What to study? Passed Building Systems, failed Construction Documentation

November 05, 2019 19:01

Hi All,

I'm retaking PDD in a few weeks and I'm looking for some resources to study. I received my score from the first attempt and I passed the section on "Building Materials & Systems" but I failed the "Construction Documentation" section. I'm wondering if I should keep studying BCI but I've always thought that BCI is great for building systems, not necessarily documentation/putting together a CD set.

Any ideas or suggestions on what to study for the Construction Documentation content area?

Thanks!

Brian

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3 comments

Alexandra David November 08, 2019 16:45

I just passed PDD. If documentation was the only week area, I would look closely at your firm's drawings from previous projects, on the detail sheets specifically but also be familiar with plans & RCP graphic standards. Architectural Graphic Standards could be a good resource if your firm doesn't have examples.

Building Construction Illustrated was very helpful for me. I read it backwards (starting with the last chapter). Since PDD is more detail oriented, the general concepts in the first chapters weren't as relevant.

I only studied Ballast, MEEB & BCI. I memorized the major CSI categories. I used Designhacks for practice questions. I also took PPD previously, so I didn't go back to those old resources.

I only scanned MEEB. I had read a lot of it for PPD.

Design Hacks has a strange format to the questions, but it helped me evaluate my weak areas.

I found my firm's vendor Lunch & Learns to be very helpful with acoustics, moisture protection and insulation. Those presentations are available for free on youtube or the vendor's website. USG soudbook is great.

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Brian Bishop November 08, 2019 17:27

Thanks Alexandra! I’ll look into the AGS book and I’ve already started looking through some CD sets of projects at my firm. I also passed PPD already too, so hopefully I can wrap this up on the next attempt.

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Derya Diril November 14, 2019 01:22

If you have AHPP, study chapter 10 especially 10.6 Construction Drawings. Other than that Ballast or Kaplan's CDS materials if you have those.

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