Pass the NCARB Architect Registration Examination PDD Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

A motorized movable partition used to subdivide a gymnasium requires coordination with:

The structural engineer: to ensure the partition loads are supported, especially if the system is suspended or has track supports.

The electrical engineer: to provide power for the motorized operation, controls, and safety systems.

Mechanical and fire protection engineers are typically less involved unless the partition affects HVAC zones or fire separation requirements, and furniture consultants typically do not deal with structural or electrical coordination.

The transformer is located in the first large box after the high-voltage primary feeders and before the secondary service conductors on the left side of the diagram.

Step-by-Step Reasoning

1. Understanding the diagram flow:

The leftmost symbol represents high-voltage primary feeders from the utility (2,400V, 4,160V, 7,200V, or 13,200V).

Immediately after that, there is a large box labeled "Secondary Service conductors" with standard building service voltages (120/208, 120/240, 277/480 V).

To get from primary (medium/high) voltage to these usable secondary voltages, you must step down the voltage — and that is done by a transformer.

2. Transformer location in electrical distribution:

Transformers are always placed between the incoming primary service and the secondary distribution system in building diagrams.

In this drawing, the transformer is symbolized by the first large square/rectangular box after the high-voltage primary feeders.

3. Why not any other box?

The following boxes and lines after this first step are feeders, panels, and motor starters — they operate at secondary voltage.

Only the transformer connects the utility high-voltage system to the building's lower-voltage system.

NCARB ARE 5.0 PDD References:

Content Area: Electrical Systems — Service Entrance and Distribution

Source References:

MEEB (Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings) — Chapter on Transformers & Electrical Service

NEC (National Electrical Code) Article 450 — Transformer Installation and Use

Architectural Graphic Standards — Single-Line Diagrams for Electrical Distribution

Key Point:

In building electrical distribution, the transformer is always between the high-voltage primary service and the secondary service conductors to step down voltage to a usable level for building loads.

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To identify the discrepancy between the drawings and the Room Finish Schedule for Room 101, compare what’s shown in the restroom elevation and plan versus the listed finishes.

Step-by-step comparison:

Room 101 (Women’s Restroom) is shown with:

Wall finish: Clearly shows tile (CT) on the lower half of the walls in the elevation.

But in the finish schedule, Room 101 has “PT” (paint) listed under wall finish.

✅ Therefore, the error is in the wall finish cell for Room 101, which should show CT (ceramic tile), not PT (paint).

1. Problem Summary

Goal: Reduce reverberation time (RT) in the Tap Room to 2.0 seconds or less.

Current design: 2' x 2' acoustic ceiling tile system (RT = 2.0 seconds) installed above fans.

Constraint: Minimize additional project cost.

Recommendation from acoustical engineer: Use materials to achieve target RT without redesigning the space.

2. Review of Table Data

Material

RT

SF

SF Cost

Cementitious Wood Fiber Panels (1")

2.0

448

$12.64

Cementitious Wood Fiber Panels (2")

1.8

384

$18.95

2x2 Acoustical Ceiling Tile (15/16")

2.0

900

$8.81

Acoustical Sound Board (1")

1.6

256

$18.23

3. Interpretation of RT Values

Current 2x2 Acoustic Ceiling Tile: RT = 2.0 seconds → meets the target exactly.

However, fans may reduce the acoustic performance by reflecting or scattering sound, so supplemental absorption may be needed.

Adding Acoustical Sound Board (RT = 1.6) above the existing tile system will improve absorption and lower RT below 2.0 seconds.

4. Cost & Constructability

Retaining the current ceiling layout and simply adding a layer above is:

Least disruptive to current design.

Avoids redesign of the ceiling cloud layout.

Minimizes schedule impact (critical for design-build with compressed schedule).

Replacing with wood fiber panels (1" or 2") would require removal of existing tile, redesign of suspension, and higher cost/SF.

5. Why Other Options Are Incorrect

A. Remove fans: This addresses air movement, not RT. Removing them does not guarantee RT improvement and conflicts with HVAC design intent.

B. One cloud + 1" wood fiber panels: Reduces coverage area and may not meet RT goal; also costly and disruptive.

C. One cloud + 2" wood fiber panels: Even more costly, same redesign problem as B.

D. Retain tiles and add sound board above: Achieves RT < 2.0, minimal disruption, cost-effective vs. full replacement → best option.

6. NCARB ARE 5.0 PDD Study Guide References

Content Area: Building Systems Integration — Acoustics

Reference Sources:

Architectural Graphic Standards — Acoustic material properties

Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings (MEEB) — Room acoustics and reverberation control

ASTM C423 — Sound Absorption and Sound Absorption Coefficients by the Reverberation Room Method

To prepare project specifications, the architect requires documents that inform about site conditions, building construction, and interior finishes:

Geotechnical report provides soil conditions, foundation recommendations, and site constraints.

Building sections provide detailed information on assemblies, materials, and vertical relationships.

Room finish schedule identifies finishes, materials, and related specifications for interior spaces.

Legal surveys, traffic management plans, and door schedules are important for planning and design coordination but less directly informative for writing specifications.

Division 06 (Wood, Plastics, and Composites) of the Project Manual contains detailed specifications for finish carpentry and casework materials. This aligns with ARE Objective 2.1: Evaluate project manual sections for technical accuracy.

Designing a barrier-free (accessible) building entrance requires coordination among:

Door schedule: Door sizes, types, clearances, and thresholds

Hardware schedule: Handles, closers, locks, and accessibility hardware (e.g., lever handles, automatic operators)

Alarm system design: To ensure audible and visual alarms meet ADA requirements for people with disabilities, particularly for emergency egress

Other documents like electrical and structural plans are important but less directly related to barrier-free entrance compliance.

When new plan‐review rules require 1-hour fire-resistance for storage rooms >150 sf, the least cost/time/program impact is typically a 1-hour gypsum board assembly (metal studs with Type X on each side per UL/GA listings).

A. CMU: durable but higher material and labor cost; heavier, slower to install.

C/D. Splitting rooms: Avoids the rating but disrupts program, adds doors/partitions, circulation, and can increase costs and complexity.

PDD References: IBC Ch. 7 Fire & Smoke Protection Features; GA/UL fire‐rated wall assemblies; ARE 5.0 PDD—Code compliance strategies and cost/time implications of alternative assemblies.

Tripling the distillery and converting adjacent Tap Room areas to production introduces additional hazard (flammable liquids), changes occupancies/occupant loads, and requires updated fire separations and egress.

A-01 Life Safety Plan must be revised for occupancy classification, fire‐resistance ratings between uses, travel distances, exit widths/number, and signage.

A-03 Floor Plan must change to show new room uses, rated partitions/doors, openings, and equipment footprints.

A-04 Reflected Ceiling Plan must change for new/relocated rated assemblies at ceilings (e.g., continuity of fire/smoke barriers), sprinkler/exit sign/FA device locations, and any duct-damper/access changes.

Site (B), Roof (E), and Elevations (F) are not directly driven by the interior use change.

PDD refs: IBC Chs. 3, 5–10 (occupancy, separation, egress), coordination of architectural, fire protection, and MEP on drawings (Division 01).