OBJ 1.6 Flashcards

Coordinate mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and specialty systems and technologies (U/A) You must identify and resolve conflicts between engineering systems (mechanical, electrical, structural) and other specialty systems as they integrate into the project. This also includes coordinating engineering systems with the architectural design to fulfill programmatic, system, and other project requirements

1
Q

Coordination

A

The organization of the different building systems (structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc.) so as toenable them to work together effectively with architectural elements and one another.

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2
Q

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

A

Building Information Modeling is the creation of a digital representation of the design intent and construction specifications, including physical and functional characteristics.

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3
Q

Fire Damper

A

Passive fire protection elements installed at the penetration points of mechanical ducts to prevent the spread of fire between fire-rated walls and floors.

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4
Q

Structural Beam Penetration

A

A penetration in structural beams through which mechanical, plumbing, electrical, or fire protection elements run. These penetrations must be coordinated with the structural engineer to minimize the effect on the structural integrity of the beam. As a rule of thumb, placing the penetrations at midspan and in the middle of the beam cross-section has the least effect on the beam strength.

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5
Q

Building Automation System (BAS)

A

A centralized computer system that controls the building’s HVAC and electrical systems to maximize occupant comfort and minimize energy usage and operating costs. Information gathered from the building automation system (BAS) can be analyzed and used to optimize building systems.

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6
Q

Edge of Deck (EOD)

A

The length the deck extends beyond the structural line, typically called out in structural drawings and capped with a steel angle; must be coordinated and located architecturally.

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7
Q

Dry Pipe Fire Suppression System

A

Sprinkler piping that is filled with pressurized nitrogen or air, which holds a valve closed. In the event of a fire, the valve opens and releases the water from the main pipe. This system is recommended in areas that will not be conditioned and where water may freeze.

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8
Q

Recessed Slab

A

A recessed slab is also known as a depressed slab. Certain program areas may require a recessed floor slab to accommodate their function. Recessing a floor slab is a way to accommodate thicker floor systems (to meet ADA requirements), coolers, etc. This needs to be communicated and coordinated with structural drawings.

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9
Q

Conduit

A

A pipe that encases electrical or data wiring. Typically made of metal, a conduit allows wire to run through concrete and is also required by certain building codes for concealed wire assemblies.

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10
Q

Light Dimming

A

The process of reducing the lumen output of light fixtures; dimming can be done individually or through the building automation system (BAS); dimming can be used as a means to achieve a programmatic requirement or as a means to reduce energy use within a building.

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11
Q

Stack Vent

A

Portion of a stack above vents that connect to a soil/waste stack above the highest fixture in the system; vents to the soil stack.

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12
Q

Vent Stack

A

A separate pipe used for venting in multi-story buildings that extends through the roof or connects with the stack vent above the highest fixture; an air intake line for all fixtures that is separately open to the outside air at the top; used to break the siphoning suction, which would occur when water passes down through the system

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13
Q

Soil Stack

A

Large pipe into which all the soil and waste lines from one or more levels empty, open to the outside air at the top.

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14
Q

Waste Stack

A

Carries waste other than human waste and is open at the top; the minimum diameter of a vent is 1 1/4” or half of the diameter of the drain it services, whichever is larger.

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15
Q

Invert

A

Lowest point of the inside of a drain, pipe, channel, or other liquid carrying conduit.

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16
Q

Albedo

A

How much radiant energy that is reflected by a surface, where 0 is a flat black surface that absorbs all heat and 1 is a mirror (rate is listed as a fraction or percentage).

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17
Q

Service Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER)

A

An HVAC energy rating.

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18
Q

Conductivity

A

The measure of the ease at which an electric charge or heat can pass through a material. Metals have high conductivity; soils and sand have low conductivity.

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19
Q

Economizer

A

Equipment that permits the use of outdoor air instead of refrigeration units for building cooling when conditions are right.

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20
Q

Enthalpy Economizer

A

Evaluates both temperature and humidity; mixes appropriate outdoor/indoor air to achieve comfortable conditions without cooling.

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21
Q

Hypocausts

A

Gravity heating systems used by the Romans to heat public baths and private houses.

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22
Q

Ton

A

Amount of cooling required to convert a ton of water to ice in a 24-hour period; equal to 12,000 BTU.

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23
Q

Plenum

A

Typically the space above a suspended ceiling used to convey return air.

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24
Q

ANSI

A

The American National Standards Institute’s mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity.

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25
Q

Hygrometer

A

Instrument used to measure the relative humidity of the air.

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26
Q

British thermal unit (Btu)

A

A measure of energy, typically noted as the amount of energy needed to raise one pound of water by 1° F.

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27
Q

Access Panel

A

An operable panel used to access elements hidden inside walls or ceilings; typically used for gypsum board assemblies.

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28
Q

LED Driver

A

An operator used to control the functions of an LED light fixture, similar to the ballast of a fluorescent lamp. Can be installed remotely or adjacent to the fixture and is often hidden behind an access panel.

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29
Q

Mechanical Room

A

A space dedicated to mechanical equipment, such as air handling units. Often located in a service portion of the building, mechanical rooms require extensive coordination with mechanical engineers, as they are often the major hub from which the HVAC system operates.

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30
Q

Rough Opening

A

The total opening inside a wall, floor, or roof that is required to install a window, door, or louver system. Rough openings accommodate the entire system as well as any shims and sealants that are necessary for proper installation.

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31
Q

Escutcheon Plate

A

Escutcheon plates are circular plates that cover the joint when pipes penetrate other materials.

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32
Q

Mechanical means to keep smoke out of protected areas is done with ______ (low/high) pressure.

A

High.

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33
Q

True or false? All bathrooms must be ventilated.

A

True; can either be ventilated by an operable window or by mechanical means.

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34
Q

Lift

A

The vertical distance of a layer of fill in earthwork, usually 8 to 12”. Each lift is compacted before the next one is laid.

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35
Q

Soil Surcharging

A

The preloading of an area of ground with fill to cause consolidation of the underlying soil before building.

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36
Q

Air Gap (Plumbing)

A

In plumbing, an air gap is the vertical distance between an outlet of water, such as a faucet, and the rim level of the receptacle, such as the sink basin. Prevents siphoning of the water from the receptacle back to the faucet.

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37
Q

Fusible Link

A

Consists of two metal parts joined by a link of a metal alloy that is designed to melt at a specific temperature. At the temperature the link melts away, electrical flow across the link is interrupted. This is a mechanism used as a triggering device in fire suppression technologies like fire dampers and fire doors.

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38
Q

Expanded Metal Mesh

A

A product whereby a sheet of metal is slit and stretched, creating diamond-shaped openings; used for screens, grates, and security devices; comes in a wide range of options and can be decorative.

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39
Q

Copper grades

A

Copper grade K has the thickest walls and is used for underground piping needs; grade L has thinner walls and is used for most plumbing; grade M is the thinnest and is used only for low pressure or drainage.

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40
Q

Incandescent Light Designation

A

The marking on an incandescent light will always have a letter (first) that notes the shape of the bulb and a number (second) that denotes the diameter of the bulb. A-21 would indicate an A-shape bulb with a 2 1/8” or 2 5/8” diameter.

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41
Q

Air Changes

A

A measurement of how many times the air is removed from a space, usually measured in instances per hour.

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42
Q

HEPA Filter

A

Highly efficient air filters that remove dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and other particulates.

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43
Q

MERV

A

The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) is a measurement scale to rate the effectiveness of air filters. HEPA filters have high MERV ratings (17–20).

44
Q

Infiltration

A

The unintentional influx of outdoor air through leaks in the building envelope.

45
Q

Adiabatic Temperature Change

A

Temperature changes due to change in pressure.

46
Q

Cartridge

A

A type of valve located inside a plumbing faucet; made of plastic or brass.

47
Q

Mixing Valve

A

Where hot and cold water are mixed in a faucet.

48
Q

Scald Guard

A

Allows one to set a maximum temperature at the faucet without having to adjust the temperature at the water heater.

49
Q

Wet Wall

A

A wall with pipes in it.

50
Q

Air leakage accounts for _______ % of heat loss in buildings in North America.

A

20–40%.

51
Q

Two factors directly affecting air leakage in a building:

A
  1. Area in the envelope that is prone to air leakage

2. Air pressure difference between the inside and outside air

52
Q

Weather Stripping

A

Made from a resilient, compressible material, this is used to seal gaps between fixed-operable or operable components.

53
Q

Which types of construction is air leakage a bigger concern for?

A

This is a concern for wood or light-gauge steel frame buildings because their envelope is more inclined to leak than the envelopes of other types of construction such as concrete or masonry.

54
Q

Purpose of an air retarder

A

If wrapped around the entire building, it allows very little air to pass through but has a high degree of permeability to water vapor. It is usually wrapped over the sheathing. It not only reduces heat gain or loss by reducing air leakage but also reduces air movement in the wall cavity in the vicinity of the insulation, increasing the effectiveness of the insulation.

55
Q

Which term is more appropriate: air barrier or air retarder?

A

Air retarder, because most commercially available air barriers retard the flow of air through them rather than completely stop it.

56
Q

Evaporation

A

Disappearance of water, which is the conversion of water into water vapor. Once in the form of water vapor, it exerts pressure on the surfaces of the enclosure containing it.

57
Q

Formaldehyde

A

A colorless gas; is a major source of indoor air pollution.

58
Q

Radon

A

Dangerous source of indoor air pollution. It is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas present in some soils, which may leak into the interior of the building through cracks in the floor.

59
Q

Are building assemblies more susceptible to vapor or air?

A

Building assemblies are more vapor-permeable than air-permeable. Water vapor can easily pass through walls and roofs with greater ease than air.

60
Q

Saturation Vapor Pressure

A

When the air contains the maximum amount of water vapor it can possibly hold, this is referred to as saturated air and the corresponding vapor pressure is referred to as the ______________.

61
Q

Why is relative humidity of air used?

A

It is based on human sensitivity to the water vapor content in the air. It measures whether the air feels drier or damper.

62
Q

What is the constant temperature and RH for modern buildings?

A

70 degrees F; 45% relative humidity.

63
Q

Why does water vapor pass more easily through building assemblies?

A

Because of the typical difference between inside and outside air pressure, vapor moves through buildings with relative ease.

64
Q

What is the general movement of water vapor in an assembly?

A

Water vapor moves from the warm side to the cold side of an assembly.

65
Q

How to prevent surface condensation

A

Increase the R-Value of the assembly.

66
Q

Interstitial Condensation

A

This occurs only if the water vapor is able to enter into the envelope assembly and is unable to escape. It is the condensation of vapor inside an envelope assembly.

67
Q

Health issues associated with interstitial condensation

A

Growth of fungi and mold can occur with interstitial condensation.

68
Q

How does water vapor enter the envelope assembly?

A
  1. Vapor movement through air leakage

2. Vapor diffusion (due to the vapor pressure differential)

69
Q

How do we prevent the diffusion of water vapor into the envelope assembly?

A

By using a vapor barrier. This is a material that is impermeable to vapor and is also impermeable to air because if air leaks through it, so will vapor.

70
Q

Perm Rating

A

If this is zero, the material is impermeable to vapor flow and makes it a perfect vapor retarder (i.e., a vapor barrier). This is also a function of the material’s thickness. A larger thickness of the same material has a lower rating.

71
Q

What qualifies a material as a vapor retarder?

A

Its perm rating must be 1.0 perm or less. For it to be effective, it must be less than or equal to 0.1 perm.

72
Q

Commonly used vapor retarder materials

A
Roof membranes:
built-up roof, modified bitumen, single-ply membranes
Plastics
Building paper or kraft paper
Aluminum foil
73
Q

True or false? Vapor retarders are required in buildings, regardless of whether they have insulation.

A

False. Vapor retarders are not needed in buildings that have insulation.

74
Q

Where does the dew point generally occur?

A

Within the insulation, which is why it must be vapor permeable.

75
Q

Sewer Brick

A

High-strength, low-absorption brick used in drainage structures.

76
Q

Three types of air filters

A
  1. Dry mat
  2. Spray washer
  3. Electrostatic
77
Q

IAQ

A

Indoor air quality (IAQ) includes odors, irritants, toxins, biological contaminants, and radon and other soil gases. ASHRAE defines acceptable indoor air quality as “air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as determined by cognizant authorities and with which a substantial majority (80% or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.” Poor indoor air quality is tied to sick building syndrome (SBS).

78
Q

Four factors in achieving IAQ

A
  1. Limit the source of the pollutant
  2. Isolate pollutants that are unavoidable
  3. Supply filtered fresh and recirculated air
  4. Maintain the building and equipment
79
Q

Exhaust Fan

A

Removes air that has odors or humidity from bathrooms and other rooms.

80
Q

Flushing a Building

A

Should be done after construction and again periodically to flush out pollutants that accumulate inside a building from furniture, finishes, equipment, and cleaning supplies.

81
Q

Legionnaire’s Disease

A

A severe, potentially lethal disease caused by airborne microorganisms that can be incubated and distributed by HVAC systems.

82
Q

Replacance

A

A factor in designing ventilation systems, replacance is a measure of the effectiveness of an air exchange. Not the same as air changes per hour (ACH).

83
Q

Passive strategies for IAQ

A

Operable windows
Stack effect
Underslab ventilation
Preheating incoming air (because it allows more fresh air without increasing energy demands)

84
Q

Active strategies for IAQ

A

Exhaust fans
Heat exchangers
Preheating or cooling of makeup air
Air cleaners/filters

85
Q

Offgassing or Outgassing

A

Refers to the releasing of VOCs and other harmful gasses. This is an important consideration in indoor air quality.

86
Q

Air Cleaners

A

Mechanical air filters
Electronic air cleaners
Absorption filters
UV radiation

87
Q

MSDS

A

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document that contains information on the potential hazards of a material.

88
Q

ACH

A

ACH refers to air changes per hour.

89
Q

PPM

A

Parts per million (PPM) is a measure of the concentration of one material in another, typically of air, water, or soil.

90
Q

UV radiation helps mitigate which type of indoor air contaminant?

A

Biological.

91
Q

Clean and Dirty Zones

A

Zoning that is done for IAQ purposes. This strategy is used in health-care and laboratory buildings.

92
Q

Windows for Ventilation

A

Each type of window has a different rate of ventilation, with casements having the highest rates.

93
Q

Economizer Cycle

A

Provides 100% outside air.

94
Q

Energy Transfer Wheel

A

A type of heat and moisture exchanger. It is composed of a rotating wheel of a material that is in a honeycomb configuration in which incoming and outgoing air exchange heat and humidity. This reduces energy use by preconditioning fresh air with exhaust air. Also called an enthalpy wheel or thermal wheel. See also ERV.

95
Q

Effect of relative humidity on comfort sensation

A

30% change in RH is equal to about 2° F of thermal change. Higher humidity makes hot air more uncomfortable.

96
Q

Roof Curb

A

Mechanical equipment mounted on roofs must be placed on curbs so they are level and protected from the precipitation that falls on the roof.

97
Q

Effectiveness of air filters

A

Effectiveness is dependent on two factors: efficiency of the collector and the rate of air-circulation.

98
Q

Adsorption Filters

A

Used for filtering gaseous contaminants. To adsorb means to hold liquid or gas particles near the surface of a material. They are usually made of charcoal or activated carbon.

99
Q

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

A

A condition in which people are sensitive to “normal” amounts of environmental contaminants.

100
Q

Sick Building Syndrome

A

The term “sick building syndrome” (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building. In contrast, the term “building related illness” (BRI) is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.

101
Q

The stack effect only works when outside air is ______ (cooler/warmer) than inside air.

A

Cooler.

102
Q

Switch

A

In electrical circuits, switches “make” or “break” a circuit by interrupting the current.

103
Q

Service Line

A

The overhead wire from a transformer on a utility pole to the weather head; also called the service drop.

104
Q

Riser

A

A vertical pipe or conduit that carries electrical wiring.

105
Q

Weather Head

A

The weatherproof head where overhead electrical service enters a building.