EXAC Study Cards
How much liability insurance is an architect in Canada required to have? - Answer: AIBC Bulletin
66, AIBC Bylaw 16.3 & Architect's Act
Depends on the province; in BC Architects are not required to have any liability insurance
according to AIBC Bylaw 16.2d but Bulletin 66 requires that (before entering into an agreement
to provide architectural services) a Certificate of Practice holder must notify the client in writing
whether or not professional liability insurance is held and under what terms.
Section 24.2h in the Architect's Act states that an institute's bylaws may or may not include
requirements for liability insurance; in BC, there is no requirement.
What resources are available to an architect to produce a project cost estimate? - Answer:
CHOP 2.3.3, Techniques
There are various types of cost consultants and/or resources available to the architect to
produce a reliable estimate if they do not have the expertise or resources to produce one in-
house.
Quantity Surveyors - provide professional service at hourly rates, or at a fixed or percentage fee
of the construction budget.
Construction Managers and other Development/Construction Experts - Other sources of
expertise directly from the construction industry include construction managers, contractors,
design-builders, and developers.
Construction Price Index - data usually published by government agencies and private
companies. These publications are useful only as a guide to show trends; usually some months
out-of-date; often presented in graph form for ease of communication.
Publications - available from government agencies, private interest groups, private companies,
and quantity surveyors. The
,EXAC Study Cards
information comes in printed or electronic form, and the cost varies considerably depending on
the amount of detail, completeness, and ease of use. Data from government agencies are more
useful for identifying trends and differences in national, regional, and local costs than for
calculating the cost of a specific building.
What Factors influence construction cost? (12 answers... If you dare!) - Answer: CHOP 2.3.3,
Factors Affecting Cost
1. Type of project
2. Overhead
3. Profit
4. Market Conditions
5. Difficult Access
6. Fast schedule
7. Escalation/Inflation
8. Tax
9. Season and Weather
10. Change in functional program
11. Contingency
12. Regulations
What are 3 different methods of construction estimation? - Answer: CHOP 2.3.3, Methods of
Preparing Cost Estimates & Hanscomb Yardstick for Costing, 2004
1. Composite unit rates (broken into specification sections)
Uses very simplified historic data as a basis for calculating cost. Only reliable if the historic data
is comparable.
,EXAC Study Cards
2. Gross building costs or area calculation (least accurate)
Cost per m2 or per ft2. Architects should limit the use of this basic information by using it only
as a general guide at the pre-design stage.
3. Elemental building costs (most comprehensive)
Quantity surveyors often use this method as the standard format for presenting cost
information. It divides the building into major elements such as structure, exterior closure; and
then applies relevant cost information from similar projects.
What is the purpose of progressive release of holdbacks? - Answer: This allows the release of
holdbacks to subcontractors or suppliers in advance of the substantial performance of the work.
what are 5 examples of additional services not covered under RAIC document 6? - Answer: 1.
feasibility studies
2. business cases
3. functional programming
4. submissions to authorities
5. life cycle cost studies
what are 3 advantages of water heating distribution systems? - Answer: 1. compact, easily
hidden
2. can be combined with domestic hot water systems
3. good for radiant floor heating.
what are 4 advantages of electric heating systems? - Answer: 1. most compact
2. quick response to temperature changes
3. easily zoned
4. low initial cost
, EXAC Study Cards
What are three advantages of air heat distribution? - Answer: 1.quick response
2.can also perform ventilation, cooling, humidity control and filtering.
3. no equipment in rooms
What buildings require the services of an architect? - Answer: AIBC Bulletin 31
Under Section 60 of the Architects Act...
Group A (Part 3) - Public Assembly:
-- any one-storey building with an unsupported span exceeding 9 m or gross area exceeding 275
m²;
-- any building of more than one storey with gross area exceeding 235 m²; and
-- all schools, any size
Group B - (Part 3) - Hospital, Sanatorium, or Home for the Aged, Institutional:
-- any building (excluding veterinary hospital) with a
capacity exceeding 12 beds
-- any building with gross area exceeding 470 m²
Group C - Residential, Hotel or similar occupancy:
-- any building containing 5 or more dwelling units
-- any building containing 11 or more guest rooms
Group D & E - Commercial:
-- any building with gross area exceeding 470 m²
How much liability insurance is an architect in Canada required to have? - Answer: AIBC Bulletin
66, AIBC Bylaw 16.3 & Architect's Act
Depends on the province; in BC Architects are not required to have any liability insurance
according to AIBC Bylaw 16.2d but Bulletin 66 requires that (before entering into an agreement
to provide architectural services) a Certificate of Practice holder must notify the client in writing
whether or not professional liability insurance is held and under what terms.
Section 24.2h in the Architect's Act states that an institute's bylaws may or may not include
requirements for liability insurance; in BC, there is no requirement.
What resources are available to an architect to produce a project cost estimate? - Answer:
CHOP 2.3.3, Techniques
There are various types of cost consultants and/or resources available to the architect to
produce a reliable estimate if they do not have the expertise or resources to produce one in-
house.
Quantity Surveyors - provide professional service at hourly rates, or at a fixed or percentage fee
of the construction budget.
Construction Managers and other Development/Construction Experts - Other sources of
expertise directly from the construction industry include construction managers, contractors,
design-builders, and developers.
Construction Price Index - data usually published by government agencies and private
companies. These publications are useful only as a guide to show trends; usually some months
out-of-date; often presented in graph form for ease of communication.
Publications - available from government agencies, private interest groups, private companies,
and quantity surveyors. The
,EXAC Study Cards
information comes in printed or electronic form, and the cost varies considerably depending on
the amount of detail, completeness, and ease of use. Data from government agencies are more
useful for identifying trends and differences in national, regional, and local costs than for
calculating the cost of a specific building.
What Factors influence construction cost? (12 answers... If you dare!) - Answer: CHOP 2.3.3,
Factors Affecting Cost
1. Type of project
2. Overhead
3. Profit
4. Market Conditions
5. Difficult Access
6. Fast schedule
7. Escalation/Inflation
8. Tax
9. Season and Weather
10. Change in functional program
11. Contingency
12. Regulations
What are 3 different methods of construction estimation? - Answer: CHOP 2.3.3, Methods of
Preparing Cost Estimates & Hanscomb Yardstick for Costing, 2004
1. Composite unit rates (broken into specification sections)
Uses very simplified historic data as a basis for calculating cost. Only reliable if the historic data
is comparable.
,EXAC Study Cards
2. Gross building costs or area calculation (least accurate)
Cost per m2 or per ft2. Architects should limit the use of this basic information by using it only
as a general guide at the pre-design stage.
3. Elemental building costs (most comprehensive)
Quantity surveyors often use this method as the standard format for presenting cost
information. It divides the building into major elements such as structure, exterior closure; and
then applies relevant cost information from similar projects.
What is the purpose of progressive release of holdbacks? - Answer: This allows the release of
holdbacks to subcontractors or suppliers in advance of the substantial performance of the work.
what are 5 examples of additional services not covered under RAIC document 6? - Answer: 1.
feasibility studies
2. business cases
3. functional programming
4. submissions to authorities
5. life cycle cost studies
what are 3 advantages of water heating distribution systems? - Answer: 1. compact, easily
hidden
2. can be combined with domestic hot water systems
3. good for radiant floor heating.
what are 4 advantages of electric heating systems? - Answer: 1. most compact
2. quick response to temperature changes
3. easily zoned
4. low initial cost
, EXAC Study Cards
What are three advantages of air heat distribution? - Answer: 1.quick response
2.can also perform ventilation, cooling, humidity control and filtering.
3. no equipment in rooms
What buildings require the services of an architect? - Answer: AIBC Bulletin 31
Under Section 60 of the Architects Act...
Group A (Part 3) - Public Assembly:
-- any one-storey building with an unsupported span exceeding 9 m or gross area exceeding 275
m²;
-- any building of more than one storey with gross area exceeding 235 m²; and
-- all schools, any size
Group B - (Part 3) - Hospital, Sanatorium, or Home for the Aged, Institutional:
-- any building (excluding veterinary hospital) with a
capacity exceeding 12 beds
-- any building with gross area exceeding 470 m²
Group C - Residential, Hotel or similar occupancy:
-- any building containing 5 or more dwelling units
-- any building containing 11 or more guest rooms
Group D & E - Commercial:
-- any building with gross area exceeding 470 m²
