Pakistan Building Codes and Construction Practices MCQs 2026

Pakistan Building Code BCP SP 2007 covers

1. A Only railway signalling ✓
2. B Only harbour dredging ✓
3. C Only airport ILS only ✓
4. D Structural fire and general building requirements ✓

Seismic zone 4 in Pakistan BCP applies to areas like

1. A Entire country uniformly zone 4 ✓
2. B Parts of KPK and Kashmir high hazard ✓
3. C No zone 4 exists ✓
4. D Only Karachi harbour only ✓

Basic wind speed in BCP selected using

1. A Only random choice ✓
2. B Only historical earthquake ✓
3. C Wind map and importance of structure ✓
4. D Only soil colour ✓

Live load on residential floor per BCP order of

1. A 2 kN/m² or as specified in code ✓
2. B 50 kN/m² always ✓
3. C Zero live load allowed ✓
4. D 200 kN/m² ✓

Dead load includes

1. A Only furniture people ✓
2. B Only wind gust ✓
3. C Self weight of structure and permanent fixtures ✓
4. D Only earthquake force ✓

Fire resistance rating means

1. A Time to paint building ✓
2. B Time to build foundation ✓
3. C Time to submit BOQ ✓
4. D Duration element resists fire under standard test ✓

Means of egress includes

1. A Exit access exit and exit discharge ✓
2. B Only elevator for all occupancies always ✓
3. C Only window display ✓
4. D Only roof garden ✓

Occupant load calculated from

1. A Only building height ✓
2. B Floor area and load factor for use ✓
3. C Only wind speed ✓
4. D Only seismic zone only ✓

Structural requirements in BCP reference

1. A Only oral tradition ✓
2. B Only vendor brochure ✓
3. C Only social media ✓
4. D ACI AISC and other adopted standards ✓

Reinforcement detailing for seismic zones requires

1. A No ties anywhere ✓
2. B Zero cover always ✓
3. C Closer ties and development lengths ✓
4. D Plastic bars only ✓

Minimum concrete cover to reinforcement protects against

1. A Only paint adhesion ✓
2. B Corrosion and fire ✓
3. C Only tile bonding ✓
4. D Only acoustic insulation only ✓

Foundation requirements depend on

1. A Soil bearing capacity and loads ✓
2. B Only facade colour ✓
3. C Only roof brand ✓
4. D Only window tint ✓

National Building Code NBC context in Pakistan often refers to

1. A Only foreign code without adoption ✓
2. B Only railway manual ✓
3. C BCP SP 2007 and municipal bylaws ✓
4. D Only airport annex only ✓

Zoning in municipal bylaws controls

1. A Only interior paint colour ✓
2. B Only staff uniform ✓
3. C Only vehicle tyre size ✓
4. D Land use density and building type ✓

Setback from plot boundary required for

1. A Light ventilation and fire access ✓
2. B Only decoration ✓
3. C Only advertising only ✓
4. D Only parking ticket ✓

Building height limit in cities governed by

1. A Only owner preference unlimited always ✓
2. B Zoning FAR and aviation restrictions ✓
3. C Only contractor wish ✓
4. D Only random dice ✓

FAR floor area ratio equals

1. A Plot width only ✓
2. B Building colour depth ✓
3. C Wind speed ratio ✓
4. D Total floor area divided by plot area ✓

FSI same concept as FAR means

1. A Floor space index limiting built area ✓
2. B Foundation soil index ✓
3. C Fire safety index only ✓
4. D Fuel storage index ✓

Wind load increases with

1. A Underground basement depth only ✓
2. B Building height and exposure category ✓
3. C Only seismic zone only without height ✓
4. D Only paint thickness ✓

Importance factor for hospital in seismic design is

1. A Lower than all others always ✓
2. B Zero always ✓
3. C Higher than ordinary storage building ✓
4. D Same as temporary tent always ✓

Fire compartmentation purpose is

1. A Increase fire spread ✓
2. B Remove all exits ✓
3. C Block ventilation always completely ✓
4. D Limit fire spread within building ✓

Sprinkler system requirement depends on

1. A Occupancy height and area thresholds ✓
2. B Only owner hobby ✓
3. C Only exterior paint ✓
4. D Only carpet pattern ✓

Stair width determined by

1. A Only aesthetic choice ✓
2. B Only seismic zone alone ✓
3. C Occupant load and egress capacity ✓
4. D Only wind direction ✓

Handrail height on stairs approximately

1. A 200 mm ✓
2. B 900 to 1050 mm per codes ✓
3. C 2 m always ✓
4. D Zero mm ✓

Balcony guard height requirement protects

1. A Against falling from elevated floor ✓
2. B Only rain ingress ✓
3. C Only wind uplift on tiles only ✓
4. D Only solar gain ✓

Lateral force resisting system must provide

1. A Only decorative function ✓
2. B Complete load path to foundation ✓
3. C Only thermal insulation ✓
4. D Only acoustic absorption only ✓

Expansion joint spacing in long building reduces

1. A Seismic demand to zero always ✓
2. B Need for any steel ✓
3. C Temperature and shrinkage cracking ✓
4. D Need for foundations ✓

Concrete grade for structural members in Pakistan commonly minimum

1. A Always M5 regardless ✓
2. B Zero strength mud always ✓
3. C Only aggregate without cement ✓
4. D As specified in BCP ACI for exposure ✓

Development length of rebar ensures

1. A Only visual alignment ✓
2. B Adequate bond with concrete ✓
3. C Only colour match ✓
4. D Only magnetic effect ✓

Lap splice not permitted in plastic hinge region per seismic detailing because

1. A Lap always stronger everywhere without limit ✓
2. B Code prefers random placement ✓
3. C Lap reduces cost always primary reason ✓
4. D Bond may degrade under cyclic loading ✓

Shear wall minimum reinforcement includes

1. A Only paint mesh ✓
2. B Zero reinforcement allowed ✓
3. C Horizontal and vertical bars ✓
4. D Only glass fibre without steel ✓

Soft storey prohibition addressed by

1. A Stiffness checks and stronger lower storey ✓
2. B Removing all columns ground floor ✓
3. C Infinite openings without bracing ✓
4. D Using only glass walls ground floor ✓

Soil bearing pressure verified by

1. A Guess without test always ✓
2. B Only wind tunnel ✓
3. C Only paint test ✓
4. D Plate load or SPT correlation before design ✓

Raft foundation used when

1. A Only on rock cliff always ✓
2. B Soil capacity low or loads heavy uniform ✓
3. C Only on single column only always ✓
4. D Never in Pakistan ✓

Pile foundation needed when

1. A Always cheaper than all footings always without exception ✓
2. B Only for fences ✓
3. C Weak upper soil over competent stratum ✓
4. D Only for paint booths ✓

Fire exit door must swing

1. A In direction of egress travel generally ✓
2. B Always inward into room during escape always wrong way ✓
3. C Never open ✓
4. D Only slide horizontally always without exception ✓

Travel distance to exit limited to

1. A Unlimited any distance ✓
2. B Protect occupants before untenable conditions ✓
3. C Only 1 metre always everywhere ✓
4. D Only 10 km ✓

Dead load reduction factor not applied to

1. A All loads always reduced 50 percent ✓
2. B Nothing ever uses factors ✓
3. C Permanent structural self weight in stability ✓
4. D Only live load only ever considered ✓

Live load reduction permitted for

1. A Single chair only ✓
2. B All loads always without limit to zero ✓
3. C Earthquake load always reduced 90 percent ✓
4. D Large influence areas columns support many floors ✓

Wind tunnel test used for

1. A Tall iconic buildings with complex shape ✓
2. B Every village house mandatory ✓
3. C Only foundations only ✓
4. D Only paint selection ✓

Parapet wall design must resist

1. A Only decorative paint ✓
2. B Wind load and provide fall protection ✓
3. C Only internal HVAC ✓
4. D Only elevator load ✓

Accessibility requirements include

1. A Only stairs without lifts always ✓
2. B Only narrow doors ✓
3. C Ramps rails and door widths for disabled ✓
4. D Only steps at all entrances ✓

Energy provisions in modern codes may address

1. A Only structural steel grade ✓
2. B Only harbour dredging ✓
3. C Only railway gauge ✓
4. D Thermal insulation and ventilation ✓

Municipal building permit requires

1. A Approved drawings structural calculations NOCs ✓
2. B Only verbal description ✓
3. C Only photo of model ✓
4. D Only handshake ✓

Occupancy certificate issued after

1. A At excavation start ✓
2. B Before foundation ✓
3. C Without any inspection ✓
4. D Completion inspection meets approved plans ✓

Illegal construction risk includes

1. A Automatic code compliance ✓
2. B Free upgrade by government always ✓
3. C Demolition penalties and safety hazard ✓
4. D Tax refund always ✓

High rise defined in many bylaws as building exceeding

1. A Specific height or storey count like 4 storeys plus ✓
2. B Only single storey always ✓
3. C Only underground only ✓
4. D Only temporary tent ✓

Parapet height and roof access guarded per code to prevent

1. A Only bird nesting only without safety ✓
2. B Falls during maintenance ✓
3. C Only solar panel colour ✓
4. D Only antenna brand ✓

Structural peer review required for

1. A Single room mud house always exempt typical ✓
2. B All dog houses ✓
3. C Major complex buildings in many authorities ✓
4. D All billboards only ✓

Soil test minimum boreholes for high rise typically

1. A Zero holes always ✓
2. B One hole anywhere without plan always sufficient always ✓
3. C Only scrape surface ✓
4. D Several across footprint per geotechnical practice ✓

Basement waterproofing required when

1. A Groundwater table may intersect basement ✓
2. B Never in any city ✓
3. C Only for roofs ✓
4. D Only for windows ✓

Column splice location preferred at

1. A Maximum moment mid height always ✓
2. B Floor level where moment lower ✓
3. C Random without analysis ✓
4. D Below foundation in soil ✓

Cantilever slab design checks

1. A Only paint colour ✓
2. B Only tile weight ignored always ✓
3. C Only wind on roof ignored always ✓
4. D Negative moment at support and deflection ✓

Strengthening existing building for extra floor requires

1. A Only paint refresh ✓
2. B Only new signage ✓
3. C Assessment of foundation columns and slabs capacity ✓
4. D Only carpet ✓

Building line on street defined in master plan as

1. A Interior paint boundary ✓
2. B Limit beyond which structure cannot project ✓
3. C Kitchen location ✓
4. D Elevator brand line ✓

Parking requirement in commercial zoning based on

1. A Floor area or seats per bylaw ✓
2. B Only owner car count wish ✓
3. C Zero parking always mandated ✓
4. D Only bicycle always without cars ever ✓

Rainwater downpipe sizing based on

1. A Only wind speed ✓
2. B Roof area and rainfall intensity ✓
3. C Only seismic zone ✓
4. D Only FAR only ✓

Lightning protection for tall buildings uses

1. A Only plastic rods ✓
2. B Only paint coating ✓
3. C Air terminals and down conductors to earth ✓
4. D Only glass facade only ✓

Minimum ceiling height residential often about

1. A 2.4 to 2.7 m clear per bylaws ✓
2. B 0.5 m ✓
3. C 10 m mandatory all rooms ✓
4. D No minimum ever ✓

Party wall agreement needed when

1. A Building in desert alone always ✓
2. B Only federal highway ✓
3. C Only airport runway ✓
4. D Building on shared boundary with neighbour ✓