PCA Certificated Surveyor of Dampness in Buildings

QUESTION NO: 1
In properties where occupants have limited financial resources for full damp remediation, the surveyor's approach should include:

A. No recommendations B. Prioritized repairs (source elimination first), interim measures, and realistic timescales for comprehensive treatment C. Recommending abandonment D. Only recommending expensive treatments

Correct Answer: B

QUESTION NO: 2
The typical vertical spacing of chemical DPC injection holes is:

A. 100-125mm B. 50mm C. 75mm D. 200mm

Correct Answer: A

QUESTION NO: 3
When diagnosing penetrating damp, the surveyor should assess:

A. Building age only B. Ground conditions only C. Interior finishes only D. Rainfall patterns, wind-driven rain exposure, and defects in the external envelope

Correct Answer: D

QUESTION NO: 4
BS 5250:2021 section on kitchen ventilation requires:

A. Ventilation only in winter B. No ventilation C. Opening windows only D. Continuous or background ventilation with additional extract during cooking (minimum rates specified)

Correct Answer: D

QUESTION NO: 5
The most effective approach to treat penetrating damp is to:

A. Apply cladding only B. Accept the damp C. Identify and repair the external source of moisture ingress D. Apply internal waterproof paint only

Correct Answer: C

QUESTION NO: 6
When a surveyor concludes that a property's damp problem is primarily caused by condensation resulting from occupant behavior (drying washing indoors, inadequate ventilation), the recommendation should:

A. Explain the technical cause, recommend occupant action changes, and suggest building improvements to reduce condensation risk B. Recommend expensive structural works C. Only blame occupants D. Ignore occupant factors

Correct Answer: A

QUESTION NO: 7
Photographic evidence in a dampness report should:

A. Only show perfect conditions B. Show typical areas of damp, close-ups of specific defects, and reference photographs for context C. Never be included D. Be purely decorative

Correct Answer: B

QUESTION NO: 8
According to BS 5250:2021, moisture management in buildings requires consideration of:

A. Thermal performance only B. Thermal performance and moisture performance C. Structural design only D. Aesthetic performance only

Correct Answer: B

QUESTION NO: 9
A listed building (Grade II*) shows clear rising damp with tide marks to 800mm. Owner seeks rapid chemical DPC treatment. The surveyor should:

A. Recommend lime-based DPC approaches, reversible treatments, and specialist conservation advice considering building age B. Decline to diagnose listed building damp C. Proceed with standard chemical DPC injection immediately D. Recommend modern cementitious replastering

Correct Answer: A

QUESTION NO: 10
Regarding health and safety for chemical DPC application, the COSHH hierarchy of controls indicates the primary measure should be:

A. Using only manual application B. Assuming no hazard exists C. Engineering controls such as proper ventilation and extraction systems during application D. Providing operatives with protective gloves only

Correct Answer: C

QUESTION NO: 11
An electrical resistance moisture meter reading in masonry affected by rising damp will be:

A. Artificially lowered due to high salt content increasing conductivity B. Always accurate C. Unaffected by salts D. Always accurate regardless of salt content

Correct Answer: A

PCA Certificated Surveyor of Dampness in Buildings - CSDB Exam Questions