CPE Labor Productivity & Rates 2

Question 1

A crew installs 200 linear feet of conduit in 8 hours. What is the crew's unit labor rate in man-hours per linear foot?

Accepted Answer

0.04 MH/LF

Answer

Unit rate = 8 MH ÷ 200 LF = 0.04 MH/LF.

Question 2

Which factor most directly reduces labor productivity on high-rise construction projects compared to ground-level work?

Accepted Answer

Increased hoist and vertical travel time

Answer

Vertical travel time to upper floors significantly reduces the portion of the workday spent on productive installation.

Question 3

When a project labor agreement (PLA) specifies craft jurisdiction, the primary estimating impact is:

Accepted Answer

Restricted task assignments that may require additional craft labor

Answer

Jurisdictional work rules under a PLA can prevent multi-tasking, requiring separate craft workers for tasks a single worker might otherwise perform.

Question 4

An estimator applies a 0.85 productivity factor to a baseline labor unit. If the baseline is 1.20 MH/unit, what is the adjusted rate?

Accepted Answer

1.02 MH/unit

Answer

Adjusted rate = 1.20 × 0.85 = 1.02 MH/unit.

Question 5

The 'learning curve' effect in construction estimating predicts that:

Accepted Answer

Unit labor hours decrease as workers repeat the same task

Answer

As workers repeat identical tasks, familiarity reduces unit man-hours through the learning curve effect.

(CPE) Certified Professional Estimator Practice Test