NCARB PDD Exam - Topic 4 Question 4 Discussion

Actual exam question for NCARB's PDD exam

Question #: 4
Topic #: 4

A significant advantage of glass-fiber-reinforced concrete panels over architectural precast concrete panels is which one of the following?

AIncreased strength

BIncreased quality control

CDecreased weight

DDecreased fabrication time

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: C

Glass-fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC) panels offer several advantages compared to architectural precast concrete panels:

GFRC panels are lighter due to their thin profile and use of fiber reinforcement, reducing structural load and facilitating installation.

Precast concrete panels are heavier and thicker.

Strength of GFRC is adequate but typically not higher than traditional precast.

Quality control and fabrication time are comparable or vary depending on the project and fabrication process.

Therefore, the significant advantage is decreased weight.

by Tiera at Oct 05, 2025, 07:45 PM

Limited Time Offer

25%

Off

Get Premium PDD Questions as Interactive Web-Based Practice Test or PDF

Contribute your Thoughts:

Submit Cancel

Cary

2 months ago

Time is money, but I still think weight is the biggest plus.

upvoted 0 times

...

Tamesha

2 months ago

D) Decreased fabrication time could save money.

upvoted 0 times

...

Francine

2 months ago

Quality is key, but I still prefer the weight advantage.

upvoted 0 times

...

Pamella

2 months ago

True, but weight can really impact the project.

upvoted 0 times

...

Ashanti

3 months ago

But what about A) Increased strength? That's important too.

upvoted 0 times

...

Junita

3 months ago

Agreed, lighter panels are easier to handle.

upvoted 0 times

...

Giovanna

3 months ago

I think it's C) Decreased weight.

upvoted 0 times

...

Carmela

4 months ago

B) Increased quality control is key for durability too!

upvoted 0 times

...

Isaac

4 months ago

A) Increased strength is also a major benefit!

upvoted 0 times

...

Denna

4 months ago

Really? I thought precast was already pretty light.

upvoted 0 times

...

Van

4 months ago

C) Decreased weight is a big plus!

upvoted 0 times

...

Veronika

4 months ago

I feel like D) Decreased fabrication time could be a factor too, especially since glass-fiber panels can be easier to handle. But I keep coming back to the weight issue.

upvoted 0 times

...

Sharen

4 months ago

I’m a bit confused about this one. I thought glass-fiber-reinforced concrete had advantages in strength, but I can’t recall if that’s a significant enough difference.

upvoted 0 times

...

Hyman

5 months ago

I remember practicing a similar question about the benefits of different concrete types. I think B) Increased quality control could also be a valid option, but I’m leaning towards C.

upvoted 0 times

...

Selene

5 months ago

Decreased weight and faster fabrication? Sounds like a win-win to me. Where do I sign up for these magical glass-fiber panels?

upvoted 0 times

...

Yolande

5 months ago

A) Increased strength? Psh, I'd rather have a panel I can lift with one hand. Strength is overrated.

upvoted 0 times

...

Natalie

5 months ago

I think the answer might be C) Decreased weight, but I'm not entirely sure. We discussed how glass-fiber-reinforced concrete is lighter than traditional concrete.

upvoted 0 times

...

Bong

6 months ago

Totally agree, lighter panels make a huge difference.

upvoted 0 times

...

Arlie

6 months ago

I lean towards B) Increased quality control. More consistent results!

upvoted 0 times

...

Felix

6 months ago

D) Decreased fabrication time? Sign me up! Faster production means faster project completion.

upvoted 0 times

...

Germaine

6 months ago

B) Increased quality control is crucial for any construction project. Gotta make sure those panels are up to snuff.

upvoted 0 times

...

Alecia

7 months ago

I agree, C) Decreased weight is the way to go. Who needs heavy concrete when you can have featherlight glass-fiber panels?

upvoted 0 times

...

Sabrina

7 months ago

C) Decreased weight is definitely the biggest advantage. Lighter panels are easier to handle and install.

upvoted 0 times

...

Elden

7 months ago

I'm pretty confident the answer is C) Decreased weight. Glass-fiber-reinforced concrete is known for being lighter and more lightweight compared to traditional precast concrete panels.

upvoted 0 times

...

Remona

7 months ago

I'm a bit confused on this one. Is it talking about the advantages in terms of construction, cost, or something else? I'll have to re-read the question and options more closely.

upvoted 0 times

...

Fletcher

7 months ago

Okay, I've got this. The key advantage of glass-fiber-reinforced concrete is that it's lighter, so the answer has to be C) Decreased weight. Feels pretty straightforward to me.

upvoted 0 times

...

Norah

8 months ago

Hmm, I'm not sure about this one. I'll need to think it through carefully. The options seem pretty similar, so I'll have to weigh the pros and cons of each.

upvoted 0 times

...