ARCHITECTURAL | Design & Site Planning | 14 Questions (MODERATE-CHALLENGING)

PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION SUPPLY & HARDWARE STORE

(14 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE to CHALLENGING)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Hired by a well-renowned corporation, who owns a one and fifty-four hundredths-hectare (1.54-ha) property located along a newly-developed highway in a certain city in the Philippines, you are to design their new store that will supply hardware and building materials, except concrete products.

Access to the rectangular lot, with a depth of one hundred and forty meters (140m), is via two (2) parallel Road Rights-of-Way (RROWs): a twenty-six-meter (26-m) national highway at northeast; and, a twelve-meter (12-m) minor road at southwest. The city zoning ordinance requires an angular plane of

ARCHITECTURAL | Design & Site Planning | 20 Questions (MODERATE-CHALLENGING)

PROPOSED REVIEW CENTER & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FACILITY

(20 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE to CHALLENGING)

by Raison John J. Bassig

As an architect, you were commissioned to design a Review Center and Professional Development Training Facility on a two thousand and seventy-square meter (2,070-sqm) regular lot situated along a newly-developed thirty-two-meter (32-m)-wide Road Right-of-Way (RROW) in a certain municipality in the Philippines. The lot frontage is forty meters (40m) and faces west, while the entire site and RROW, slopes down at seven percent (7%) towards north.

Per the municipality's Zoning Ordinance (ZO), the project is located on a block, zoned as

How to Read DDR4 RAM Model Numbers of Different Memory Brands

When comparing RAM (Random Access Memory) modules or verifying your motherboard's Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors List), you may have come across hard-to-figure-out product codes, such as "HX430C15SB2/8" or "TED416G2133C1501" or "AVD4U24001608G-4M" or "BLS8G4D240FSA".

If you are wondering what these letters/numbers mean and how to read/interpret it, I have made a quick guide below to help you familiarize and understand the meaning behind the nomenclature of such RAM product codes.

CONSTRUCTION | Building Technology | 24 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

(24 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)
by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: The balloon frame is a light form of wooden framing, in which the studs are set up in continuous lengths from first floor line or sill to roof plate. To support the joists of each storey, thin horizontal members are notched and nailed into the continuous studs. What do you call such horizontal member?

UTILITIES | Plumbing Systems | 20 Questions (MODERATE-CHALLENGING)

PLUMBING SYSTEMS

(20 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE to CHALLENGING)
by Raison John J. Bassig

For Q#1 to Q#3:
Given the installation of a sanitary waste branch as shown below,

ARCHITECTURAL | Specialty | 1 Question (EASY)

ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING (Beam Angle)

(1 Question, Difficulty Level: EASY)
by Raison John J. Bassig

In the dining area with a 3.20-m ceiling height of the house you designed, you specified a circular hanging downlight centered above the space allocated for a dining table. According to the lamp manufacturer, its beam angle is 52°.

Your client then bought a round dining table, measuring 160cm-diameter x 62cm-high, and instructed you as her architect, that the direct lighting from the lamp should illuminate only up to the exact edge of the table. What will be the resulting mounting height of the hanging lighting fixture measured from the ceiling to accomplish your client's requirement?

(Image courtesy of Bumpermankh.com, modified)

ARCHITECTURAL | Planning | 10 Questions (MODERATE)

PRINCIPLES OF PLANNING

(10 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: Who is/are the architect/s and town planner/s of the Garden City of Welwyn?

The Welwyn City Master Plan.
(Image courtesy of The JR James Archive via flickr, modified)

CONSTRUCTION | Structural Design | 8 Questions (MODERATE)

STRUCTURAL DESIGN & CONCEPTUALIZATION

(8 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE)
by Raison John J. Bassig

In the building you are designing, you indicated that the overall size of a reinforced concrete beam must be 350mm wide by 600mm deep due to architectural requirements. You also indicated in your material specifications that the main deformed steel reinforcement bars, which are non-prestressed, should be PNS Grade 275 and that the concrete mix must achieve a compressive strength of 4,500psi.

Shown in the structural plans prepared by your structural engineer, the beam was indicated to be reinforced with 4-Φ25mm main rebars arranged in a single layer at the tension side, surrounded by Φ10mm rectangular closed-loop stirrups and provided with a clear concrete cover of 40mm all-around.

CONSTRUCTION | Estimates | 10 Questions (MODERATE-CHALLENGING)

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATES

(10 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE to CHALLENGING)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: You are to install one (1) layer of 300mm x 300mm ceramic tiles as accent around the topmost interior wall finish of a circular pool. If the area of the pool is 98.12sqm, how many accent tiles will you need?

ARCHITECTURAL | Design & Site Planning | 10 Questions (CHALLENGING)

TRICKY AND UNCOMMON DESIGN PROBLEMS

(10 Questions, Difficulty Level: CHALLENGING)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: You designed a supermarket having a total of five (5) aisles. The center aisle measures 3.20m in width, while the rest of the aisles measure 1.15m in width each. If you laid out a cross aisle where the said aisles will terminate, what is the smallest size of that cross aisle you can specify?

UTILITIES | Mechanical Systems | 13 Questions (EASY)

MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

(13 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: The typical floor-to-floor height of the mall you designed measures 4.75m. Among the choices below, what is the smallest horizontal length of an escalator can you specify to conform with the National Building Code?

UTILITIES | Electrical Systems | 10 Questions (EASY)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

(10 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: Which among the following lamp holders can fit a bulb with a GU10 lamp base?

(Images of lamp holders courtesy of sinolec.co.uk , leds4less.co.uk , buylightfixtures.com , and lightingsolutions.co.ke)

ARCHITECTURAL | Theory | 12 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

(12 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: The "Modulor" is an anthropometric scale of proportions devised by whom?

CONSTRUCTION | Building Laws | 20 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

BUILDING LAWS

(20 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: A building unsafe in case of fire because it will burn easily or because it lacks adequate exits or fire escapes is known as what?
a. Fire Hazard
b. Pyrophoric
c. Fire Lane
d. Fire Trap

CONSTRUCTION | Building Technology | 11 Questions (MODERATE)

BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

(11 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: Given the illustration of rivet heads, identify which one is the Truss Head Rivet.

ARCHITECTURAL | Professional Practice | 14 Questions (MODERATE-CHALLENGING)

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

(14 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE to CHALLENGING)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: Your professional fee as an architect for the Pre-Design Services you provided for your client was agreed to be in a Multiple of Direct Personnel Expenses method, which was pegged at a 2.50 multiplier. As per your agreement, your hourly rate is to be computed at P1,000 per 8-hour working day, your consultants at P750 per 8-hour working day, and your technical researchers at P492 per 8-hour working day.

After the completion of the services, you submitted a report indicating the duration of your work and your out-of-pocket expenses:

Architect (You) @ 15 working days
Your consultants @ 4-1/2 working days
Your technical researchers @ 213 hours

Printing Costs @ P812.50
Transportation Costs @ P2,500.00
Communication Costs @ P3,211.25

Based on standards for such method of compensation, how much should you bill your client?

UTILITIES | Plumbing Systems | 10 Questions (MODERATE)

PLUMBING SYSTEMS

(10 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: Given a 3-storey building with a water closet on the top floor located at a vertical distance of 38-1/2' from the water meter at ground level. The fixture requires 8 psi to operate. If the friction head loss is estimated at 15', what pressure is required to raise the water to the top floor and put the minimum psi for the fixture to be used satisfactorily?

CONSTRUCTION | Estimates | 5 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATES

(5 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

You have just designed a square function hall with a total area of 718.24 sq.m. Inside that area, there is a circular unpaved landscaping portion that measures 4.25m in radius. The rest of the function hall was specified to have wood-finish ceramic tile flooring. During your material selection, you have canvassed four (4) different brands that suits the function hall floor finish:

Brand A - 200mm x 1500mm tiles @ P125.50 per piece
Brand B - 150mm x 1200mm tiles @ P74.75 per piece
Brand C - 100mm x 900mm tiles @ P37.45 per piece
Brand D - 300mm x 300mm tiles @ P346.25 per box (with 9 pcs/box, ordered by the box)

CONSTRUCTION | Structural Design | 14 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

STRUCTURAL DESIGN & CONCEPTUALIZATION

(14 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: It is an essentially vertical truss system that provides resistance to lateral loads and provides stability for the structural system.
a. Moment Frame
b. Space Frame
c. Gravity Frame
d. Braced Frame

ARCHITECTURAL | History | 17 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

(17 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: Which among the following list of structures were designed by Louis Sullivan?

1 - Holy Trinity Cathedral (Chicago, Illinois)
2 - Carson, Pirie, Scott and Company Building (Chicago, Illinois)
3 - Wainwright Building (St. Louis, Missouri)
4 - Prudential (Guaranty) Building (Buffalo, New York)
5 - Flatiron Building (Manhattan, New York)

ARCHITECTURAL | Design & Site Planning | 8 Questions (MODERATE)

A 2-STOREY STRUCTURE SITUATED ON AN R-1 THROUGH LOT

(8 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Given the illustrated 2-storey structure situated on an R-1 through lot.

Lot Size: 10m wide x 21m deep
Main RROW Width: 20m
Secondary RROW Width: 12m
Sidewalk Elevation Mark: EL = 0.00m
G/F Line Elevation Mark: EL + 850mm
2/F Line Elevation Mark: EL + 5000mm
Top of Roof Beam Elevation Mark: EL + 8620mm
Roof Apex Elevation Mark: EL + 10530mm
Line of Eaves: 310mm below Top of Roof Beam

ARCHITECTURAL | Design & Site Planning | 8 Questions (MODERATE-CHALLENGING)

A 15-STOREY MINIMALIST OFFICE BUILDING W/ ROOF DECK

(8 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE to CHALLENGING)

by Raison John J. Bassig

PROJECT BRIEF:
A potential client has acquired a 54m x 86m corner lot, on even ground, in a zone classified as C-3. The shorter side faces a 10m-wide RROW, while the longer side faces an 8m-wide RROW. You were then officially hired to be the architect of this client to design his Proposed 15-Storey Office Building w/ Roof Deck.

His only three (3) requirements are:

1. The floor-to-floor heights should all be at 3.30 meters;
2. The parapet wall at the roof deck should be 1.30 meters high; and
3. The building envelope should be minimalist, purely of curtain glass wall, straight from the ground up, with no projections or incremental setbacks whatsoever.

ARCHITECTURAL | Planning | 12 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

PRINCIPLES OF PLANNING

(12 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: Who is the proponent of the "Broadacre City" concept, which proposed that every family should live in one acre of land, in a city complete with all necessary amenities?

(Image Courtesy of Kjell Olsen via Flickr)

a. Richard Neutra
b. Frank Lloyd Wright
c. Don Soria y Mata
d. Le Corbusier

CONSTRUCTION | Building Technology | 18 Questions (EASY)

BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

(18 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: A lengthwise separation of wood across the annual rings, caused by uneven or rapid shrinkage during the seasoning process.

a. Check
b. Wane
c. Shake
d. Pitch Pocket

UTILITIES | Mechanical Systems | 12 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

(12 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: In the refrigeration process, identify the characteristic of the fluid passing through the tube within the portion "C" as labelled in the illustration below.

(Image courtesy of Real Refrigeration, Modified)

a. Low Pressure Liquid
b. High Pressure Gas
c. Low Pressure Gas
d. High Pressure Liquid

ARCHITECTURAL | Theory | 14 Questions (MODERATE)

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

(14 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: A property of perception in which there is a tendency to group elements which are close together, to the exclusion of those which are further away.
a. Proximity
b. Juxtaposition
c. Gestalt Psychology
d. Proxemics

Graphics Card Comparison Table (A Sortable Database of Desktop GPUs)

A consolidated list of Desktop GPUs (by AMD and Nvidia) for comparison of different brands and models.

X570/X470/X370/B550/B450/B350/A520/A320 Motherboards (AM4-socket for AMD Ryzen CPUs) Sortable Comparison Tables

A comprehensive list of X570/X470/X370/B550/B450/B350/A520/A320 motherboards with an AM4-socket (supporting AMD Ryzen CPUs). It is a sortable database aimed at easily comparing detailed specifications of all the different motherboard brands and models.

Z390/Z370/H370/B360/H310 Motherboards (LGA1151v2 for Intel 8th-Gen Coffee Lake) Sortable Comparison Tables

A comprehensive list of Z390/Z370/H370/B360/H310 motherboards with an LGA1152v2-socket (supporting Intel 8th-Gen Coffee Lake-S CPUs). It is a sortable database aimed at easily comparing detailed specifications of all the different motherboard brands and models.

ARCHITECTURAL | History | 18 Questions (EASY)

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

(18 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: How many Ionic columns does the facade of the Parthenon have?
a. 8
b. 6
c. 12
d. None

UTILITIES | Electrical Systems | 16 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

(16 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: What is the color of light with the shortest wavelength?
a. Orange
b. Yellow
c. Violet
d. Red
e. Blue

CONSTRUCTION | Estimates | 8 Questions (EASY)

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATES

(8 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: Specify the total number of standard-sized plywood, 1/4" thickness, to be used as ceiling material for a 6.00m x 12.00m living room, to be mounted on 2" x 2" ceiling joists spaced at 0.40m x 0.40m on center.
a. 30 pieces
b. 25 pieces
c. 20 pieces
d. 15 pieces

ARCHITECTURAL | Professional Practice | 12 Questions (EASY)

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

(12 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: Under the Civil Code of the Philippines, the architect who drew up the plans and specifications for a building is liable for damages if the building collapsed due to defects in the plans or specifications or defects in the ground. How long, from the completion of the building, is this liability period?
a. 20 years
b. 10 years
c. 15 years
d. None, architects do not have liabilities when the building collapses due to defects in the ground.

CONSTRUCTION | Structural Design | 10 Questions (EASY)

STRUCTURAL DESIGN & CONCEPTUALIZATION

(10 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: The formula for stress.
a. Deformation / Length
b. Area / Force
c. Length / Deformation
d. Force / Area
e. Overtime Work + Deadline + Delayed Salary + Nagging Boss

UTILITIES | Plumbing Systems | 15 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

PLUMBING SYSTEMS

(15 Questions, Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: How do you measure the seal of a trap?
a. From crown weir to top of dip
b. From invert to end of trap arm
c. Seal is equal to the pipe diameter and its attached trap
d. From crown weir to bottom of dip

CONSTRUCTION | Building Laws | 30 Questions (MODERATE-CHALLENGING)

BUILDING LAWS

(30 Questions, Difficulty Level: MODERATE to CHALLENGING)

by Raison John J. Bassig

Q#1: You were tasked to design an auditorium with a total occupant load of 400 persons. Which of the following conforms to the minimum provision for interior wet standpipes as per 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096?
a. Provide outlets at both sides of the stage, at rear of auditorium and at rear of balcony.
b. Just use portable fire extinguishers near said locations.
c. Provide at least 1 standpipe to cover every 650 sq.m.of floor area
d. Use only dry standpipes to cover every 950 sq.m. of floor area (or a fraction thereof).

ARCHITECTURAL | Specialty | 1 Question (EASY-MODERATE)

TROPICAL ARCHITECTURE (Solar Zenith Angle)

(1 Question - Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)
by Raison John J. Bassig

In the kitchen window (which is directly oriented towards the afternoon sun) of a house you are designing, you specified that a sloped "media agua" must be affixed at a point 0.32m above the window header.  This "media agua", 75cm in length, was then installed at a 56° angle from the window opening.  If the window opening is 850mm in height and the window sill is measured 1.25m above the floor, what would be the Solar Zenith Angle, SA, as the sun sets, just before direct sunlight hits the kitchen window?

ARCHITECTURAL | Design & Site Planning | 14 Questions (EASY-MODERATE)

A BUILDING WITH VARIOUS GENERAL RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS

14 Questions - Difficulty Level: EASY to MODERATE)
by Raison John J. Bassig

PROJECT BRIEF:
You were commissioned by a client, who owns a 1.26-Ha. property located along a national highway in San Fernando, Pampanga, to design a building that will house various general retail establishments in the community. His lot is regularly-shaped with a 96.00-m frontage facing south along the highway, a 27.50-m RROW. All other lots adjacent to his property is still undeveloped. The whole vicinity, including his entire lot, has a constant downward slope of 5.00% from east to west.

11 TIPS ON HOW TO ANSWER BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

11 TIPS ON HOW TO ANSWER BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS
22 June 2008
(A Sequel to the “Tips & Tricks in the Board Examination”)
by Raison John J. Bassig
1st Placer – June 2006 PRC Architect Licensure Examination
10th Placer – March 2007 PRC Master Plumber Licensure Examination
4th Placer – June 2008 PRC Environmental Planner Licensure Examination

Preparing for the board exams is one thing. Answering the actual board exams is another.

After long sleepless nights of eyebrow burning during your review, your date with the board exams has finally come. It is a day most people are dreading. But for some people who are confident and have painstakingly prepared on how to go about in the actual board exams, this day is their milestone.

TIPS & TRICKS IN THE BOARD EXAMINATION

TIPS & TRICKS IN THE BOARD EXAMINATION
Prepared by
ARCHITECT RAISON JOHN J. BASSIG
1^{st Placer – June 2006 PRC Architect Licensure Examination
10th Placer – March 2007 PRC Master Plumber Licensure Examination}

^{So you are about to take the board exam. Nervous? You should be.}

^{A few months before I took mine, I have experienced what every board examinee goes through: Unexplainable nervousness. Butterflies in the stomach. Catatonic looks.}

^{Am I ready?}