What is the exam's expectation regarding wind inputs?

• A. It relies on wind tunnel results for all scenarios.
• B. The exam tests the ability to select correct inputs and apply conservative professional judgment.
• C. It requires ASCE derivations.
• D. It requires memorizing a fixed wind load table.

Answer: (D)

Selecting wind inputs and applying conservative professional judgment is what the exam expects. Wind loads aren’t a single fixed value; they vary with design wind speed at the site, exposure category, building height and geometry, terrain effects, and openings that change pressure distribution. The standard provides a framework to determine these inputs, but the test focuses on your ability to choose appropriate values and apply conservative assumptions so the design remains safe under uncertainty.

So, the best approach you’ll be assessed on is picking the correct inputs from the code or standards and adjusting them with prudent conservatism, rather than relying on a wind tunnel for every scenario, performing on-the-fly derivations, or memorizing a fixed wind load table. The wind data must reflect the specific conditions of the project, not a one-size-fits-all table.