Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) – Mechanical: HVAC and Refrigeration

Bring the most current editions of the ASHRAE Handbook (Fundamentals, HVAC Systems and Equipment, and Refrigeration), your preferred PE exam review manual (e.g., MERM or Lindeburg), and any state-specific code books (e.g., IMC, IECC). Tab key sections like psychrometric charts, refrigerant properties, duct fitting loss coefficients, and pump affinity laws. Avoid bringing unbound notes or materials that are not securely bound, as they may be disallowed.

Most successful candidates study 200 to 300 hours over 3 to 6 months. This includes reading review manuals, working through at least 300 practice problems, and taking 3 to 4 full-length timed practice exams. Dedicate extra time to psychrometrics and load calculations, as these are heavily tested and require both conceptual understanding and speed.

Yes, code and standards questions appear throughout the exam, particularly in the Supportive Knowledge domain. You should be familiar with ASHRAE Standard 62.1 (ventilation), Standard 90.1 (energy), Standard 15 (refrigeration safety), and the International Mechanical Code (IMC). Focus on understanding the intent behind code requirements, not just memorizing numbers.

The most common mistake is misapplying psychrometric processes, such as confusing sensible heating with humidification or incorrectly reading the psychrometric chart. Another frequent error is forgetting to convert units (e.g., cfm to scfm, tons of refrigeration to Btu/h). Always write down your units and cancel them step by step.

Only NCEES-approved calculators are permitted, and they must be non-programmable and non-communicating. You cannot use calculators with equation storage or symbolic manipulation. Practice with your approved calculator well before exam day so you are efficient with its functions, especially for solving quadratic equations and performing statistical calculations.