QUESTIONS (60 items)

1. Based on the 2004 revised IRR of the PD

1096, what is the maximum allowable
PSO for the site if the project will not have
firewalls?
a. 70%
b. 75%
c. 85%
d. 90%
Since the questions asks for maximum PSO
allowed by the NBC for this property, we need to
check all the provisions in the NBC that set a
maximum PSO, namely:
Setbacks Table
o Since the road servicing the
property is 20m wide, we use the
following setbacks as given in the
table: 5-3-3 (front-sides-rear).
o Applying setbacks, the maximum
footprint allowed by this provision
is 4,096, which yields a PSOmax of
81.26%.
PSO Table on p.131
o PSOmax = 75%
Table 7.1: PSOmax = 75%
TOSL Table: 25% minimum TOSL so
PSOmax = 75%
We take 75% because this is the most restrictive
requirement. This is the only value that we can
use without breaking any of the provisions above.
We do not use the setbacks given in the problem
because the question asks for the maximum PSO
allowed by the law for this particular property
(thus the use of the NBC).
2. What is the applicable FLAR designation for
the site, based on PD 1096?
a. 1.70 up to 3.00
b. 3.60 up to 9.00
c. 9.00 up to 34.00
d. 1.50 up to 2.50
See FLAR table.
3. Compute for the maximum GFA using the
FLAR designation applicable to the project.
a. 18,144 sqm.
b. 45,360 sqm.
c. 171,360 sqm.
d. 8,568 sqm.
In order to get the maximum GFA allowed by the
NBC, we need to use the higher FLAR
designation. GFA = TLA X FLAR = 5,040 sqm x
9.0 = 45,360 sqm.
4. When converting the obtained GFA to
TGFA, what conversion factor should be
used?
a. 1.20
b. 1.25
c. 1.33
d. 1.50
See Conversion Table of GFA to TGFA.
5. What is the maximum allowable height (in
meters) for the building?
a. 6.00 m.
b. 15.00 m.
c. 18.00 m.
d. 36.00 m.
See BHL Table on p.90.

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6. If the owner wanted to use a firewall for

the project, what would be the maximum
total length of all firewall construction
according to the NBC?
a. 115-150 m.
b. 150-210 m.
c. 210-245 m.
d. 245-270 m.
According the NBC (p.83), as long as conditions
are met, commercial structures may have firewall
construction for as much as 70% of the lot
perimeter. Lot perimeter = 70 + 70 + 72 + 72 =
284m. 70% of 284m = 198.8m, which falls inside
the 150-210m range. We take this range because
this best represents the real limit, which is
198.8m.
7. What is the AMBF for the project if no
firewalls will be used?
a. 3150 sqm
b. 3375 sqm
c. 3780 sqm
d. 3825 sqm
Since maximum PSO is 75% as determined in
#1, maximum footprint is 3,780 sqm.
8. What is the minimum front setback
required for the project?
a. 3.00 m.
b. 5.00 m.
c. 6.00 m.
d. 8.00 m.
Check Setbacks Table on p. 138 of NBC.
9. What is the minimum ceiling height
required for the kitchens in this project?
a. 1.80 m.
b. 2.10 m.
c. 2.40 m.
d. 2.70 m.
Since the project is one-storey only, we can
assume that the ceiling height requirement is
2.70m, since the NBC sets 2.70m minimum for
the ground floor of any building, whether
naturally or artificially ventilated. Although the
Code allows a ceiling height of 2.40m for onestorey artificially ventilated buildings, the
problem does not explicitly state that the
kitchens are artificially ventilated.
10. What is the minimum open space required
for the project?
a. 15%
b. 20%
c. 25%
d. 30%
Check TOSL table on p. 166. Also, since PSOmax
is 75%.
11. What is the minimum area required by the
NBC for kitchens?
a. 1.20 sqm.
b. 3.00 sqm.
c. 6.00 sqm.
d. 10.00 sqm.
Check NBC.
12. What is the minimum dimension required
by the NBC for kitchens?
a. 0.90 m
b. 1.00 m
c. 1.50 m
d. 2.00 m

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Check NBC.
13. What is the occupant load prescribed by
the NBC for kitchens?
a. 1.40 sqm/person
b. 2.80 sqm/person
c. 18.60 sqm/person
d. 28.00 sqm/person
The occupant load requirements in the NBC do
not include kitchens, but the closest
requirement is commercial kitchens, for which
the NBC requires 18.60sqm/person. Check Table
XII.1 on p.208 of the NBC (this is in Rule 12).
14. Where should the accessible parking slot
be located?
a. Near the property entrance/exit
gate
b. Near the lobby/restaurant
entrance
c. Near the bathrooms
d. Near the service entrance
BP 344 states the the PWD parking slot should be
as close to the entrance as possible.
15. What are the minimum dimensions
required for an accessible toilet stall?
a. 1.10m x 1.40m
b. 1.50m x 1.80m
c. 1.70m x 1.80m
d. 3.70m x 5.00m
16. According to BP 344, what is the ideal
height of grab bars in an accessible toilet
stall?
a. 600mm from floor
b. 700mm from floor
c. 800mm from floor
d. 900mm from floor
Check BP 344. This is shown in an illustration.
17. A turnabout space should be provided
outside toilet stalls for PWDs. How big
should this turnabout space be?
a. 2.00 sqm, minimum dimension of
1.50m
b. 2.25 sqm, minimum dimension
of 1.50m
c. 2.50 sqm, minimum dimension of
1.50m
d. 2.75 sqm, minimum dimension of
1.50m
This is stated in BP 344. Note: 2.25 sqm should
not be difficult to remember because it is simply
the area of the 1.50m x 1.50m turnabout space.

18. According to the NBC, which occupant

load applies to commercial kitchens?
a. 1.80sqm/person
b. 9.30sqm/person
c. 18.60sqm/person
d. 28.00sqm/person
Check Table XII.1 on p.208 of the NBC (this is in
Rule 12).
19. According to RA 9514, what is the
maximum riser height for new stairs?
a. 100mm
b. 180mm
c. 200mm
d. 250mm
Check Table 2 (Dimensional Criteria of New
Stairs) on p.64 of RA 9514.

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20. What is the recommended minimum lot

size for C-2 inside lots, according to the
NBC?
a. 96 sqm.
b. 120 sqm.
c. 204 sqm.
d. 301 sqm.
Check minimum lot sizes prescribed by the NBC
on p.170.
21. If you subtract the ISA from the MACA,
what will you get?
a. USA
b. PSO
c. TLA
d. OFB
MACA = PSO + ISA.
22. What is the minimum window area
required for each kitchen of the project?
a. 3.60 sqm.
b. 7.20 sqm.
c. 100 sqm.
d. None of the above
Minimum window area = 10% of floor area. Since
each kitchen measures 7.50m x 9.60m, answer is
7.2sqm minimum for the windows. Check NBC
p.128.
23. What is the difference in height between
the highest and lowest points of the lot?
a. 1.80 m
b. 5.04 m
c. 5.60 m
d. 8.00m
Since the lot is sloping towards the road at 7%,
the answer is 4.90m (7/100 = x/70).

24. Based on the guidelines prescribed by the

NBC, which shall be considered as the
established grade elevation when
measuring building height?
a. The lowest elevation of the lot
b. The highest elevation of the lot
c. The average between the
lowest and highest elevations
of the lot
d. The finish floor level of parking lot
Since the lot is sloping and the difference
between the highest and lowest points is greater
than 3.00m, we measure building height from the
average of the highest and lowest points (NBC
p.91).

25. In order to satisfy the parking provisions

required by the NBC, the project may
make use of a permanent parking building
if the said building is how far from the
project?
a. No more than 50.0 m. away from
the project
b. No more than 100.0 m. away from
the project
c. No more than 200.0m. away
from the project
d. All parking provisions must be
provided on-site
See NBC p. 114.
26. For deliveries, the owner asked you to
provide parking slots for three delivery
trucks. What are the minimum dimensions
required by the NBC for standard trucks?

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a. 2.50m x 5.00m
b. 3.00 x 9.00m
c. 3.60m x 12.00m
d. 3.60m x 18.00m
See NBC p.100.
27. What is the minimum width required for a
dropped curb that leads to a 1.10m-wide
crossing?
a. 0.90m
b. 1.00m
c. 1.10m
d. 1.20m
According to BP 344, the dropped curb must be
as wide as the crossing, but never less than
900mm. Since the crossing is 1100mm wide, the
dropped curb must also be 1100mm wide.

28. For the 20-meter wide RROW fronting the

property, what is the minimum sidewalk
width required by the NBC (total at both
sides of the RROW)?
a. 1/4 to 1/3 of the RROW width
b. 1/6 to 1/3 of the RROW width
c. 1/6 to 1/4 of the RROW width
d. 1/4 to 1/2 of the RROW width
Since the road is 20 meters wide, the answer is B
(see table in NBC, p.161).
29. Estimate the quantity of floor tiles
required for one kitchen if the owner
wants to use 30cm x 30cm ceramic tiles.
Provide a 5% allowance for breakage.
Area of each kitchen = 72sqm (given)
Area of one tile = 0.09sqm, since each tile
measure 0.30m x 0.30m.
Number of tiles needed = 72sqm/0.09sqm
= 800 tiles
2,000 tiles + 5% allowance = 840 tiles

30. Estimate the volume of concrete required

for the floor slab of the lobby if the slab
will be 125mm thick.
Area of the lobby = 278.4 sqm
Thickness of the slab = 0.125m
Volume of the concrete slab = 278.4sqm x
0.125m = 34.80 cu.m.
31. If each kitchen is separated from each
other by 150mm thick masonry wall, how
many hollow concrete blocks will be
needed for each partition? Assume a
height of 3.00m for each partition wall.
Wall area: 7.50 m long x 3.00 m high =
22.50 sqm.
Area of one CHB: 0.20m x 0.40m = 0.08
sqm.
Number of CHB required: Wall area / CHB
area = 22.50sqm/0.08sqm = 281.25 pcs
or 282 pcs
32. How many gallons of paint will be needed
to cover both sides of a partition wall
(separating the kitchens) if three coats of
paint are required? Assume that the wall
is 3.00m high.
Wall area: 22.50 sqm.
Since two sides, area is increased
to 45.00sqm
Since three coats, area becomes
135sqm.
One gallon of paint covers 25sqm.

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135sqm / 25sqm = 5.4 gallons = 6

gallons

33. One of the owners wanted to add a small

indoor bar area so he decided to construct
a drywall partition to separate the kitchen
and the said indoor bar. If the partition
measures 9.60m wide x 2.40m high, how
many sheets of 4 x 8 plasterboard will be
needed to construct the drywall?
4 x 8 = 1200mm x 2400mm
Width of wall = 9600mm (width of 4
plasterboards)
Height of wall = 2400mm (height of 2
plaster boards)
8 pcs. plasterboards will be needed for
one side
Hence, 16 pcs. of plasterboard will be
needed for both sides of drywall
34. How big should a circular dining table be
in order to seat 8 people?
a. 36 inches diameter (3-4 people
only)
b. 48 inches diameter (5-6 people
only)
c. 60 inches diameter (7-8
people)
d. 72 inches diameter (9-10 people)
Rule of thumb: Each seat must have about 2 feet
(600mm) of a round tables circumference.
Circumference = 2 x pi x radius
35. For work kitchens, what is the optimum
counter height?
a. 700mm-800mm
b. 750mm-850mm
c. 850mm-900mm
d. 950mm-1000mm
Time Saver Standards = 900mm. 850mm = a bit
lower, for Asians/Filipinos.
36. What is the ideal dining table height for
comfortable dining?
a. 600mm
b. 750mm
c. 900mm
d. 950mm
The rest are either too low or too high for the
standard dining chair.
37. What is the ideal seat height for
comfortable dining?
a. 300mm
b. 450mm
c. 600mm
d. 700mm
Time Saver Standards, most ready-made
furniture.
38. Which are the minimum dimensions
needed for a rectangular dining table if
ten diners will be accommodated?
a. 750mm x 1800mm
b. 750mm x 2000mm
c. 750mm x 2400mm
d. 750mm x 3200mm
Each 2400mm side can accommodate 4 persons
(600mm , and each 750mm side can
accommodate 1 person. (Time Saver Standards)
39. For busy commercial kitchens, what
countertop finish would you recommend if
ease of cleaning and low maintenance
requirement are primary concerns?

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a. Hardwood in oil finish (Not

recommended)
b. Ceramic tiles (Not heavy duty, not
easy to clean)
c. Stainless steel
d. Solid surface (Expensive, finicky)
40. What needs to be installed in the kitchen
to keep cooking oils and other similar
contaminants from entering the public
drainage system?
a. Kitchen/range hood
b. Grease trap
c. Septic tank
d. Sink garbage disposer
41. What constitutes the work triangle in a
kitchen?
a. Refrigerator, cooktop, and sink
b. Oven, cooktop, and sink
c. Work counter, cooktop, and sink
d. Refrigerator, work counter and
cooktop
42. What paint color would you recommend if
the restaurant owner desires to increase
the turnover rate of diners (decrease the
time spent by customers inside the
restaurant)?
a. Bold, bright colors
b. Cool and relaxing colors
c. Earth colors
d. Whites and neutrals
Numerous studies have shown that bold and
bright colors (yellows, reds) increase the
turnover rate (make guests eat faster) while cool
and calming colors make guests stay longer.
Hence, bold/bright colors are often used in fast
food establishments.

43. Many customers of an enclosed restaurant

and bar complain about too much noise in
the space. Which option can be
recommended to the owner?
a. Add soft materials like carpets
and drapery
b. Remove the wood paneling on the
walls and expose the concrete
surfaces
c. Add mirrors on some of the walls
d. Increase the lighting of the space
44. If the owner asked for your advice
regarding site selection, which site would
you recommend for this particular project?
a. An inside lot
b. A regular lot
c. A corner lot
d. An interior lot
A corner lot faces two streets and hence gets
more exposure to pedestrian and vehicular
traffic, which is good for business.

45. If the restaurant owner wants to increase

the diners length of stay, which solution
would probably help?
a. Increasing the illumination of the
dining space
b. Using cushioned chairs and
booth seating
c. Using white paint for the walls
d. All of the above

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46. What is the recommended maximum

depth (measured from the wall to the
outer edge of the table) for table booths in
restaurants?
a. 600mm
b. 800mm
c. 1200mm
d. 1800mm
47. Many commercial kitchens are designed in
the island-style, where an island is in the
middle of the kitchen. What is this island
usually used for?
a. Cooking zone
b. Cleaning zone
c. Storage zone
d. Refrigeration zone
It is also often used as a food preparation zone,
which is not in the choices.
Additional Questions: Museums/Theater
48. If flexibility of the exhibition space is a
major concern for the proponent of the
museum, which general plan shape would
you recommend?
a. Circular
b. Rectangular
c. Polygonal
d. Organic
A rectangular or orthogonal plan is more flexible
than the other options (polygonal refers to
many kinds of shapes).
49. For a museums exhibition space, which
type of windows would most likely be
desirable?
a. Full height windows
b. Sliding windows with transom
c. Clerestory windows
d. Jalousie windows
For most museums, only low levels of natural
light are permitted. Furthermore, larger windows
take up much-needed wall area. (Time Saver
Standards)
50. Which spaces should be located near the
museums main lobby?
a. Collections storage
b. Museum store
c. Freight elevator
d. Exhibition gallery
The museum store is capable of bringing in
significant revenue. Proximity to the lobby and
other public, high-use areas is critical to its
success. The exhibition gallery does not
necessarily need to be adjacent to the main lobby
(e.g. the store takes priority). Time Saver
Standards
51. Which design solution best addresses the
problem of air pollution and as well as
infiltration of outdoor temperature and
humidity into the museum?
a. Keeping patron and staff entrances
separate
a. Adding sun-shading devices on
south-facing windows
b. Putting vestibules on entrance
doors
c. All of the above
52. As much as possible which space must
NOT be located right above the exhibition
space?

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a. Public restrooms
b. Storage for heavy collections items
c. A workshop or a classroom
d. Security office
Plumbing is generally disallowed to pass above
spaces that contain collections to avoid minimize
the risk of water damage

60. In the box within a box noise isolation

strategy, which part of the enclosure is
designed to have two layers, with a space
in between the two layers?
a. The floor
b. The walls
c. The ceiling
d. All of the above

53. Which of the following museum spaces

requires the greatest illumination?
a. Exhibition spaces
b. Collections storage
c. Collections handling
d. The above spaces have similar
lighting requirements
The spaces definitely do not have similar lighting
requirements. The collections storage space
requires minimal lighting to minimize degradation
from light. Between collections handling and
exhibition spaces, the better answer is collections
handling since safely transporting and moving
artifacts requires precise lighting. Furthermore,
artifacts are typically crated and/or wrapped
when during this phase, and are better protected
against harsh lighting conditions.

54. Which museum space requires the

greatest amount of security?
a. Exhibition spaces
b. Ticketing counter
c. Loading dock and
crating/uncrating area
d. Lobby
55. Generally speaking, what relative humidity
value is recommended for most types of
museums?
a. Around 10%
b. Around 30%
c. Around 50%
d. Around 80%
56. Generally speaking, the recommended
temperature for most museums is
a. Lower than what is comfortable
for humans
b. Higher than what is comfortable for
humans
c. Usually the same as that which is
comfortable for humans
d. Both A and B
57. In this theater layout, the performance
area is located in the center of a
surrounding ring of audience.
a. Arena
b. Proscenium
c. Thrust
d. Open stage
58. In this theater layout, the audience
surrounds the stage on three sides.
a. Proscenium
b. Open stage
c. Arena
d. Both B and C
59. Which is not considered part of the front
of house spaces in a theater?
a. Green room
b. Drop-off
c. Lobby
d. Box office

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