Building Utilities

Taken from UST Architecture Undergraduate Assessment Test

(USAT)
by Arch. Rafael Alli
Recommended review material for UST Preboard Exam
Prepared by: arkireviewph.multiply.com
.

1.Mho as used in electrical

systems calculation is defined
as _______.
a. the reciprocal of ohm
b. A unit of inductance
c. A unit of resistance
d. The reciprocal of siemen
 OHM - is a unit of resistance
.
2. A unit of mechanical power is
horsepower. What is electrical
power?
a. Watt
b. Volt-ampere
c. Ampere
d. Both a and b
 Volt-ampere : volt-electrical potential
Ampere: electrical current
3. The following are basic component
parts of an escalator except____.
a. Balustrade assembly
b. Continuous belt
c. Step assembly
d. governor
4. In lighting and illumination
calculation, what is the unit for lux?
a. 1/ candela per sq.m.
b. 1 lumen per sq.m.
c. 1/ candela per sq.ft.
d. 1 lumen per sq.ft.
 Candela - SI unit of light intensity
SI unit - one of the basic units of the
International System of Units
1 lumen per square foot - foot candle
5. The first section of water supply
piping in a building after the water
meter.
a. Water main
b. Water distributing pipe
c. Building supply pipe
d. Water service pipe
 Water service pipe - comes before
the service meter.
6. Tesla is the unit of____.
a. Magnetic flux
b. Magnetic induction
c. Both a and b
d. None of these
7. In Inverse Square Law, it states that:
sound intensity ______ the square
of the distance from the source.
a. Varies inversely with
b. Varies proportionally with
c. Is equal to
d. Is less than 2
L1 = (d2)
L2 (d1)
8. Which of the following is not a
component of a hydraulic elevator?
a. Plunger
b. Oil reservoir
c. Gate valve
d. counterweight
9. A bathroom containing a water
closet, a lavatory, and a bathtub.
a. Full bath
b. Half bath
c. Three quarter bath
d. Quarter bath
10. The following are elements of
centralized airconditioning system
except _______.
a. Air handling unit
b. Control equipment
c. Method of cooling
d. All of these
11. Acoustics is a science that
concerns with ______.
a. Transmission of sound
b. Effect of sound waves
c. Generation of sound
d. All of the above
12. A valve in which the flow of water is cut
off by means of a circular disk that fits
against the valve seat. The plane of
movement of the disk is parallel to the
normal direction of flow of water, which
is turned through a tortuous passage to
direct the flow normal to the face of the
disk.
a. Gate valve
b. Check valve
c. Globe valve
d. Angle valve
13. A transformer is ______.
a. An ac device
b. A dc device
c. A mechanical device used to step
up or step down voltage in ac
d. Both a and c
14. A factor used in calculating cooling
load that includes heat transferred
from walls, doors, ceilings, etc. is
known as _____.
a. Solar load
b. Infiltration and ventilation load
c. Thermal load
d. Internal load
15. A receptacle attached to a
plumbing system other than a trap
in which water or wastes may be
collected or obtained for ultimate
into the plumbing system.
a. Valve
b. Waste pipe
c. fitting
d. fixture
16. The following are examples of pre-
fabricated acoustical units except
______.
a. Slotted tile or panel
b. Fissured tile panel
c. Shredded wood foamboard
d. Hardwood panel
 Fissure: narrow line or opening made
by cracking or splitting,especially in
rock or earth
17. The following are ways in which
heat may be transferred
except____.
a. Conduction
b. Convection
c. Polarization
d. Radiation
18. Who said these prophetic words: Let
the future tell the truth and evaluate
each one according to his work and
accomplishment. The present is theirs,
the future for which I really worked for is
mine.?
a. Nikola Tesla
b. James Watt
c. Andre Marie Ampere
d. George Westinghouse
19. Which material would effectively
reduce reflected noise and
reverberation time to produce safe
and enjoyable surrounding?
a. Polyurethane foam sound absorber
b. Melamine foam linear wedges
c. Acoustical baffles
d. Vinyl encapsulate acoustical baffles
20. A type of raceway specially
constructed for the purpose of
pulling in or the withdrawing of
wires or cables after the conduit is
in place.
a. Intermediate metal conduit (IMC)
b. Rigid metal conduit (RMC)
c. Surface metal raceway (SMR)
d. Electrical metallic tubing (EMT)
 IMC or intermediate metal conduit -
outside house service drop.
21. The typical truss configuration used
in the installation of an escalator.
a. 2 section truss
b. 3 section truss
c. 4 section truss
d. 5 section truss
22. Any group of two or more similar
adjacent fixtures which discharge
into a common horizontal waste or
soil branch.
a. Battery of fixtures
b. Multiple fixtures
c. Series of fixtures
d. Fixture group
23. The trade name for an insulated
conductor with type letter THHN is
______.
a. Moisture resistant thermoplastic TW
b. Thermoplastic T
c. Heat resistant thermoplastic
d. None of these
24. The abbreviation DWV stands for
______.
a. drainage, water and vent
b. Drainage, waste and valve
c. Durham, water and vent
d. Drainage, waste and vent
25. Creep is the phenomenon whereby
sound travels in a ______.
a. Straight line direction inside an
anechoic chamber
b. Rectangular shaped cavity
c. Flat surface
d. Curve surface
26. What is / are the advantage/s of a
circuit breaker over a fuse?
a. It can act as a switch
b. Its position can be easily detected
(close/open)
c. It can be used again after fault has
been corrected
d. All of these
27. Which is the following
characterizes centrallized
airconditioning system?
a. It uses ducts
b. Has cooling tower
c. Provided with air handling unit
d. All of these
28. A p-shaped trap commonly used on
most plumbing fixtures except for
fixture have integral trap.
a. Gooseneck
b. Drum trap
c. Bag trap
d. Running trap
29. Sound Transmission Loss (STL)
is/are affected by the following
____.
a. Intensity of sound from source
b. Material density
c. Medium
d. All of the above
30. What switch combination may be used in
order to control a lamp or group of lamps
in three different locations?
a. 2-s4w and 1-s3w
b. 3 single pole switches
c. 3-s3w
d. 2-s3w and 1-s4w
*p.79 ching
31. The total cooling output of an
airconditioner during its annual usage, in
BTU/hr divided by the energy input
during the same period, in watt-hours is
known as_____.
a. Integrated part load value
b. Annual fuel utilization efficiency
c. Energy efficiency ratio
d. Seasonal energy efficiency ratio
 BTU - British Thermal Unit: the
quantity of heat required to raise the
temperature of one pound (0.4kg) of
water 1F.
Integrated part load value: weighted
operation
Energy efficiency ratio: designated
operating hours
32. This acoustical material is
manufactured from rock wool, glass
fibers, wood fibers, hair felt, etc.
generally installed on wood or
metal framing system.
a. Acoustical tile
b. Acoustical plaster
c. Acoustical (isolation) blanket
d. Acoustical foam
33. An outhouse or structure used for
the deposition of excrement.
a. Septic tank
b. Privy
c. Drainage pit
d. Privy vault
34. Acoustical cotton fiber composite
board is manufactured using BAP.
What does BAP stand for?
a. Boarded acoustical panel
b. Beaded and pressed
c. Bent and polished
d. Bonded acoustical panel
35. Which type of refrigerant is
recommended for residential,
commercial, and industrial
application using split type air-
conditioning system?
a. R-11
b. R-12
c. R-22
d. R-23
36. It characterizes short circuit
a. High resistance, high current
b. Low resistance, low current
c. Low resistance, high current
d. High resistance, low current
37. A water supply pipe that extends
vertically one full storey or more to
convey water to fixture branches or
group of fixtures.
a. Up pipe
b. Riser
c. Stack pipe
d. Water stack pipe
38. A unit or assembly units or sections
and associated fittings forming a
rigid structural system used to
support cables.
a. Cable bus
b. Cable tray
c. Busway
d. wireway
39. Fusible material in a fuse may be
made of any of the following
except___.
a. Lead
b. Silver
c. Iron
d. Tin
40. Which of the following factors
affect/s room acoustics?
a. Shape and proportion of room
b. Room cavity
c. Seating and other furnishings
d. All of the above
41. A general term used for any vertical
line of soil, waste or vent piping.
a. Vent pipe
b. Waste pipe
c. Stack
d. Soil pipe
42. It affects the resistance of a
conductor.
a. Length
b. Area
c. Temperature
d. All of these
43. A condition characterized as
vertically downward directly below
the luminaire. What is that term?
a. Lumen
b. Point source
c. Nadir
d. lambert
 Lumen (lm)- the SI unit of luminous
flux, equal to the light emitted in a
solid angle of one steradian by a
unifor point source having an
intensity of one candela; zonal cavity
method
Point source- all directions
Lambert (L)- a unit of luminance or
brightness equal to 0.32 candela per
square centimeter.
44. The water supply pipe provided by
the water utility company where
local individual connection is done.
a. Water supply source
b. Water main
c. Water service pipe
d. Building supply pipe
Between water main
and water meter
45. The term impedance is used in
transformers and other devices in
ac is a combination of _______.
a. Resistance and reactance
b. Inductance and capacitance
c. Resistivity and conductivity
d. None of these
46. A type of gypsum board available
in 1 1/2 inches or 5/8 inch thickness
and has improved fire resistance
through the use of fibers mixed with
gypsum core.
a. Type x
b. Type c
c. Regular
d. Water resistant board
47. It is also known as electric panel or
load center.
a. Convenience outlet
b. Panelboard
c. Outlet
d. Branch circuit
48. It is the product of surface area
(sq.ft.) and sound absorption
coefficient (SAC). It has the unit
sabin.
a. Sound attenuation
b. Sound absorption
c. Sound amplification
d. Noise reduction
49. A cylindrical conduit or conductor,
the wall thickness is sufficient to
receive a standard pipe.
a. Conduit
b. Pipe
c. Fitting
d. leader
50. Wallace Clement Sabine, an
American physicist who pioneered
work on sound is said to be the
father of ____?
a. Environmental acoustics
b. Room acoustics
c. Architectural acoustics
d. Acoustical science
51. A loosely lined excavation in the ground
which receives the discharge of a septic
tank and designed to permit the effluent
from the septic tank to seep through the
bottom and sides of the pit.
a. Privy
b. Drain pit
c. Septic tank
d. cesspool
52. A factory assembly of one or more
conductors, each individually insulated
and enclosed in a metallic sheath of
interlocking metal tape, or a smooth
corrugated metallic tube.
a. metal clad cable (type MC)
b. Shielded non-metallic sheathed cable
(type SNM)
c. Armored cable (type AC)
d. Mineral insulated, metal sheathed cable
(type MI)
*p.21 CDEP
53. It is analogous to pressure in water
flow.
a. Resistance
b. Voltage
c. Current
d. power
54. When sound impinges on a surface
such as walls, floor, ceiling, etc. It is
referred to as _____.
a. Liquidborne sound
b. Solidborne sound
c. Airborne sound
d. Structureborne sound
55. The art and science of installing in
buildings the pipes, fixtures and
other apparatus for bringing in
water supply and removing water
and waterborne waste.
a. Plumbing system
b. Sanitary drainage system
c. Drainage system
d. plumbing
56. Any of a variety of soft floor finishes
made of synthetic materials such as
nylon or natural material such as wool. It
is either glued directly to the floor or
installed over an underlayment of hair
felt or foam rubber. What is it?
a. Panel absorber
b. Carpet
c. Curtain and fabrics
d. Volume resonator
57. Which of the following is a violation of all the
provisions in the mechanical code on elevator
design and installation?
a. 30mm is the diameter of hoisting and
counterweight cables
b. 600mm is the depth of elevator pit measured
from the bottom of pit to the underside of the
car platform
c. 3 ropes are required for traction type elevator
d. 4 ropes are required for drum type elevator

*p.75 cdep
2 ropes for drum type
elevator
58. That part of the drainage system that
extends from the end of the building
drain and conveys its discharge to the
public sewer, private sewer, individual
sewage disposal system or other
appropriate point of disposal.
a. Building sewer
b. Building drain
c. Building storm drain
d. Building sewage pipe
59. A branch of acoustics that involves
the control of noise pollution,
environmental noise, which include
motor vehicles, aircraft noise, etc.
a. Environmental acoustics
b. Musical acoustics
c. Architectural acoustics
d. Psychological acoustics
60. Alternating current is characterized
as having _____.
a. Positive and negative polarity
b. Average value is zero
c. Has frequency
d. All of these
61. A valve in which the flow of liquid is
controlled by a rotating drilled ball
that fits tightly against a resilient
(flexible) seat in the valve body.
a. Angle valve
b. Check valve
c. Float valve
d. Ball valve
62. Pyramid is a type of commercially
produced acoustical tile. Which of
the following is not a characteristic
of this material?
a. Made of open celled polyurethane
acoustical foam
b. Available in 2,3, & 4inch thickness
c. Tetrahedral in shape
d. Ideal for audio room application
63. A vertical length of soil or waste stack at
least 8 feet in height (a storey high),
within which the horizontal branches
from one storey or floor of the building or
structure are connected to the stack.
a. Fixture branch
b. Branch drain
c. Branch pipe
d. Branch interval
64. A pipe connecting upward from a soil or
waste stack below the floor and below
the horizontal connection to an adjacent
vent stack at a point above the floor and
higher than the highest spill level of
fixtures for preventing pressure changes
in the stack.
a. Vent stack
b. Yoke vent
c. Unit vent Vent to vent
d. Individual vent
65. This material is so named in honor of a
German physicist, consista of a holllow
material with a small hole on one side.
This is used to detect individual
frequency of complex acoustic wave
configuration.
a. Transondent
b. Hermholtz resonator
c. Pyramid
d. Panel absorber
66. A kind of return bend of small-sized
faucet, one end of which is about one
foot long and the other end is about
three inches. It is commonly used as a
faucet for pantry sink and drinking
fountain. Also the lead connection
between the service pipe and the water
main. Also a p-trap.
a. Spigot
b. Faucet
c. Tailpiece
d. gooseneck
67. A continuous belt (chain) attached
to the handrail and directly
connected to the steps is known as
_____.
a. Endless belt
b. Balustrade assembly
c. Sprocket assembly
d. handrail
68. What is the minimum distance
between the handrails of
escalators?
a. 600mm
b. 558mm
c. 658mm
d. 650mm
69. A watertight receptacle which the
discharge of sanitary plumbing system or
part thereof, designed and constructed to
retain solids, digest organic matter
through a period of detention and to
allow the liquids to discharge into the soil
outside of the tank through a system of
open jointed subsurface piping or
seepage pit.
a. Seepage pit
b. Septic tank
c. Privy vault
d. cesspool
70. Which material would exhibit the
highest sound absorption
coefficient (SAC) value?
a. Marble
b. Wood
c. Plastic
d. carpet
71. A common measure of the probable
discharge into the drainage system by
various types of plumbing fixtures on the
basis of one unit of this being equal to a
discarge rate of 7.5 gallons per minute
or one cubic foot of water per minute.
a. Flow rate
b. Drainage fixture unit
c. Flow pressure
d. Drainage flow
72. A type of resonator made from
empty clay vessels of different
sizes. Their absorption ranges from
100-400 hertz.
a. Individual resonator
b. Slit resonator
c. Perforated resonator
d. None of the above
73. A circuit type where components
are electrically connected end to
end.
a. Series circuit
b. Parallel circuit
c. Series parallel circuit
d. None of these
74. The installation of parts of the plumbing
system which can be completed prior to
installation of fixtures or finishing. This
includes drainage, water supply and
vent piping and necessary fixture
supports.
a. Roughing-in
b. Mock-up installation
c. Pre-installation
d. setting
75. These consist of loose fibers or granules
and is made from cellulose, fiberglass,
rock wool, cotton or other materials.
These materials come in bags and are
usually blown into cavities using special
equipment. What are these?
a. Acoustical foams
b. Foam panels
c. Loose fill insulations
d. Fireflexes
76. The over-all covering of
underground feeder and branch
circuit cables shall be ____.
a. Fungus resistant
b. Corrosion resistant
c. Both a and b
d. None of these
77. A fitting or device designed and
constructed to provide, when properly
vented, a liquid seal which prevents
backflow and passage of foul air and
gases without materially affecting the
flow of sewage or wastewater through it.
a. Trap
b. Fitting
c. Pipe
d. valve
78. The rustling of leaves in breeze is
said to be within the ____.
a. Threshold of hearing
b. Threshold of hearing loss
c. Threshold of inaudibility
d. Threshold of feeling
79. Unit of capacitance is _____.
a. Henry
b. Coulomb
c. Farad
d. weber
80. A suction created by the flow of
liquids in pipe, a pressure less than
the atmospheric pressure.
a. Backflow
b. Backpressure
c. Siphonage
d. Flow pressure
81. The basic elements of an electric
circuit are the following except
____.
a. Source
b. Switch
c. Conducting path
d. Electrical load
82. A vertical pipe which conveys only
wastewater or liquid waste free of
fecal matter.
a. Waste pipe
b. Soil pipe
c. Soil stack
d. Waste stack
83. A factory assembly of two or more
insulated conductors having an outer
sheath of moisture-resistant, flame
retardant, non metallic material.
a. Service entrance cable (type SE and
USE)
b. Shielded non metallic sheathed cable
(type SNM )
c. Non metallic sheathed cable (type NM
and NMC)
d. Mineral insulated metal sheathed cable
(type MI)
84. A pipe which conveys potable
water from the building supply pipe
to the plumbing fixtures and other
outlets.
a. Water service pipe
b. Water main
c. Water distributing pipe
d. Building and water supply pipe
85. Cables are conductors that are
____.
a. Larger than wires
b. Stranded (no.6 AWG and larger)
c. Both a and b
d. None of these
86. The following statements are true with
regards to sound except ___.
a. That sound is an aural sensation
b. That sound is caused by oscillation in an
elastic medium
c. That sound travels in a vacuum
d. That sound is caused by the vibration of
particles which move in an infinitesimal
amount causing particles to impart
motion and energy to them
87. Any pipe which conveys the discharge of
water closet, urinal or fixtures having
similar function, with or without the
discharges from other fixtures to the
building drain or building sewer.
a. Soil pipe
b. Waste pipe
c. Building drain
d. Building sewer
88. Copper as a conductor has the
property/properties of being ____.
a. Ductile
b. Malleable
c. A only
d. A and b
89. In a building consists of the water
service pipe, water supply line, water
distributing pipes and the essential
branch pipes, valves and all other
appurtenances for the supply of potable
water.
a. Water supply system
b. Water pipe system
c. Water distribution system
d. Building water service and sewage
piping system
90. The velocity of sound is affected by
_____.
a. Temperature
b. Kind of medium
c. Material density
d. All of the above
91. Which of the following metallic
materials is considered as the best
conductor of electricity?
a. Copper
b. Aluminum
c. Iron
d. Gold
92. What aspect/s of environment or
surroundings is/are considered in
air-conditioning system for human
comfort?
a. Temperature of the surrounding air
b. Motion of air
c. Both a and b
d. None of these
93. Example/s of conductors-on-
insulator wiring is are ______.
a. Concealed knob and tube
b. Open wiring on insulators
c. Both a and b
d. None of these
94. What is the refrigerant name of R-
12?
a. Monochlorotrifluoromethane
b. Dichlorodifluormethane
c. Monochlorodifluormethane
d. Trichloromonofluoromethane
95. The recommended speed for
escalators ranges from____.
a. 90-120fpm
b. 130-180fpm
c. 165-180fpm
d. 60-80fpm
96. A type of surface flush raceway
designed to receive conductors and
receptacles assembled in the field
or in the factory.
a. Underfloor raceway
b. Multi-outlet assembly
c. Cellular metal floor raceway
d. Surface metal raceway (SMR)
97. Transondent facings are those
transparent facings with holes.
Which facing will reflect more
sound?
a. 10% opening
b. 20% opening
c. 30% opening
d. 40% opening
98. A type of switch used for
transferring one or more load
conductor connections from one
power source to another.
a. Transfer switch
b. Isolating switch
c. General use switch
d. General snap switch
99. Which of the following sources of
sound produces the highest sound
pressure level (SPL)?
a. Loud street noise
b. Accelerating motorcycle 50ft away
c. Office activities
d. Cafeteria with people in it
100. What are the property(ies) of concrete
as an acoustical material are/is
important?
a. Aerated concrete is fairly absorptive
b. Concrete provides virtually no
absorption
c. Concrete accepts and transmits impact
sound
d. All of the above
Done! :)

Source: USAT 2006 Building Utilities 1,2,3

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