concerning how and what to build. Architectural indexing systems

are a means of organizing available information in a manner that can readily

be grasped by the user. As such, architectural indexing systems are an important

component part of architectural information systems. This report reviews and

summarizes existing architectural indexing systems presently used in the United

States and overseas. Indexing systems reviewed are classifed into (1) one way

divisions, (2) two way divisions, (3) thesauri and other indexing systems.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons) Architecture; architectural indexing systems; building;

construction; design^ information; information retrieval system

18. AVAILABILITY X Unlimited

I

! For Official Dist ribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

I I Order From Sup. of Doc, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402, SD Cat. No. C13 ^ Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, Virginia 22151

19. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS REPORT)

UNCLASSIFIED

20. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS PAGE)

UNCLASSIFIED

21. NO. OF PAGES

67

22. Price

$4.50

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