Chapter 13 - Mechanical and Electrical Systems

Question 1

Mechanical systems include:

Answer 1

heating, cooler, plumbing, and fire protection

Question 2

Electrical systems include

Answer 2

power, lighting, telephone, and other communication systems

Question 3

The two primary methods of heating and cooling systems are:

Answer 3

1. Air
2. Water

Question 4

All air systems cool or heat spaces by _________

Answer 4

conditioned air alone heat is transported to the space with supply and return air ducts

Question 5

Common example of an all-air system?

Answer 5

residential forced-hot-air-furnace
return ducts collect the cooled air and return it to the furnace for reheating

Question 6

For commercial buildings, there are several variations of systems, including Variable Air Volume (VAV), high-velocity dual duct, constant volume and reheat, and multizone systems. All types require ______, _____, and _____ in all spaces.

Answer 6

supply air ductwork, registers, and return air grilles

Question 7

Registers are connected to the supply air ductwork and can be adjusted to ____________ and ____________

Answer 7

• control the direction of air flow - control the volume of air coming through them

Question 8

If fire-rated partitions extend above the suspended ceilings, then ____ and ____ must be provided.

Answer 8

supply air ducts and openings for return air

Question 9

At locations where the fire wall is penetrated, fire dampers are required. What do these do?

Answer 9

they automatically close in the even of a fire

Question 10

All-water heating systems use ______

Answer 10

a coil unit called a CONVECTOR in each space through which hot water is circulated. the hot water heats the fins of the coil unit, and air is heated as it is drawn over the fins. Air may be circulated by CONVECTION

Question 11

What are terminal reheat systems?

Answer 11

combination systems that use ductwork for supplying fresh air but use water to heat or cool the air before it is introduced into the conditioned space

Question 12

In residential construction, small ducts and plumbing pipes run ________.

Answer 12

within the walls and floor joists

Question 13

In commercial construction, horizontal ducts are normally run _________ and vertical ducts are normally run ___________.

Answer 13

in the plenum within their own chases

Question 14

A _________ is an enclosed vertical space used only to accommodate ducts or pipes.

Answer 14

chase

Question 15

A ______ adjusts the quantity or temperature of air going into a space from the main air supply line(s), reduces the velocity of air, and attenuates noise

Answer 15

mixing box

Question 16

What is connected to a mixing box?

Answer 16

lines from thermostats

Question 17

With variable air volume systems (VAVs) what varies the quantity of air?

Answer 17

VAV box

Question 18

Most common use for a raised access floor? but it can also be used for?

Answer 18

electrical, communication, and computer wiring HVAC ductwork

Question 19

A _________ consists of two runs of studs separated by several inches, the exact dimension being determined by the largest pipe or duct that has to be concealed

Answer 19

chase wall

Question 20

A _____ is a steel framework that is bolted to the floor inside a pipe chase and carries the weight o wall-hung toilets

Answer 20

toilet carrier

Question 21

Access doors need to be provided for:

Answer 21

valves, fire dampers, heating coils, mechanical equipment, electrical junction boxes, communication junction boxes, and similar devices

Question 22

Who determines the location of the thermostats?

Answer 22

mechanical engineer

Question 23

Who should coordinate the location of supply air diffusers and return air grilled with other ceilings items, such as lights, sprinkler heads, smoke detectors, speakers, and the like?

Answer 23

interior designer

Question 24

In commercial construction, does it matter where window treatments are placed?

Answer 24

yes–it can affect the heating and air conditioning in the space. they should be placed at least 2” from the glass to avoid heat build up between the window covering and the glass

Question 25

There are several types of conductors that supply power throughout a building. Most common type for: Residential (or commercial under 3 stories) Commercial

Answer 25

Romex (two or more plastic-insulated conductors and ground wire surrounded by a moisture-resistant plastic jacket
Individual plastic-insulated conductors must be placed in metal conduit

Question 26

What is the purpose of metal conduit?

Answer 26

supports and protects the wiring, serves as a system ground, and protects surrounding construction from fire if the wire overheats or shorts

Question 27

In residential construction, outlets must be spaced no more than ____ feet apart and on ______

Answer 27

12’ and on each wall surface where furniture might be placed so lamp cords and the like do not have to be stretched across door openings

Question 28

What is grounding?

Answer 28

a separate wire in addition to the two that provide power. The grounding of an electrical system prevents a dangerous shock if someone touches an appliance with a short circuit and simultaneously touches a ground path such as a water pipe

Question 29

Where are GFI’s required?

Answer 29

bathrooms, garages, accessory buildings at or below grade, outdoors, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, countertop receptacles in kitchens, laundry and utility rooms, boathouses

Question 30

What is an AFCI?

Answer 30

The AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) protects against fires caused by arcing faults

Question 31

Where are AFCIs required?

Answer 31

family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, libraries, dens, sunrooms, rec rooms, closets, hallways, and similar rooms

Question 32

Where are telephone and communication systems shown?

Answer 32

on the same plan as the power

Question 33

Plumbing systems consist of two or more major components:

Answer 33

water supply and drainage

Question 34

Is it easier to place water supply or drainage pipes?

Answer 34

supply pipes because they work off of pressure and can be placed in walls or in ceilings. drainage pipes are more difficult because they require gravity

Question 35

two reasons drainage pipes are more difficult to place?

Answer 35

1. need to be sloped to carry waste
2. need vent pipes

Question 36

______ are pipes connected to the drainage system at various locations, open to the outside air, and designed to serve two purposes.

Answer 36

vents

Question 37

Two main purposed of vent pipes:

Answer 37

1. allow built up sewage gases to escape
2. allow pressure in the system to equalize so discharging waste does not create a siphon that would drain the water out of the traps

Question 38

soil stack vs waste stack

Answer 38

human waste: soil stack waste stack: anything other than human waste

Question 39

Plumbing plans are drafted by the _____

Answer 39

mechanical engineer

Question 40

Fire containment is achieved through

Answer 40

building materials, compartmentation, and smoke control

Question 41

Fire suppression is achieved through

Answer 41

fire detection and alarms, sprinkler systems, standpipes, and other methods

Question 42

Compartmentation is a critical concept in fire and life safety. The basic idea is to ______

Answer 42

contain a fire and limit its spread (to get occupants out safely and the parts of the building not yet subject to the fire)

Question 43

Compartmentation works especially well in ____ building

Answer 43

high-rise buildings where occupants may not be able to evacuate immediately. instead there is a place of refuge where occupants can wait until the fire is extinguished or until they can exit safely

Question 44

On a smaller scale of compartmentation, ____ are isolated to protect the building from collapsing

Answer 44

structural members are isolated

Question 45

What’s an example of compartmentation in residential construction?

Answer 45

Fire stops

Question 46

More deaths and injuries occur in fires due to __________ than ________________.

Answer 46

inhalation of smoke and other gases than due to flame and heat exposure

Question 47

What is one of the most important aspects of fire protection?

Answer 47

smoke control

Question 48

Why is smoke a big deal in fires?

Answer 48

Because is travels so quickly (through stairways, elevator shafts, mechanical shafts, and atriums and is exacerbated by HVAC systems

Question 49

Fire and smoke detector devices should be shown on the

Answer 49

RCP

Question 50

Four types of fire detection devices

Answer 50

1. ionization detectors
2. photoelectric detectors
3. rise-of-temperature detectors
4. flame detectors

Question 51

ionization detectors

Answer 51

responds to products of combustion-ionized particles (not smoke)
these are early warning detectors

Question 52

photoelectric detectors

Answer 52

respond to smoke (which obscures a light beam in the device )

Question 53

rise of temperature detectors

Answer 53

sense the presence of heat
major disadvantage is that usually flames must be present before the alarm temperature is reached

Question 54

flame detectors

Answer 54

respond to infrared or ultraviolet radiation given off by the flames.
downside: they do not give an early warning of smoldering fires

Question 55

Many buildings have a ________ of fire detectors

Answer 55

combination

Question 56

Where should fire detectors be located?

Answer 56

1. near fire doors
2. in exit corridors
3. in individual hotel rooms
4. in bedrooms
5. in place of public assembly (sometimes required in main air ducts)

Question 57

Most common type of fire supression system?

Answer 57

sprinkler system

Question 58

When are upright sprinkler heads used?

Answer 58

with exposed ceilings

Question 59

_______ are pipes that run the height of a building and provide water outlets at each floor to which fire fighting hoses can be connected

Answer 59

standpipes

Question 60

standpipes are typically located

Answer 60

within the stairway

Question 61

A unit or device that radiates heat from water to the surrounding air, usually through closely spaced fins. These are usually placed against a wall under a window.

Answer 61

Convector