Which of the following best describes the 'house as a system' concept central to BPI Building Science Principles?
House As A System
Question · Easy
Which of the following is NOT one of the four interacting subsystems emphasized in the BPI house-as-a-system model?
Chapter 1: House as a System & Energy Fundamentals
1.1 The House as an Interactive System
Study guide
A homeowner adds attic insulation but does not air seal first. Which house-as-a-system consequence is MOST likely?
Question · Medium
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Which three mechanisms describe how heat moves through a building?
Heat Transfer
Heat moving from a hot coffee mug into your hand through direct contact is an example of:
A homeowner feels warmth standing in front of a sunny south-facing window even with the room air at 68 F. The heat reaching the body is primarily transferred by:
1.2 Energy Units, Power vs. Energy, and Laws of Thermodynamics
A forced-air furnace pushing warm air across a room is an example of which heat transfer mode?
Which statement correctly distinguishes R-value from U-factor?
A window has a U-factor of 0.25. What is its approximate R-value?
Wood framing in a wall reduces the wall's effective R-value because:
Envelope Insulation
1.3 Thermal Comfort Dynamics & Human Factors
Per IECC R402, the minimum prescriptive ceiling/attic insulation R-value for IECC Climate Zone 5 (e.g., much of the Northeast and Midwest) is generally:
Question · Hard
Which fiberglass batt configuration provides the HIGHEST cavity R-value for a 2x6 wall?
The primary purpose of an air barrier in a building assembly is to:
Moisture Air
Which statement BEST describes the difference between an air barrier and a vapor retarder?
Chapter 2: Heat Transfer Fundamentals & Thermal Calculations
2.1 Conduction, Convection, and Radiation in Residential Buildings
In a heating-dominated climate (e.g., IECC Climate Zone 6), a vapor retarder is generally placed on which side of the wall assembly?
Vapor drive in a building is best described as:
Dew point temperature is best defined as:
Indoor air is 70 F and 50% relative humidity. A single-pane window's interior surface is 45 F. What will MOST likely occur?
2.2 Thermal Resistance (R-Value), Transmittance (U-Factor), and Framing Factors
Recommended indoor relative humidity range for occupant comfort and to limit microbial growth is generally:
The stack effect in a heated home in winter creates:
Air Leakage Pressure
Which of the following is NOT one of the three primary drivers of natural air leakage in a home?
During a blower door test, CFM50 represents:
2.3 Heat Loss, Heat Gain Calculations, Design Temperatures, and Degree Days
Which equation correctly calculates ACH50 from a blower door test?
A house tests at 1,800 CFM50 with a conditioned volume of 18,000 cubic feet. What is the ACH50?
Which is the LARGEST typical air leakage location in a single-family home?
Per BPI combustion safety standards, what is the maximum allowable CAZ depressurization (with respect to outdoors) for a Category I atmospherically vented appliance under worst-case conditions?
Combustion Safety
Chapter 3: Air Leakage & Building Pressure Dynamics
3.1 Pressure Driving Forces: Stack Effect, Wind Effect, and Mechanical Forces
Which of the following is NOT typically operated during a worst-case CAZ depressurization test?
According to BPI standards for an occupied space (not a confined CAZ), what ambient CO level requires immediate action and ventilation/evacuation?
Carbon monoxide is dangerous primarily because it:
Backdrafting of a natural-draft water heater occurs when:
3.2 Air Leakage Metrics, Blower Door Testing, and Diagnostics
Which appliance is MOST susceptible to backdrafting under CAZ depressurization?
AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) for a furnace measures:
Hvac
A 'condensing' gas furnace is generally characterized by an AFUE of at least:
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rates which kind of equipment?
3.3 Air Sealing Priorities, Critical Thermal Bypasses, and Duct Leakage
Which statement about EER vs. SEER is correct?
A heat pump's primary advantage over an electric resistance heater is that it:
An oversized air conditioner is a building performance problem because:
Duct leakage to outside the conditioned envelope is most directly responsible for:
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