NCARB Site Planning and Design 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a zoning setback requirement?
- To establish minimum distances between buildings and property lines (Correct answer)
- To limit building height
- To define permitted land uses
- To control parking ratios
Correct answer: To establish minimum distances between buildings and property lines
Setbacks mandate minimum distances from property lines to building walls, ensuring light, air, fire access, and visual separation between structures.
Question 2: Which term describes the ratio of a building's total floor area to the area of its site?
- Floor Area Ratio (FAR) (Correct answer)
- Site Coverage
- Building Footprint
- Lot Coverage Ratio
Correct answer: Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
FAR is calculated by dividing total gross floor area by total site area and is a key zoning tool for controlling development density.
Question 3: In site grading, what does a 2% minimum slope away from a building foundation accomplish?
- Directs surface water away from the structure to prevent basement infiltration (Correct answer)
- Creates accessible ramps per ADA
- Defines the limit of disturbance boundary
- Establishes the finished floor elevation
Correct answer: Directs surface water away from the structure to prevent basement infiltration
A positive drainage slope of at least 2% away from foundations ensures surface water drains away rather than pooling against foundation walls.
Question 4: What is a floodplain, and why is it significant in site design?
- Land subject to periodic flooding; building in it requires elevated floors and FEMA compliance (Correct answer)
- A decorative water feature on a site
- The low point of a site's drainage system
- An area reserved for stormwater retention
Correct answer: Land subject to periodic flooding; building in it requires elevated floors and FEMA compliance
Floodplains are areas subject to inundation during flood events; FEMA regulations and local codes restrict development and require elevated construction within them.
Question 5: Which ADA requirement governs the maximum running slope of an accessible parking access aisle?
- 2% maximum slope in any direction (Correct answer)
- 5% running slope with 2% cross slope
- 8.33% maximum slope
- No slope requirement for aisles
Correct answer: 2% maximum slope in any direction
ADA Standards require accessible parking spaces and their access aisles to have slopes no greater than 1:48 (approximately 2%) in any direction.
Question 6: What is the primary environmental purpose of a bioswale in site design?
- To filter and slow stormwater runoff using vegetation and soil (Correct answer)
- To provide irrigation water storage
- To mark property boundaries with landscaping
- To create wildlife habitat only
Correct answer: To filter and slow stormwater runoff using vegetation and soil
Bioswales use graded channels with vegetation and engineered soil to filter pollutants and reduce stormwater runoff velocity before it enters the storm system.
NCARB Site Planning and Design 1
What is the purpose of a zoning setback requirement?