Architecture Wall Schedule - Structural, Fire, Acoustics, Thermal, Seismic

For those of you who may not be familiar with wall schedule, in architectural drawings, architects generally draw the walls as representations of the space they occupy, rather than all of the individual components that comprise the makeup of that particular wall. If we look at the simplest of walls in plan view, you might see that wall delineated as two lines, each representing the outermost face of that wall, when in fact, that wall was a layer of plasterboard, interior structural element (timber or metal studs), and another layer of plasterboard. That’s a pretty simple wall and it doesn’t take long before the walls will become more complicated and varied in their composition, for example dry area one side, wet area another side; or high impact this side, wet area and mould resistance on the other side.

For more complicated walls, keying the wall type is more important so that all the different components and its performance attributes can be explained and taken into consideration along with having the proper wall thickness identified whilst achieving the intended NCC requirement. Therefore, managing wall types within an architectural project is a vital Construction Documentation process. Each wall type must be tracked so that all parties know the layer build-up and any performance requirements such as fire rating FRL, acoustic ratings Rw, Rw+Ctr, Thermal R-value, structural load-bearing, non load-bearing and seismic, most importantly from the design stage through the construction process. In Australia, the number of changes from design documentation to tender could easily exceed 10 revisions, let alone during construction where products get swapped out by different contractors. Being an architect, how would you ensure your intended specification was maintained and built at the end? It's no surprise that many architects when inspect their projects, only to realise that things were not what they've documented.

What is Wall Schedule?

Wall Schedule, or Wall Type Schedule is a schedule that summarises dozens or hundreds of wall types presenting them in CAD drawings, Revit or we prefer in a one-pager PDF document. In the past 20 years, we've seen the evolution of wall schedule, progressing from simple wall tags with system references, into the more sophisticated Revit format. Having said that, we are still seeing many wall types that has limited information on it. To us, wall schedule provides the means and methods to communicate and validate your project requirement for successfully accomplishing your project whilst achieving performance requirements.

Supporting Architects

If it is early stage design documentation, we will work with the architect to provide a comprehensive wall schedule report to achieve the project specific requirements and NCC compliance, including all the fire and acoustic test reports in relevance to the systems specified to obtain a quick building permit approval. All standard construction information listed below are included.

• Wall type reference code
• Assembly configuration description
• Wall width
• Fire rating FRL, RISF, fire report numbers
• Sound rating, Rw, Rw+Ctr, NRC, CAC, acoustic report number
• Structural framing maximum height with stud spacing, stud BMT
• Anchors
• Insulation for R-value
• Project intended requirements and NCC compliance

Working with Builders and Contractors

By carrying out a review prior to the project commencing on site we are able to identify any issues early.  This can prevent costly delays once on site and so is always our recommendation. We do however also work directly with sub-contractors to support them with design and specification. If it is for tender or construction, we offer the services as below.

• Value engineering - Review initial specification and wall types against the project requirements to demonstrate possible savings
• Value engineering enhanced specification - Review proejct requirements including fire strategy, fire report, acoustic report, applied finishes and plasterboard specification plans. Where possible a value engineered specification will be provided with both board and framing rationalisation, in order to aid logistics on site.
• Identification of any missing system types and if it is feasible minimise the number of wall types.
• Cost saving - identify cost saving either from changing specification, or provide flexibility due to fluctuating material costs and labour costs
• Time Saving - evaluate and identify areas where time saving can be made possible
• Material rationalisation - changing materials, systems, be flexible on materials. For example, changing from Speedpanel to Shaftwall; or Hebel to plasterboard systems.

Design and Construct Package

We offer our combined expertise to provide technical guidance for all your wall schedule design needs. We work closely as part of your team, and can attend your design team meetings or offer off-site support on all aspects of lightweight systems and associated passive fire protection. Our team has vast experience in the industry and can assist from a basic system performance check to thermal calculations, fire damage, acoustic failure, CAD drafting services and much more. If this is design and construct contract, we offer a number of package review, including:

Base review

• Review architect specification, wall type drawings and overall project requirements.
• Identification of any missing system types and/or any potential value engineering

Due diligence check

• Review of project requirements as above and also including PDF documents marked up with our comments.
• Value engineering and rationalisation will be carried out on the specification.

Full detailed review

• Our approach is to create a design package to the same high standard that would apply had it been created by ourselves.  This detailed review ensures your package is ready for construction.
• Alongside a more thorough application of the due diligence check, this service will take a wider scope into consideration which includes coordination with M&E and detailed review of specific details and interfaces.
• Each section of the package and associated work will include combined sets of details with marked annotations supplied electronically as PDF binders.
• Any points noted will take into consideration the current project programme and if time permits, value engineered savings or board and metal rationalisation will be suggested.
• This check will ensure that the key parameters have been achieved.
• An overview document will be supplied outlining findings and expressing any initial concerns or areas of design that require further attention.
• Notification of any systems under-performing or possible areas of concern.
• Ensuring compliance with project specific requirement and NCC compliance.

Our aim is to prevent mistakes from happening right from the very early stages of a project.

Why Archieng?

‍Archieng is proud to have developed the most comprehensive visual wall schedule, including all the system reference, performance, product attributes, structural heights, FRL, Rw, Rw+Ctr, R-value and a section showing how the walls are to be constructed. We collaborate all the required info from various stakeholders, such as fire engineering reports, acoustic reports, ESD reports, framing design, seismic design and consolidate them into this report. We've built-in all the intelligence and automate all your walls into one report that is simple and easy-to-read. We compile all these information to make the construction documentation consistent, from design stage to construction.

Working with us, we can create powerful, richly formatted, dynamic wall schedules for your projects, ensuring a smooth design-to-construct process.

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