The
results of the April 2013 Mechanical
Engineering PE Exam are posted at www.NCEES.org.
For first-time mechanical engineers taking the examination, 70% were
successful. Of repeat test-takers, those who successfully passed drops to 40%.
If
you are preparing to take the Mechanical Engineering – HVAC and Refrigeration
Depth Exam this fall, then based on these statistics, you would benefit greatly
from a different game plan.
Get your copy of the
Mechanical
Engineering - HVAC and Refrigeration Depth Exam Study Guide at:
www.engineeringdesignresources.com
RESOURCE
LIBRARY
We've found
that the best way to be fully prepared for the exam is to have the right
resources on test day.
Your
resource library should contain example test problems with solutions along with
information you have gathered during your 4 years since college graduation –
including: notes, graphs, charts, etc.
The other
reference material you should consider taking into the exam focuses on test-specific
issues. Resources such as the International Building Code, an ASHRAE
Fundamentals Handbook, the International Energy Conservation Code, and others.
As a mechanical
engineer, you should definitely have a current copy of the International
Mechanical Code with tabs and other markings that will allow you to quickly
navigate during the exam. A good portion of the exam will focus on
code-specific or code-related questions such as:
A natural gas fired furnace cannot be installed in which of the following rooms:
I.
Sleeping
Rooms
II.
BathroomsIII. Toilet Rooms
IV. Storage Rooms
a.
I
b.
II
& III
c.
IV
d.
I,
II, III & IV
Solution: according
to the International Mechanical Code, section 303.3 – Equipment and Appliance
Location, Prohibited Locations, Fuel-fired appliances shall not be located in:
(1) sleeping rooms, (2) bathrooms, (3) toilet rooms, (4) storage rooms, and (5)
surgical rooms.
Answer is d.
OTHER CODES AND RESOURCES
There will
also be questions related to other codes and resources such as:
Your Mechanical Engineering firm is designing
a new three-story office building. You are contemplating several material
alternatives for the exterior. The final decision is to use natural limestone
(density = 120 lb/ft3) on the exterior. What minimum thickness does
the code allow for natural stone and what U-value does that represent?
a.
1 inch
thick; 0.08
b.
2 inch
thick; 0.08
c.
1 inch
thick; 6.25
d.
2 inch
thick; 6.25
Solution: according to Table 1405.2 – Minimum Thickness of Weather Coverings – of
the International Building Code, a minimum thickness of 2 inches for natural
stone is required. Also, he ASHRAE Fundamentals manual, Chapter 24, Table 4 –
Typical Thermal Properties of Common Building and Insulating Materials –
indicates that 120 lb/ft3 limestone has an R-value 0.08 per inch of
thickness.
0.08 x 2 inches = 0.16 R-value
U = 1/R = 1/0.16 = 6.25
Answer is d.
