NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor Exam — All Questions

In the CSI MasterFormat used to organize commercial specifications, what does Division 01 cover?

• a.Electrical
• b.General Requirements, such as administrative, procedural, and temporary-facility provisions✓
• c.Finishes
• d.Concrete

Division 01, General Requirements, covers the administrative and procedural provisions that apply across the whole project, such as submittals, temporary facilities, quality control, and closeout. The trade-specific work is in later divisions (for example, concrete, masonry, metals).CSI MasterFormat Division 01

Before fabricating and installing structural steel, the contractor sends detailed shop drawings to the architect/engineer for review. What is the purpose of this submittal process?

• a.To close out the project
• b.To request additional payment
• c.To confirm the contractor's proposed materials and fabrication conform to the design intent before the work is built✓
• d.To report a jobsite injury

Submittals such as shop drawings, product data, and samples let the design team verify that what the contractor intends to furnish matches the design intent before it is fabricated or installed. Catching a conflict on paper is far cheaper than tearing out built work.Submittals / shop drawings

In a critical path method (CPM) schedule, the critical path is the path that:

• a.has the most float and the most flexibility
• b.has the longest total duration and zero float, setting the shortest possible project completion time✓
• c.contains the most expensive activities
• d.has the shortest total duration

The critical path is the longest chain of dependent activities and has zero float. Because no path is longer, it fixes the earliest the project can finish, and any delay to a critical activity delays the whole project day for day.CPM scheduling (critical path)

OSHA requires a 'competent person' for certain operations such as excavation and scaffolding. A competent person must be able to identify hazards AND:

• a.have at least ten years of experience
• b.hold a professional engineer license
• c.have the authority to take prompt corrective action to eliminate the hazards✓
• d.be a full-time safety officer

Under 29 CFR 1926.32(f), a competent person can identify existing and predictable hazards and is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. Both the ability to spot the hazard and the authority to stop or correct the work are required.29 CFR 1926.32(f) (competent person)

A commercial project reaches the point where the owner can occupy and use it for its intended purpose, though minor items remain. What milestone is this, and what lists the remaining items?

• a.Final completion; an addendum
• b.Groundbreaking; a change order log
• c.Substantial completion; a punch list✓
• d.Notice to proceed; a submittal log

Substantial completion is when the work is sufficiently complete for the owner to occupy and use the project for its intended purpose. The remaining minor corrections are captured on a punch list, which the contractor completes before final payment and final completion.Substantial completion / punch list