Ready for the PE Exam – let’s get started! Do you remember the first time you tried something new? Whether it was skydiving or scuba-diving, a new sport or a new instrument, learning to drive or learning to fly, those first few “steps” can seem huge. Most times, all we need to do is take a deep breath, put one foot in front of the other, and begin moving.
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Put one foot in front of the other and begin moving.
Apply these same steps to just about any endeavor. Take, for instance, preparing for the PE Exam. Hopefully, by now you’ve made the decision to take the PE Exam and have registered with NCEES.org. Where most people find themselves at this stage is … “The exam is two months away; I’ve got plenty of time to prepare … I’ll start later.” Before you know it, one month is gone, then another week, and another. Now you’re in panic-mode. There’s not enough time to properly prepare, so you try to cram as much as possible into the little time remaining, and you spend the next few weeks agonizing over the daunting task.
If you’re taking the Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, or Structural PE Exam, you’ll only have to carry this burden around for six months, until the next exam. However, if you’re taking the Architectural PE Exam, you get to suffer for twelve full months … one whole year. Don’t be this person. Take these next two months seriously. Put in the work. Do the hard things necessary to pass the PE Exam, and remember this by Walt Disney…
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
So … let’s get started.
This post – and a few others – primarily pertain to the Architectural Engineering PE Exam, but the information presented is applicable to any exam.
These first two topics are to get the test-taker to consider building systems – Architectural, Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing – as a whole – and how each one affects the others:
- Aspects of building performance that affect human comfort (e.g., vibration, noise, lighting, climate control) and,
- Impact of one system on another (e.g., lighting load on air-conditioning system capacity)
For example, how do vibrations transmitted from HVAC equipment to the structure impact the overall acoustics of a space or entire building?
- Does the Mechanical Engineer treat the cause with additional isolation devices to limit the transmission?
- Does the Structural Engineer use heavier – or more – steel to counteract the impact?
- Does the Architect and Acoustics Engineer provide additional sound dampening?
How do each of these affect the occupants?
Vibrations can be annoying and interfere with productivity.
Sound dampening can alter the intended “feel” of the space.
Noise can undermine speech and affect attention.
Everything we do as designers has the capacity to impact something else, so we must be aware of our efforts as well as the efforts of others.
To successfully navigate this portion of the exam, we recommend gathering information – articles, charts, graphs, examples, etc. – that relates to these types of impact.
Gather information on:
- Vibration
- Noise
- Lighting
- Climate Control
- Insulation Types & Characteristics
- Day-Lighting
- Windows
- Building Materials
In addition, gather information on:
- How does the lighting load affect the air-conditioning load?
- Does the HVAC load affect the overall electrical load and service size?
- What effect do the MEP systems have on the Structural systems?
- Do the combined systems affect the final architectural design?
Test-Prep Resource Library
In future posts, we will provide some beneficial resources and websites that you can include in your Test-Prep Resource Library©*. For now, do some digging on your own and see what you can find. Be curious, always ask why or why not, and never merely take someone else’s opinion for your own. This part of the exam has a certain element of subjectivity, and it’s not always “written in stone.” In your quest, you might find a new insight or twist on a long-held belief that makes you question your stance on the issue. That is not a bad thing. Tony Robbins, a life and business strategist, says, “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”
*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 your own 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.
So, are you ready for the PE Exam – let’s get started!
PE Exam – Let’s Get Started
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