Building Enclosure, Water Penetration, and Glass
Types: Key Concepts for Architecture | Actual
Exam Questions and Correct Answers | Verified
Answers
What are the primary functions of the building enclosure? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------To control water, heat, air, and daylight and solar radiation.
What three conditions must exist for liquid water to penetrate an enclosure? ------
---CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Water at the surface, an opening, and a force to
move water.
How does a barrier wall keep water out? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------By
eliminating openings at a surface.
How does a mass wall manage rain? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------By
storing and later releasing water.
What is typically the last line of defense in a rainscreen assembly? ---------
CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Water-resistive membrane at back of cavity.
,How do pressure-equalized joints reduce rain penetration? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------By matching exterior pressure with a sealed chamber.
What is the RSI value when converting R-13 (U.S.)? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-------
----------2.29.
In which framing type do thermal bridges most reduce effective R-value? ---------
CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Metal framing.
What is the primary benefit of continuous insulation (CI)? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Blocking thermal bridges.
What is the new U-value when adding R-6 CI to a wall with effective R = 12? --------
-CORRECT ANSWER-----------------0.056.
What is the air-barrier material criterion for air permeance? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Air permeance ≤ 0.004 cfm/ft² @ 1.57 psf.
,What drives air leakage? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Wind, stack effect,
and mechanical systems.
What is the limit for Class II vapor retarders? ---------CORRECT ANSWER---------------
--1 perm.
Where should vapor retarders be located in cold climates? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Near the interior (warm-in-winter) side.
What is the total R-value of a simple series wall with layers R's: 0.45 + 13 + 0.5 +
0.8 + 0.85? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Approximately 15.6.
What is the risk of selecting a Class I interior vapor retarder in a hot-humid, air-
conditioned building? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Moisture
entrapment.
What force does the capillary break strategy address? ---------CORRECT ANSWER---
--------------Capillary tension.
What does a drip edge at a sill primarily defeat? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------
------Capillary action.
, What is the conversion of RSI 3.2 to R (U.S.)? ---------CORRECT ANSWER---------------
--18.2.
What is a fluid-applied, vapor-permeable air barrier that tests at 0.0003 cfm/ft² @
1.57 psf? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Acceptable air-barrier material.
Where are weeps and end-dammed flashings required? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Wherever the cavity is interrupted.
What additional R-value is needed if the target U = 0.050 and current R_eff = 12? -
--------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------8.
What does a product tested at 0.03 L/s·m² @ 75 Pa indicate? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Not acceptable.
What are the three classic rain forces countered by joint geometry and detailing?
---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Gravity, momentum, and surface/capillary
tensions.
Types: Key Concepts for Architecture | Actual
Exam Questions and Correct Answers | Verified
Answers
What are the primary functions of the building enclosure? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------To control water, heat, air, and daylight and solar radiation.
What three conditions must exist for liquid water to penetrate an enclosure? ------
---CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Water at the surface, an opening, and a force to
move water.
How does a barrier wall keep water out? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------By
eliminating openings at a surface.
How does a mass wall manage rain? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------By
storing and later releasing water.
What is typically the last line of defense in a rainscreen assembly? ---------
CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Water-resistive membrane at back of cavity.
,How do pressure-equalized joints reduce rain penetration? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------By matching exterior pressure with a sealed chamber.
What is the RSI value when converting R-13 (U.S.)? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-------
----------2.29.
In which framing type do thermal bridges most reduce effective R-value? ---------
CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Metal framing.
What is the primary benefit of continuous insulation (CI)? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Blocking thermal bridges.
What is the new U-value when adding R-6 CI to a wall with effective R = 12? --------
-CORRECT ANSWER-----------------0.056.
What is the air-barrier material criterion for air permeance? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Air permeance ≤ 0.004 cfm/ft² @ 1.57 psf.
,What drives air leakage? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Wind, stack effect,
and mechanical systems.
What is the limit for Class II vapor retarders? ---------CORRECT ANSWER---------------
--1 perm.
Where should vapor retarders be located in cold climates? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Near the interior (warm-in-winter) side.
What is the total R-value of a simple series wall with layers R's: 0.45 + 13 + 0.5 +
0.8 + 0.85? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Approximately 15.6.
What is the risk of selecting a Class I interior vapor retarder in a hot-humid, air-
conditioned building? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Moisture
entrapment.
What force does the capillary break strategy address? ---------CORRECT ANSWER---
--------------Capillary tension.
What does a drip edge at a sill primarily defeat? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------
------Capillary action.
, What is the conversion of RSI 3.2 to R (U.S.)? ---------CORRECT ANSWER---------------
--18.2.
What is a fluid-applied, vapor-permeable air barrier that tests at 0.0003 cfm/ft² @
1.57 psf? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Acceptable air-barrier material.
Where are weeps and end-dammed flashings required? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Wherever the cavity is interrupted.
What additional R-value is needed if the target U = 0.050 and current R_eff = 12? -
--------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------8.
What does a product tested at 0.03 L/s·m² @ 75 Pa indicate? ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Not acceptable.
What are the three classic rain forces countered by joint geometry and detailing?
---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Gravity, momentum, and surface/capillary
tensions.
