Originally posted by shadowdragon:
For drawing the deckplans each square on the grid should be defined as to actual height, rather than assuming 3m high. You can vary the height of each 1 dTon of deck space simply enough by the following:
1.5m x 1.5m x 3m.....2 squares on grid = 1dTon
1.5m x 1.5m x 2m.....3 squares on grid = 1dTon
1.5m x 1.5m x 1.5m...4 squares on grid = 1dTon
1.5m x 1.5m x 1m.....6 squares on grid = 1dTon
1 dTon = ~13.5 m^3
Any spaces onboard ship that are to be used as frequently accessed crew areas will require the use of 2m or 3m high areas. Common or high use areas will require 3m high, as this allows for required hardware for life support, ship wiring, actual bulkhead plating etc. Consider 25 cm each of floor/ceiling "deadspace" for this equipment, leaving about 2.5 m of open space on the vertical.
Medium or low use areas would only require 2m high ceilings, again approx. 25cm each of floor/ceiling "deadspace", giving 1.5m on the vertical. These could be designated as "access corridors" for areas not requiering frequent access, but to allow for rather bulky tool kits or service robots or whatever in areas that need access for repairs and/or maintenance. Normal humans would have to duckwalk or crawl through.
Then you have the service crawlways. These are 1.5m or 1m high, generally not fitted for wiring or life support within the floor/ceiling areas, but the space itself contains this equipment. So in a 1.5m x 1.5m x 1.5m area, actual empty space could range from virtualy nil to all of it, requiring slow crawling to move around in. These crawlways are for accessing least important spaces of the ship without going outside, or on larger ships could be actual ventilation shafts/tunnels to allow for proper atmospheric pressure throughout the ship, or power grid distribution tunnels/shafts or fuel piping or whatever.
All sizes of grid areas will have regularly placed pressure hatches to maintain ship integrity in case of hull breach. A space no larger than 2dTons in any area not crew common areas should be isolated by pressure hatches to avoid undo strain on the life support system. Crew common areas should be compartmentalized as well, for safety.
as for IRIS hatches, I have always seen them as the top hatch of the 'falcon as seen in Empire. Heavy sawtooth shaped pieces locked together at the center. magnetically sealed, whatever. by adding more segments, you would reduce the required amount of space around the frame. By having the door made up of a "liquid metal" a-la Terminator 2, then all your problems are solved. i believe nano-tech is available at high tech levels, so a morphing metal door isn't too far-fetched, and minimal handwavium results!!!!! YIPEEEEE!!!!!!
