BPI Test Exam Correct
Home performance Answer: is the systematic approach to improving the
comfort, health, safety, energy efficiency, and durability of a home.
The Big 3: Answer: Heat, Air and Moisture
Difference in temperature and humidity between areas inside the house, and
between the inside and the outside of the house, are exerting some sort of subtle
influence on the conditions in the home.
Home Performance also includes: Answer: Occupant health and safety
Indoor air quality and occupant comfort
Durability of materials
Building Science Answer: taken from physics chemistry and thermodynamics
Whole-building home performance contractors Answer: those professionals
whose job is to improve home performance - need to understand building
science.
House-as-a-system: Answer: holistic view: the whole-house approach and it's
another way to define building science
Four general categories of building science: Answer: Building
Mechanicals
Environment
, Passed!!
2024/2025
Occupants
Building Envelope: Answer: Foundation
Walls
Roof
Windows
Doors
Mechanicals: Answer: Heating and cooling and ventilation
Electrical Systems Lighting and appliances
Plumbing Systems
Environment: Answer: in this context, refers to managing the indoor
environment as the exterior environment is changing (keeping the interior
temperature and relative humidity within acceptable levels, and ensuring indoor
air quality with an adequate amount of fresh air and little to no pollutant
concentrations
Importance of Occupants at a component of buildings Answer: Home
performance primarily deals with existing, occupied homes. Occupants are the
beginning and the end of the system: they may do things in a house that affect
the other components, and they are certainly on the receiving end when things
like comfort and indoor air quality are affected
Interacting relationship Answer: an action taken on one component causes
reactions or changes in other components, or worsens certain pre-exiting
conditions (and increases their likelihood of producing negative effects
, Passed!!
2024/2025
Ice dams Answer: occurs when warm air melts snow on the roof directly
above, but does not melt snow on the overhangs. Water from the melted snow
flows down into the gutters, where it freezes. This prevents any further melting
snow from draining properly. Ice dams can damage the roof and everything
beneath it.
Mechanical ventilation (bathroom fan) Answer: could cause air pressure
differences between the inside and outside of the home. If air leakage is present,
this could cause the house to leak air at a faster rate, which, in turn, would create
the need for the thermostat to be adjusted more often
Cathedral ceiling Answer: Has the same pitch as a roof
vaulted ceiling Answer: does not have the same pitch as a the roof; can
consist of one or two straight slopes, or it can be arched. in the case of straight
slopes, one wall of the room is taller than the opposite wall, and the ceiling slopes
downward toward the shorter wall.
Drawbacks to noon-standard types of ceilings Answer: hard to clean, pain,
and change light bulbs
cost more to heat and cool
expensive to install
Rafter Answer: a sloped framing member that supports the roof
Joist Answer: horizontal framing member that supports a ceiling or floor
, Passed!!
2024/2025
Stud Answer: a vertical framing member that supports an interior or exterior
wall
Bay Answer: the space between and the size of the wood influence the cavity
or bay (indicates the amount of insulation)
Thermodynamics Definition Answer: an are of science that looks at the
relationship between heat and other kinds of energy
1st Law of Thermodynamics Answer: energy moves from place to place;
energy changes form one form to another; energy cannot be created or destroyed
Energy moves around and changes form.
2nd Law of Thermodynamics Answer: energy flows naturally from high
concentrations to low concentrations
HEAT moves from warmer to cooler; AIR moves from higher pressure to lower
pressure; MOISTURE moves from wetter to drier
Potential vs. Kinetic Energy Answer: Potential energy is stored energy. Think
of firewood, or a battery.
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Burn the firewood, and its potential
energy is converted to kinetic energy in the form of heat.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Schoolflix. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $14.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.