# Resources for Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Structural

**URL:** <https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/resources-for-mechanical-electrical-plumbing-and-structural/7730>\
**Category:** Programming & Analysis\
**Tags:** community-basics, are-live\
**Created:** [February 20, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/resources-for-mechanical-electrical-plumbing-and-structural/7730 "2026-02-20T16:16:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![peaceloveshakti](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/1.png) [@peaceloveshakti](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/peaceloveshakti)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/resources-for-mechanical-electrical-plumbing-and-structural/7730/1 "2026-02-20T16:16:05Z")

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Hi, I see that there are questions related to MEP and structural. I don’t see those study resources listed in the NCARB list for the PA exam. Which books are you referring to for the questions on the exam?

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**Author:** ![kiaragalicinao](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/kiaragalicinao/32/1607_2.png) [@kiaragalicinao](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/kiaragalicinao)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/resources-for-mechanical-electrical-plumbing-and-structural/7730/2 "2026-02-20T17:44:48Z")

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Great question @peaceloveshakti! While NCARB doesn’t list dedicated MEP or structural references for PA, you should still understand building systems at a **conceptual level** - especially as they relate to site analysis, early design decisions, and feasibility. Focus less on calculations and more on understanding system selection, site impact, basic spans, environmental response, and coordination implications. The exam is testing whether you can make informed early-phase planning decisions, which will lead into the next design phases covered in PPD and PDD.

Check out the Section 4 lecture videos on your **[Black Spectacles dashboard](https://learn.blackspectacles.com/courses/1e06df6b-2328-11ef-9c4f-02161524d561)** - we focus on the key concepts you need to know about these topics for PA specifically, without going too far in depth.

Of the NCARB listed references, _The Architect’s Studio Companion_ and _Architectural Graphic Standards_ touch on this topics as well.

Happy studying!

Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB  
Product Coordinator  
**[Black Spectacles](https://www.blackspectacles.com/en-us/)**