ARE PDD EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026/2027
Project Manual - ANS BOUND BOOK containing bidding req, parts of the contract/ O-C
agreement, bond forms, general/ support conditions & technical specs. usually does not include
the actual drawings
Who assembles the Project Manual? - ANS Architect or CMA (Construction Manager as
Advisor)
what is the arch responsible for in the project manual? - ANS title, signature sheet, toc,
instruction to bidders, bidding forms, general conditions, support conditions, O-A agree, sample
forms, index of drawings, index of specs, actual specs
Prescriptive Specifications - ANS Tell exactly what product or material the contractor must
use by brand name
performance spec - ANS list results or features that materials or systems must achieve so the
GC has more choice in what will be achieve those results
Proprietary Specification - ANS A specification which calls for desired materials, products,
systems, and equipment by their trade names and model numbers.
Open Specification - ANS typically calls out or specifies three or more trade names with a
provision or "approved equal"
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
,closed specs - ANS specifies exact material, component, or product by manufacturer or
vendor; includes style number, trade name, etc. substitutions usually not allowed
reference specification - ANS requires that a product meets specific industry standards such
as Ul or Astm
Descriptive Specification - ANS describes all components, details etc. methods of assembly,
other details & requirements too. this type is very hard to produce and not usually used
cash allowance specification - ANS They are used when full information on levels of quality
has not been determined or are not available at the time bids are solicited. Cash allowances
may be used for the purchase and delivery of the product only.
what consultants are part of the basic services provided? - ANS MPET & structural
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) - ANS The ratio of the gross floor area within a structure to the area of
the lot on which the structure is situated. ( if the FAR was 2.0, then you would be allowed to
built 2x the lot size)
prescriptive codes - ANS code that requires specific techniques, materials, methods allowed.
simple to do but does not allow for innovation.
Performance Code - ANS Building Code that describes functional requirements, but leave
method to achieve decisions up to the designer.
Occupant Load Factor - ANS The amount of floor area presumed to be occupied by one
person.
Accessory Use Areas - ANS to be considered an accessory, an area can't exceed 10% of the
total floor area allowed by the height/area table
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
,Incidental Use Area - ANS Ancillary to the main occupancy and has the same classification as
the nearest main occupancy but poses a greater level of risk to that occupancy
Mixed Occupancy - ANS if occupancies in a building are too large to be considered
incidental/accessory then the building is considered to have mixed occupancy.
building codes at programming phase - ANS allowable floor areas, parking req
building codes at SD phase - ANS occupancy loads, allowable bldg heights, egress req, stair &
exiting, ada tlts
building codes at dd phase - ANS materials fire ratings, structural req, fire separations, federal
regulations, ada, state & local codes, special codes
building codes at cd phase - ANS substitutions & code approvals, submittals & code
approvals, fire ratings, acoustical ratings, sustainable verifications
Group A - ANS assembly
group b - ANS business
group e - ANS educational
group f - ANS Factory and Industrial
group h - ANS High Hazard
group I - ANS institutional
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
3
, group m - ANS mercantile
group r - ANS residential
group s - ANS storage
group u - ANS Utility and Miscellaneous
how to determine occupant load: - ANS 1. actual # of people in space/ bldg. ( typ. where
fixed seating used) 2. use load factor provided by the code. Divide bldg area by occupant load
factor 3. occupant load is cumulative as occupants exit through intervening spaces
what determines the fire suppression system? - ANS 1. area of building 2. type of occupancy
3. number of occupants
where are sprinklers always required? - ANS bldgs taller than 55', deep underground or
windowless structures
Flame Spread Rating/Smoke Developed Ratings - ANS measures the amount of flame and
smoke a material generates (carpet, fabrics, etc)
what is required in an area of refuge? - ANS outside air, [passive fire protection, emergency
lighting & 2 way communication
Type 1 construction - ANS Fire Resistive: concrete or protected steel. typically found in high
rise buildings
Type 2 construction - ANS non combustible- reinforced masonry with metal framing at roof.
typ. found in mid rise office bldgs
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
4
ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026/2027
Project Manual - ANS BOUND BOOK containing bidding req, parts of the contract/ O-C
agreement, bond forms, general/ support conditions & technical specs. usually does not include
the actual drawings
Who assembles the Project Manual? - ANS Architect or CMA (Construction Manager as
Advisor)
what is the arch responsible for in the project manual? - ANS title, signature sheet, toc,
instruction to bidders, bidding forms, general conditions, support conditions, O-A agree, sample
forms, index of drawings, index of specs, actual specs
Prescriptive Specifications - ANS Tell exactly what product or material the contractor must
use by brand name
performance spec - ANS list results or features that materials or systems must achieve so the
GC has more choice in what will be achieve those results
Proprietary Specification - ANS A specification which calls for desired materials, products,
systems, and equipment by their trade names and model numbers.
Open Specification - ANS typically calls out or specifies three or more trade names with a
provision or "approved equal"
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
,closed specs - ANS specifies exact material, component, or product by manufacturer or
vendor; includes style number, trade name, etc. substitutions usually not allowed
reference specification - ANS requires that a product meets specific industry standards such
as Ul or Astm
Descriptive Specification - ANS describes all components, details etc. methods of assembly,
other details & requirements too. this type is very hard to produce and not usually used
cash allowance specification - ANS They are used when full information on levels of quality
has not been determined or are not available at the time bids are solicited. Cash allowances
may be used for the purchase and delivery of the product only.
what consultants are part of the basic services provided? - ANS MPET & structural
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) - ANS The ratio of the gross floor area within a structure to the area of
the lot on which the structure is situated. ( if the FAR was 2.0, then you would be allowed to
built 2x the lot size)
prescriptive codes - ANS code that requires specific techniques, materials, methods allowed.
simple to do but does not allow for innovation.
Performance Code - ANS Building Code that describes functional requirements, but leave
method to achieve decisions up to the designer.
Occupant Load Factor - ANS The amount of floor area presumed to be occupied by one
person.
Accessory Use Areas - ANS to be considered an accessory, an area can't exceed 10% of the
total floor area allowed by the height/area table
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
,Incidental Use Area - ANS Ancillary to the main occupancy and has the same classification as
the nearest main occupancy but poses a greater level of risk to that occupancy
Mixed Occupancy - ANS if occupancies in a building are too large to be considered
incidental/accessory then the building is considered to have mixed occupancy.
building codes at programming phase - ANS allowable floor areas, parking req
building codes at SD phase - ANS occupancy loads, allowable bldg heights, egress req, stair &
exiting, ada tlts
building codes at dd phase - ANS materials fire ratings, structural req, fire separations, federal
regulations, ada, state & local codes, special codes
building codes at cd phase - ANS substitutions & code approvals, submittals & code
approvals, fire ratings, acoustical ratings, sustainable verifications
Group A - ANS assembly
group b - ANS business
group e - ANS educational
group f - ANS Factory and Industrial
group h - ANS High Hazard
group I - ANS institutional
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
3
, group m - ANS mercantile
group r - ANS residential
group s - ANS storage
group u - ANS Utility and Miscellaneous
how to determine occupant load: - ANS 1. actual # of people in space/ bldg. ( typ. where
fixed seating used) 2. use load factor provided by the code. Divide bldg area by occupant load
factor 3. occupant load is cumulative as occupants exit through intervening spaces
what determines the fire suppression system? - ANS 1. area of building 2. type of occupancy
3. number of occupants
where are sprinklers always required? - ANS bldgs taller than 55', deep underground or
windowless structures
Flame Spread Rating/Smoke Developed Ratings - ANS measures the amount of flame and
smoke a material generates (carpet, fabrics, etc)
what is required in an area of refuge? - ANS outside air, [passive fire protection, emergency
lighting & 2 way communication
Type 1 construction - ANS Fire Resistive: concrete or protected steel. typically found in high
rise buildings
Type 2 construction - ANS non combustible- reinforced masonry with metal framing at roof.
typ. found in mid rise office bldgs
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
4
