IICRC Commercial Drying Specialist (CDS) |
Actual Exam questions with Corrected Answers
What are the 5 Steps a restorer will follow during the initial visit? - ANSWER 1. Hazard
Identification & Risk Assessment 2. Preliminary Determination water category 3.
Establish dry standard(s) 4. Determine drying goal(s) 5. Identify need for specialized
experts
What do Categories of water Refer to? - ANSWER the range of contimination of Water
(Cat 1 = sanitary water source, does not pose substantial risk, e.g. water supply lines,
falling rainwater // Cat 2 = significant contamination and has the potential to cause
discomfort or sickness, e.g. overflows from washing machines, broken aquariums // Cat
3 = grossly contaminated... can cause significant adverse reactions (sewage / water back
flows)
Who determines the category of Water? - ANSWER The Restorer
Classes of water for to... - ANSWER the amount of water absorption and evaporation
load Class 1 = least, less than 5% // Class 2 = significant, 5-40% // Class 3 = greatest,
more than 40% // Class 4 = deeply held or bound water
A dry standard is... - ANSWER a reasonable approximation of the moisture content or
level of a material prior to a water intrusion"
What are drying goals? - ANSWER drying goals are target moisture levels of materials
that are determined by the restorer and are based on, though not necessarily the same
as the measured dry standard.
,TRUE/FALSE - It is recommended that most drying goal(s) be within 10% of its dry
standard. - ANSWER TRUE
If the restorer has been informed by the customer that water did not affect adjacent
areas or floors, the restorer is safe to assume that. - ANSWER FALSE - do not take the
customer's word alone, trust but verify!
Satisfactory completion of a job or partial "sign off" of a job should be obtained when... -
ANSWER returning a portion of the building to the client
The primary purpose of a closing job report is to confirm... - ANSWER that the scope of
work was completed and the drying goals were met
What must you do if you determine a change to a Cat 2/3 from a Cat 1...? - ANSWER
Document! Document - the reasons for the degradation of the category, for example,
time, temperature, visible contamination, odors
TRUE/FALSE - During inspection, do NOT check surroundings areas and floors for
undiscovered damage. Always assume. - ANSWER FALSE - always check, do not ever
assume!
Regulated, Hazardous Materials and Mold... are an important part of the water damage
project and restorers must... - ANSWER comply with applicable federal, state, provincial
and local laws and regulation.
What are some potential routes of cross-contamination...? - ANSWER elevators, HVAC
duct flows, building stack effect, foot traffic
Are Class1/2/3 different than Class 4...? If so, how? - ANSWER Class 1/2/3 = the amount
of water evaporating from porous surfaces, while Class 4 describes how slowly water
,will migrate through thick, dense materials. Bound moisture in "low evaporation
materials" migrate very slowly, requiring a different strategy.
TRUE/FALSE - When skills are required outside your expertise... do not call a specialized
expert. - ANSWER FALSE - call a professional!
What are some important questions to consider...? - ANSWER Who discovered the
water intrusion and what has been done to stop it? // What type of facility is affected?
// What is the category of the water after it has migrated through the building? // What
pre-existing damage is present or suspected? // Are there critical areas or equipment
that are priority? // What is the category of the water after it has migrated through the
building? // What is the class of saturation and evaporation? // Is the business insured
for Business Interruption (BI)? // Is there an opportunity to help secure the job by
responding quickly to a specific critical area or need? // Are regulated, hazardous
materials or mold present?
Data capture checklists and forms should be... - ANSWER easy to use // comprehensive
to cover many issues // scalable to use on all sizes of facilities
Solid Wood should be within what % of MC of dry standard (with wood calibrated
meter)...? - ANSWER 4%
Non solid wood materials ought to be with what % of the dry standard? - ANSWER 10%
According to the current IICRC S500 Standard, a restorer should establish an initial
dehumidification capacity needed on a project, but should be modified after that based
on... - ANSWER subsequent / following days of psychometric meetings
Some of the other project factors that may need to be considered in adjusting the
dehumidification requirement can be (describe at least three)... - ANSWER An agreed-
upon deadline to complete the job // Power is known to be less than adequate to serve
, the indicated inventory of equipment // The building will be occupied during the drying
process; potentially causing equipment cut-off, frequent opening of doors, higher
moisture load // A schedule imposed by the client (e.g., retail store that wants to remain
open each day) // Required pressure differential to achieve contaminant control
Sizing desiccant dehumidification in larger commercial drying applications typically
begins with determining a target... - ANSWER air changes per hour
TRUE/FALSE - The detailed method of sizing dehumidification is intended for use by
restorers and/or adjusters with any level of experience. - ANSWER FALSE - only
advanced restorers
The build-out density is a factor which considers the ability to_____________ to all
areas of a building as well as the amount of ____________ that needs to be addressed. -
ANSWER The build-out density is a factor which considers the ability to CIRCULATE DRY
AIR to all areas of a building as well as the amount of WALL MATERIALS that needs to be
addressed.
The weather impact factor considers the ______ as well as the ability of the building
envelope to ______. - ANSWER The weather impact factor considers the OUTSIDE
WEATHER as well as the ability of the building envelope to KEEP OUTSIDE AIR FROM
INFILTRATING INSIDE.
Using the "Quick Guidelines for Cooling", how many tons of air conditioning would you
use to condition 75,000 square feet of a grocery store? - ANSWER Go to the quick
guidelines... find the number, and do SQ FT / "factor"... this will get you 215
Direct expansion systems circulate refrigerant through a cold evaporator coil that cools
the air stream that is then... - ANSWER delivered via insulated ducts throughout the
building
Actual Exam questions with Corrected Answers
What are the 5 Steps a restorer will follow during the initial visit? - ANSWER 1. Hazard
Identification & Risk Assessment 2. Preliminary Determination water category 3.
Establish dry standard(s) 4. Determine drying goal(s) 5. Identify need for specialized
experts
What do Categories of water Refer to? - ANSWER the range of contimination of Water
(Cat 1 = sanitary water source, does not pose substantial risk, e.g. water supply lines,
falling rainwater // Cat 2 = significant contamination and has the potential to cause
discomfort or sickness, e.g. overflows from washing machines, broken aquariums // Cat
3 = grossly contaminated... can cause significant adverse reactions (sewage / water back
flows)
Who determines the category of Water? - ANSWER The Restorer
Classes of water for to... - ANSWER the amount of water absorption and evaporation
load Class 1 = least, less than 5% // Class 2 = significant, 5-40% // Class 3 = greatest,
more than 40% // Class 4 = deeply held or bound water
A dry standard is... - ANSWER a reasonable approximation of the moisture content or
level of a material prior to a water intrusion"
What are drying goals? - ANSWER drying goals are target moisture levels of materials
that are determined by the restorer and are based on, though not necessarily the same
as the measured dry standard.
,TRUE/FALSE - It is recommended that most drying goal(s) be within 10% of its dry
standard. - ANSWER TRUE
If the restorer has been informed by the customer that water did not affect adjacent
areas or floors, the restorer is safe to assume that. - ANSWER FALSE - do not take the
customer's word alone, trust but verify!
Satisfactory completion of a job or partial "sign off" of a job should be obtained when... -
ANSWER returning a portion of the building to the client
The primary purpose of a closing job report is to confirm... - ANSWER that the scope of
work was completed and the drying goals were met
What must you do if you determine a change to a Cat 2/3 from a Cat 1...? - ANSWER
Document! Document - the reasons for the degradation of the category, for example,
time, temperature, visible contamination, odors
TRUE/FALSE - During inspection, do NOT check surroundings areas and floors for
undiscovered damage. Always assume. - ANSWER FALSE - always check, do not ever
assume!
Regulated, Hazardous Materials and Mold... are an important part of the water damage
project and restorers must... - ANSWER comply with applicable federal, state, provincial
and local laws and regulation.
What are some potential routes of cross-contamination...? - ANSWER elevators, HVAC
duct flows, building stack effect, foot traffic
Are Class1/2/3 different than Class 4...? If so, how? - ANSWER Class 1/2/3 = the amount
of water evaporating from porous surfaces, while Class 4 describes how slowly water
,will migrate through thick, dense materials. Bound moisture in "low evaporation
materials" migrate very slowly, requiring a different strategy.
TRUE/FALSE - When skills are required outside your expertise... do not call a specialized
expert. - ANSWER FALSE - call a professional!
What are some important questions to consider...? - ANSWER Who discovered the
water intrusion and what has been done to stop it? // What type of facility is affected?
// What is the category of the water after it has migrated through the building? // What
pre-existing damage is present or suspected? // Are there critical areas or equipment
that are priority? // What is the category of the water after it has migrated through the
building? // What is the class of saturation and evaporation? // Is the business insured
for Business Interruption (BI)? // Is there an opportunity to help secure the job by
responding quickly to a specific critical area or need? // Are regulated, hazardous
materials or mold present?
Data capture checklists and forms should be... - ANSWER easy to use // comprehensive
to cover many issues // scalable to use on all sizes of facilities
Solid Wood should be within what % of MC of dry standard (with wood calibrated
meter)...? - ANSWER 4%
Non solid wood materials ought to be with what % of the dry standard? - ANSWER 10%
According to the current IICRC S500 Standard, a restorer should establish an initial
dehumidification capacity needed on a project, but should be modified after that based
on... - ANSWER subsequent / following days of psychometric meetings
Some of the other project factors that may need to be considered in adjusting the
dehumidification requirement can be (describe at least three)... - ANSWER An agreed-
upon deadline to complete the job // Power is known to be less than adequate to serve
, the indicated inventory of equipment // The building will be occupied during the drying
process; potentially causing equipment cut-off, frequent opening of doors, higher
moisture load // A schedule imposed by the client (e.g., retail store that wants to remain
open each day) // Required pressure differential to achieve contaminant control
Sizing desiccant dehumidification in larger commercial drying applications typically
begins with determining a target... - ANSWER air changes per hour
TRUE/FALSE - The detailed method of sizing dehumidification is intended for use by
restorers and/or adjusters with any level of experience. - ANSWER FALSE - only
advanced restorers
The build-out density is a factor which considers the ability to_____________ to all
areas of a building as well as the amount of ____________ that needs to be addressed. -
ANSWER The build-out density is a factor which considers the ability to CIRCULATE DRY
AIR to all areas of a building as well as the amount of WALL MATERIALS that needs to be
addressed.
The weather impact factor considers the ______ as well as the ability of the building
envelope to ______. - ANSWER The weather impact factor considers the OUTSIDE
WEATHER as well as the ability of the building envelope to KEEP OUTSIDE AIR FROM
INFILTRATING INSIDE.
Using the "Quick Guidelines for Cooling", how many tons of air conditioning would you
use to condition 75,000 square feet of a grocery store? - ANSWER Go to the quick
guidelines... find the number, and do SQ FT / "factor"... this will get you 215
Direct expansion systems circulate refrigerant through a cold evaporator coil that cools
the air stream that is then... - ANSWER delivered via insulated ducts throughout the
building
