CAPS Quality Assurance & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law requires that newly constructed multifamily housing with four or more units be designed to meet specific accessibility standards?
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (Correct answer)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act
- The Architectural Barriers Act
Correct answer: The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988
The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 mandates accessibility design requirements for new multifamily construction with four or more units.
Question 2: During a post-installation walkthrough for grab bar installation, the CAPS specialist discovers the bars were mounted into drywall without blocking. What is the FIRST corrective action?
- Apply additional adhesive to reinforce the mounting
- Document the deficiency and schedule immediate re-installation with proper backing (Correct answer)
- Inform the client the bars are adequate for light use
- Install a second set of bars nearby to distribute load
Correct answer: Document the deficiency and schedule immediate re-installation with proper backing
Grab bars mounted without proper blocking or backing fail load requirements and must be documented and re-installed correctly before the project is accepted.
Question 3: Which organization publishes the A117.1 standard that is most commonly referenced for accessible and usable buildings and facilities?
- AARP
- ICC (International Code Council)
- ANSI (American National Standards Institute) (Correct answer)
- NAHB (National Association of Home Builders)
Correct answer: ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
ANSI A117.1 is the American National Standard for accessible and usable buildings and facilities, widely adopted into building codes.
Question 4: A client's remodel requires a permit, but the contractor suggests skipping it to save time. As a CAPS specialist, what should you advise?
- Agree if the work is straightforward and low-risk
- Proceed without a permit only if the client signs a waiver
- Always obtain required permits to ensure code compliance and protect the client (Correct answer)
- Permits are optional for residential accessibility modifications
Correct answer: Always obtain required permits to ensure code compliance and protect the client
Required permits must always be obtained to ensure the work meets code, protect the homeowner's insurance, and avoid legal liability.
Question 5: When verifying the quality of a zero-threshold shower installation, which measurement is most critical to check?
- Showerhead height above the floor
- The slope of the shower floor toward the drain (Correct answer)
- Water heater temperature setting
- Distance from the shower to the nearest outlet
Correct answer: The slope of the shower floor toward the drain
Proper floor slope (typically 1/4 inch per foot toward the drain) prevents water from flowing out of the shower and causing a fall hazard.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a 'punch list' in the context of CAPS project quality assurance?
- A list of materials needed before construction begins
- A document outlining the project budget
- A final checklist of incomplete or deficient items that must be corrected before project closeout (Correct answer)
- A record of all subcontractors who worked on the project
Correct answer: A final checklist of incomplete or deficient items that must be corrected before project closeout
A punch list is a quality control tool used at project completion to catalog remaining deficiencies that must be resolved before final acceptance.
Question 7: Which type of inspection is specifically focused on verifying that accessibility modifications meet the intended functional outcomes for the client?
- Structural inspection
- Functional outcomes inspection (Correct answer)
- Fire code inspection
- Environmental hazard inspection
Correct answer: Functional outcomes inspection
A functional outcomes inspection evaluates whether completed modifications actually achieve the intended accessibility and usability goals for the specific client.
CAPS Quality Assurance & Compliance 2
Which federal law requires that newly constructed multifamily housing with four or more units be designed to meet specific accessibility standards?