BCM Trivia 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a 'value engineering' study in construction?
- To achieve required functions at the lowest overall cost without sacrificing quality (Correct answer)
- To increase the aesthetic value of a building design
- To appraise the market value of completed construction
- To evaluate contractor bids for the best value
Correct answer: To achieve required functions at the lowest overall cost without sacrificing quality
Value engineering systematically analyzes functions to find alternative ways to deliver the same performance at reduced cost or improved quality.
Question 2: Which construction equipment is measured by 'reach' and 'capacity' and commonly used to lift and place structural steel?
- Tower crane (Correct answer)
- Skid steer loader
- Scissor lift
- Compact track loader
Correct answer: Tower crane
Tower cranes are characterized by their lifting capacity and jib reach, making them essential for lifting structural steel and heavy materials on high-rise projects.
Question 3: What does 'AHJ' stand for in the context of building codes and inspections?
- Authority Having Jurisdiction (Correct answer)
- Architect's Hourly Journal
- Approved Hardware Journal
- Area Health and Jobs
Correct answer: Authority Having Jurisdiction
The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) is the organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing building codes and approving equipment or materials.
Question 4: In concrete construction, 'slump' is a measure of:
- Workability or consistency of fresh concrete (Correct answer)
- The compressive strength of hardened concrete
- The shrinkage of concrete after curing
- The rate of concrete placement
Correct answer: Workability or consistency of fresh concrete
The slump test measures how much fresh concrete settles or 'slumps' after a standard cone mold is removed, indicating its workability.
Question 5: The term 'change order' in construction refers to:
- A written amendment to the contract modifying scope, cost, or schedule (Correct answer)
- An order to change subcontractors mid-project
- A request to change the construction delivery method
- A directive to alter the payment schedule
Correct answer: A written amendment to the contract modifying scope, cost, or schedule
A change order is a formal document signed by all parties that modifies the original contract's scope, price, or completion date.
Question 6: What is the standard compressive strength test used for concrete in the United States?
- ASTM C39 cylinder compression test (Correct answer)
- ASTM C78 flexural strength test
- ASTM C496 split tensile test
- ASTM C192 mix design test
Correct answer: ASTM C39 cylinder compression test
ASTM C39 is the standard test method for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimens, typically tested at 7 and 28 days.
Question 7: Which scheduling technique uses activity-on-node (AON) diagrams to show task dependencies?
- Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) (Correct answer)
- Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM)
- Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT)
- Gantt chart method
Correct answer: Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM)
PDM uses boxes (nodes) to represent activities and arrows to show logical relationships, and is the most widely used network scheduling method today.
BCM Trivia 4
What is the primary purpose of a 'value engineering' study in construction?