Foundations Exam Questions And
Answers
A
R
U
LA
C
O
D
,1 BTU/ h = (Power) - ANS 0.293 W
1 BTU = (Energy) - ANS 1055 J
A
1 US gallon =?L - ANS 3.7854 liters
(R-value) 1 R = - ANS 5.678 RSI
R
Metric Thermal Resistance is... - ANS RSI Value
Imperial Thermal Resistance is... - ANS R-value
U
1 L/s = ? cfm - ANS 2.12
LA
2 strategies for addressing surface & groundwater that comes into contact with foundation
walls? - ANS 1. Wall drainage interconnected to compatible drainage system to prevent
accumulation of water (exterior drainage and damp proofing) 2. Full and continuous barrier to
water penetration (waterproofing)
Air Barrier must have a tested air leakage of ? at a pressure difference of ? - ANS
C
0.2L/sm2, 75 Pa
Vapour Barrier must have a permeance level of less than ? - ANS 60ng (Pa sm2)
O
What are the 4 main points of ERV? - ANS 1. Exchanges heat and moisture from exhaust
stream
2. Requires frost protection in cold climates
D
3. More expensive than HRV
4. No condensation drain needed
What are the 4 main points of HRV? - ANS 1. Supply & exhaust should be measured and
balanced
2. Can be separately deducted; exchanges heat during winter & summer
3. Requires Drain pan for condensation
4. Brings in unwanted humidity in summer
What are EIFS always applied OVER? - ANS Water-resistive barrier
,What are the main components of EIFS? - ANS 1. Insulation boards
2. Base coat with reinforcement
3. Surface Finish
(joint treatments, drainage accessories, seals and sealants also form part of the system.)
Heating Degree Days (HDD) - ANS Measurement designed to quantify the demand for
energy needed to heat a building. HDD is derived from measurements of outside air
temperature. The heating requirements for a given building at a specific location are considered
to be directly proportional to the number of HDD at that location.
A
Example 1: The high temperature for a particular day was 90°F and the low temperature was
66°F. The temperature mean for that day was:
( 90°F + 66°F ) / 2 = 78°F
R
Because the result is above 65°F:
78°F - 65°F(18C) = 13 Cooling Degree Days
Example 2: The high temperature for a particular day was 33°F and the low temperature was
U
25°F. The temperature mean for that day was:
( 33°F + 25°F ) / 2 = 29°F
Because the result is below 65°F:
LA
65°F - 29°F = 36 Heating Degree Days.
Describe outdoor design temperature - ANS For a 99 percent winter design temperature,
the outdoor temperature is colder than the design temperature for only one percent of the hours
in a year on average or about 88 hours per year
C
What causes air infiltration? - ANS Discontinuity in the air barrier system
What is transmission heat loss? - ANS heat loss by conduction through building envelope
components q= U*A(Tin-Tout)
O
What is the outdoor design temperature?
D
a) The lowest possible temperature that can be expected during a winter.
b) The temperature below which heating equipment starts supplying heat.
c) The temperature below which heating equipment cannot meet indoor temperature set-points.
d) The temperature at which heating equipment should be operating at peak efficiency. - ANS
C: The temperature below which heating equipment cant meet indoor temperature set- points
What is heating load? - ANS the power [kW or Btu/h] required to maintain indoor
temperature set-points associated with given outdoor conditions. A calculated heat load does
not need to include the impact of a structure's thermal mass
, The 7 Main Advantages to EIFS are: - ANS 1. Continuity of Thermal Barrier
2.Lightweight
3. Water Penetration Resistance
4. Flexibility
5. Appearance
6. Reparability
7. Retrofit Applications
How does the weight of EIFS compared to masonry or concrete cladding make them beneficial?
- ANS They have a lower weight (dead load) which reduces structural costs, particularly
where seismic loads influence design requirements.
A
What 3 parts are most at risk for rainwater penetration? (EIFS) - ANS 1. Joints
2. Interfaces with other materials
R
3. Where lamina is damaged or defective
What are some reasons that lightweight EIFs often applied directly over existing cladding
systems? - ANS 1. Improves Appearance
U
2. Increases Thermal Performance
3. Improves Resistance to condensation or entrapped moisture
4. Corrects problems caused by rain penetration
LA
5.Protects structure & existing cladding from deterioration
What are the 6 main disadvantages to EIFS? - ANS 1. Combustibility
2. Impact Resistance
3. Compatibility
4. Staining
C
5. Sensitivity to workmanship
6. Long-term performance
Why are EIFS vulnerable to impact damage? - ANS Thin laminas.
O
(In areas where impact damage is likely, an appropriately reinforced EIFS product must be
used).
D
What can happen if EIFs are exposed to frequent wetting (rain or in high-humidity climates or
shaded areas without access direct sunlight? - ANS Staining from mildew growth can occur
What is the minimum service life for properly designed and applied EIFS? - ANS 30 years
What does amount of infiltration depend on? - ANS total area, types of cracks, pressure
differences, wind speeds, temperature differences
Answers
A
R
U
LA
C
O
D
,1 BTU/ h = (Power) - ANS 0.293 W
1 BTU = (Energy) - ANS 1055 J
A
1 US gallon =?L - ANS 3.7854 liters
(R-value) 1 R = - ANS 5.678 RSI
R
Metric Thermal Resistance is... - ANS RSI Value
Imperial Thermal Resistance is... - ANS R-value
U
1 L/s = ? cfm - ANS 2.12
LA
2 strategies for addressing surface & groundwater that comes into contact with foundation
walls? - ANS 1. Wall drainage interconnected to compatible drainage system to prevent
accumulation of water (exterior drainage and damp proofing) 2. Full and continuous barrier to
water penetration (waterproofing)
Air Barrier must have a tested air leakage of ? at a pressure difference of ? - ANS
C
0.2L/sm2, 75 Pa
Vapour Barrier must have a permeance level of less than ? - ANS 60ng (Pa sm2)
O
What are the 4 main points of ERV? - ANS 1. Exchanges heat and moisture from exhaust
stream
2. Requires frost protection in cold climates
D
3. More expensive than HRV
4. No condensation drain needed
What are the 4 main points of HRV? - ANS 1. Supply & exhaust should be measured and
balanced
2. Can be separately deducted; exchanges heat during winter & summer
3. Requires Drain pan for condensation
4. Brings in unwanted humidity in summer
What are EIFS always applied OVER? - ANS Water-resistive barrier
,What are the main components of EIFS? - ANS 1. Insulation boards
2. Base coat with reinforcement
3. Surface Finish
(joint treatments, drainage accessories, seals and sealants also form part of the system.)
Heating Degree Days (HDD) - ANS Measurement designed to quantify the demand for
energy needed to heat a building. HDD is derived from measurements of outside air
temperature. The heating requirements for a given building at a specific location are considered
to be directly proportional to the number of HDD at that location.
A
Example 1: The high temperature for a particular day was 90°F and the low temperature was
66°F. The temperature mean for that day was:
( 90°F + 66°F ) / 2 = 78°F
R
Because the result is above 65°F:
78°F - 65°F(18C) = 13 Cooling Degree Days
Example 2: The high temperature for a particular day was 33°F and the low temperature was
U
25°F. The temperature mean for that day was:
( 33°F + 25°F ) / 2 = 29°F
Because the result is below 65°F:
LA
65°F - 29°F = 36 Heating Degree Days.
Describe outdoor design temperature - ANS For a 99 percent winter design temperature,
the outdoor temperature is colder than the design temperature for only one percent of the hours
in a year on average or about 88 hours per year
C
What causes air infiltration? - ANS Discontinuity in the air barrier system
What is transmission heat loss? - ANS heat loss by conduction through building envelope
components q= U*A(Tin-Tout)
O
What is the outdoor design temperature?
D
a) The lowest possible temperature that can be expected during a winter.
b) The temperature below which heating equipment starts supplying heat.
c) The temperature below which heating equipment cannot meet indoor temperature set-points.
d) The temperature at which heating equipment should be operating at peak efficiency. - ANS
C: The temperature below which heating equipment cant meet indoor temperature set- points
What is heating load? - ANS the power [kW or Btu/h] required to maintain indoor
temperature set-points associated with given outdoor conditions. A calculated heat load does
not need to include the impact of a structure's thermal mass
, The 7 Main Advantages to EIFS are: - ANS 1. Continuity of Thermal Barrier
2.Lightweight
3. Water Penetration Resistance
4. Flexibility
5. Appearance
6. Reparability
7. Retrofit Applications
How does the weight of EIFS compared to masonry or concrete cladding make them beneficial?
- ANS They have a lower weight (dead load) which reduces structural costs, particularly
where seismic loads influence design requirements.
A
What 3 parts are most at risk for rainwater penetration? (EIFS) - ANS 1. Joints
2. Interfaces with other materials
R
3. Where lamina is damaged or defective
What are some reasons that lightweight EIFs often applied directly over existing cladding
systems? - ANS 1. Improves Appearance
U
2. Increases Thermal Performance
3. Improves Resistance to condensation or entrapped moisture
4. Corrects problems caused by rain penetration
LA
5.Protects structure & existing cladding from deterioration
What are the 6 main disadvantages to EIFS? - ANS 1. Combustibility
2. Impact Resistance
3. Compatibility
4. Staining
C
5. Sensitivity to workmanship
6. Long-term performance
Why are EIFS vulnerable to impact damage? - ANS Thin laminas.
O
(In areas where impact damage is likely, an appropriately reinforced EIFS product must be
used).
D
What can happen if EIFs are exposed to frequent wetting (rain or in high-humidity climates or
shaded areas without access direct sunlight? - ANS Staining from mildew growth can occur
What is the minimum service life for properly designed and applied EIFS? - ANS 30 years
What does amount of infiltration depend on? - ANS total area, types of cracks, pressure
differences, wind speeds, temperature differences
