Previous Gate Questions:

Q. Fire tower is [Gate 1997]

a] An arrangement of pipes b] A tower open to sky
c] A spiral chute d] An enclosure stair case

Q. State the special considerations for the fire-fighting measures for an auditorium.
[Gate 1998]

Q. For large and closed buildings, the fire hydrants should be located at distances of
a] 90 – 120 metres b] 50 – 80 metres [Gate 2001]
c] 120 – 150 metres d] 150 – 300 metres

Q. What is the rate of ventilation due to wind action if the free area of the window is 1 sq.m. and
the wind speed is 1 m/hr. Assume the wind to be perpendicular to the window.
a] 1.0 cu.m./hour b] 0.6 cu.m./hour [Gate 2001]
c] 0.3 cu.m./hour d] 0.1 cu.m./hour

Q. The Dampers placed in the air conditioning ducts are provided to control the [2001]
a] Velocity and volume of air b] Exhaust air and velocity
c] Foul air and exhaust air d] Volume of air and foul air

Q. The color code for the storage of objects with radiation hazards according to the occupational
safety hazards act (OSHA) is [Gate 2002]
a] red with black b] purple with yellow
c] orange with blue d] green with white

Q. The duct size for an air conditioning system is dependent on amount of air flow and its
a] velocity b] temperature [Gate 2002]
c] relative humidity d] latent heat

Q. Ideal width to depth ratio of an air-conditioning duct is [Gate 2003]

a] 1: 6 b] 3: 1 c] 1: 3 d] 6: 1 Ans: C
Q. Select the items in the group 1, which matches most appropriately with items of group 2
[Gate 2004]
P. Air delivery system 1. Adsorption
Q. Air distribution system 2. Dampers
R. Dehumidification 3. Spray washers
4. Diffusers
5. Dry filter
a] P-1, Q-3, R-5 b] P-2, Q-4, R-1
c] P-2, Q-4, R-3 d] P-1, Q-2. R-3

Q. The fire rating of reinforced glass doors is expressed in [Gate 2006]

a] kcal b] hour
c] watt d] lux

Q. A typical fire-fighting underground static tank for a 20 m high building should have pump
capacity of [Gate 2006]
a] 2400 lit/hour and pressure of 3.0 N/mm 2
b] 2400gallons/hour and pressure of 0.3 N/mm2
c] 2400 gallons/min and pressure of 3.0 N/mm 2
d] 2400 lit/min and pressure of 0.3 N/mm 2 Ans: B

Q. Match the statements about elevators & escalators in Group I with True/False in Group II.
[Gate 2007]
Group I Group II
P. Handling capacity of elevators for residential buildings as per 1. True
Indian standards is 7.5% 2. False
Q. Minimum height from the top floor to the bottom of the lift
Machine Room should be 3,000 mm
R. Minimum width for escalators as per Indian standards is 1,000 mm
S. Recommended angle with the horizontal for escalators is 30 0
a] P-1, Q-2, R-1, S-2 b] P-2, Q-2, R-2, S-1
c] P-2, Q-1, R-1, S-1 d] P-1, Q-2, R-2, S-1

Q. Function of Air Handling Unit in a building is to [Gate 2008]

a] purify and re-circulate the cool air.
b] Supply purified bulk of air from outside to the window air-conditioner.
c] Collect the stale air from the room and throw it outside the building.
d] Act as a container in which air is carried from one place to the other.

Q. Heating, cooling and ventilation in passive system designs are dependent on [2008]
a] differences in standards of active energy systems and amount of sunlight.
b] Quality of insulation and quantity of glazing.
c] Mechanical ventilation and the floor height of the building.
d] Daylight factor and energy from mechanical systems.
Q. Recommended temperature and fresh air flow for HVAC systems in office buildings in India
are [Gate 2008]
a] 210C with maximum of 300C in summer and 250C in winter, with fresh air provisions
of 18-22 litres per second per person.
b] 200C with maximum of 320C in summer and 360C in winter, with fresh air provisions
of 28-32 litres per second per person.
c] 300C with maximum of 360C in summer and 320C in winter, with fresh air provisions
of 38-42 litres per second per person.
d] 210C with maximum of 240C in summer and 220C in winter, with fresh air provisions
of 8-12 litres per second per person. Ans: D

Q. Match the following: [Gate 2008]

Group I Group II
P. Dumbwaiter 1. Opening
Q. Comb-plate 2. Escalator
R. Co-axial cable 3. Elevator
S. Transom 4. Data Signal
a] P-1, Q-2, R-3, S-4 b] P-3, Q-2, R-4, S-1
c] P-2, Q-1, R-4, S-3 d] P-4, Q-3, R-1, S-2

Q. Linked Answer Questions: [Gate 2008]

1. If a bedroom of 3m  3m  3m requires 3 air-changes per hour, and difference in temperature

between inside and outside ( T ) = 120C, then Ventilation Heat Flow Rate (Qv) will be
a] 0.12 kW b] 0.35 kW c] 0.70 kW d] 1.17 kW

2. For a given air velocity of 2m/s, the necessary cross-sectional area of supply-duct will be:
a] 0.0375 sq.m. b] 0.0225 sq.m.
c] 0.0113 sq.m. d] 0.0037 sq.m.

Q. A microwave oven of 3 kW rating is operated for 30 minutes, a hot water geyser of 1 kW

rating is operated for 15 minutes, and 5 fluorescent lamps of 60W are operated for 6 hours. The
total power consumed (i.e. kWh) will be [Gate 2009]
a] 1.80 b] 3.55 c] 18.01 d] 35.50

Q. Busway, Busduct and Raceway are components of [Gate 2011]

a] Security systems b] Air conditioning systems
c] Electrical systems d] Water supply systems Ans: C

Q. A classroom of 12m x 25m x 4m requires 3 air changes per hour. At an air velocity of 2 m/s,
the necessary duct cross section (in m2 ) is [Gate 2012]
(A) 0.50 (B) 0.75 (C) 1.00 (D) 1.25
Q. Star rating of an Air Conditioner is determined by its [Gate 2013]
(A) Power Consumption (B) Energy Efficiency Ratio
(C) Cooling Capacity (D) Power of Compressor

Q. If the area coverage of one sprinkler is 20 m2 , with a maximum and minimum spacing of 4.6
m and 1.8 m respectively, the minimum number of sprinklers required to be arranged in a regular
orthogonal grid to cover the area of a 15 m x 20 m room would be _______. [Gate 2013]

Q. In escalators, the angle of inclination with the horizontal plane should be in the range of
[Gate 2014]
(A) 10°-20° (B) 20°-30° (C) 30°-35° (D) 35°-45°

Q. A refuse collection system consisting of two chutes is to be provided in a 20 storied

residential building with 2 flats/floor (average family size = 5) and with each chute serving one
flat on each floor. Average quantity of refuse and its density are 880 g/person/day and 240 kg/m3
respectively. If the cleaning interval is two days, then the minimum size of the refuse container
(litre) at the bottom of each chute is _______________ [Gate 2014]

Q. In a dance hall the indoor and outdoor temperatures are 28°C and 18°C respectively. There is
an internal heat gain of 5 kW and the specific heat of air (on volume basis) is 1300 J/m 3 °C, then
the necessary cross sectional area (m2 ) of a duct with an air velocity of 2 m/s required for
cooling by ventilation is ____________ [Gate 2014]

Q. As per fire-safety norms of NBC India for buildings having assembly and institutional
occupancies, the maximum travel distance in meters to an exit from the dead end of a corridor is
[Gate 2015]
a] 30 b] 24 c] 12 d] 6

Q. A room is mechanically ventilated through four air-conditioning ducts. The opening area of
each duct is 0.35 sqm. The air velocity in the duct is 0.5 m/s. The temperature difference
between the ambient air and supply air is 10 °C. Volumetric specific heat of air is 1250 J/m 3 °C.
Assuming one Ton of refrigeration (TR) equals 3.5 kW, the cooling load of the room in TR will
be ___________ [Gate 2016]
Q. In a 20 storey building with 3m floor to floor height, a passenger lift is hoisted by a steel rope.
Weight of the lift car is 750 kg and ultimate load the steel rope can carry is 39,000 kg. Assuming
a factor of safety of 20 for the steel rope and an average passenger weight of 75 kg, the passenger
capacity of the lift is ____________ [Gate 2016]

Q. A room measures 3 m (width) x 4 m (length) x 3 m (height). The outdoor temperature is 36 0C.

The volumetric specific heat of air is 1300 J/cu.m. 0C. The ventilation heat flow rate in Watts
required to attain an internal room temperature of 260C with 3 air changes per hour is
____________ [Gate 2017]