BUILDING SCIENCE PRINCIPLES QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
**If you find blackened areas of insulation - Answers- It likely indicates a focused
source of air movement under the insulation
One of the problems with oversized air conditioning systems is - Answers- Short-cycling
**Sealing the outer cover to the inner lining is important when installing flex ducts
because: - Answers- It keeps condensation from forming inside the duct insulation
**The most effective measure for reducing air flow, heat transfer, and moisture
movement is to - Answers- Air Seal the building envelope
**If we want to achieve energy savings and improved comfort, which of the following is
true with respect to the pressure and thermal boundaries? - Answers- The boundaries
should be aligned
An eave dam (also referred to as a soffit baffle) : - Answers- All of the above
Heat transfer by conduction is best illustrated by? - Answers- Holding a cup of hot
chocolate and feeling the heat in your hands
**Duct Sealing is: - Answers- Less important if the ducts are all within the building
envelope
**The efficiency of a furnace or boiler is usually expressed as the. - Answers- Annual
fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE)
**When water vapor is transported sheetrock or plywood, it is called - Answers-
Diffusion
Which of these home appliances typically uses the highest percentage of total home
energy used? - Answers- Refrigerator
The 2nd law of thermodynamics says... - Answers- Heat moves from high
concentrations to low concentrations
Which of the following is a measure of how well a material resists heat transfer? -
Answers- R-value
**Ventless fireplaces? - Answers- Must be removed before envelope air-sealing can be
performed
, The maximum sound rating for a whole-house mechanical ventilation fan is: - Answers-
1.0 sone
The components of a wall assembly have the following R-values: drywall R-1 framing R-
4 fiberglass batt insulation R-19 sheathing R-1. What is the overall R-value of the wall
assembly? - Answers- R-25
What is the maximum amount of carbon monoxide that occupants and workers can be
exposed to for one hour (according to EPA)? - Answers- 9 ppm
**The central AC component that releases heat by changing the refrigerant from a gas
into a liquid is called the - Answers- Condenser coil
What is a jumper duct used for? - Answers- To relieve the pressure difference in a room
with no return
Before you begin air sealing the envelope, it is important to make sure that: - Answers-
The gas dryer is vented to the outside
The state of mind that expresses satisfaction with the surrounding environment is called
the - Answers- Human thermal comfort
Air infiltrating through a soffit vent that blows the insulation away from outer edge of the
attic is called? - Answers- Wind-washing
This type of barrier is usually made of aluminum foil bonded to paper and is installed to
minimize the heat that transfer from the roofing assembly to the attic air. - Answers-
Radiant barrier
Mechanical equipment should be considered for replacement if it is: - Answers- more
than 15-18 years old
What is the largest cause of injury & death from gas poisoning? - Answers- Carbon
monoxide
What type of appliance extracts heat from the surrounding area air and uses it heat to
water? - Answers- Heat-pump water heater
**Heat traps are - Answers- Specially designed valves or loops of pipe that stop
convection of hot water into the water pipes above the storage tank
A horizontal framing member that supports a ceiling or floor is called: - Answers- Joist
Heat transfer through an empty space is called: - Answers- Radiation
ANSWERS
**If you find blackened areas of insulation - Answers- It likely indicates a focused
source of air movement under the insulation
One of the problems with oversized air conditioning systems is - Answers- Short-cycling
**Sealing the outer cover to the inner lining is important when installing flex ducts
because: - Answers- It keeps condensation from forming inside the duct insulation
**The most effective measure for reducing air flow, heat transfer, and moisture
movement is to - Answers- Air Seal the building envelope
**If we want to achieve energy savings and improved comfort, which of the following is
true with respect to the pressure and thermal boundaries? - Answers- The boundaries
should be aligned
An eave dam (also referred to as a soffit baffle) : - Answers- All of the above
Heat transfer by conduction is best illustrated by? - Answers- Holding a cup of hot
chocolate and feeling the heat in your hands
**Duct Sealing is: - Answers- Less important if the ducts are all within the building
envelope
**The efficiency of a furnace or boiler is usually expressed as the. - Answers- Annual
fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE)
**When water vapor is transported sheetrock or plywood, it is called - Answers-
Diffusion
Which of these home appliances typically uses the highest percentage of total home
energy used? - Answers- Refrigerator
The 2nd law of thermodynamics says... - Answers- Heat moves from high
concentrations to low concentrations
Which of the following is a measure of how well a material resists heat transfer? -
Answers- R-value
**Ventless fireplaces? - Answers- Must be removed before envelope air-sealing can be
performed
, The maximum sound rating for a whole-house mechanical ventilation fan is: - Answers-
1.0 sone
The components of a wall assembly have the following R-values: drywall R-1 framing R-
4 fiberglass batt insulation R-19 sheathing R-1. What is the overall R-value of the wall
assembly? - Answers- R-25
What is the maximum amount of carbon monoxide that occupants and workers can be
exposed to for one hour (according to EPA)? - Answers- 9 ppm
**The central AC component that releases heat by changing the refrigerant from a gas
into a liquid is called the - Answers- Condenser coil
What is a jumper duct used for? - Answers- To relieve the pressure difference in a room
with no return
Before you begin air sealing the envelope, it is important to make sure that: - Answers-
The gas dryer is vented to the outside
The state of mind that expresses satisfaction with the surrounding environment is called
the - Answers- Human thermal comfort
Air infiltrating through a soffit vent that blows the insulation away from outer edge of the
attic is called? - Answers- Wind-washing
This type of barrier is usually made of aluminum foil bonded to paper and is installed to
minimize the heat that transfer from the roofing assembly to the attic air. - Answers-
Radiant barrier
Mechanical equipment should be considered for replacement if it is: - Answers- more
than 15-18 years old
What is the largest cause of injury & death from gas poisoning? - Answers- Carbon
monoxide
What type of appliance extracts heat from the surrounding area air and uses it heat to
water? - Answers- Heat-pump water heater
**Heat traps are - Answers- Specially designed valves or loops of pipe that stop
convection of hot water into the water pipes above the storage tank
A horizontal framing member that supports a ceiling or floor is called: - Answers- Joist
Heat transfer through an empty space is called: - Answers- Radiation
