Practice Test Geeks(CCS) Certified Construction Specifier Practice Test
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Materials Selection Flashcards

7 cards from real CCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Materials Selection flashcards as text

  1. An Architect selects ASTM A36 structural steel. Which property value does this designation most directly communicate?

    Answer: Minimum yield strength of 36 ksi

    ASTM A36 designates a carbon structural steel with a minimum yield strength of 36,000 psi (36 ksi).

  2. Which of the following best defines 'embodied carbon' as applied to building material selection?

    Answer: Greenhouse gas emissions associated with material manufacturing, transport, and installation

    Embodied carbon refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions released during upstream phases—extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and construction—of a building material.

  3. When specifying masonry mortar for new construction using Type S mortar, which compressive strength does ASTM C270 assign to Type S?

    Answer: 1,800 psi minimum

    ASTM C270 classifies Type S mortar with a minimum compressive strength of 1,800 psi, suitable for below-grade and high-load applications.

  4. A specifier must choose between aluminum and stainless steel for exterior hardware on a building near a saltwater marina. Which factor most strongly favors stainless steel?

    Answer: Superior resistance to pitting corrosion from chlorides

    Marine chloride environments can cause pitting in aluminum alloys, whereas Type 316 stainless steel is alloyed with molybdenum to resist chloride-induced pitting.

  5. In evaluating sustainable material selection under LEED v4, which credit category directly rewards the use of products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)?

    Answer: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations

    LEED v4's MR credit 'Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – EPDs' awards points for using products that have published EPDs documenting their environmental impacts.

  6. A product's SDS (Safety Data Sheet) is most useful to a specifier when evaluating a material for:

    Answer: Handling hazards, VOC content, and disposal requirements

    The SDS provides OSHA-required information on chemical hazards, safe handling, VOCs, and disposal—all relevant to occupant safety and indoor air quality specifications.

  7. Which test method measures the resistance of a roofing or waterproofing membrane to hydrostatic pressure, simulating below-grade conditions?

    Answer: ASTM D5385 – Hydrostatic Pressure Resistance

    ASTM D5385 tests waterproofing materials under direct hydrostatic pressure, simulating the conditions experienced by below-grade membranes.