Verified, not estimated. Every figure below is drawn from the official exam structure we maintain — question counts, passing standard and topic weighting. Practice questions are grounded in the source law with statute citations. We omit any figure we can't verify rather than guess at it.
Total questions
60
Passing score
70%
Exam time
150 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
Alabama State Portion
60 questions
Estimating and Plan Reading10 Q · 17%
Material quantity takeoff for concrete work (volume calculations for slabs, walls, footings)Estimating labor, equipment, and material costs for concrete projectsReading and interpreting construction plans and drawings (plan views, profiles, symbols, scales)Formwork planning, design selection, and cost estimationReinforcing bar placing drawings and bar listsConcrete mix design and proportioning specifications (w/cm ratio, air content, slump, strength requirements)Special inspections and testing requirements for concrete constructionBidding procedures, overhead, markup, and bonding requirements for contractors
Layout and Excavation12 Q · 20%
Batter boards and string lines for building layoutReading and interpreting construction plans and survey stakesOSHA excavation safety requirements and protective systems (sloping, benching, shoring, shielding)Soil classification for excavation purposes (Type A, B, C)Excavation near existing foundations and underground utilitiesSite grading, drainage slopes, and surface preparationSoil compaction methods, Proctor testing, and density requirementsDealing with rock and groundwater in excavation
Formwork8 Q · 13%
Lateral pressure of fresh concrete on vertical formsVertical loads on formwork (dead loads, live loads, and minimum design values)Design of slab, wall, beam, and column forms using allowable stress and deflection criteriaShoring and reshoring in multi-story constructionFormwork materials (lumber, plywood, engineered wood, steel, aluminum)Form removal requirements and concrete strength criteriaOSHA Subpart Q safety requirements for formworkFormwork for architectural concrete (surface quality, mockups, and tolerances)
Reinforcing Steel8 Q · 13%
Types, grades, and ASTM specifications for reinforcing steel (A615, A706, A955, A1035)Bar identification markings and size designationsConcrete cover requirements for reinforcing steelDevelopment length and lap splice requirementsBar supports: types, placement, and spacingSplicing methods: lap, mechanical, and welded splicesFabrication tolerances and standard hook dimensionsInspection requirements for placed reinforcing steel
General Concrete16 Q · 27%
Concrete mixture proportioning and water-cementitious materials ratioPortland cement types and supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash, slag cement, silica fume)Concrete durability and exposure categories (freeze-thaw, sulfate, chloride, permeability)Aggregates for concrete (classification, grading, quality, moisture content)Chemical admixtures types and applicationsCuring methods, materials, and duration requirementsHot and cold weather concreting precautionsConcrete testing methods (fresh and hardened properties: slump, air content, compressive strength)
Safety6 Q · 10%
Fall protection systems for concrete and reinforcing steel operations (Subpart M, 6-foot threshold, guardrails, personal fall arrest, safety nets)Concrete and masonry construction safety requirements (Subpart Q: formwork, reinforcing steel impalement guarding, concrete buckets, post-tensioning, pumping systems)Excavation safety: sloping, shoring, cave-in protection, and atmospheric testing (Subpart P)Personal protective equipment selection, use, and employer payment requirements (Subpart E)Fire protection and prevention on construction sites: extinguisher ratings, flammable liquid storage, fire prevention plans (Subpart F)Scaffolding requirements: capacity, platform construction, guardrails, and access (Subpart L)Confined space entry procedures, permit requirements, atmospheric hazards, and rescue (Subpart AA)Cranes and derricks: ground conditions, assembly/disassembly, operator qualifications, and power line clearances (Subpart CC)
Key Distinctions
Isolation JointvsContraction Joint
Isolation joints extend the full depth of the slab and separate it from walls, columns, and footings to permit both horizontal and vertical movement, while contraction joints extend only approximately one-quarter the slab thickness to control cracking.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Page 282
Flash SetvsFalse Set
Flash set occurs when insufficient calcium sulfate fails to control C₃A hydration, causing rapid stiffening with considerable heat that cannot be reversed by remixing, while false set is caused by rapid crystallization of secondary gypsum and can be dispelled by further mixing without adding water.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Page 134
Plan ViewvsProfile View
A plan view is a bird's-eye overhead view showing the layout of the work area, while a profile view is a horizontal cut-away (cross-section) view along the alignment that reveals elevations, grades, and depths.
Page 105, Chapter 3 introduction, plan view/profile view definitions
Silica FumevsFly Ash / Slag Cement
Silica fume produces dramatic reductions in chloride penetrability within just 28 days due to its extremely fine particle size and high reactivity, whereas fly ash and slag cement also reduce chloride penetration but their improvements develop more gradually over time.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Pages 161-162
Foundation Wall Extension with Masonry VeneervsFoundation Wall Extension (All Other Conditions)
Where masonry veneer is used, concrete and masonry foundation walls need only extend not less than 4 inches above finished grade, whereas in all other conditions they must extend not less than 6 inches above finished grade.
Section R404.1.6
Floor Joist Bearing on Wood or MetalvsFloor Joist Bearing on Masonry or Concrete
A floor joist end resting on wood or metal requires a minimum bearing length of 1½ inches, while bearing on masonry or concrete requires a minimum of 3 inches.
Section R502.6
Notching a Floor Joist (End)vsNotching a Floor Joist (Other Than End)
End notches in solid lumber floor joists are limited to one-fourth the depth of the member, while notches at any other location are limited to one-sixth the depth.
Section R502.8.1
Shielded/Lead-Covered Conductors (>1000V) Bend RadiusvsNonshielded Conductors (>1000V) Bend Radius
Shielded or lead-covered conductors rated over 1000 volts must not be bent to a radius less than 12 times the overall diameter, while nonshielded conductors require a minimum bend radius of only 8 times the overall diameter.
NEC 305.5
Direct-Buried Cable Cover (>1000V to 22 kV)vsRigid Metal Conduit Cover (>22 kV to 40 kV)
Direct-buried cables rated over 1000V AC through 22 kV require a minimum cover depth of 750 mm (30 in.) under general conditions, while cables over 22 kV through 40 kV installed in rigid metal conduit require only 150 mm (6 in.) of cover.
NEC Table 305.15(A)
Type MV-90 CablevsType MV-105 Cable
Type MV-90 medium voltage cable has a maximum operating temperature of 90°C, while Type MV-105 has a maximum operating temperature of 105°C; both are suitable for dry or wet locations.
NEC Table 315.10(A)
Danger SignvsEmergency Alarm Code Posting
Danger signs (red upper panel, black borders, white lower panel) are posted only where an immediate hazard exists, while alarm code and reporting instructions must be conspicuously posted at phones and at employee entrances.
OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Page 201
Floor Live Load (Sleeping Areas / Attics)vsFloor Live Load (Other Living Areas)
Sleeping areas and attics are designed for a 30 psf live load using Table R502.3.1(1), while other living areas use a 40 psf live load with Table R502.3.1(2).
Section R502.3.1
Key Terms
Competent Person (OSHA) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Page 31
Per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.32(f), one capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
Emergency Action Plan (≤10 Employees) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.35(e)(3)
Per OSHA 1926 CFR 29 §1926.35(e)(3), employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally and are not required to maintain a written plan.
Fire Extinguisher Rating Requirement OSHA 1926.150(c)(1)(i)
Per OSHA 1926.150(c)(1)(i), a fire extinguisher rated not less than 2A must be provided for each 3,000 square feet of protected building area.
Material Storage from Hoistway OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.250(b)(1)
Per OSHA 1926 CFR 29 §1926.250(b)(1), materials stored inside buildings under construction must not be placed within 6 feet of any hoistway or inside floor opening.
High Voltage Danger Sign Wording NEC 305.12
Per NEC 305.12, danger signs conspicuously posted at all points of access to conductors in raceway and cable systems over 1000 volts must read: DANGER—HIGH VOLTAGE—KEEP OUT.
Qualified Person for Type MV Cable NEC 315.30
Per NEC 315.30, installation and testing of Type MV cable must be performed by a qualified person(s) with documented training and experience, and cable joint installation requires documented training in MV cable joints.
Per Table R301.7 of the Alabama Residential Code, the maximum allowable live-load deflection for floor structural members is L/360.
Ledger Strip Support for Joists Section R502.6.2
Per Section R502.6.2, floor joists framing into the side of a wood girder must be supported by approved framing anchors or on ledger strips not less than nominal 2×2.
Riser/Tread Uniformity Tolerance Sections R311.7.5.1 and R311.7.5.2
Per Sections R311.7.5.1 and R311.7.5.2, within any single flight of stairs the greatest riser height shall not exceed the smallest by more than ⅜ inch, and the same ⅜ inch tolerance applies to tread depths.
Isolation Joint Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Page 282
A full-depth joint with premolded filler used at junctions of slabs with walls, columns, and footings to permit both horizontal and vertical movement between structural elements.
Silica Fume Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Pages 161-162
A supplementary cementitious material with extremely fine particle size (avg. 0.1 µm) that dramatically reduces concrete chloride penetrability within 28 days but increases water demand, typically requiring a water-reducing admixture.
Architectural Formwork Deflection Limit SP-4 Formwork for Concrete, Appendix E (ACI 347R-14), Page E-23
Per ACI 347R-14 Section 7.4.3, the recommended maximum deflection limit for architectural formwork sheathing, studs, and wales is l/400 of the clear span between supports.
Minimum Stairway Clear Width Section R311.7.1
Per Section R311.7.1, stairways must be not less than 36 inches in clear width at all points above the permitted handrail height and below the required headroom height.
Floor Cantilever Maximum Span Section R502.3.3
Per Section R502.3.3, a floor cantilever span shall not exceed the nominal depth of the wood floor joist.
Formulas to Know
Maximum Notch Depth (Interior of Joist)Max notch depth = Joist depth ÷ 6
Maximum Notch Depth (End of Joist)Max end notch depth = Joist depth ÷ 4
