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Question 1. What is the maximum allowable annual space heating demand (qₘₐₓ,heat) for a building to meet the Passive House standard? A) 25 kWh/(m²·a) B) 15 kWh/(m²·a) C) 10 kWh/(m²·a) D) 5 kWh/(m²·a) Answer: C Explanation: The Passive House criterion limits the primary heating demand to ≤ 15 kWh/(m²·a) of net conditioned floor area, which translates to a maximum of 10 kWh/(m²·a) of useful heating energy after accounting for system efficiencies.
Question 2. Which of the following is NOT one of the five core Passive House principles? A) Highly insulated building envelope B) Thermal‑bridge‑free construction C) Use of renewable energy generators on site D) Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery Answer: C Explanation: While renewable energy is encouraged, the five core principles are envelope insulation, thermal‑bridge‑free design, airtightness, high‑performance windows/solar gains, and balanced ventilation with heat recovery.
Question 3. In the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), what does the “Ψ‑value” represent? A) Overall heat loss coefficient of the building envelope
B) Linear thermal transmittance of a thermal bridge C) Air permeability measured as n₅₀ D) Primary energy demand per square meter Answer: B Explanation: Ψ‑values quantify the heat loss per meter length of a thermal bridge (W/(m·K)). They are summed to assess the impact of junctions on overall energy performance.
Question 4. Which material typically has the lowest thermal conductivity (λ) among common insulation options? A) Mineral wool B) Expanded polystyrene (EPS) C) Polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam D) Cellulose fiber Answer: C Explanation: Polyisocyanurate foam has a λ value around 0.022 W/(m·K), lower than mineral wool (~0.035 W/(m·K)), EPS (~0.032 W/(m·K)), and cellulose (~0.040 W/(m·K)).
Question 5. What is the Passive House airtightness requirement expressed as n₅₀? A) ≤ 1.5 h⁻¹ B) ≤ 0.6 h⁻¹ C) ≤ 0.3 h⁻¹ D) ≤ 2.0 h⁻¹
Question 8. Which of the following is a typical U‑value target for exterior walls in a Passive House located in a cold climate (Zone 4)? A) ≤ 0.30 W/(m²·K) B) ≤ 0.25 W/(m²·K) C) ≤ 0.15 W/(m²·K) D) ≤ 0.10 W/(m²·K) Answer: C Explanation: Cold‑climate Passive Houses aim for wall U‑values of 0.15 W/(m²·K) or lower to meet the heating demand limit.
Question 9. What is the primary risk associated with an uncontrolled thermal bridge at a balcony‑to‑wall junction? A) Increased acoustic transmission B) Surface condensation leading to mould growth C) Reduced daylight penetration D) Higher structural loads on the balcony slab Answer: B Explanation: Thermal bridges create cold spots on interior surfaces, increasing the likelihood of surface condensation and subsequent mould development.
Question 10. Which standard defines the comfort criteria (e.g., PMV, PPD) that Passive House design seeks to satisfy? A) ISO 7730 B) DIN 1946 C) ASHRAE 55 D) EN 15251 Answer: A Explanation: ISO 7730 provides the thermal comfort indices (Predicted Mean Vote, Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied) used in Passive House comfort assessments.
Question 11. In a Passive House, what is the recommended maximum primary energy demand (including renewables) expressed as PER? A) ≤ 100 kWh/(m²·a) B) ≤ 120 kWh/(m²·a) C) ≤ 150 kWh/(m²·a) D) ≤ 200 kWh/(m²·a) Answer: B Explanation: The Passive House standard limits the total primary energy demand (including renewable contributions) to 120 kWh/(m²·a) of net conditioned floor area.
Question 12. Which of the following installation practices is essential for ensuring a void‑free insulation layer in a timber‑frame wall? A) Leaving a 2 cm air gap behind the sheathing
Answer: B Explanation: A continuous interior‑facing airtightness membrane, correctly taped and sealed around the window frame, provides the primary barrier against air infiltration.
Question 15. In the PHPP, what does the “Primary Energy Renewable (PER)” value represent? A) Total non‑renewable energy consumption of the building B) Energy from renewable sources needed to meet the building’s demand C) The sum of all heating and cooling energy demands D) The embodied energy of construction materials Answer: B Explanation: PER quantifies the amount of renewable primary energy required to satisfy the building’s total energy demand, reflecting the contribution of renewable systems.
Question 16. Which ventilation strategy is recommended for a Passive House located in a hot‑dry climate to avoid overheating? A) Continuous 100 % recirculation without fresh air intake B) Night‑time natural ventilation combined with HRV C) Exhaust‑only ventilation with no heat recovery D) High‑speed mechanical supply only Answer: B Explanation: Night‑time natural ventilation can flush accumulated heat, while the HRV maintains heat recovery during cooler periods, preventing overheating without sacrificing efficiency.
Question 17. What is the typical allowable air leakage rate (n₅₀) for a building that is not aiming for Passive House certification? A) ≤ 0.6 h⁻¹ B) ≤ 1.5 h⁻¹ C) ≤ 3.0 h⁻¹ D) ≤ 5.0 h⁻¹ Answer: C Explanation: Conventional high‑performance buildings often target n₅₀ ≤ 3 h⁻¹, whereas the Passive House limit is stricter at 0.6 h⁻¹.
Question 18. Which of the following window characteristics most directly contributes to meeting the Passive House solar gain requirement? A) Low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) B) High visible transmittance (VT) with moderate SHGC C) Triple glazing with argon fill only D) Framed with aluminum without thermal break Answer: B Explanation: A high VT allows daylight while a moderate SHGC balances solar heat gain to meet heating needs without causing overheating.
B) 55 % – 65 %
C) 75 % – 90 %
D) 95 % – 99 %
Answer: C Explanation: Modern HRVs designed for Passive Houses achieve heat recovery efficiencies between 75 % and 90 % under standard operating conditions.
Question 22. In the context of Passive House, what does the term “overheating frequency” refer to? A) Number of days per year interior temperature exceeds 30 °C for more than 2 h B) Annual peak heating demand in kWh/(m²·a) C) Frequency of HVAC system start‑ups per day D) Number of times the building’s envelope is repaired annually Answer: A Explanation: Overheating frequency measures how often indoor temperatures exceed comfortable limits (typically 30 °C) for a sustained period, indicating a need for shading or ventilation strategies.
Question 23. Which construction detail is most prone to creating a hidden thermal bridge in a timber‑frame building? A) Continuous external insulation B) Timber studs intersecting with concrete floor slabs without a thermal break C) Triple‑glazed windows with low‑E coating D) Exterior cladding with ventilated cavity
Answer: B Explanation: Direct timber‑to‑concrete connections without a thermal break act as linear thermal bridges, allowing heat to bypass the insulated envelope.
Question 24. Which of the following is a primary advantage of using wood‑fiber insulation over mineral wool in a Passive House? A) Lower cost per cubic meter B) Higher fire resistance rating C) Lower embodied carbon and better moisture buffering D) Superior acoustic performance in all frequencies Answer: C Explanation: Wood‑fiber insulation typically has a lower embodied carbon footprint and can regulate moisture due to its hygroscopic nature, benefiting sustainability goals.
Question 25. When calculating the overall heat loss coefficient (H) of a building, which component is NOT directly included? A) Transmission losses through envelope B) Thermal bridge losses (Ψ‑values) C) Infiltration losses measured by n₅₀ D) Internal heat gains from occupants Answer: D Explanation: H aggregates all heat loss pathways (transmission, bridges, ventilation). Internal gains are a separate term that offsets the losses but are not part of H itself.
Question 28. Which of the following detailing methods is most effective for achieving airtightness at a service penetration through an exterior wall? A) Filling the opening with expanding foam only B) Installing a dedicated airtightness sleeve and sealing all joints with tape C) Leaving the penetration open to allow air movement D) Using a metal flashing without any sealant Answer: B Explanation: A purpose‑made airtightness sleeve, combined with tape and sealant at all joints, creates a continuous barrier that prevents air leakage around services.
Question 29. What is the most common cause of interstitial condensation within a wall assembly of a Passive House? A) Excessive interior humidity combined with a cold interior surface temperature B) Over‑insulation leading to a completely airtight envelope C) Use of triple‑glazed windows with low solar gain D) Installing a mechanical ventilation system without a filter Answer: A Explanation: When warm, moist indoor air contacts a surface within the wall that is below the dew point, moisture condenses, potentially leading to mold and material degradation.
Question 30. Which of the following is the primary reason for using a “continuous” insulation layer in Passive House construction?
A) To improve acoustic insulation between rooms B) To eliminate thermal bridges by providing an unbroken barrier C) To increase the structural load‑bearing capacity of walls D) To simplify the installation of exterior cladding Answer: B Explanation: Continuous insulation removes gaps and discontinuities that would otherwise act as thermal bridges, thereby improving the overall U‑value of the envelope.
Question 31. In the context of Passive House, what does “PER” stand for? A) Primary Energy Requirement B) Passive Energy Ratio C) Performance Energy Rating D) Primary Energy Renewable Answer: D Explanation: PER denotes the amount of renewable primary energy needed to meet the building’s total energy demand, a key metric in the PHPP.
Question 32. Which of the following ventilation system types provides both heat recovery and moisture recovery, making it ideal for humid climates? A) Simple exhaust fan B) Energy recovery ventilator (ERV) C) Supply‑only fan coil unit
Explanation: Embodied energy accounts for all energy expended in the production, delivery, and installation of construction components before the building is occupied.
Question 35. What is the primary function of a “rain screen” in a Passive House envelope? A) To provide structural support for the façade B) To create a ventilated cavity that reduces moisture penetration and improves thermal performance C) To increase the airtightness of the wall system D) To serve as the main thermal insulation layer Answer: B Explanation: A rain screen creates an external air cavity that allows any water that penetrates the cladding to drain, while also providing an additional thermal break.
Question 36. Which type of thermal bridge is most likely to occur at a balcony slab connection to the main building? A) Linear bridge due to continuous steel reinforcement B) Point bridge caused by a single fastener C) Geometric bridge from the change in cross‑section geometry D) Material bridge from the use of wood studs Answer: C Explanation: The change in geometry where the balcony slab meets the main wall creates a geometric thermal bridge that can be mitigated with thermal break details.
Question 37. In Passive House design, what is the typical maximum allowable indoor temperature rise due to solar gain without mechanical cooling? A) 2 °C above setpoint B) 5 °C above setpoint C) 8 °C above setpoint D) 10 °C above setpoint Answer: B Explanation: The standard allows a modest temperature rise (≈ 5 °C) from solar gains, after which passive cooling strategies (shading, night ventilation) must be employed.
Question 38. Which of the following construction methods inherently provides a high level of airtightness? A) Traditional timber‑frame with cavity wall B) Prefabricated panelised systems with factory‑sealed joints C) Brick veneer with mortar joints D) Concrete block walls with external insulation only Answer: B Explanation: Factory‑sealed panelised systems can be delivered with continuous airtight membranes already installed, ensuring a high level of airtightness.
Question 39. What is the most common unit used to express the linear thermal transmittance (Ψ) of a thermal bridge?
D) The thermal bridge heat loss per meter at 50 Pa Answer: A Explanation: n₅₀ is defined as the air changes per hour measured at a constant pressure of 50 Pa, indicating the airtightness of the building.
Question 42. Which of the following is a key benefit of using a “smart vapour control layer” (SVCL) in a Passive House wall? A) It completely blocks all moisture movement, preventing any drying B) It adapts its permeability based on relative humidity, allowing drying when needed C) It provides structural reinforcement to the wall D) It eliminates the need for an airtightness membrane Answer: B Explanation: An SVCL changes its vapour diffusion resistance with humidity levels, enabling the wall to both resist moisture ingress and allow drying.
Question 43. What is the primary purpose of the “thermal bypass” test in Passive House construction? A) To measure the overall U‑value of the envelope B) To detect localized heat loss paths that bypass insulation, such as gaps or bridges C) To assess the performance of the ventilation system D) To verify the structural integrity of load‑bearing walls Answer: B
Explanation: A thermal bypass test (often using infrared thermography) identifies spots where heat flows around or through insulation, indicating potential defects.
Question 44. Which of the following window orientations typically provides the highest passive solar gain in the Northern Hemisphere? A. North B. East C. South D. West Answer: C Explanation: South‑facing windows receive the greatest solar radiation throughout the day, contributing to passive heating.
Question 45. In a Passive House, which of the following is the most common method to achieve a low‑U‑value for roof construction? A) Installing a single layer of 10 cm mineral wool B) Using a ventilated roof with no insulation C) Applying thick continuous insulation above the roof deck (warm‑roof) D) Relying solely on thermal mass of the roof structure Answer: C Explanation: A warm‑roof design places thick continuous insulation above the structural deck, eliminating thermal bridges and achieving low U‑values.
