TCM 321 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE
ANSWERS
How is a Mechanical Contract similar to a General Contractor? - Answers -
Utilize/manage subcontractors and deal with lead times, scheduling, submittals, etc.
How is a Mechanical Contractor different to a General Contractor? - Answers - Often a
subcontractor to another entity, equipment buying/reselling, service work (not part of
construction), fabricate ductwork and piping systems, and could be largely renovation
work
What are the benefits to working with a Mechanical Contractor? - Answers - Most
equipment has a 15-20 year life cycle, large organizations supply vast amounts of work,
higher profit margins than GCs (means higher risk), often the leading edge of new
technology in system design, relationship building, semi-recession resistant, and
efficiency improvements
Code - Answers - A model, a set of rules that knowledgeable people recommend for
others to follow (the "WHAT")
Standard - Answers - Tends to be a more detailed elaboration; meeting a code (the
"HOW")
NFPA 13 - Answers - Standard for the installation of fire sprinkler systems
NFPA 13R - Answers - Standard for the installation of fire sprinkler systems in
residential occupancies up to and including four stories in height.
NFPA 14 - Answers - Standard for the installation of standpipe and hose systems
IFC - Answers - International Fire Code; determines and dictates the number of fire
hydrants and spacing required for a building
IPC - Answers - International Plumbing Code; determines piping size - waste, domestic
water, roof drains
IFGC - Answers - International Fuel Gas Code; determines gas piping size for
fireplaces, furnaces, boilers, etc.
Subjective design - Answers - Multiple approaches to solve the same problem
ASHRAE - Answers - American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers
, SMACNA - Answers - Sheet Metal and Air-Conditioning Contractors National
Association
In Tons (not the same as weight) - Answers - How is cooling measured?
1 Ton = 12,000 BTU (British Thermal Unit) - Answers - What is the conversion from
Tons to BTUs?
1 Watt = 3.41 BTUs - Answers - What is the conversion from Watts to BTUs?
DFU - Answers - Drainage Fixture Unit
WSFU - Answers - Water Supply Fixture Units
GPM - Answers - Gallons Per Minute; universal flow measurement for domestic water
and hydronic piping systems
CFM - Answers - Cubic Feet per Minute
LEED - Answers - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design; Mechanical
systems have a huge role in the score rating (points)
Simple payback analysis - Answers - Determines if the investment is worth the return
from a financial standpoint ((Cost of option A - Cost of option B) / Savings per year)
Life cycle cost analysis - Answers - Same premise as simple payback analysis, but
includes the cost of ownership, primarily maintenance/repair costs for equipment. Can
be difficult to determine, can be locale-specific, and plays to the selection of equipment.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) - Answers - Ventilation air = Outdoor air; by code, certain
building types require certain minimums of outdoor air. Quality of temperature, humidity,
and odors
Commissioning (Cx) - Answers - The process of proving that systems will operate as
intended and implement changes/adjustments to achieve the goal for the individual
usage of the equipment
Four purposes of fire sprinkler systems - Answers - Protect the occupants, protect the
structure, protect the contents, and continuation of operation
History of fire sprinkler systems - Answers - DaVinci created and produced one of the
first known systems; NFPA has been in existence since 1896
Class A fire - Answers - Ordinary, combustible materials - wood, cloth, paper, rubber,
and most plastics
ANSWERS
How is a Mechanical Contract similar to a General Contractor? - Answers -
Utilize/manage subcontractors and deal with lead times, scheduling, submittals, etc.
How is a Mechanical Contractor different to a General Contractor? - Answers - Often a
subcontractor to another entity, equipment buying/reselling, service work (not part of
construction), fabricate ductwork and piping systems, and could be largely renovation
work
What are the benefits to working with a Mechanical Contractor? - Answers - Most
equipment has a 15-20 year life cycle, large organizations supply vast amounts of work,
higher profit margins than GCs (means higher risk), often the leading edge of new
technology in system design, relationship building, semi-recession resistant, and
efficiency improvements
Code - Answers - A model, a set of rules that knowledgeable people recommend for
others to follow (the "WHAT")
Standard - Answers - Tends to be a more detailed elaboration; meeting a code (the
"HOW")
NFPA 13 - Answers - Standard for the installation of fire sprinkler systems
NFPA 13R - Answers - Standard for the installation of fire sprinkler systems in
residential occupancies up to and including four stories in height.
NFPA 14 - Answers - Standard for the installation of standpipe and hose systems
IFC - Answers - International Fire Code; determines and dictates the number of fire
hydrants and spacing required for a building
IPC - Answers - International Plumbing Code; determines piping size - waste, domestic
water, roof drains
IFGC - Answers - International Fuel Gas Code; determines gas piping size for
fireplaces, furnaces, boilers, etc.
Subjective design - Answers - Multiple approaches to solve the same problem
ASHRAE - Answers - American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers
, SMACNA - Answers - Sheet Metal and Air-Conditioning Contractors National
Association
In Tons (not the same as weight) - Answers - How is cooling measured?
1 Ton = 12,000 BTU (British Thermal Unit) - Answers - What is the conversion from
Tons to BTUs?
1 Watt = 3.41 BTUs - Answers - What is the conversion from Watts to BTUs?
DFU - Answers - Drainage Fixture Unit
WSFU - Answers - Water Supply Fixture Units
GPM - Answers - Gallons Per Minute; universal flow measurement for domestic water
and hydronic piping systems
CFM - Answers - Cubic Feet per Minute
LEED - Answers - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design; Mechanical
systems have a huge role in the score rating (points)
Simple payback analysis - Answers - Determines if the investment is worth the return
from a financial standpoint ((Cost of option A - Cost of option B) / Savings per year)
Life cycle cost analysis - Answers - Same premise as simple payback analysis, but
includes the cost of ownership, primarily maintenance/repair costs for equipment. Can
be difficult to determine, can be locale-specific, and plays to the selection of equipment.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) - Answers - Ventilation air = Outdoor air; by code, certain
building types require certain minimums of outdoor air. Quality of temperature, humidity,
and odors
Commissioning (Cx) - Answers - The process of proving that systems will operate as
intended and implement changes/adjustments to achieve the goal for the individual
usage of the equipment
Four purposes of fire sprinkler systems - Answers - Protect the occupants, protect the
structure, protect the contents, and continuation of operation
History of fire sprinkler systems - Answers - DaVinci created and produced one of the
first known systems; NFPA has been in existence since 1896
Class A fire - Answers - Ordinary, combustible materials - wood, cloth, paper, rubber,
and most plastics
