# Design & Coordination Basics
Often times, you will need to work with the project engineers across disciplines on a wide variety of design and coordination issues. Below is an overview of the many design considerations that require both architects and engineers to work out together: ## Architecture & Structure Checking for consistency with design of structural elements and external works in relation to architectural design requirements Aspects: * Structural elements - Types of walls, parapet/kerbs, floor, columns, roofs, beams, railings * Dimensions - Headroom, clear width & height, thickness, setting out, storey height, beam depth & column sizes * Openings - for doors, windows * External works - driveways, drainage, detention tank, entrance culvert, slopes, retaining walls, levels. ## Architecture & Mechanical Checking for consistency with design of fire safety provision, sanitary/sewerage, gas/water as well as ventilation provision in relation to architectural design requirements. Aspects: * Ventilation - Types of Mechanical Ventilation, Ducting layout, Air conditioning * Sanitary/Sewerage Layout * Water - Domestic tank and supply * Fire protection - Sprinkler provision, smoke purging/extraction, hosereel, hydrant, fire pumps * Gas - pipe layout, incoming location ## Architecture & Electrical Checking for consistency with design of equipment location, lighting provision and lighting protection among other building services in relation to architectural design requirements. Aspects: * Electricity - Substation Design, Lead in, Drawpit * Lighting - Fitting type, illuminance, temperature, lux, positions based on false ceiling layout * Fire safety - Exit Light/Sign, emergency lighting, voice comms, fire alarm panels * Cable/switch types, location & layout - eg. office layout * Fibre optics - Internet * Telephone line * Security systems - CCTV * Lightning Protection System The list above is non exhaustive. *** Architects need to collaborate and prepare the necessary information for effective design: * Site plans with site boundary, buffers, driveway and building layout * Fire plans - locations of hydrants, fire rated walls/compartments * Combined services design layout (CSD) - Underground, high level at all storeys, roof plans * Plans, sections, elevations of buildings * Typical details * Survey plans - with all existing site information (public drains, infrastructure) * Any other relevant design and compliance requirements With tight design collaboration and coordination upstream during a building project, there will lesser issues during construction 🚧. So do not ignore your engineer and blindly assume the design can be built! --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.archlogbook.co/01-industry-basics/design-and-coordination-basics.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.