NCARB Sample Questions Flashcards
After the contract for construction has been awarded,
the contractor shall next prepare which of the following
for the architect’s review?
o A request for payment
o A list of materials
o A schedule of construction
o A lien release
o A schedule of construction
According to AIA Document C141-1997, the
consultant’s services should be performed in a
coordinated sequence with the
o owner
o contractor
o architect
o construction manager
o architect
Which of the following consultant engineers typically
consumes the greatest percentage of project fees on
school projects?
o Civil
o Electrical
o Mechanical
o Structural
o Mechanical
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
which of the following is true about lead-based paints in
an existing building that is being renovated as housing
for the elderly?
o The lead content concern is less for buildings
constructed after 1960.
o Occupant health risks are less of a concern if no
children will be living in the facility.
o The lead paint must be completely removed in
areas being renovated.
o Contractor health risks are a concern only if the
lead paint is sawed, ground, or sandblasted.
o Occupant health risks are less of a concern if no
children will be living in the facility.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Accessibility Guidelines, curb ramp slopes shall NOT
exceed which of the following ratios?
o 1:10
o 1:12
o 1:20
o 1:24
o 1:12
Which of the following creates the majority of indoor air
quality problems?
o Inside contamination
o Inadequate ventilation
o Construction materials
o Contamination from the outside
o Inadequate ventilation
Which of the following types of estimates is the
most accurate?
o Order of magnitude
o Square foot and cubic foot
o Assemblies system
o Unit price takeoff
o Unit price takeoff
Two professional design firms join together for a project
in which both firms are parties to the contract with the
owner. This arrangement is known as
o an associated firm
o a joint venture
o partnering
o a multiple prime
o a joint venture
When the architect is analyzing the choice between
renovating an existing library or demolishing it and
constructing a new library, the architect should first
recommend that
o a feasibility study be prepared
o renovation costs be compared with costs for
new construction
o the owner obtain community input
o the local historical society be consulte
o a feasibility study be prepared
Outline specifications written during the programming
phase of a project are generally broken down by
o rooms
o divisions
o costs
o products
o divisions
Which of the following client categories most often
requires the architect to transfer ownership of the
architect’s construction documents to the owner/client?
o Corporate
o Health care
o Commercial
o Governmental
o Governmental
Bid alternates to choose between concrete block and
clay masonry, wood and plastic windows, and slate and
asphalt shingles are most likely the architect’s attempt to
o incorporate energy-saving options
o control construction costs
o anticipate neighborhood covenants
o accommodate various climatic conditions
o control construction costs
According to The Architect’s Handbook of Professional
Practice, a project manager’s first key challenge is to
o meet profitability goals
o meet contractual obligations
o clearly identify the client’s expectations
o manage the team members’ judgments and creativity
o clearly identify the client’s expectations
The threshold for sound levels that cause fatigue after
prolonged exposure is approximately
o 20 db
o 50 db
o 80 db
o 110 db
o 80 db
Geotechnical observation reports are usually paid for
by the
o structural engineer
o contractor
o architect
o owner
o owner
An architect is asked to design a county courthouse and
government center. The architect should advise the client that a detailed program for this project is likely to result in
o a more aesthetically pleasing building
o a more efficient building
o a longer construction duration
o higher life-cycle building cost
o a more efficient building
Blocking and stacking within the programming process
is most critical when considering
o space requirements
o special equipment
o site limitations
o building systems
o site limitations
STC ratings as applied to buildings represent the
o specified thermal comfort zone
o sound transmission class
o summer temperature conditions
o secure territory controls
o sound transmission class
In order to provide the most effective coordination of
the engineering consultant’s work during the construction documents phase of the work, the architect should
o call the consultant daily to make sure that progress
is being made
o meet with the consultant at the beginning and the end of the work period
o hold regular weekly or monthly meetings to review
the consultant’s progress
o send memos of telephone conversations as needed
o hold regular weekly or monthly meetings to review
the consultant’s progress
Which of the following is the most important
consideration when the architect/owner contract is
negotiated?
o Client background check
o Type of consultants
o Construction delivery method
o Scope of services
o Scope of services
The object of the programming process is to establish
o aesthetics
o evaluation of materials
o realistic requirements
o project financing
o realistic requirements
A municipal impact fee assessed on a proposed project
o pays for the building permit
o offsets local infrastructure improvement costs
o is distributed to the owners of neighboring properties
o ensures speedy planning board review and approval
o offsets local infrastructure improvement costs
To resolve contractual disputes with clients, an
architect should
o resign the contract
o refund the fees
o amend the contract
o consider mediation
o consider mediation
According to standard owner/architect agreements, a
presentation model for the client’s promotional use is
o part of the design process
o standard practice
o not a basic service
o not reimbursable
o not a basic service
Zoning ordinances are used by municipalities
as a means of controlling all of the following EXCEPT
o density of development
o project costs
o flood impact
o land usage
o project costs
The cost for asbestos removal in a building to be
renovated must be borne by the
o local regulatory agency
o general contractor
o owner
o federal government
o owner
Which of the following is the most frequently used
method of estimating construction cost when
programming is completed?
o Unit-area cost
o Contractor estimate
o Construction loan value
o Capitalization ratio
o Unit-area cost
The most appropriate strategy for predicting and
preventing conflicts between architectural and
engineering documents is to
o hold regular coordination meetings
o have the owner review drawings
o schedule peer review of documents
o use in-house engineers
o hold regular coordination meetings
Buildings in urban cores, which have been permitted to
achieve floor area ratios and heights in excess of those
permitted by zoning, may have been awarded these
bonuses because they
o are clad in materials specified by the city
o have excess vertical transportation capacity
o include street-level functions that are regarded as
public amenities
o are on sites that can take advantage of the potential
for superior views
o include street-level functions that are regarded as
public amenities
A deed restriction includes which of the following?
o Topography
o Utility locations
o Benchmarks
o Covenants
o Covenants
The architect for a new shopping center has been told
that the city has a “ponding” requirement for the site.
This means that the architect must provide
o a decorative water pond as part of the
parking-lot landscaping
o a French-drain system in the parking areas to
pond water
o an area where excess rainwater can be retained and
discharged into a storm sewer
o a system for the underground collection and disposal
of rainwater
o an area where excess rainwater can be retained and
discharged into a storm sewer
Production management is an important element in the
success of an architectural firm. Which of the following is a major ingredient for improvement of production?
o Employee benefits
o Communication with employees
o Office renovation
o Purchase of reproduction equipment
o Communication with employees
Which of the following is NOT normally governed by
zoning regulations?
o Densities
o Setback and height requirements
o Parking requirements
o Life-safety requirements
o Life-safety requirements
The size and/or configuration of public rest room facilities is regulated by which of the following?
o Deed restrictions
o Building codes
o Zoning ordinances
o Life-safety codes
o Building codes
During the programming phase, building construction cost estimates are normally based on which of the following?
o Itemized materials takeoffs
o Operating proformas
o Cubic-foot costs of similar buildings
o Square-foot costs of similar building
o Square-foot costs of similar building
Finding mold on pipe insulation is a sign that which of
the following is present? Check the three that apply.
o A. Excess moisture o B. Poor soils o C. Improper ventilation o D. High water table o E. Organic feedstock o F. Insufficient light level
o A. Excess moisture
o C. Improper ventilation
o E. Organic feedstock
An architectural program should contain which of
the following? Check the four that apply.
o A. Budget limitations
o B. Soils bearing capacity
o C. A statement of the owner’s goals
o D. An inventory of spaces required
o E. Statements of functional relationships
o F. Determination of the structural system
o A. Budget limitations
o C. A statement of the owner’s goals
o D. An inventory of spaces required
o E. Statements of functional relationships
Governmental bodies regulate the development
of projects through which of the following? Check the two that apply.
o A. Regional master plans o B. Zoning ordinances o C. Enterprise zones o D. Restrictive covenants o E. Tax incentives o F. Sewer permits
o A. Regional master plans
o B. Zoning ordinances
During predesign, which of the following should be used as a basis for setting room sizes?
A. Activity area requirements
B. Cabinet or equipment modules
C. Structural modules
D. Building code occupancy loads
A. Activity area requirements
