PE Exam Success – The 10 Best Ways To Be Prepared

May 19, 2023 by

PE Exam Success – The 10 Best Ways To Be Prepared explains the top methods to dramatically increase your odds for success on the PE Exam.

PE Exam Success Results Vary Primarily Due To The Use Of Effective Exam Preparation Methods …

Or Not!

PE Exam Success

Prepare Smarter Not Harder!

As you are preparing to take an engineering PE exam, it will help to keep these in mind:

1 – Build A Solid Test-Prep Resource Library©*

*NOTE: As per the NCEES Examinees Guide, books, notes, notebooks, etc. are no longer permitted in the testing room. This does not diminish the importance of a Test-Prep Resource Library© as a method of study and preparation. Taking the time to assemble a resource library will naturally help you categorize and document your study materials, help you determine what’s essential to pass the exam, and keep all your resources in one easy-to-access tool.

This one is a must-do. Of all the other nine PE Exam Success – The 10 Best Ways To Be Prepared ideas listed here, this one, in our opinion, is by far the most important.

If you will take the time to:

  • Collect all the relevant information pertaining to each of the topics shown for your particular test, including:
    • Example PE Exam Problems with Solutions
    • Equations
    • Commentary
    • Charts and Tables
  • Assemble the information into binders.
  • Devise some method of retrieval to locate information quickly.
  • Spend a portion of your allotted study time to review and fine-tune your reference binders.

…your odds of successfully passing the PE Exam will dramatically increase.

The Study Guides found at EngineeringDesignResources.com are full of example problems, equations, commentary, and ideas for your Test-Prep Resource Library©

2 -Know the Codes

Depending on which PE Exam you are taking, it would be well worth your time to spend time reading through and becoming very familiar with the Code – or Codes – that are primary to your industry, such as:

  • Mechanical Engineering – The International Mechanical Code, The International Energy Efficiency Code, and The International Plumbing Code
  • Electrical Engineering – The National Electrical Code and The Life Safety Code – NFPA 101
  • Civil Engineering – The International Building Code
  • Structural Engineering – The International Building Code
  • Architectural Engineering – The International Codes – Building, Mechanical, Energy Efficiency, and Plumbing – and The National Electrical Code
3 – Know The Format

Most of the PE Exams are 80 multiple choice questions taken over an eight hour period – 40 questions in the four-hour morning session and 40 questions in the four-hour afternoon session.

That means 480 minutes to read the questions, understand what’s being asked, find the applicable resource, work the problem, and mark the answer on the test page – the Scantron.

That’s only SIX minutes per question.

This may seem like a lot of time … but it’s not.

Use some of your preparation time practicing answering questions at the rate of one every six minutes. This will help you gauge your pace for test day.

4 – Plan Your Study Time

Whether you have 12 months, 12 weeks, or 12 days – hopefully not 12 days – you can plan your time wisely to maximize the benefits of your study effort. Most likely, you have a job, maybe a family, other commitments, and probably some interests that take time. Sit down with the test outline for your particular PE Exam – found at NCEES.ORG – and plan out how to cover all the material you need to review in the amount of time available.

Refer back to ideas #1, #2, and #3 above.

Work through the process systematically, and you will be successful.

5 – Use The Right Tools

What tools does your industry use to make design easier?

  • Psychrometric Charts
  • Bending Stress Tables
  • Equations

PE Exam Success - The 10 Best Ways To Be Prepared

Whatever these tools are, make sure you have them on hand in your Test-Prep Resource Library© and be able to use them quickly. The last place to learn to use a tool is when you need it – under pressure.

Also, log onto NCEES.ORG for information on what’s allowed into the testing centers and what calculators are acceptable.

6 – Take Sample Tests

Ways to find sample PE Exams:

  • Search the internet
  • Search Amazon.com
  • Search your industry’s applicable websites – i.e. for Civil Engineering go to www.asce.org.

If you need assistance locating any resources, Contact Us.

7 – Work To Your Strengths

As with everything in life, we perform better and are more successful when we are doing those things we have already mastered. Only little gains will be realized trying to learn something new and gain proficiency while under the pressures of a deadline – test day.

As such, take the time to figure out what you know very well. Spend the majority of your time on these subjects. Polish your expertise, gain new insights, practice your skills. This hyper-focus on strengths will give you the confidence you need on Test Day to knock out a good portion of the questions.

8 – Get Help On Your Weaker Topics

For those topics that aren’t as engrained as you’d like, use some of your preparation time getting help from someone who is an expert. There are plenty of people who are willing and eager to help you attain your PE. Look for mentors in:

  • Your current company
  • Companies with which you previously worked
  • Local professional societies
  • National professional societies
  • Local schools, colleges, and universities
  • Online
9 – Exploit The Odds

Most of the PE Exams – with the exception of the Structural Depth exams – are 80 multiple choice questions, taken over an eight hour period. To pass the exam and receive your PE License, you need to correctly answer 70% of the questions.

That’s only 56 right answers – so weigh the odds in your favor!

Take the Electrical PE Exam as an example:

  1. You have a lot of experience in:
    • General Power Engineering – Measurement and Instrumentation (7.5% or six questions)
    • General Power Engineering – Special Applications (10% or eight questions)
    • Circuit Analysis – Devices and Power Electronic Circuits (9% or seven questions)
    • Rotating Machines and Electromagnetic Devices – Rotating Machines (12.5% or ten questions)
  2. Get tutoring in:
    • Transmission and Distribution – System Analysis (12.5% or ten questions)
    • Transmission and Distribution – Protection (10% or eight questions)
  3. Spend enough time reading through and learning the codes:
    • General Power Engineering – Codes and Standards (12.5% or ten questions)

That totals 59 correct answers – more than enough to pass the PE Exam.

10 – Eat Well And Get Plenty Of Rest

This one is really a no-brainer, but it never hurts to hear it again. Take the time to adjust your diet leading up to the PE Exam. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish, nuts, and lean protein. Drink lots of water – at least 1/2 ounce for every pound. So if you weigh 185 pounds that’s 93 ounces of water per day (12 x 8oz glasses).

Bonus – Prepare for Test Day in Advance

Lastly, begin to assemble all of your test-day resources well in advance of the PE Exam. You will probably want to pack:

  • Healthy snacks
  • Drinks – like water
  • Clothing or jackets that can be taken on or off quickly and quietly
  • Extra money
  • Any forms or documents that may be required at the testing facility
  • Directions to the testing facility
  • Hotel reservations, if needed
  • Your Test-Prep Resource Library©

If you will begin putting these things together in advance, then you won’t have to worry about them the night before the PE Exam.

You can find useful and effective study materials to help you prepare for your PE Exam at:

PE Exam Study Guides

PE Exam Success – The 10 Best Ways To Be Prepared

Engineering Design Resources
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Professional Engineering Exam

May 18, 2023 by

Professional Engineering Exam

The Professional Engineering Exam is the final step a graduate engineer must take in order to sign and seal engineered drawings and perform, or supervise others performing, engineering calculations.

The Professional Engineering Exam is administered twice  per year, in April and October. Each eight-hour test day is divided into a four-hour morning session, a lunch break, and a four-hour afternoon session. Each session consists of 40 multiple choice questions that will measure the engineer’s grasp and understanding of the subject matter.

Professional Engineering Exams are available in the following disciplines:

  • Agricultural
  • Architectural
  • Chemical
  • Civil:
    • Construction
    • Geotechnical
    • Structural
    • Transportation
    • Water Resources and Environmental
  • Control Systems
  • Electrical and Computer:
    • Computer Engineering
    • Electrical and Electronics
    • Power
  • Environmental
  • Fire Protection
  • Industrial and Systems
  • Mechanical:
    • HVAC and Refrigeration
    • Mechanical Systems and Materials
    • Thermal and Fluids Systems
  • Metallurgical and Materials
  • Mining and Mineral Processing
  • Naval Architecture and Marine
  • Nuclear
  • Petroleum
  • Software
  • Structural

Resources to prepare for the examinations are available in the form of books, CDs, online classes, classes at local universities, etc. Refer to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) for additional study resources and to get specific test information and areas of concentration for each discipline.  You may also find study resources at your discipline’s professional society.

PE Exam Pass Rates

According to data from NCEES, the most current pass rates for the Professional Engineering Exam are:

Improving PE Exam Pass Rates

You can greatly improve your odds of success passing a Professional Engineering Exam by:

  1. Being thoroughly prepared with organized, structured study
  2. Working as many example problems as possible
  3. Utilizing an adequate Test-Prep Resource Library©*

*NOTE: As per the NCEES Examinees Guide, books, notes, notebooks, etc. are no longer permitted in the testing room. This does not diminish the importance of a Test-Prep Resource Library© as a method of study and preparation. Taking the time to assemble a resource library will naturally help you categorize and document your study materials, help you determine what’s essential to pass the exam, and keep all your resources in one easy-to-access tool.

Professional Engineering Exam

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Heating and Air Conditioning Loads

May 18, 2023 by

Heating and Air Conditioning Loads provide the design engineer with rates of heat transfer through the building materials and surfaces – walls, floors, roofs, windows, etc. – and the contribution to the heating or air conditioning systems by various building components – people, lighting, equipment, etc. With this information solidly in hand, the engineer can proceed to design the multiple components of the building’s HVAC system.

Heating and Air Conditioning Loads

Central Plant:

  • Chillers
  • Cooling Towers
  • Boilers
  • Pumps

Air Side:

  • Air Handling Units
  • Ductwork
  • Exhaust Fans
  • Outside Air Systems
Summer Heating and Air Conditioning Loads

The peak – or highest – cooling load during the summer is that amount of heat removed to maintain the room’s design temperature. Factors that contribute to a building’s cooling load are:

  • The sun, which heats up the building exterior and then transfers into the building through walls, roofs, windows, etc.
  • Items within the building that produce heat such as people, lighting, equipment
  • The building’s geographic location
  • Maintaining the interior design temperature
Winter Heating and Air Conditioning Loads

The peak – or highest – heating load during the winter is the amount of heat added to maintain the room’s design temperature. Factors that contribute to a building’s heating load are:

  • Heat lost to the outdoors through walls, roofs, windows
  • The building’s geographic location
  • Maintaining the interior design temperature

The loads calculated for both heating and cooling are necessary to accurately size the equipment – heating and cooling systems, the air distribution systems – ductwork, diffusers, terminal boxes – and the ventilation system. A Heating and Air Conditioning Loads system that is incorrectly undersized will not be able to keep the building at the desired indoor temperature as required in the design. And a Heating and Air Conditioning Loads system that is incorrectly oversized will constantly cycle on/off and will be unable to maintain the proper humidity levels within the building. This can lead to larger problems such as equipment damage, occupant discomfort, and mold growth.

Calculating Heating and Cooling Loads

Heating and Air Conditioning Loads are mostly calculated using computer programs such as Elite Software’s CHVAC and RHVAC programs, Carrier Corporation’s HAP program and Trane’s TRACE program. These and many other programs on the market are highly specialized, can require an extreme amount of data input, produce large quantities of output, are very accurate in terms of Heating and Air Conditioning Loads, and are usually quite expensive. These programs are often necessary when it comes time to perform the actual equipment sizing, selection, and specification.

A design engineer who didn’t spend the time manipulating wall construction, roof construction, occupancies, equipment loads, and lighting configurations would not be providing the building owner with professional service. In designing the building’s HVAC systems, it is imperative to use the most realistic and accurate computer model of how the building will function in both heating and cooling environments and at different times of the day, week, month, or year.

But there are times when this accuracy and time/effort investment are not fiscally reasonable. For example, in the early stages of the design process, when the owner, architect, and engineer are meeting to determine the best course of design to pursue, it is important to understand the impact of the HVAC system on the overall design especially as it relates to space requirements. It becomes convenient to have a method by which the engineer can estimate these space requirements by quickly sizing the equipment required based on the current architectural design and extrapolating out to come up with mechanical room sizes, access into/out of and overall location within the building.

Load Calculation Worksheet

The Heating and Air Conditioning Loads Calculation Worksheet is one-page “snapshot” design tool based in Microsoft Excel utilizes psychrometric equations to solve and provide data for heating and air conditioning designs. The simplicity and unique compactness allows the design engineer to input, change, and manipulate multiple HVAC load variations, altering and adjusting on the spot, with the output immediately available on screen. The benefit to the engineer, architect and owner is in the speed of decision making. If the design team can quickly arrive at the most beneficial building design with respect to building materials, site orientation, occupancies, hours of operation, etc., this saves the overall project budget in terms of time – meetings, phone calls, design – money and frustration.

Air Handling Unit Selection Worksheet

The Air Handling Unit Selection Worksheet is designed to be used in conjunction with the Heating and Air Conditioning Loads Calculation Worksheet, although it can stand alone. The Air Handling Unit Worksheet uses parameters such as sensible load, latent load, and total load to provide the remaining variables needed to select and specify air handling units. The worksheet also allows the design engineer to input known static pressures to get a more realistic estimation of the overall Internal and Total Static Pressures for the units.

Heating and Air Conditioning Loads

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Project Management Cost Estimate Worksheet

May 18, 2023 by

Project Management Cost Estimate WorksheetProject Management Cost Estimate Worksheet calculates project fee which, in most cases, is the driving force behind every design and construction project.

Project fee determines what the building looks like – size, shape, structure, building materials, air conditioning and heating systems, lighting, landscaping, etc., how much time the design professionals can devote to the project, how many design professionals will need to be allocated to the project and for how long, how much time and how many trips the design team can make to the project site, and ultimately, how much profit each participant is going to realize at the end of the project.

In determining the project fee that the design professionals should charge involves many factors. Some of the more identifiable, specific information needed is:

  • Scope of the project
  • Time duration for the design
  • Size of the project
  • Building systems
  • Overall construction budget
  • Project Management Cost Estimate Worksheet
  • Acquiring additional training or equipment before or during design

Additionally, account for issues that can sometimes be sensitive in nature, such as:

  • Past relationships with the Architect of Record, Owner, or Contractor
  • Ease of working with other consultants and building officials in the jurisdiction of the project
  • Experience and abilities of in-house design professionals
  • Potential for designing the project at a reduced fee for some future benefit such as good-will, additional projects, or publicity

There are numerous ways to arrive at a project fee that will satisfy most of the above stated issues. By utilizing the Project Management Cost Estimate Worksheet, a more consistent and accurate fee can be estimated.

CONSULTANT FEE AS PERCENTAGE OF CONSTRUCTION BUDGET

If the overall construction budget established by the owner is known and if the Project Manager can determine baseline percentages for the different parts of the design and construction process, then a fee can be determined as follows:

Various Methods for an MEP Consulting Engineer
1 – Percent of General Construction
  • Total General Construction Estimate = $50,000,000
  • 25% of Total General Construction = MEP Portion of the Construction = $12,500,000
  • MEP Design Fee:
    • as Percentage of the MEP Construction (4%):
      • Design Fee = $12,500,000 x 4% = $500,000
    • as Percentage of General Construction (25% x 4% = 1%):
      • Design Fee = $50,000,000 x 1% = $500,000
2 – Percent of Architect’s Fee
  • Total General Construction Estimate = $50,000,000
  • 10% of Total General Construction – Architect’s Fee = $5,000,000
  • MEP Design Fee:
    • as Percentage of Architect’s Fee (10%):
      • Design Fee = $5,000,000 x 10% = $500,000
3 – Total Staff Requirements by MEP Consultant
  • Staff Costs (Salary Plus Overhead)
    • Principal: $150 per hour
    • Project Manager: $120 per hour
    • Senior Engineer: $100 per hour
    • Design Engineer: $75 per hour
    • CADD: $50 per hour
    • Administrative: $40 per hour
  • Project Requires the Following Time Commitments:
    • Principal: 30 hours
    • Project Manager: 350 hours
    • 3 Project Engineers: 250 hours each
    • 3 Design Engineers: 750 hours each
    • 2 CADD: 1,500 hours each
    • Administrative: 250 hours
  • The staff costs would total $450,250
  • Assuming a 10% profit, the total MEP fee for this project would be $500,278 (or $450,250 ⁄ 0.9).

Project Management is a complex, hands-on, task specific occupation that requires both the science of managing numbers and budgets, as well as the art of managing people and project vision.

A tool the Project Manager can utilize to standardize and automate the fee estimation part of the job is the Project Management Cost Estimate Worksheet. Manipulate this worksheet to change costs, percentages, pay rates, profits, markups, and project scope. It also contains a worksheet to estimate the amount of time required by the design staff on a drawing-by-drawing basis if that is customary to you or your firm.

Project Management Cost Estimate Worksheet

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HVAC Load Calculations Worksheet

May 18, 2023 by

HVAC Load Calculations Worksheet

HVAC Load Calculations Worksheet specifically accelerates initial design decisions and system selection. The simplicity and unique compactness allows the design engineer to input, change, and manipulate multiple HVAC load variations on the spot, with the output immediately available on screen. The output is a one-page form showing all the pertinent data and design conditions needed to accurately select the proper heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment to satisfy the space conditions.

Other HVAC Worksheets

Not only are there are many HVAC Load Calculations Worksheets on the market that are highly specialized, require an extreme amount of data input, produce large quantities of output, are very accurate in terms of HVAC loads, but they are usually quite expensive. These programs are often necessary when it comes time to perform the actual equipment sizing, selection, and specification. A design engineer who doesn’t spend the time manipulating wall construction, roof construction, occupancies, equipment loads, and lighting configurations would not be providing the building owner with professional service. It is imperative to use the most realistic and accurate computer model in designing the building’s HVAC systems. This will determine how the building will function in both heating and cooling environments and at different times of the day, week, month, or year.

Stages

However, there are times when this accuracy and time/effort investment are not fiscally reasonable. For example, in the early stages of the design process, when the owner, architect, and engineer are meeting to determine the best course of design to pursue, it is important to understand the impact of the HVAC system on the overall design especially as it relates to space requirements. It becomes convenient to have a method, such as the HVAC Load Calculations Worksheet, by which the engineer can estimate these space requirements by quickly sizing the equipment required based on the current architectural design and extrapolating out to determine mechanical room sizes, access into/out of, and overall location within the building.

At this stage of the design, the owner, architect, and engineer make preliminary decisions and select the type of system depending on the total load, the desired system control, the required space setpoints, etc. Further information and design considerations on the HVAC Load Calculations Worksheet topic are available on the HVAC Loads page.

HVAC Load Calculations Worksheet

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EngineeringDesignResources.com prohibits the use or reproduction of this material by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. This includes photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system.

Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, web addresses or links in these materials may have changed.

Any resemblance in the images in this material to actual people or locations is merely coincidental. EngineeringDesignResources.com prohibits reprinting, copying, changing, reproducing, publishing, uploading, posting, transmitting, or using in any other manner images in this material.

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Air Handling Unit Design Worksheet

May 18, 2023 by

The Air Handling Unit Design Worksheet compliments the HVAC Load Calculation Worksheet. This worksheet assists the design engineer in accelerating initial design decisions and system selection. The simple and straight forward worksheet layout allows the design engineer to input, change, and manipulate multiple AHU variations to arrive at a suitable selection. The output from the worksheet is a one-page form showing all the pertinent data and design conditions needed to accurately select the proper air handling unit equipment to satisfy the space conditions.

Air Handling Unit Design Worksheet

Other AHU Programs

There are other Air Handling Unit Design Worksheet programs on the market that require more data input, produce large quantities of output, are very specific in terms of air handling unit selection. These programs are either manufacturer specific or are very expensive. The use of these programs is often necessary and beneficial when it comes time to perform the actual equipment sizing, selection, and specification. A design engineer who doesn’t spend the time manipulating air handling unit configurations would not be providing the building owner with professional service. It is imperative to design and select the most realistic and accurate systems and equipment for the building so that the owner receives the most economical and functional building possible. However, due to budget or time constraints, there are times when the more sophisticated unit selection programs are not fiscally reasonable.

For Example

In the early stages of the design process, when the owner, architect, and engineer are meeting to determine the best course of design to pursue, it is important to understand the impact of the HVAC system equipment on the overall design especially as it relates to space requirements. It becomes convenient to have a method by which the engineer can estimate these space requirements by quickly sizing the equipment required based on the current architectural design and extrapolating out to come up with mechanical room sizes, access into/out of and overall location within the building.

It’s also at this stage of the design when the owner, architect, and engineer make preliminary decisions about the type of systems that will be used. The team can narrow down or select the types of systems, depending on the total load, the desired system control, the required space setpoints, etc. Further information and design considerations on the Air Handling Unit Design Worksheet can be found on the HVAC Load Calculation Worksheet.

Air Handling Unit Design Worksheet

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EngineeringDesignResources.com prohibits the use or reproduction of this material by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. This includes photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system.

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Any resemblance in the images in this material to actual people or locations is merely coincidental. EngineeringDesignResources.com prohibits reprinting, copying, changing, reproducing, publishing, uploading, posting, transmitting, or using in any other manner images in this material.

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