Misc. Questions

Question 1

Types of cost analysis- There are three general methods of refining a project budget.

Answer 1

• parameter method 

• matrix costing 

• unit cost method

Question 2

Buildings in a hot-humid climate region should

Answer 2

• be elongated along the east-west axis
• reduce solar heat gain
• encourage air movement for evaporative cooling
• provide shading for windows and outdoor spaces

Question 3

1 cu yd = x cu ft

Answer 3

1 cu yd = 27 cu ft

Question 4

a x foot access aisle is required to accommodate accessible parking

Answer 4

a 5 foot access aisle is required to accommodate accessible parking

Question 5

Fluorescent bulbs produce light when an electric arc passes between cathodes …

Answer 5

…to excitemercuryand other gases producing radiant energy, which is then converted to visible light by a phosphor coating.

Question 6

What type of agent would be added to the mix when pouring concrete in hot weather?

Answer 6

Retarding agent

Question 7

Sound absorbing materials help reduce noise within a room…

Answer 7

…however, when noise comes from outside a particular room, the sound transmission into that room must be reduced.

Question 8

IBC contains requirements for the ventilation of attics and concealed roof spaces…

Answer 8

…when building materials are enclosed on both the exterior and interior side of a space, the concealed space becomes susceptible to moisture intrusion. Ventilation paths allow moist air to be exhausted from a concealed space.

Question 9

What types of construction details should be created during design development to provide protection from weather and climate?

Answer 9

• the climatic zone in which the building is located
• the individual microclimate surrounding the building
• environmental conditions required inside the building
• the type of structure and exposed cladding being used
• expected building movement
• other detailing considerations of cost, desired appearance, security, acoustics, fire resistance, durability, and similar parameters

Question 10

detailing considerations include:

Answer 10

• The air barrier must be fully supported and continuous to be effective.
• Connections between the structural wall and the cladding should not allow water to travel across the air space. Built-in drips or clips on the connections should be specified.
• Eliminate air movement and ventilation on the conditioned side of the insulation.
• Only one vapor retarder should be used to allow the wall structure to dry through vapor diffusion, either to the outside or the inside.
• Eliminate or minimize thermal shortcuts through thermal insulation. Specify brick ties and other cladding fasteners that ate designed with a thermal break
• If a radiant barrier is used, it must have an air space on the warm side to be effective.

Question 11

Cold Climate Strategies (generally, climate
 regions 5, 6, 7, and 8)

Answer 11

warm, moist interior air
will tend to migrate toward the cooler, drier air
outdoors. This will lead to water vapor condensing inside the insulation cavity or elsewhere inside the wall. To prevent this, impermeable vapor retarders should be placed on the warmer inside of the insulation. Also, a vapor-permeable air barrier should be placed outside the insulation to prevent air infiltration while allowing any accumulated moisture to dry out. In most cases, the air barrier is placed outside the sheathing for support, protection, and ease of construction.

Question 12

Hot/ Humid Climates Vapor Strategies (generally, climatic regions 1, 2, 3A below the warm- humid line, and 3C)

Answer 12

vapor retarders should be placed on the warmer outside of the insulation to pre- vent the moist, warm air outside the building from migrating to the cooler, dehumidified interior spaces. In these climate regions, the vapor retarder should also serve as air barrier; that is, the air barrier should be vapor-impermeable.

Question 13

Mixed Climatic Vapor Strategies (generally, climate zones 4, some parts of 5 and some parts of 3A, 3B, 3C, and 4B)

Answer 13

vapor-permeable air barrier should be placed outside the insulation, and no vapor retarders should be used. This allows any vapor or condensation to pass through the wall in either direction.

Question 14

Which soils type is most-permeable?

Answer 14

Gavel - The more space between soil particles in a particular soil, the more permeable it is. That is why gravel is most permeable of the soils listed (gaps between gravel particles can be seen with the naked eye).

Following gravel would be sand, silt, and clay respectively.

Question 15

Variation in natural brick colors is caused by

Answer 15

the clays from which they bricks are made

the temperatures at which they are fired

Question 16

Sound transmission is related to density. The more dense something is the more easily it transmits sound.

Answer 16

Air – 1,139 ft/sec
Water – 4,625ft/sec
Wood – 10,825ft/sec
Brick – 11,800ft/sec
Concrete – 12,100ft/sec
Steel – 16,000ft/sec
Glass – 16,400ft/sec
Aluminum – 19,000ft/sec

Question 17

How many different classes of cement are there?

Answer 17

Type I – standard cement

Type II – modified cement

Type III – high-early-strength cement

Type IV – low-heat cement

Type V – sulfate-resisting cement

Question 18

What is commonly used for temperature reinforcement in concrete slabs?

Answer 18

Welded wire fabric (W.W.F.)

Question 19

concrete mixes have a water-cement ratio

Answer 19

between0.35 and 0.45.

Question 20

Footcandles:

Answer 20

Measure the amount of light striking a surface. Footcandles are a unit of illuminance or illumination, equivalent to the illumination produced by a source of one candle at a distance of one foot and equal to one lumen incident per square foot.

Question 21

What is a pro forma?

Answer 21

A pro forma is assumed, forecasted, or informal information presented in advance of the actual or formal information. The common objective of a pro forma document is to give a fair idea of the cash outlay for an anticipated occurrence. Pro forma financial statements give an idea of how the actual statement will look if the underlying assumptions hold true. Latin for, according to form or for form’s sake.

Question 22

Exit discharge

Answer 22

is defined in the building code as “that portion of a means of egress system between the termination of an exit and a public way (not necessarily direct access to a public way)”

Question 23

Clear width min. b/w handrails, accessible means of egress

Answer 23

In order to be considered part of an accessible means of egress, a stairway between stories shall have a clear width of 48 inches minimum between handrails…

Question 24

ingredients in glass

Answer 24

lime, sand, and soda

Question 25

GMP

Answer 25

GMP stands for guaranteed maximum price. It is a hybrid of stipulated sum and cost+fee. It allows the Contractor to bill for the cost+fee of the project but has a ceiling that the Contractor guarantees they will not exceed.

Question 26

Zoning primarily regulates

Answer 26

• what a parcel of land may be used for
• how much of the land may be covered with buildings
• how large the structures may be
• how far the buildings must be set back from property lines
• how much parking and loading space must be provided

Question 27

What are control strategies for radon?

Answer 27

• Sub-slab depressurization (soil suction) by increasing under-floor ventilation;
• Improving the ventilation of the house and avoiding the transport of radon from the basement into living rooms (sealing cracks in floors, walls, and foundations)
• Installing a radon sump system in the basement;
• Installing a positive pressurization or positive supply ventilation system.

Question 28

Zoning primarily regulates

Answer 28

• what a parcel of land may be used for 

• how much of the land may be covered with buildings 

• how large the structures may be 

• how far the buildings must be set back from property lines 

• how much parking and loading space must be provided