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Differences for PDD case study vs. PPD?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 2:27 pm
by 198kevin
Hi all,
I'm assuming since PDD is supposedly about the phase of the project where construction systems have been selected and basic layout of building has already been chosen we don't need to study up on allowable area, height and fire separation requirements like PPD. I can't really figure how to begin studying for this case study since there is not information on it, it seems the only way is taking the test first...which is lame.

Re: Differences for PDD case study vs. PPD?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 6:57 pm
by vrcat25
198kevin wrote:Hi all,
I'm assuming since PDD is supposedly about the phase of the project where construction systems have been selected and basic layout of building has already been chosen we don't need to study up on allowable area, height and fire separation requirements like PPD. I can't really figure how to begin studying for this case study since there is not information on it, it seems the only way is taking the test first...which is lame. Are there any guidelines out there at all?


All of the above plus insulation ratio's and conversions, parking calculations, etc. As for the case studies, familiarize yourself with navigating tabs. There's a practice vignette that is very similar to how the actual test is setup. Obviously the questions are different, but the interface's are pretty much identical. All of this may seem pretty simple, but you really only get about 2 minutes per question and I really felt rushed for both PPD and PDD. What i wasted most of my time on was trying to contemplate how stupid and ridiculous many of the questions were with no real answers. So yeah, it's similar to PPD in other ways too as far as the MANY WTF questions.

Re: Differences for PDD case study vs. PPD?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 10:19 am
by 198kevin
What is a parking calculation? The 400sf per car thing? Also, I used that demo exam for PPD which was pretty helpful, and in the PPD forum on ncarb many people repeatedly were saying study this and this chapter in the IBC hint hint. Which was spot on. BUT for PDD, there's zero insight on where to focus. For example, really getting good with live load reductions and egress requirements and masterformat, or studying allowable areas and max height again even though that wouldnt make sense because you wouldn't be doing that during the CD phase.

Re: Differences for PDD case study vs. PPD?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 3:18 pm
by architect23
Unfortunately the best way to study for this exam is to just take it. There aren't any few good resources unless you read every book on their list. To tell you more would be giving away content.