NCARB Questions

Question 1

The primary purpose of panic hardware on exit doors is to…..

a. Allow an alternate method of opening the door
b. Allow easier access for disabled occupants
c. provide a method of controlling exit doors
d. provide easy release of the latch on the door

Answer 1

d. Provide easy release of the latch on the door

Question 2

Which of the following toilet partition finishes has the lowest initial cost?

a. Baked enamel
b. laminated plastic
c. stainless steel
d. porcelain enamel

Answer 2

a. baked enamel

Question 3

To prevent it from deteriorating, copper should be isolated from direct contact with which of the following roofing materials?

a. Asphalt Shingles
b. Red-cedar shingles
c. built up roofing
d. mineral-fiber felts

Answer 3

b. Red-cedar shingles

Question 4

T/F A high air leakage rate value indicates a tighter seal.

Answer 4

False. A low air leakage rate value indicates a tighter seal.

Question 5

Which of the following occupancy classifications requires panic hardware at the required exits?

a. manufacturing facility
b. motel guest room
c. movie theater
d. high-rise office suite

Answer 5

c. Movie theater

Question 6

Accessible ramp handrails shall extend beyond the top and bottom of the ramp by a minimum of ____.

Answer 6

12”

Question 7

The extensive use of gypsum wallboard in residential, commercial, and industrial construction stems from all the following EXCEPT,

a. low cost
b. ease of installation
c. recyclability
d. fire resistance

Answer 7

c. recyclability

Question 8

A client is proposing to build a residence in an area where there is a high probability of the presence of radon gas. Which of the following is NOT a method that would be selected as a means of radon-resistant construction for the building?

a. automatic vent damper devices
b. sub-slab depressurization systems
c. drain tile loops
d. soil-gas retarders

Answer 8

a. automatic vent damper devices

Question 9

Which of the following types of portable fire extinguisher is appropriate for fires generated by electrical equipment?

a. loaded stream water base only
b. pressure water base only
c. carbon dioxide and dry chemical
d. loaded stream water base, carbon dioxide, and dry chemical

Answer 9

c. carbon dioxide and dry chemical

Question 10

In a fast-track single story industrial project, which of the following schematic design and design development considerations is most likely to have a significant effect on the successful sequencing of the construction?

a. foundation design
b. HVAC systems design
c. roofing materials selection
d. window design

Answer 10

a. foundation design

Question 11

Which of the following basic structural systems would be appropriate for a high-tech building with equipment and functions that are extremely sensitive to vibrations?

a. Poured-in-place concrete beam-and-slab system
b. Heavy steel frame with composite floor slab with
rubber insulators
c. Heavy (12) gauge metal studs with a long-span steel joist with a 5-inch-thick concrete slab
d. Masonry bearing walls with wood joists and wood deck with a 4-inch-thick gypsum concrete topping slab

Answer 11

a. Poured-in-place concrete beam-and-slab system

Question 12

Which of the following is the most effective method to control indoor air quality?

a. Exhaust air
b. Source reduction
c. Air cleaning and filtration
d. Increased temperature and lowered humidity

Answer 12

b. Source reduction

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT significant in selecting the type of elevator to be used?

a. Power used to operate the elevator
b. Height of the building
c. Speed of the elevator
d. Number of building occupants

Answer 13

d. Number of building occupants

Question 14

When designing a residential development, which of
the following is an example of the “Crime Prevention through Environmental Design” strategy of encouraging natural surveillance?

a. Reducing the overall amount of site lighting
b. Visually screening parking areas with tall landscaping
c. Placing the majority of windows to the rear
of residences
d. Providing a primary living space with a view of the street

Answer 14

d. Providing a primary living space with a view of the street

Question 15

All of the following types of fasteners are recommended for use with wood treated with inorganic waterborne preservatives EXCEPT

a. aluminum
b. stainless steel
c. hot-dipped galvanized
d. hot-tumbled galvanized

Answer 15

a. aluminum

Question 16

When compared to a steel beam-and-bar joist floor system, the use of composite construction will likely result in which of the following? Check the two that apply.

A.   Stiffer floor
B.   Heavier frame
C.   Lighter frame
D.   More expensive system
E.   Increased fabrication time
F.   Faster erection time

Answer 16

A. Stiffer floor

C. Lighter frame

Question 17

Which of the following actions can achieve the most significant cost reduction in value engineering a precast concrete warehouse?

a. Removing reveals in the panels
b. Changing the exposed aggregate in the concrete
c. Maximizing and standardizing the panel sizes
d. Removing the integral color from the concrete mix

Answer 17

c. Maximizing and standardizing the panel sizes

Question 18

A waterproofing treatment should be specified in lieu of a damp proofing treatment for subsurface masonry when which of the following conditions is present?

a. Hydrostatic pressure
b. A low frost line
c. Sandy subsurface soils
d. Expansive subsurface soils

Answer 18

a. Hydrostatic pressure

Question 19

The passage of water under pressure through concrete cracks is defined as

a. capillary action
b. seepage
c. saturation
d. leakage

Answer 19

d. leakage

Question 20

An elevator hoistway would be constructed to which of the following model code standards for walls?

a. Shaft enclosure
b. Occupancy separation
c. Area separation
d. Demising

Answer 20

a. Shaft enclosure

Question 21

Which of the following is true of humidity?

a. Human thermal comfort is unaffected by
relative humidity.
b. Cold air is able to hold more moisture vapor
than warm air.
c. Dewpoint is unreachable in the middle of a
homogeneous material.
d. Condensation in a building can contribute to
mold growth.

Answer 21

d. Condensation in a building can contribute to

mold growth.

Question 22

The terms “scratch coat,” “brown coat,” and “finish coat” refer to

a. painting
b. parging
c. paving
d. plastering

Answer 22

d. plastering

Question 23

Which of the following types of concrete construction is reinforced with tensioned high-strength steel-wire strands?

a. Tilt-up
b. Prestressed
c. Cast-in-place
d. Precast

Answer 23

b. Prestressed

Question 24

Locating footings at or below the frost line is important because doing so

a. promotes good drainage
b. makes perimeter insulation unnecessary
c. helps to stabilize the foundation system
d. simplifies excavation during winter construction

Answer 24

c. helps to stabilize the foundation system

Question 25

Efflorescence on masonry walls is caused by water-soluble salts that are present in which of the following? Check the two that apply.

A. Mortar
B. Sheathing
C. Masonry flashing
D. Masonry units
E. Masonry ties
F.  Rigid insulation

Answer 25

A. Mortar

D. Masonry units