BUILDING TECHNOLOGY – EXAMINATION 2026
COMPREHENSIVE STRUCTURAL, CONSTRUCTION, MATERIALS, AND
BUILDING SERVICES KNOWLEDGE
FOUNDATIONAL AND INTERMEDIATE LEVEL ASSESSMENT COVERING
BUILDING DESIGN PRINCIPLES, FIRE SAFETY, CONSTRUCTION
METHODS, AND BUILDING PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS
SPRING SEMESTER EXAM [2025/2026]
What are the aspects of providing a protected means of egress?
1) enough time to escape or places of refuge
2) need to protect the escape route from fire, heat, and smoke
3) need non-confusing circulation patterns so occupants can find exits easily, marked with exit
signs
What are different ways of compartmentalizing?
1) Preventing vertical spread (avoid open shafts and stairs)
2) Preventing horizontal spread with area separation walls
3) Protecting the means of egress
1
4) Protecting structural elements of steel and wood
Page
, What are the different kinds of automatic suppression?
4 variations of automatic sprinkler systems:
1) Wet pipe system: the most common; water under pressure with closed heads, which will
open when subjected to high heat
2) Dry pipe system: pipes filled with air under pressure; when a sprinkler head opens as a result
of exposure to high heat, gas pressure in the pipes is reduced, triggering the pipes to fill with
water (useful for conditions where water might freeze in pipes)
3) Pre-action system: Water held from piping by an electrically operated valve (pre-action
valve); valve is controlled by independent flame, heat, or smoke detection
4) Deluge system: sprinkler heads permanently open; water is released when fire is detected
(used in severe fire hazard areas)
What are the four aspects of site planning for fire safety?
1) Access for the fire department (best if they can access all sides of the building)
2) Parapets: building elements but protect the building's roof from fires originating off-site
3) Blank walls, or walls with limited "unprotected openings" required at or near property lines
4) Fire hydrants
Who dictates the building codes and zoning ordinances in the US?
2
States have the ability to impose building codes and zoning ordinances. Many states have
Page
recently adopted their own building codes.
, Which building code has been adopted by all 50 states?
The International Building Code (IBC). This is a de facto national code, even though each state
may make modifications.
What are the domains of building code and zoning?
Building code: fire safety, accessibility, structural safety
Zoning: property limitations such as minimum property size, allowable property use
(occupancies), building height, bulk, massing, floor-area ratio, parking, setbacks (yards)
Where can occupancy groups be found in the IBC?
Chapter 3
What does table 601 of the IBC show?
Fire-resistance rating requirements for building elements (in hours) based on construction type
(Types I-V)
3
Page
, What do tables 602 and 705.8 of the IBC show?
602 shows the required rating (number of hours) for exterior walls based on their frontage from
the property line. 705.8 tells the percentages of allowable openings in exterior walls
What is the distance (in feet) from the site line required to have maximum frontage?
30'
What is the calculation for the allowable area for single-occupancy buildings?
Aa = At + NS x If
(At is the "tabular" area factor found in table 506.2
NS is the tabular area factor for a non-sprinklered building (even if the building is actually
sprinklered)
If is the area factor due to frontage)
Which construction type do tall buildings have to have and why?
Type I because the total allowable building area is unlimited
4
Page
Which is the safest building type? Which is the least safe?
COMPREHENSIVE STRUCTURAL, CONSTRUCTION, MATERIALS, AND
BUILDING SERVICES KNOWLEDGE
FOUNDATIONAL AND INTERMEDIATE LEVEL ASSESSMENT COVERING
BUILDING DESIGN PRINCIPLES, FIRE SAFETY, CONSTRUCTION
METHODS, AND BUILDING PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS
SPRING SEMESTER EXAM [2025/2026]
What are the aspects of providing a protected means of egress?
1) enough time to escape or places of refuge
2) need to protect the escape route from fire, heat, and smoke
3) need non-confusing circulation patterns so occupants can find exits easily, marked with exit
signs
What are different ways of compartmentalizing?
1) Preventing vertical spread (avoid open shafts and stairs)
2) Preventing horizontal spread with area separation walls
3) Protecting the means of egress
1
4) Protecting structural elements of steel and wood
Page
, What are the different kinds of automatic suppression?
4 variations of automatic sprinkler systems:
1) Wet pipe system: the most common; water under pressure with closed heads, which will
open when subjected to high heat
2) Dry pipe system: pipes filled with air under pressure; when a sprinkler head opens as a result
of exposure to high heat, gas pressure in the pipes is reduced, triggering the pipes to fill with
water (useful for conditions where water might freeze in pipes)
3) Pre-action system: Water held from piping by an electrically operated valve (pre-action
valve); valve is controlled by independent flame, heat, or smoke detection
4) Deluge system: sprinkler heads permanently open; water is released when fire is detected
(used in severe fire hazard areas)
What are the four aspects of site planning for fire safety?
1) Access for the fire department (best if they can access all sides of the building)
2) Parapets: building elements but protect the building's roof from fires originating off-site
3) Blank walls, or walls with limited "unprotected openings" required at or near property lines
4) Fire hydrants
Who dictates the building codes and zoning ordinances in the US?
2
States have the ability to impose building codes and zoning ordinances. Many states have
Page
recently adopted their own building codes.
, Which building code has been adopted by all 50 states?
The International Building Code (IBC). This is a de facto national code, even though each state
may make modifications.
What are the domains of building code and zoning?
Building code: fire safety, accessibility, structural safety
Zoning: property limitations such as minimum property size, allowable property use
(occupancies), building height, bulk, massing, floor-area ratio, parking, setbacks (yards)
Where can occupancy groups be found in the IBC?
Chapter 3
What does table 601 of the IBC show?
Fire-resistance rating requirements for building elements (in hours) based on construction type
(Types I-V)
3
Page
, What do tables 602 and 705.8 of the IBC show?
602 shows the required rating (number of hours) for exterior walls based on their frontage from
the property line. 705.8 tells the percentages of allowable openings in exterior walls
What is the distance (in feet) from the site line required to have maximum frontage?
30'
What is the calculation for the allowable area for single-occupancy buildings?
Aa = At + NS x If
(At is the "tabular" area factor found in table 506.2
NS is the tabular area factor for a non-sprinklered building (even if the building is actually
sprinklered)
If is the area factor due to frontage)
Which construction type do tall buildings have to have and why?
Type I because the total allowable building area is unlimited
4
Page
Which is the safest building type? Which is the least safe?
