ARE - PROGRAMMING AND ANALYSIS
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
PASS 2026/2027
Embodied energy - ANS sum of energy used to create a material (aluminum has the most)
public utilities - ANS electricity, gas, water, sewer
efficiency of a building (formula) - ANS net area / gross area
Albedo - ANS the measurement of reflected radiant energy received on a surface
maximum length of a corridor with a dead end - non-sprinklered and sprinklered (including
formula) - ANS non-sprinklered - 20 feet
sprinklered - 50 feet
length = 2.5 x width
Solar Azimuth - ANS the angle of the sun's location north or south from an east-west line (X-Y
axis)
Solar Altitude - ANS the angle of the sun's location from grade (Z-axis)
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
,Sociofugal arrangements - ANS Where social interaction is discouraged. These arrangements
promote seclusion by having seating facing outwards. (i.e. bus stop seating)
Megalopolis - ANS When two separate urban centers grow enough to merge into one
1 mil - ANS .001 inches
Room Corner Test - ANS - Measures the contribution of textile room coverings to the growth
of a fire
- aka NFPA 256
- Alternate to ASTM E84
Pro forma statement - ANS to see if a project is financially viable
Advantage of using timber as a building material - ANS strong in both compression & tension
PLSS (basic definition) - ANS U.S. Public Land Survey System - the most common method of
depicting site boundaries (E-W lines = parallels N-S lines = meridians) (Equator vs Prime
Meridian)
U.S. Public Land Survey System Breakdown - ANS - Intersecting meridians and parallels create
each check (24 miles squared)
- Each check is subdivided into 16 townships (six miles squared) 4x4=16
- Each township is subdivided into 36 sections (each one mile square) 6x6=36
- Sections are further divided into quarter sections and each of those quarter sections into
parcels
Model building code - ANS set of regulations on buildings written by an independent group
of experts without reference to a specific geographic location
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
,CPTED - ANS Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (surveillance, lights, etc.)
o Access control (fences, gates and electronic - alarms, CCTV)
o Organizational Methods (guards, doormen, etc.)
o Territorial reinforcement
Slenderness ratio of a wall - ANS - Ratio of the unsupported height of a wall to its thickness
- AKA the ratio of its effective length to its least radius of gyration
Steps in Programming - ANS ECUDS
1. Establishing goals
2. Collecting facts
3. Uncovering concepts
4. Determining user needs
5. Stating the problem
Air movement ranges... - ANS - 50 feet/min is barely noticeable
- 50-100 feet/min is ideal
- 100-200 feet/min is pleasant, but noticeable
- 200-300 feet/min is drafty
- +300 feet/min is gusty and uncomfortable
Range of the maximum grade in most streets - ANS 3-10%.
Exit Access > Exit > Exit Discharge - ANS
pre-tensioning concrete - ANS
post-tensioning concrete - ANS
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
3
, Soil specific size ranges - ANS - Clay: particles less than .002 mm in diameter
- Silt: particles between 0.002-0.05 mm in diameter
- Sands: particles between .05-2 mm in diameter
- Gravel: particles over 2 mm in diameter
Minimum vertical clearance for large trucks - ANS 14'
Plasticity Index (PSI) - ANS measure of the plasticity of a soil (anything over 15 is a good
indicator of expansive soil)
Liquid Limit - ANS moisture content at which the soil begins to flow
Plastic Limit - ANS moisture content at which the soil becomes moldable
Plasticity Index formula - ANS Liquid Limit - Plastic limit = Plasticity Index
Distances between people - ANS - Intimate = 6" to 18"
- Personal = 1.5' to 2.5'
- Social = 4' to 12'
- Public = > 12'
Solar reflectance index (SRI) - ANS quantifies a roof's ability to reject solar heat and values
range from 0 to 100. Combines both solar reflectance and thermal emittance into a single value
to evaluate a material's ability to stay cool under sunlight.
4 actions to optimize natural cooling - ANS - Employ radiative cooling
- Maximize natural ventilation
- Use light colors
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
4
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
PASS 2026/2027
Embodied energy - ANS sum of energy used to create a material (aluminum has the most)
public utilities - ANS electricity, gas, water, sewer
efficiency of a building (formula) - ANS net area / gross area
Albedo - ANS the measurement of reflected radiant energy received on a surface
maximum length of a corridor with a dead end - non-sprinklered and sprinklered (including
formula) - ANS non-sprinklered - 20 feet
sprinklered - 50 feet
length = 2.5 x width
Solar Azimuth - ANS the angle of the sun's location north or south from an east-west line (X-Y
axis)
Solar Altitude - ANS the angle of the sun's location from grade (Z-axis)
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
,Sociofugal arrangements - ANS Where social interaction is discouraged. These arrangements
promote seclusion by having seating facing outwards. (i.e. bus stop seating)
Megalopolis - ANS When two separate urban centers grow enough to merge into one
1 mil - ANS .001 inches
Room Corner Test - ANS - Measures the contribution of textile room coverings to the growth
of a fire
- aka NFPA 256
- Alternate to ASTM E84
Pro forma statement - ANS to see if a project is financially viable
Advantage of using timber as a building material - ANS strong in both compression & tension
PLSS (basic definition) - ANS U.S. Public Land Survey System - the most common method of
depicting site boundaries (E-W lines = parallels N-S lines = meridians) (Equator vs Prime
Meridian)
U.S. Public Land Survey System Breakdown - ANS - Intersecting meridians and parallels create
each check (24 miles squared)
- Each check is subdivided into 16 townships (six miles squared) 4x4=16
- Each township is subdivided into 36 sections (each one mile square) 6x6=36
- Sections are further divided into quarter sections and each of those quarter sections into
parcels
Model building code - ANS set of regulations on buildings written by an independent group
of experts without reference to a specific geographic location
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
,CPTED - ANS Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (surveillance, lights, etc.)
o Access control (fences, gates and electronic - alarms, CCTV)
o Organizational Methods (guards, doormen, etc.)
o Territorial reinforcement
Slenderness ratio of a wall - ANS - Ratio of the unsupported height of a wall to its thickness
- AKA the ratio of its effective length to its least radius of gyration
Steps in Programming - ANS ECUDS
1. Establishing goals
2. Collecting facts
3. Uncovering concepts
4. Determining user needs
5. Stating the problem
Air movement ranges... - ANS - 50 feet/min is barely noticeable
- 50-100 feet/min is ideal
- 100-200 feet/min is pleasant, but noticeable
- 200-300 feet/min is drafty
- +300 feet/min is gusty and uncomfortable
Range of the maximum grade in most streets - ANS 3-10%.
Exit Access > Exit > Exit Discharge - ANS
pre-tensioning concrete - ANS
post-tensioning concrete - ANS
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
3
, Soil specific size ranges - ANS - Clay: particles less than .002 mm in diameter
- Silt: particles between 0.002-0.05 mm in diameter
- Sands: particles between .05-2 mm in diameter
- Gravel: particles over 2 mm in diameter
Minimum vertical clearance for large trucks - ANS 14'
Plasticity Index (PSI) - ANS measure of the plasticity of a soil (anything over 15 is a good
indicator of expansive soil)
Liquid Limit - ANS moisture content at which the soil begins to flow
Plastic Limit - ANS moisture content at which the soil becomes moldable
Plasticity Index formula - ANS Liquid Limit - Plastic limit = Plasticity Index
Distances between people - ANS - Intimate = 6" to 18"
- Personal = 1.5' to 2.5'
- Social = 4' to 12'
- Public = > 12'
Solar reflectance index (SRI) - ANS quantifies a roof's ability to reject solar heat and values
range from 0 to 100. Combines both solar reflectance and thermal emittance into a single value
to evaluate a material's ability to stay cool under sunlight.
4 actions to optimize natural cooling - ANS - Employ radiative cooling
- Maximize natural ventilation
- Use light colors
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
4
