PE Crunch Time

A 30-Day Plan to Prepare for the
Architectural Engineering PE Exam

Click HERE for more PE Crunch Time Resources

Checklist:

1. Graduated from an ABET accredited engineering program … check
2. Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam … check
3. Worked under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer for at least four years … check
4. Applied for and received approval from your state’s engineering board to sit for the examination … check
5. Registered with NCEES to take the Architectural Engineering PE Exam … check
6. Studied and prepared diligently for the past two to three months … oops!

Items #1 thru #5 were relatively easy.
You went to college, got your engineering degree, and passed the FE Exam in your senior year.
You then took an Engineer-In-Training position and put in four years learning to be a practicing engineer.
Your supervisors and co-workers then began encouraging you to pursue professional licensing.
So you filled out the paperwork, contacted to your local board, and got approved for the exam.
You applied to NCEES, paid the fees, and have a reserved spot on exam day.
Then something happened.

Life. Work. Stuff.

No matter how hard you tried; no matter how dedicated you meant to be; you just haven’t been able to prepare.
The exam is in little over a month.

Panic.

However, there’s still time if you’re willing to put in the effort and commit to giving it your best.

• This plan is aggressive.
• You won’t have much of a life outside of work for the next month, but that’s a small price to pay to prepare for the exam.
• You will have to work hard.

If this is your situation and you’re ready to make this happen, let’s get started …

Each day is listed below with specific topic(s) to study.

Each topic will require:

• Research
• Resource gathering
• Problem solving
• Organization into your Test-Prep Resource Library^©

Some of the topics are hot-links to:

• useful information (i.e. research and resource gathering)
• sample or practice problems (i.e. problem solving)

We highly encourage you to print what you find (information, examples, charts, sample problems, etc.) and organize into binders for easy retrieval in preparing for Test Day.

It’s PE Crunch Time

Day 1

• Aspects of Building Performance that Affect Human Comfort (e.g., vibration, noise, lighting, climate control)
• Building Envelope Analysis

Day 2

• Impact of one system on another (e.g., lighting load on air-conditioning system capacity)
• Life Safety Systems (e.g., generators, batteries, exit lighting, fire alarms)

Day 3

• Systems Efficiencies (including calculations for energy usage and costs such as life cycle, material)
• Sustainability (e.g., energy efficiency, renewable energy, indoor air quality, water conservation)

Day 4

• Applicable Standards, Codes, and Regulations (e.g., NFPA; ASHRAE; ICC; ADA requirements)
• Design and construction issues associated with commissioning process, including testing and balancing

Day 5

• Electrical Power Systems Analysis, including Load Flow

Day 6

• Short Circuit Analysis
• Grounding Principles

Day 7

• Electrical Construction Methods and Materials (new and existing systems)
• Overcurrent Protection Methods and Device Coordination

Day 8

• Branch Circuit and Feeder Conductor Sizing
• Power Distribution for Building Systems and Equipment

Day 9

• Voltage Drop Calculations
• One-Line Diagram

Day 10

• Fire Alarm Device Layout
• Light Source Selection (considering elements such as type, color, life, cost, efficiency, and application)

Day 11

• Lighting Calculations (e.g., lumen method, light at a point)
• Lighting Control

Day 12

• Receptacle Layout
• Equipment and Component Selection

Day 13

• Fan Laws
• Pump Laws
• Flow and Riser Diagrams

Day 14

• Static Pressure Calculations (air and water)
• Materials and Methods (e.g., new and existing ductwork, piping materials, and insulation)

Day 15

• Piping for Specialty Systems (e.g., fuel oil, natural gas, medical gas)
• Pipe Expansion (e.g., expansion joints, loops, anchors)

Day 16

• Heat Gain and Loss Calculations

Day 17

• Psychrometrics

Day 18

• Hydronic and Steam Systems
• Equipment Selection (e.g., pumps, air handling units, chillers, boilers)
• HVAC System Analysis and Selection (e.g., air cooled/water cooled, all air, heat pumps, split systems)

Day 19

• Fire Protection Sprinkler and Standpipe Classifications
• Ventilation
• Indoor Air Quality
• Air Distribution

Day 20

• Domestic Water Systems (routing, sizing)
• Stormwater Systems
• Sanitary Waste and Vent Systems (routing, sizing, slope)
• Sequences of Operation for Building Controls

Day 21

• Types of Construction (e.g., structural steel, timber, concrete, masonry)
• Components (e.g., tension, compression, bending, shear)

Day 22

• Structural Load Effects on Overall Electrical, Mechanical, and Structural Systems (e.g., seismic, wind, thermal, vibrations)
• Connections (e.g., bolted, welded, base plates, brackets)

Day 23

• Loads (e.g., gravity, lateral, temperature, settlement, construction)

Day 24

• Analysis of Frames and Shear Walls
• Analysis of Construction Systems (e.g., new and existing staging, bracing, and loads)

Day 25

• Analysis of Stability

Day 26

• Analysis of Deflection

Day 27

• Foundations (e.g., piles, shafts, spread)
• Materials Characteristics (e.g., strength, stiffness, hardness, environmental concerns, fatigue concerns) of steel, concrete, masonry, and timber

Day 28

• Discovered Site Conditions
• Change Orders
• Alternates
• Request for Information

Day 29

• Architectural Supplemental Instructions (e.g., RFI response, clarification in construction documents, bulletins)
• System Conflict Resolution
• Scheduling of Design Tasks, Sequence of Activities, CPM
• Progress Reports

Day 30

• Quality Control
• Contract Administration
• Legal Issues (e.g., contracts; impact of decisions that may result in lawsuit; errors and omissions)
• Construction Safety
• Submittal Processes

Click HERE for more PE Crunch Time Resources

PE Crunch Time

Architectural Engineering PE Exam Resources
NCEES
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