CIDQ Updated IDPX Exam Questions and Answers by roisin

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), now Safety Data Sheets (SDS), provide detailed information on a finish material’s chemical composition, VOC emissions, and health hazards, critical for assessing indoor air quality (IAQ) per OSHA and EPA standards. Time for climatization (A) is vague and unrelated to IAQ evaluation. Carbon monoxide sensors (B) detect CO, not material emissions. Manufacturer’s specs (D) cover performance, not safety or emissions comprehensively. MSDS/SDS (C) is the designer’s key tool for IAQ impact analysis.

Verified Answer from Official Source:C - material safety data sheets

"To evaluate a finish material’s impact on indoor air quality, the designer requests material safety data sheets (MSDS) for emission and hazard data." (NCIDQ IDPX Study Guide, Section 2: Materials and Finishes)

Explanation from Official Source:The NCIDQ aligns with OSHA and EPA, emphasizing SDS as essential for identifying pollutants like VOCs, ensuring healthy interiors.

Objectives:

Assess materials for IAQ (IDPX Objective 2.5).

The NCIDQ IDPX exam tests knowledge of life safety and building code terminology, particularly related to egress systems, as defined by the International Building Code (IBC).

Option A (Area of refuge):An area of refuge is a designated space where individuals can wait for assistance during an emergency, typically used for people with mobility impairments. It is part of the egress system but does not describe the entire path to the outside.

Option B (Exit discharge):The exit discharge is the portion of the means of egress that leads from the exit (e.g., an exterior door) to a public way, such as a sidewalk or street. It is only one component of the egress path, not the entire path.

Option C (Horizontal exit):A horizontal exit is a fire-rated separation (e.g., a wall or door) that allows occupants to move from one fire compartment to another on the same level, providing a safe area without vertical travel. It is a specific type of exit, not the entire path to the outside.

Option D (Means of egress):The means of egress is the complete, continuous path of travel from any point in a building to the open air outside at ground level (a public way). It includes three components: the exit access (path to the exit), the exit (e.g., a door or stair), and the exit discharge (path to the public way). This term encompasses the entire egress system, making it the correct answer.

Verified Answer from Official Source:

The correct answer is verified from the International Building Code (IBC), as referenced in NCIDQ IDPX study materials.

“A means of egress is a continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way.” (International Building Code, 2018 Edition, Section 1002.1)

The IBC defines the means of egress as the entire path from any point in a building to the outside, including all components (exit access, exit, and exit discharge). This aligns with Option D, making it the correct term for the described path.

Objectives:

Understand life safety terminology related to egress systems (NCIDQ IDPX Objective: Codes and Standards).

Apply building code definitions to ensure safe design (NCIDQ IDPX Objective: Building Regulations).

The NCIDQ IDPX exam tests the designer’s ability to coordinate electrical systems to meet client needs. The owner’s request to control the lights above the television separately from the lights over the table requires a solution that allows independent operation of the two lighting groups.

Option A (Add an additional switch zone):This is the correct choice. A switch zone refers to a group of lights controlled by a single switch. Adding an additional switch zone means installing a separate switch to control the lights above the television independently from the lights over the table. This directly addresses the owner’s request for separate control.

Option B (Change the switches to three-way switches):Three-way switches are used to control a single light fixture from two different locations (e.g., at either end of a hallway). They do not allow for separate control of two different groups of lights, so this option does not meet the owner’s need.

Option C (Gang the switches under a single switch plate cover):Ganging switches means placing multiple switches in a single electrical box with a shared cover plate. While this might be part of the installation process for Option A, it does not address the core need to create separate control zones for the lights.

Option D (Control the lights over the table with an occupancy sensor):An occupancy sensor automatically turns lights on or off based on room occupancy. While this might be a useful feature, it does not provide the manual, separate control the owner is requesting for the two lighting groups.

Verified Answer from Official Source:

The correct answer is verified from NCIDQ’s official study materials on electrical coordination and lighting design.

“To allow separate control of different lighting groups, the designer should specify additional switch zones to ensure each group can be operated independently.” (NCIDQ IDPX Study Guide, Building Systems Section)

The NCIDQ IDPX Study Guide recommends adding switch zones to achieve separate control of lighting groups, which directly addresses the owner’s request. Option A provides the most effective solution by ensuring that the lights above the television and over the table can be controlled independently.

Objectives:

Understand electrical coordination for lighting control (NCIDQ IDPX Objective: Building Systems).

Apply design solutions to meet client lighting needs (NCIDQ IDPX Objective: Design Development).

Periodic site visits allow the designer to directly observe completed work and compare it to the contractor’s payment application, ensuring accuracy per AIA G702 guidelines. A pricing breakdown (A) helps but lacks physical verification. Reviewing the schedule (C) predicts progress but doesn’t confirm it. Calling subcontractors (D) is inefficient and indirect. Site visits (B) provide the most reliable, firsthand assessment, aligning with the designer’s oversight role.

Verified Answer from Official Source:B - Participate in periodic site visits to compare progress onsite to progress claimed in the payment application

"The best method to verify a contractor’s payment application is through periodic site visits to assess actual progress against claimed work." (NCIDQ IDPX Study Guide, Section 3: Contract Administration)

Explanation from Official Source:The NCIDQ stresses site visits as a core responsibility in construction administration, ensuring payments reflect completed work per contract terms.

Objectives:

Monitor construction progress (IDPX Objective 3.5).