CME CME Structural Engineering & Facilities Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ASCE standard defines the minimum design loads (dead, live, wind, seismic, snow) for buildings and other structures in the US?
- ASCE 7 (Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria) (Correct answer)
- ACI 318
- AISC Steel Construction Manual
- IBC International Building Code
Correct answer: ASCE 7 (Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria)
ASCE 7 is the primary US standard specifying minimum design loads for gravity, wind, seismic, and other hazards, referenced by the International Building Code.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a bridge sufficiency rating in municipal bridge management?
- Set the posted speed limit on bridge approaches
- Provide a numerical score to prioritize bridges for rehabilitation or replacement funding (Correct answer)
- Calculate the bridge's environmental impact
- Determine flood scour risk
Correct answer: Provide a numerical score to prioritize bridges for rehabilitation or replacement funding
The Federal Highway Administration's sufficiency rating scores bridges 0–100 to help agencies prioritize limited rehabilitation and replacement funding.
Question 3: Under the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS), how frequently must publicly owned bridges over 20 feet in length be inspected?
- Annually
- Every 2 years (Correct answer)
- Every 5 years
- Every 10 years
Correct answer: Every 2 years
NBIS requires routine inspections of public highway bridges at intervals not to exceed 24 months (2 years), with underwater and fracture-critical inspections having separate requirements.
Question 4: What does ACI 318 govern in the context of municipal construction?
- Steel connection design
- Design and construction of reinforced concrete structures (Correct answer)
- Masonry wall design
- Pre-engineered metal buildings
Correct answer: Design and construction of reinforced concrete structures
ACI 318 (Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete) is the US standard for the design and construction of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures.
Question 5: What type of retaining wall derives its stability primarily from its own weight rather than embedment or tiebacks?
- Cantilever retaining wall
- Gravity retaining wall (Correct answer)
- Sheet pile wall
- Soldier pile and lagging wall
Correct answer: Gravity retaining wall
Gravity retaining walls rely on their large mass to resist overturning and sliding forces from retained soil, without requiring deep embedment or anchors.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a facilities condition assessment (FCA) for municipal buildings?
- Determine property tax valuation
- Inventory existing conditions and deficiencies to prioritize capital maintenance investments (Correct answer)
- Verify ADA compliance only
- Update building permits
Correct answer: Inventory existing conditions and deficiencies to prioritize capital maintenance investments
An FCA systematically evaluates building systems, identifies deficiencies, estimates repair costs, and helps municipalities prioritize limited capital improvement budgets.
CME CME Structural Engineering & Facilities Management 1
Which ASCE standard defines the minimum design loads (dead, live, wind, seismic, snow) for buildings and other structures in the US?