PPD Pass on 2nd Try

Passed PPD on my second try this week. I had taken it back in August last year and primarily used Black Spectacles. I also read Building Codes Illustrated, Building Construction Illustrated, as well as browsed The Architect's Studio Companion and Heating, Cooling Lighting.

This time around I didn't want to pay for the Black Spectacles Membership again, so I watched Kevin Greindling's videos for this division on Pluralsight. I've always found his videos really helpful for every division! Anything he covered that I didn't fully understand, I wound up looking for more information on Google or Youtube. 

I also used all of the free resources (videos and sample questions) by Hyperfine. The resources on that site were very practical applications. I'll probably purchase a subscription to Hyperfine for my final exam (PDD)!

For this retake, I also reread Building Codes Illustrated, Building Construction Illustrated, Architect's Studio Companion, pieces of Architectural Graphic Standards, and reviewed my notes from the Programming and Analysis exam. 

I also recommend reading through NCARBs ARE Handbook and doing the sample questions they provide. And open up the IBC! Get familiar with the major sections of the code! A great way to do this is to pick a site in your city (or a project you're working on at work), pull up the Zoning information and the IBC, and go through the major steps of calculating the Buildable Area, selecting a Building Type, picking a structural system, figuring out setbacks, and the heights and areas you can build to, etc.

You guys got this!!!