Since I'm studying for this test right now anyway, I thought I'd take a stab at assembling a single location where other people who are studying for this exam division can come to find everything they can use to study. I know when I was starting out, I had trouble figuring out what a couple of the resources tossed around this forum actually were. I think that having something like this saves time for anyone who hasn't dived in yet. If this is helpful enough, maybe it can even be sticked in this forum!
If you find other resources, please reply and post links, and I'll edit this original post to sort everything in.OFFICIAL NCARB RESOURCESARE 4.0 Building Systems Exam Guide:
http://www.ncarb.org/are/~/media/Files/ ... _Guide.pdfARE 4.0 Building System Equations Provided During the Exam:
http://www.ncarb.org/en/ARE/~/media/Fil ... ences.ashxARE 4.0 Building Systems Vignette Practice Program:
http://www.ncarb.org/are/~/media/Files/ ... Setup.ashxARE 3.1 Mechanical & Electrical Systems Sample Questions
http://www.ironwarrior.org/ARE/_NCARB_S ... ice_31.pdf (scroll down to page 46 of the PDF)
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDESBallast (PPI) Review Manual:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159126 ... alarcce-20Ballast (PPI) Building Systems Sample Problems and Practice Exam:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159126 ... alarcce-20Kaplan Building Systems Study Guide:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/142773 ... alarcce-20Kaplan Building Systems Questions & Answers:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/142773 ... alarcce-20The Amber Book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/146626 ... alarcce-20MEEB (Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/047019 ... alarcce-20 (buy on Amazon)
http://books.google.com/books?id=ZIdvdy ... &q&f=false (semi-complete viewable version on Google)
Recommended chapters and content to read
here.
MEEB Online Practice Quizzes:
http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?actio ... rceId=7094Alikat's Notes:
http://yafpghare.files.wordpress.com/20 ... at-1-1.pdfJenny's Notes:
http://arendurance.files.wordpress.com/ ... nnypdx.pdfRich's Notes:
http://www.ironwarrior.org/ARE/Mechanic ... 0Notes.pdfSbyrktct's ARE Help:
http://arehelp.webs.com/bsARE Building Systems Video Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 4M7vClHKQrRESOURCES FOR THE VIGNETTELugnut's FAQ & Guidelines for Accent Lighting:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1610Dorf Graphic Vignettes Solutions Book
Trick question--DON'T rely on Dorf for this vignette. Some of his tips are outdated & invalid (though others are fine); use this forum for feedback instead.OTHER HELPFUL EXPLANATORY RESOURCESMECHANICALDesign Options for HVAC Distribution Systems (Great breakdown of all HVAC systems, with descriptions, pros & cons, appropriate Use):
http://www.cedengineering.com/upload/De ... ystems.pdfRefrigeration Cycle (courtesy of The Amber Book):
Part 1 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wZb6HgIDE0Part 2 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1nYipLAv0UPart 3 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyNeh7wPQQk Understanding HVAC for Non-Technical People (video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9rh5kCsEAkHVAC Essentials (video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EEl7hLBgGMHVAC Fundamentals (video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqvo7bSr6t8HVAC Comfort Criteria (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ3RwH018QwHVAC Noise Control Fundamentals (video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_OcbCN-TpoHow a Chiller Plant (Chiller + Cooling Tower) Works (video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5TDj7ZOsosHeat Recovery Ventilators (video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skcoqs1rUdYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi3FbFMc5B8#t=37PSYCHROMETRICSHow to Read and Use a Psychrometric Chart
http://www.powerknot.com/how-to-read-an ... chart.htmlPLUMBINGStack Vent vs Vent Stack (a fun article with a suggestion of how to differentiate the two)
http://evstudio.com/this-or-that-6-stac ... ent-stack/ Plumbing System Controls and Valves
http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Plumb ... _Types.phpHow Valves Work
http://www.kitz.co.jp/english2/index.htmlELECTRICALFundamentals of Electricity:
http://epb.apogee.net/foe/home.aspDictionary of Electrical Terms (great explanation of electric systems in a building, with diagrams and illustrations and chart of symbols)
http://phcjam.blogspot.com/2011/07/elec ... urces.htmlElectrical Symbols:
http://archtoolbox.com/representation/g ... mbols.htmlGrounded vs Grounding (good article from the Fundamentals of Electricity site linked above):
http://epb.apogee.net/foe/fsggg.aspOhm's Law & Joule's Law Memorization Trick:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5673Principles of Electricity - Circuits (video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o8_EARoMtghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vHh1sfZ5KEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrMw7P6P2Gwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NcIK0s3IwULIGHTINGCandlepower vs Lumens vs Footcandles vs Footlamberts:
http://www.theledlight.com/lumens.htmlviewtopic.php?f=9&t=7593#p25801Lighting Fundamentals:
http://infohouse.p2ric.org/ref/32/31148.pdfOverview of Common Light Bulb Types in Use (video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v_cnUvZVKMLighting Lectures from Southern California Edison (video):
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL ... pxdM5MjnNxRecommended Lighting Levels for Different Tasks and Spaces:
http://www.bristolite.com/Interfaces/me ... %20IES.pdfOn Daylighting and Room Geometry:
http://www.uncg.edu/iar/elight/learn/re ... /room.htmlACOUSTICSAcoustical Terms - A Glossary:
http://www.acousticalsolutions.com/glossary-of-termsComparative Sound Levels in Decibels, Intensity, and Loudness:
http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/acous ... /101_4.htmEquations of Acoustics Explained (video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5rkg8mTRBIHelpful Acoustical Design Practices (video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5izFxIDjuuIFIRE PROTECTION SPECIALTIESHow to Select a Fire Extinguisher:
https://fireextinguisherdepot.com/how-t ... guide.htmlRecommended Fire Extinguisher Types Per Occupancy:
http://www.firesafetysource.com/site/948848/page/584961VERTICAL TRANSPORTATIONHow Elevators Work:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/transp ... evator.htm (GREAT illustrations to help visualize components! The only potentially inaccurate part is that it implies the springs at the bottom of a shaft can safe passengers if an elevator freefalls, by cushioning the blow. This is not true; those springs will cushion an elevator overrun taken at not-fast speeds but aren't meant to prevent catastrophe if an elevator slams into them.)
Hydraulic vs Traction (Electric) Elevators:
http://www.elevator-world.com/Extras/Gr ... h%2089.pdfOtis Explanation of Traction Elevators:
http://www.otis.com/site/us/pages/About ... x?menuID=2SUSTAINABILITYWhat Is Life Cycle Costing?:
http://simple.werf.org/simple/media/LCCT/index.htmlCODES & REGULATIONSADA Standards (1994 Edition) Full:
http://www.ada.gov/1991standards/adastd94-archive.pdfADA Standards (2010 Edition) Full:
http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines- ... n#titleIIIInternational Building Code Free Online:
http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ibc/