Architect Registration Examination (ARE) Project Planning and Design Syllabus

What is the maximum running slope and cross slope of an ADA-compliant ramp?

Maximum running slope 1:12 (8.33%), maximum cross slope 1:48 (about 2%). Maximum rise of 30 inches per run, with level landings at top, bottom, and changes of direction.

What is the required clear floor space for a single wheelchair, and the turning space dimensions?

A clear floor space of 30 by 48 inches for a stationary wheelchair. Turning space is either a 60-inch-diameter circle or a T-shaped space within a 60-inch square.

What is a building "climate zone" map used for in energy code compliance?

ASHRAE/IECC climate zones (1 hottest to 8 coldest) set minimum insulation R-values, U-factors, and envelope requirements appropriate to local heating and cooling demands.

What are the three compliance paths in the IECC for building envelope energy compliance?

Prescriptive (meet specific R-value/U-factor requirements per element), component/trade-off (UA tradeoff between assemblies), and performance (whole-building energy modeling vs. a baseline).

Distinguish R-value from U-factor in envelope design.

R-value measures thermal resistance of a material/assembly (higher = better insulator). U-factor is the rate of heat transfer through an assembly (U = 1/R for the total assembly; lower = better).

What is solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and why does it matter for glazing?

SHGC is the fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window (0–1). Lower SHGC reduces cooling loads in hot climates; higher SHGC can be beneficial for passive solar heating in cold climates.

Compare the three principal structural materials — steel, concrete, and wood — on a key design trade-off.

Steel: high strength-to-weight, fast erection, but needs fireproofing. Concrete: high compression strength, mass/fire resistance, but heavy and weak in tension (needs reinforcement). Wood: light, renewable, easy to work, but combustible and limited spans.

What is the difference between a one-way and a two-way structural slab/floor system?

A one-way system spans in a single direction to parallel supports (beams or walls). A two-way system spans in both directions to a grid of columns, efficient for square-ish bays and longer spans.

What structural concept describes the path loads take from application to the ground?

The load path — gravity and lateral loads transfer from slabs/decks to beams, to girders, to columns/walls, to foundations, and finally into the soil; every element must form a continuous path.

What is the difference between a shear wall, a braced frame, and a moment frame for lateral resistance?

A shear wall resists lateral loads through in-plane rigidity. A braced frame uses diagonal members in axial tension/compression. A moment frame resists lateral loads through rigid (moment-connected) beam-column joints, allowing open bays.

In MEP integration, what is a plenum and why is it significant in ceiling design?

A plenum is the enclosed space (often above a suspended ceiling or below a raised floor) used to distribute conditioned air or return air. It must be coordinated with structure, lighting, and fire-rating, and plenum-rated materials may be required.

What is the difference between an all-air, all-water, and air-water HVAC distribution system?

All-air systems deliver conditioning entirely via ducted air (e.g., VAV). All-water systems use piped water to terminal units (e.g., fan-coils, radiant). Air-water systems combine ducted ventilation air with water-based local heating/cooling (e.g., induction units, chilled beams).

Why are plumbing fixtures typically stacked vertically across floors in multistory buildings?

To align wet stacks (supply, waste, and vent risers) so piping runs are short and direct, reducing cost, leaks, and coordination conflicts — concentrating plumbing into shared chases.

What is the difference between vertical and horizontal circulation in a building?

Vertical circulation moves people/goods between floors (stairs, elevators, escalators, ramps). Horizontal circulation moves them across a floor (corridors, lobbies, hallways, bridges).

How is the number of required elevators for a building typically determined?

By traffic analysis based on building population, peak demand (e.g., 5-minute handling capacity), acceptable waiting/interval times, and travel height — balancing car size, speed, and number of cars.

What is the typical maximum rise (riser) and minimum run (tread) for a code-compliant egress stair?

In the IBC, maximum riser height is 7 inches and minimum tread depth is 11 inches for means-of-egress stairs (residential stairs in the IRC allow up to 7-3/4 inch riser, 10 inch tread).

What acoustic metric describes a partition's ability to block airborne sound, and what describes floor-ceiling impact noise?

Sound Transmission Class (STC) rates airborne sound isolation of a partition (higher = better). Impact Insulation Class (IIC) rates resistance to impact/structure-borne noise through floor-ceiling assemblies (higher = better).

What is reverberation time (RT60) and what affects it?

The time for sound to decay 60 decibels after the source stops. It increases with room volume and decreases with more absorptive surface area (Sabine's formula: RT = 0.049 V / A in IP units).

What is the difference between illuminance and luminance in lighting design?

Illuminance is the light falling on a surface, measured in footcandles (lux). Luminance is the light emitted or reflected from a surface toward the eye (brightness), measured in candela per square meter (or footlamberts).

What is the daylight factor and why is it used?

The ratio of interior daylight illuminance at a point to the simultaneous exterior horizontal illuminance under an overcast sky, expressed as a percent. It evaluates daylighting adequacy independent of absolute sky conditions.

Define a material's coefficient of thermal expansion and why it matters in detailing.

The amount a material expands or contracts per unit length per degree of temperature change. Dissimilar coefficients and large assemblies require expansion/control joints to prevent cracking, buckling, or sealant failure.

What is the difference between a material's strength in tension versus compression, using concrete and steel as examples?

Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension, so it is reinforced with steel, which is strong in tension. Combining them in reinforced concrete lets each material carry the stress it handles best.

What are the four control layers of a high-performance building envelope (in order from exterior)?

The water control layer (drainage/WRB), air control layer (air barrier), vapor control layer (vapor retarder), and thermal control layer (insulation). They must be continuous and properly sequenced.

What is a rainscreen wall assembly and how does it manage water?

A cladding system with a ventilated/drained air cavity behind the exterior face and a water-resistive barrier on the backup wall. It allows pressure equalization and drains/dries any water that passes the cladding, keeping the structure dry.

What is the dew point and why is its location in a wall assembly important?

The temperature at which water vapor condenses. If the dew point falls within the wall where moisture-sensitive materials are, condensation occurs; insulation and vapor control must keep condensing surfaces above dew point or outside vulnerable layers.

What is a fire-rated assembly and how is its rating expressed?

A construction assembly (wall, floor, door) tested to resist fire for a specified duration, expressed in hours (e.g., 1-hour, 2-hour). The rating reflects the time it maintains structural/separation integrity under standard fire test (ASTM E119).

What is the difference between a fire wall, a fire barrier, and a fire partition?

A fire wall is the most robust, extending through the structure to subdivide a building into separate buildings (with structural continuity/collapse resistance). A fire barrier separates occupancies, shafts, and exits with continuity to rated floor/roof. A fire partition is a lighter rated wall (e.g., between dwelling units, corridors).

What is a firestop and where is it required?

A material or system that seals openings and joints in fire-rated assemblies (around penetrations like pipes, ducts, cables) to maintain the assembly's fire-resistance rating and prevent fire/smoke spread.

What is "constructability" and why is it considered during design?

The ease and efficiency with which a building can be built. Considering it during design — sequencing, tolerances, standard sizes, access, and buildable details — reduces errors, change orders, cost, and schedule delays.

State the basic detailing principle for keeping water out of a building envelope joint and name a common method.

Use redundancy and gravity: shed water outward and downward and provide a secondary line of defense. Common methods include flashing, drip edges, lapping materials shingle-fashion (over-under), end dams, and back-up sealant/drainage planes.