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slhill
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| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 378 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, LF, BD/MM, SP | | Exams Passed: | BD/MM, SP | | Describes Me: | 4.0 equiv; next: SD - 4 to go! |
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Posted: Sat Jul 19th, 2008 10:22 pm |
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I took the 4.0 Site Planning and Design division this morning. I'm posting my impressions of the MC section here because it's the most closely related forum.
I have been using the Kent/Ballast study materials published by PPI and after finishing both the sample questions and mock exam for SPD, I felt like I could've done considerably better (65% correct answers - not good enough to be fully competent). So I studied some more. But I came out of the MC section feeling like I did after the mock exams - definitely some I knew for sure, some I was fairly confident of, some that seemed could go either way and some I hadn't even dreamed would be on the test (I'm hoping these were the "draft" questions).
Anyway, here's a brief list of some general content areas I experienced (* wished I'd reviewed more of).
*AIA Contract docs and who pays for what (fees and mistakes) [My fault - didn't even look at them]
*Foundation waterproofing systems (natural and manmade)
*Foundation types
*Retaining wall systems
*Sewer system types (including non-conventional options)
Sewer profile
Zoning and Building codes - things in both vs things addressed by one or the other
*Site accessibility - minimums/maximums, etc.
Wetlands requirements
Site drainage - options and purposes
NFPA standards
*Town/City development history - hard to say where here, but nothing was ancient history - mostly related to strategies that have been tried in "recent" history and either succeeded or failed.
I hope this helps others that are preparing for this new section. I definitely felt like a guinea pig because there were'nt others who had gone down this path before me.
Thank you for reading my ramblings and good luck on all your exams!
PS - I posted my graphic thoughts at: http://www.areforum.org/forums/view_topic.php?id=55218&forum_id=7
Last edited on Sat Jul 19th, 2008 10:31 pm by slhill
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dropinbro
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| Joined: | Sun Jul 20th, 2008 |
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Posted: Sun Jul 20th, 2008 06:45 pm |
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Hey slhill,
Congrats on taking the SPD, I have been looking for someone who has been through it. I have been studying to take it, and just had a question in regards to the NFPA portion. I dont suppose you would know of a place to get study material for for the NFPA, or if there is anything on the ftp, I have looked, but havent really found anything. Any other study tips that you may have would be much appreciated.
thanks in advance.
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slhill
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| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 378 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, LF, BD/MM, SP | | Exams Passed: | BD/MM, SP | | Describes Me: | 4.0 equiv; next: SD - 4 to go! |
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Posted: Mon Jul 21st, 2008 08:25 pm |
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dropinbro wrote: Hey slhill,
Congrats on taking the SPD, I have been looking for someone who has been through it. I have been studying to take it, and just had a question in regards to the NFPA portion. I dont suppose you would know of a place to get study material for for the NFPA, or if there is anything on the ftp, I have looked, but havent really found anything. Any other study tips that you may have would be much appreciated.
thanks in advance.
I probably should have *'d the NFPA item because I didn't really look at it beforehand. It came up in one question related to Fire Department issues. I ended up choosing an answer based on my experience with our local FD and site planning issues, but I will probably never know if my answer was appropriate or not.
In our office, we have NFPA 101 Life Safety Code - It's more a summary of the code issues FD's are particularly concerned about. I've looked to see if it addresses the issue I came across in the exam, but haven't found it yet. Again - I didn't look through it beforehand, but just decided to look this morning after you asked. For all I know, that recommendation is just a wild goose chase for SPD (I suspect other divisions, like PPP, will likely more have issues NFPA addresses).
NFPA also has NFPA 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code. You might be able to talk your office into getting that as a reference - but still more related to other sections than site.
Good luck with your studying!
Last edited on Mon Jul 21st, 2008 08:28 pm by slhill
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cdross
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| Joined: | Sun Jul 27th, 2008 |
| Location: | Tennessee USA |
| Posts: | 57 |
| Exams Taken: | SP, BP | | Exams Passed: | SP, BP | | Describes Me: | taking 4.0 exams passed SPD and SD |
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Posted: Mon Jul 28th, 2008 12:55 am |
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How did you decide to use the Ballast book versus Kaplan? Pros and cons? I just ordered the Kaplan book because I didn't realize there was a new 4.0 site planning Ballast book. I hope I haven't made the wrong decision?
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slhill
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| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 378 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, LF, BD/MM, SP | | Exams Passed: | BD/MM, SP | | Describes Me: | 4.0 equiv; next: SD - 4 to go! |
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Posted: Mon Jul 28th, 2008 01:18 am |
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cdross wrote: How did you decide to use the Ballast book versus Kaplan? Pros and cons? I just ordered the Kaplan book because I didn't realize there was a new 4.0 site planning Ballast book. I hope I haven't made the wrong decision?
For me it was an economical decision - I was buying my materials on my own, so PPI was a better option. The PPI materials are actually one study book for all the divisions together and separate practice exams for each division. Kaplan has separate books for each, plus the mock exams, plus whatever else. I don't think you can really go wrong either way (but what do I know so far? I haven't receive my results yet!  ), so stick with what you have. I think you did the right thing by buying a 4.0 study book for this exam because of the new MC portion.
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shudongs
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| Joined: | Wed Jun 13th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 459 |
| Exams Taken: | | | Exams Passed: | | | Describes Me: | Have taken and passed CDS, PPP, SPD, SD; awaiting results ... |
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Posted: Thu Jul 31st, 2008 10:18 pm |
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| I have been studying the old ALS Site Design I and Site Design II for this exam. Hope they cover the topics. What is included in the Kaplan book, would you mind sharing the table of contents. Thank you and good luck.
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slhill
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| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 378 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, LF, BD/MM, SP | | Exams Passed: | BD/MM, SP | | Describes Me: | 4.0 equiv; next: SD - 4 to go! |
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Posted: Tue Aug 12th, 2008 11:34 pm |
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An additional note: I am now studying for BDCS and am finding answers to SPD questions I didn't know as I read through Allen's Fundamentals of Building Construction . . . If you can get your hands on this, go through the first few chapters related to site work and foundations. Architectural Graphic Standards may have similar information for site, but I haven't gotten to this text yet.
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shudongs
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| Joined: | Wed Jun 13th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 459 |
| Exams Taken: | | | Exams Passed: | | | Describes Me: | Have taken and passed CDS, PPP, SPD, SD; awaiting results ... |
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Posted: Wed Sep 24th, 2008 01:48 pm |
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slhill wrote: dropinbro wrote: Hey slhill,
Congrats on taking the SPD, I have been looking for someone who has been through it. I have been studying to take it, and just had a question in regards to the NFPA portion. I dont suppose you would know of a place to get study material for for the NFPA, or if there is anything on the ftp, I have looked, but havent really found anything. Any other study tips that you may have would be much appreciated.
thanks in advance.
I probably should have *'d the NFPA item because I didn't really look at it beforehand. It came up in one question related to Fire Department issues. I ended up choosing an answer based on my experience with our local FD and site planning issues, but I will probably never know if my answer was appropriate or not.
I had the same question coming up, I looked up a few sources, I believe it is the Uniform Fire Code that governs, and the NFPA regulations have a lot to do with that, the answer points more to NFPA than the others. Did you come to the same conclusion?
In our office, we have NFPA 101 Life Safety Code - It's more a summary of the code issues FD's are particularly concerned about. I've looked to see if it addresses the issue I came across in the exam, but haven't found it yet. Again - I didn't look through it beforehand, but just decided to look this morning after you asked. For all I know, that recommendation is just a wild goose chase for SPD (I suspect other divisions, like PPP, will likely more have issues NFPA addresses).
NFPA also has NFPA 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code. You might be able to talk your office into getting that as a reference - but still more related to other sections than site.
Good luck with your studying!
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jkdoug27
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Lexington, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 34 |
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Posted: Sun Nov 9th, 2008 06:37 pm |
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slhill,
Looking at your post you have noted to understand retaining wall systems. I am wandering curious if the content on the test is covering simply just different retaining wall systems or is it more in depth as to when you would use what type of retaining wall systems. Test is comming up soon and the material that i am studying doesn't really give you particular situations as to when you should use what method so im just wanting to know if i will be safe simply just by understanding different retaining systems and methods.
Thanks
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shudongs
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| Joined: | Wed Jun 13th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 459 |
| Exams Taken: | | | Exams Passed: | | | Describes Me: | Have taken and passed CDS, PPP, SPD, SD; awaiting results ... |
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Posted: Mon Nov 10th, 2008 01:30 pm |
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jkdoug27 wrote: slhill,
Looking at your post you have noted to understand retaining wall systems. I am wandering curious if the content on the test is covering simply just different retaining wall systems or is it more in depth as to when you would use what type of retaining wall systems. Test is comming up soon and the material that i am studying doesn't really give you particular situations as to when you should use what method so im just wanting to know if i will be safe simply just by understanding different retaining systems and methods.
Thanks
Read the Ching book (BCI) regarding retaining walls, but no calculations required for this test.
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jkdoug27
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 |
| Location: | Lexington, Kentucky USA |
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Posted: Mon Nov 10th, 2008 03:08 pm |
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| sounds good, thats actually the material that i am using for the retaining walls and foundations
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slhill
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| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 378 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, LF, BD/MM, SP | | Exams Passed: | BD/MM, SP | | Describes Me: | 4.0 equiv; next: SD - 4 to go! |
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Posted: Tue Nov 11th, 2008 11:42 pm |
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shudongs wrote: jkdoug27 wrote: slhill,
Looking at your post you have noted to understand retaining wall systems. I am wandering curious if the content on the test is covering simply just different retaining wall systems or is it more in depth as to when you would use what type of retaining wall systems. Test is comming up soon and the material that i am studying doesn't really give you particular situations as to when you should use what method so im just wanting to know if i will be safe simply just by understanding different retaining systems and methods.
Thanks
Read the Ching book (BCI) regarding retaining walls, but no calculations required for this test.
I will add that understanding excavation and shoring basics would be good. I don't recall if that's in Ching, but it is in Allen's book.
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