10 exam-style questions with answers and explanations, straight from our 1,030-question bank. Tap an answer to check yourself. When you're ready, take the scored version in the free practice test.
The CBES-TB exam has 60 questions and runs 2 hours.
These 10 free CBES-TB questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Certified Building Envelope Specialist - Thermal Barrier blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
At a substitution meeting, a contractor proposes R-18 cavity insulation in place of R-13 cavity insulation plus R-5 exterior continuous insulation. The framing will remain unchanged, and no alternative compliance analysis has been approved. Which assessment of the proposed wall is sound?
Correct answer: C - The substitute leaves the framing without the specified exterior insulation coverage.
Four details use the same single-sided foil product. In which installation can its low-emittance face perform its intended radiant-barrier function?
Correct answer: D - The foil face is exposed to an adjacent attic air space beneath the roof deck.
Above a vented crawlspace, dry floor batts remain at their labeled thickness but sag several inches below the subfloor. Crawlspace air can circulate through the gap above them. The approved detail places the insulation against the air-sealed subfloor and retains the vented crawlspace. To correct this thermal bypass, the crew should:
Correct answer: B - Refit and support the batts against the subfloor without compressing the insulation.
A 3.5-inch-deep wall cavity requires at least R-15 cavity insulation. Available unfaced fiberglass batts are labeled R-15 at 3.5 inches and R-19 at 6.25 inches. No compressed-thickness rating is supplied for the R-19 product, and the framing will not be deepened. Which purchase is justified by these product data?
Correct answer: A - The R-15 batt, installed at its labeled 3.5-inch thickness.
For a specified Class II vapor retarder, select the qualifying installed-layer permeance. All four values were determined using the same specified test method.
Correct answer: A - 0.6 U.S. perm.
Morning outdoor air temperature is 6°C. In a sheltered work area, a clean wood substrate measures 14°C and 14% moisture after the required meter corrections. The approved insulation adhesive requires a substrate temperature of 10-35°C and wood moisture no greater than 16%; it permits application at the present air temperature. All other preparation requirements are met. The foreman proposes holding work because outdoor air is below 10°C. Which response is warranted?
Correct answer: D - Proceed with application; the corrected moisture and substrate temperature meet this adhesive's specified limits.
An interior winter thermogram shows a cold streak beside a window jamb. During a safely conducted blower-door test, the streak expands as indoor pressure is reduced relative to outdoors. A smoke pencil confirms air entering through the frame-to-wall joint. The surrounding framing pattern changes little. What best explains the expanding streak?
Correct answer: A - Outdoor air infiltrating through a discontinuity in the perimeter air seal.
The window schedule for an office requires a whole-product U-factor no greater than 0.30 Btu/(h·ft²·°F), a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) no greater than 0.25, and visible transmittance (VT) of at least 0.50. Tradeoffs among these requirements are not permitted. Select the NFRC-rated submittal that satisfies the schedule.
Correct answer: B - U-factor 0.28; SHGC 0.22; VT 0.58.
A valid blower-door test records a corrected airflow of 1,260 cubic feet per minute at 50 Pa. The conditioned volume within the test boundary is 21,000 ft³. A separate, vented attic outside that boundary contains another 7,000 ft³. The contract limits enclosure leakage to 3.0 ACH50. What result and compliance finding belong on the test report?
Correct answer: D - 3.6 ACH50; the enclosure does not comply.
Smoke tracing locates a draft at the interior frame-to-rough-opening joint of a replacement window. The sash operates normally, and its weatherstripping does not leak. The approved detail specifies an interior perimeter air seal and exterior sill-pan drainage outlets. What should the installer correct before replacing the trim?
Correct answer: C - Seal the interior joint with the specified system, leaving the sill outlets open.
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