NRCA Metal Flashings study plan

Build a one-page comparison table of copper, lead, zinc, stainless steel, aluminum, and coated carbon steel covering melting range, thermal expansion, typical thickness/temper, and approved substrate types, citing at least one standard or manufacturer technical bulletin per metal.

Explain in your own words how galvanic series position, electrolyte presence, and anode-to-cathode area ratio drive corrosion rate, then rank five common metal pairings from most to least risky.

Identify three isolation strategies (bituminous coating, neoprene or EPDM separator, stainless fasteners, plastic-sleeved clips) and state where each belongs in a flashing assembly.

List the clearance and runoff rules that keep copper or lead discharge from landing on galvanized steel or aluminum below, and note the coating-failure mechanism involved.

Distinguish mill-finish, anodized, Kynar/polyester-coated, and terne-coated surfaces by how each affects solderability, fastener choice, and field touch-up.

Describe safe layout procedure for a flashing detail: measuring, transferring dimensions to flat stock, allowing for bend deduction and material thickness, and marking bend lines.

Sequence the forming steps for a simple hemmed drip edge and a locked standing seam, naming the tool used at each step and the order that prevents distortion.

Compare soldering, brazing, and welding for copper, stainless, and coated steel, stating which joint types and thicknesses each suits and which metals must never be heat-joined.

Specify flux, solder alloy, and heat-control practice for a copper soldered seam, and explain why residual flux must be removed.

Select fasteners and sealants for three scenarios (concealed cleat, exposed lap, movement joint), justifying fastener type, spacing, and sealant compatibility with the metal.

Draft dimensioned flat-pattern layouts for a vent-stack flashing, a pipe boot with a rolled collar, and a rectangular equipment curb, showing seam locations and expansion allowance.

Explain how to form and join a pitch pan or curb cap so that water sheds away from the penetration and the joint stays above the water line.

Identify the flashing sequence for a masonry chimney: base flashing, counterflashing, cricket, and cap, and state which component is installed first and why.

Describe how skylight and equipment-support curbs are flashed and counterflashed, including how the curb height relates to the roof slope and snow or ponding exposure.

Practice one heat-joined or mechanically locked joint on scrap of the exam-relevant metal and record what failed or worked.

Size a gutter and downspout for a stated roof area and rainfall intensity using the rational-method approach, and show the arithmetic.

Lay out gutter slope, hanger spacing, expansion allowance at end caps, and outlet placement for a run of at least 40 feet.

Detail a scupper and overflow (secondary drainage) provision so the overflow outlet sits above the primary inlet and discharges visibly.

Draw the layer order and fastening for edge metal, drip edge, gravel stop, and a roof-to-wall transition, naming which layer laps over which.

Explain how expansion joints and conductor (leader) joints accommodate movement without trapping water or stressing fasteners.

Describe reglet cutting, insertion depth, and sealant detailing for a through-wall flashing, and state how weep provisions release water at the wall base.

Sequence base flashing, through-wall flashing, and counterflashing so each laps shingle-fashion and the counterflashing sheds over the base.

Detail coping and parapet termination, including cleat attachment, joint spacing for expansion, and how the cap sheds to both roof and exterior face.

Explain how concealed counterflashing is anchored in a reglet versus surface-mounted, and the trade-offs in serviceability and water resistance.

Identify the causes of the most common wall-flashing failures (wrong lap direction, blocked weeps, sealant-only terminations) and the corrective detail for each.

Cross-reference the installation requirements in the applicable code or standard for flashing height above roof, counterflashing, and secondary drainage, and note where manufacturer instructions are stricter.

Assemble a pre-task safety checklist covering fall protection, hot-work permits for soldering and welding, ladder and edge practice, and metal-handling cuts.

Compare two manufacturer installation guides for the same product family and list where their fastener spacing, sealant, or clearance instructions diverge.

Explain how to read a manufacturer detail drawing and translate it into a field instruction the crew can follow without the drawing in hand.

Describe the inspection and testing steps (water test, visual lap check, fastener pull check) that verify a completed flashing before close-out.

Re-derive the metal comparison and galvanic ranking from week one without notes, and correct any gaps.

Redo drainage sizing and expansion-joint layout from memory, then check against your week-four sheet.

Redraw the wall-section details from week five from memory and mark every lap and fastener.

Write out the edge-metal and roof-to-wall layer order and the reason each layer laps as it does.

Identify your three weakest subtopics from the redraw exercise and schedule targeted review for each.

Build a final isolation-detail checklist that a field installer could carry, covering dissimilar-metal contact, fastener selection, and drainage separation.

Summarize the code, standard, and manufacturer-instruction hierarchy in five sentences and state what to do when they conflict.

Run a timed 40-question mixed practice exam and record score by domain.

Review every missed item, writing the correct principle rather than the answer, and confirm understanding with a fresh example.

Finalize a one-page exam-day summary sheet of formulas, clearances, and sequencing rules.