CO Support Systems Contractor Exam
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary function of a support system in construction?
A. To decorate the building
B. To provide temporary structural stability
C. To increase energy efficiency
D. To reduce construction costs
B. To provide temporary structural stability
Rationale: Support systems are primarily used to ensure structural
elements remain stable during construction or modification.
2. Which type of shoring is commonly used for vertical excavation walls?
A. Flying buttress
B. Hydraulic shoring
C. Cantilever shoring
D. Raking shoring
B. Hydraulic shoring
Rationale: Hydraulic shoring uses adjustable hydraulic pistons to
support excavation walls safely and efficiently.
3. When installing a support system, what is the most important safety
consideration?
A. Color of materials
B. Proper load capacity and placement
C. Cost of materials
D. Duration of the project
B. Proper load capacity and placement
, Rationale: Ensuring that support systems can bear the intended loads
and are correctly positioned is critical for safety.
4. What is a common material used for temporary supports?
A. Glass
B. Wood
C. Aluminum foil
D. Asphalt
B. Wood
Rationale: Wood is commonly used due to its strength, availability,
and ease of assembly for temporary supports.
5. Which of the following is a method of underpinning?
A. Jacketing
B. Scaffolding
C. Cribbing
D. Tunneling
A. Jacketing
Rationale: Jacketing involves reinforcing the foundation of a
structure to increase its load-bearing capacity.
6. In designing a support system, which factor is least relevant?
A. Soil type
B. Building height
C. Local weather conditions
D. Paint color
D. Paint color
Rationale: While soil type, building height, and weather affect
support design, paint color has no structural impact.
7. What type of support is typically used for wall formwork?
A. Flying buttress
B. Formwork shores
C. Tieback anchors
D. Cantilever beams
B. Formwork shores
Rationale: Formwork shores are used to support vertical wall forms
during concrete pouring until the concrete sets.
8. The allowable load on a support system must always be:
A. Equal to the expected load
B. Less than the expected load
, C. Greater than the expected load
D. Ignored if temporary
C. Greater than the expected load
Rationale: Supports must be designed with a safety factor to handle
loads greater than the expected to prevent failure.
9. What is a key advantage of modular support systems?
A. They are disposable
B. Quick assembly and flexibility
C. Require special tools only
D. Do not need inspection
B. Quick assembly and flexibility
Rationale: Modular systems allow fast setup and can be adjusted for
different configurations efficiently.
10. Which type of support is used to stabilize a trench?
A. Trench boxes
B. Cantilever beams
C. Joists
D. Scaffolds
A. Trench boxes
Rationale: Trench boxes protect workers by preventing trench walls
from collapsing.
11. Raking shores are typically used to:
A. Support horizontal slabs
B. Provide lateral support to leaning walls
C. Decorate facades
D. Anchor roofs
B. Provide lateral support to leaning walls
Rationale: Raking shores are angled supports that prevent walls from
tipping sideways.
12. In support system planning, live load refers to:
A. The weight of the structure itself
B. Temporary forces like workers or equipment
C. Wind and seismic forces only
D. Foundation settlement
B. Temporary forces like workers or equipment
Rationale: Live loads are transient forces acting on the structure
during construction.
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary function of a support system in construction?
A. To decorate the building
B. To provide temporary structural stability
C. To increase energy efficiency
D. To reduce construction costs
B. To provide temporary structural stability
Rationale: Support systems are primarily used to ensure structural
elements remain stable during construction or modification.
2. Which type of shoring is commonly used for vertical excavation walls?
A. Flying buttress
B. Hydraulic shoring
C. Cantilever shoring
D. Raking shoring
B. Hydraulic shoring
Rationale: Hydraulic shoring uses adjustable hydraulic pistons to
support excavation walls safely and efficiently.
3. When installing a support system, what is the most important safety
consideration?
A. Color of materials
B. Proper load capacity and placement
C. Cost of materials
D. Duration of the project
B. Proper load capacity and placement
, Rationale: Ensuring that support systems can bear the intended loads
and are correctly positioned is critical for safety.
4. What is a common material used for temporary supports?
A. Glass
B. Wood
C. Aluminum foil
D. Asphalt
B. Wood
Rationale: Wood is commonly used due to its strength, availability,
and ease of assembly for temporary supports.
5. Which of the following is a method of underpinning?
A. Jacketing
B. Scaffolding
C. Cribbing
D. Tunneling
A. Jacketing
Rationale: Jacketing involves reinforcing the foundation of a
structure to increase its load-bearing capacity.
6. In designing a support system, which factor is least relevant?
A. Soil type
B. Building height
C. Local weather conditions
D. Paint color
D. Paint color
Rationale: While soil type, building height, and weather affect
support design, paint color has no structural impact.
7. What type of support is typically used for wall formwork?
A. Flying buttress
B. Formwork shores
C. Tieback anchors
D. Cantilever beams
B. Formwork shores
Rationale: Formwork shores are used to support vertical wall forms
during concrete pouring until the concrete sets.
8. The allowable load on a support system must always be:
A. Equal to the expected load
B. Less than the expected load
, C. Greater than the expected load
D. Ignored if temporary
C. Greater than the expected load
Rationale: Supports must be designed with a safety factor to handle
loads greater than the expected to prevent failure.
9. What is a key advantage of modular support systems?
A. They are disposable
B. Quick assembly and flexibility
C. Require special tools only
D. Do not need inspection
B. Quick assembly and flexibility
Rationale: Modular systems allow fast setup and can be adjusted for
different configurations efficiently.
10. Which type of support is used to stabilize a trench?
A. Trench boxes
B. Cantilever beams
C. Joists
D. Scaffolds
A. Trench boxes
Rationale: Trench boxes protect workers by preventing trench walls
from collapsing.
11. Raking shores are typically used to:
A. Support horizontal slabs
B. Provide lateral support to leaning walls
C. Decorate facades
D. Anchor roofs
B. Provide lateral support to leaning walls
Rationale: Raking shores are angled supports that prevent walls from
tipping sideways.
12. In support system planning, live load refers to:
A. The weight of the structure itself
B. Temporary forces like workers or equipment
C. Wind and seismic forces only
D. Foundation settlement
B. Temporary forces like workers or equipment
Rationale: Live loads are transient forces acting on the structure
during construction.
