Blueprint Reading Free Exam

General conditions are rules and regulations on which the contract is based. The content addresses 14 basic articles found
in AIA201: General Provisions, Owner, Contractor, Administration of the Contract, Subcontractors, Construction by Owner/Separate Contractors; Changes in Work, Time, Payments and Completion: Protections of Persons and Property, Insurance and Bonds, Uncovering and Correction of Work, Miscellaneous Provisions, and Terminations or Suspension of Contract.

Spread foundations utilize spread footings to distribute building loads over large enough soil areas to provide bearing capacity.
Pile foundations use long wood, concrete or steel piles driving into earth and get their load carrying ability by friction on the sides of the pile or from the end resting on load-bearing strain. Caisson pile foundations are formed by drilling holes in the earth and filling them with concrete. They get their load-carrying ability the same as pile foundations.

Piping connections may be grooved joint or threaded. Fittings are taken-off by each, and classified by type (elbow, tee, reducer, etc.), and method of connection and material composition (steel,PVC, iron, etc.). Valves and special appurtenances (gauges, flanges, etc.) are take-off by each, and listed according to type, manufacturer, model, size and application. Sprinkler heads and discharge nozzles are taken-off by each, and listed according to type (pendent, sidewall, etc.), temperature range, manufacturer and model.

Ground wires are white or gray. Hot wires may be black or other colors, but never white or gray.

Plumbing plans also include sanitary waste and gas piping in the forms of schematic riser and isometric diagram, as well as the plumbing details, notes and specifications.

HVAC equipment can develop hazardous pressures or temperatures when the water level in a steam boiler drops below a predetermined level. Relief valves protect the system against excessive line pressure.

Included in the set of house plans are: the plot plan, floor plan, foundation or basement plan, elevation drawings showing front,
rear and side views of the building, electrical, plumbing, heating, and AC layouts.

Additional considerations include chemicals added to the mix (drying agents) and type and size of aggregate used, as well as
lightweight aggregates used to reduce weight per CY. Hot water requirement, ready-mixed concrete, and stiffness (ease of pour) also affect cost estimation.

Specifications provide qualitative information, complete the contract and provide a legal document with directions for bidding,
insurance, bond forms and owner-contractor agreements. They help prevent owner-contractor or contractor-designer/architect
disputes. Materials and labor are detailed, and together, with working drawings, they complete the contract. Specifications
explain required quality and type of materials, color, finishes, and workmanship.

Coating specifications may include wet film thickness or dry film thickness, or the MWF, which states the applied rate of xx mils per coat minimum wet film thickness. A mil is a unit of measure equal to 0.025 mm, or 0.01 in.

Various types of risk and allocation of responsibility are contained in contract clauses. An exculpatory clause should be inserted as well, intended to shift the responsibility, for example, from the designer's errors and omissions to the contractor. Allocations of risk denote who is lawfully responsible and liable for violations under the law in connection to the work. Responsibilities are  the contractor's, however some may be shared with the owner, such as acts of God and weather extremes, etc.

(Length x 3/4")+2 studs for each corner, intersection and opening.; (260 x 3/4") +2(14+12 +22); 195+96 = 291 studs

Divide the amount received by 40 percent (convert 40 percent to decimal form) $460.0%.40 = $1,150.00

Batt or roll insulation, rigid insulation, loose fill insulation, and polyethylene vapor barriers are taken-off by SF.

Methods to contain, block or remove water at the onset of excavation is essential in stabilizing the building site. Installing
a French drain will channel water away from the site. Overexcavating the area may result in achieving a depth below the
swale or water table. Placing construction or geotextile fabric over the wet area backfilling and compacting may also be a means of stabilizing the area. After the water is contained or removed, clean fill must be placed and compacted to ensure stability.

Tolerances for a story height is 3/4" or 1/2" in 40 feet or more. Wall thickness tolerance must be within 1/4" plus or minus 1/2" of the dimensions shown on the plans.

A slope grade is specified by its pitch, or ratio of horizontal run (distance) to rise or fall (height). A slope of 6:3 indicates there is a 3-foot rise, or 3- foot drop, for every 6 feet of horizontal distance.

(4x3)+20 = 32

Pressure regulator valves limit water pressure preventing damage. Saddle valves are also installed on pipes, which have water under pressure. Water hammer arrestors absorb shock waves produced by sudden changes in water flow, float valves control water levels and capacity in tanks, globe valves control
flows of hot and cold water, oil and gas, T and P valves are safety relief valves that sense temperature buildups and open to release excess pressure thus preventing explosions, and strainers collect dirt and debris in a 20 mm mesh screen. Take-offs for each valve is listed according to type, manufacturer, model, size and application.

Mechanical and electrical drawings must be reviewed for pipe trenching or conduits that are in the basement or under slab-ongrade. This work is often overlooked since it is not shown in civil drawings. Most site work is shown on the civil drawings, which the contractor uses to determine the cut and fill quantities to bring the site to the new grade.

Openings smaller than 4 SF are negligible. Ceilings are calculated by multiplying the length by width of the area to be covered. Walls and ceilings should be listed separately.

The type, and occupancy, of the building is a primary consideration in determining what is the most effective and efficient energy source to operate an HVAC system.

Two major types of scales are the architect's scale, and the engineer's scale. The architect's scale used on floor plans is %
scale where %" = T or % scale where 7e" = 1’. The engineer's scale is in increments of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50, where, for
example, the 10 scale represents 10 feet per inch, the 20 scale represents 20 feet per inch, and so on.

Interior doors and door frames are usually roughed in approximately 3" higher than the door height and approximately 2-1/2" more than the door width to provide for jambs and leveling within the opening. Most common types of doors are paneled and flush. Rough opening width = 2'-6" + 0'-2-1/2" = 2'-8-1/2"; Rough opening height = 6'-8"+0'-3" = 6'-11"; Total rough opening = 2-8- 1/2" x 6'-11"

The manufacturer specifies overlap requirements for the sides and ends of the individual sheets. Metal decking is taken-off by
the SF of area to be covered and extended to the square (SQ) where SQ = 100 SF.

Soil stability determines the angle of repose. The more cohesive the soil, the steeper the angle of repose. Non-cohesive soils
such as sand and gravel, require more shallow slopes and may further require shoring, or a trench box, to mitigate a potential
cave-in. OSHA has specific requirements for trenches and slope ratios based on soil stability type, trench depth and duration of openness.

Primary flexural reinforcement should not be spaced any farther apart than 3 times the wall or slab thickness, or 18 in., except in
concrete joists construction.

Drafting a schedule is necessary to determine project progress, and tentative task and project completions.

The amount of steel, in tons, determines the cost of shop priming. Field touch-ups are based on labor hours, and must be listed as a separate item.

Change Orders must always be in writing and contain the name and address of the contractor, the contractor's license, the
signatures of both parties, the approximate starting and ending dates, the project address or location, and "Notice to Owner."