Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Arkansas Masonry - Commercial Exam

Arkansas  ·  PSI Services Contractor

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
30
Passing score
70%
Exam time
75 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed

Arkansas State Portion 30 questions

Estimating and Plan Reading 2 Q · 7%
Unit Masonry 10 Q · 33%
Mortar and Grout 7 Q · 23%
Accessories 4 Q · 13%
Wall ties: types and installation requirements (rectangular, Z, and corrugated ties)Adjustable ties and their applications in cavity and veneer wall constructionJoint reinforcement types (ladder, truss, and tab styles) and placement in mortar bedsReinforcing bars and rods: sizes, placement, and corrosion protectionAnchor bolts and strap anchors: types and installation in masonry constructionHardware cloth (mesh wall ties) for bonding intersecting masonry wallsCorrosion protection requirements for masonry metal accessoriesWall tie installation requirements per IRC (embedment depth, mortar coverage, spacing)
Stone 1 Q · 3%
Tools 2 Q · 7%
Restoration and Cleaning 2 Q · 7%
OSHA Safety 2 Q · 7%

Key Distinctions

Cavity wallvsVeneered wall

A cavity wall has two walls separated by a continuous air space at least 2 inches wide; if the cavity is less than 2 inches the wall is classified as a veneered wall.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 13 — Laying Block, Section 13.2.3
Mortar stiffened by evaporationvsMortar stiffened by hydration

Only mortar stiffened by evaporation may be retempered with water; mortar stiffened by hydration (chemical setting) must be discarded.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10, Page 190
Mortar discard time (masonry)vsMortar discard time (glass masonry)

Masonry mortar not used within 2 1/2 hours should be discarded, while glass masonry mortar not used within 1 1/2 hours after remixing should be discarded (and not retempered after initial set).

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 222
Grade SW building brickvsGrade MW and Grade NW building brick

Grade SW is highly resistant to frost action for exposure to freezing weather (foundation courses, retaining walls); Grade MW is for moderate exposure below freezing where brick is not likely to be permeated with water, and Grade NW is for interior backup masonry.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 116
Type S mortarvsType N mortar

Type S (medium-high strength, maximum flexural/tensile bond) is required for cavity walls where wind velocities may exceed 80 mph and is recommended for reinforced masonry; for lesser winds either Type S or Type N may be used, Type N being a general-purpose above-grade mortar.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10 — Mortar and Grout, Section 10.5.8 — Cavity Walls
Type M mortarvsType N mortar

Type M is used for masonry below grade and in contact with earth (foundations, retaining walls, manholes), while Type N is a general-purpose above-grade mortar.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10, Pages 191-192
Ladder-type joint reinforcementvsTruss-type joint reinforcement

Ladder-type reinforcement is recommended to tie the wythes of a brick and block cavity wall because it allows in-plane movement; truss-type should not be used for that purpose.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 245
Weep holes with mortar completely removed from head jointvsWeep holes using wicking material

Open (mortar-removed) weep holes are spaced no more than 24 inches O.C., while wicking-material weep holes are spaced at a maximum of 16 inches O.C.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 335
Glass block wall anchor constructionvsGlass block chase construction vs braced panel/curtain wall

Wall anchor construction is limited to a 100 sq ft panel (max 10 ft high, 10 ft wide), chase construction allows up to 144 sq ft (max 20 ft high, 25 ft wide), and panel/curtain wall sections may be erected up to 250 sq ft if properly braced to limit movement and settlement.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 8 — Concrete Masonry Units, Section 8.2.5
Common (American) bondvsFlemish, English and stack bond

Common/American bond is a running-bond variation with full-length header courses generally every fifth to seventh course; Flemish alternates headers and stretchers in every course, English uses alternating full courses of headers and stretchers, and stack bond is purely a pattern bond with no overlapping.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Pages 129-130
MarkvsLabel / Manufacturer's designation

Per 2015 IBC Chapter 2, a 'mark' gives the manufacturer's name and the product function; a 'label' also carries performance characteristics and the identification of an approved agency, and a 'manufacturer's designation' indicates compliance with a specified standard or set of rules.

IBC 2015 Chapter 2 — Definitions of 'Mark,' 'Label' and 'Manufacturer's Designation'
Minimum nominal wall thickness over one storyvsMinimum nominal wall thickness, single-story home or garage

The IRC requires an 8-inch minimum nominal thickness for loadbearing masonry over one story, but permits a nominal 6-inch wall for a single-story home or garage where wall height does not exceed 9 feet and gable height does not exceed 15 feet.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 248
Foundation wall projection above grade with masonry veneervsFoundation wall projection above grade elsewhere

Per IRC R404.1.1.6, concrete and masonry foundation walls shall extend above finished grade a minimum of 4 inches where masonry veneer is used and a minimum of 6 inches elsewhere.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 313
Stiffened concrete before initial setvsRetempering concrete with water

Concrete that dries out and stiffens before initial set may be remixed without adding water; water cannot be added to restore workability because it reduces concrete quality.

Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 393

Key Terms

Cavity wall Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 13 — Laying Block, Section 13.2.3
Two walls separated by a continuous air space at least 2 inches wide, which must be kept free of mortar droppings so it functions as a moisture barrier.
Solid masonry unit Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 123
A unit whose net cross-sectional area in every plane parallel to the bearing surface is 75% or more of its gross cross-sectional area measured in the same plane (cored brick still qualifies if holes are under 25%).
Green brick Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 115
Brick that has been formed but not yet fired, containing 5% to 30% moisture as it comes from the molding or extruding machine.
Grade SW brick Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 116
Severe Weathering building brick, highly resistant to frost action and intended where brick is exposed to freezing weather such as foundation courses or retaining walls.
Grade NW brick Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 7 — Clay Masonry Materials, Section 7.5.1
Building brick designed for use as backup on interior masonry.
Concave joint Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Pages 131-132
A mortar joint compacted with a steel jointing tool that resists rain penetration and is recommended where heavy rains and high winds are likely; it is also the most popular mortar joint.
Weep holes Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 330
Openings in the joints of the outer wythe immediately above the flashing that divert moisture collected in the wall cavity to the outside; normal practice is every 16 inches O.C., placed directly on the flashing and clear of obstructions.
Plaster back Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 243
The technique of flattening excess mortar fins against the back side of the masonry units (instead of cutting them off) to keep mortar out of the cavity and leave a smooth surface for insulation.
Chases and recesses Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 348
Spaces left in a wall for plumbing, heating ducts, electrical wiring or other equipment; per the IRC they cannot be deeper than one-third the wall thickness.
Batter boards Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 227
Layout boards set with a builder's level, transit or laser level, usually at the future final height of the top of the foundation walls, with stakes placed a minimum of 6' to 8' beyond the excavation so they are not disturbed.
Gravity-type retaining wall Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 339
A masonry retaining wall that depends primarily on its own weight to hold back earth pressure, with a base width at least 1/2 to 3/4 of the wall height (shown as 0.7H).
Pier and panel wall Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 340
A garden wall type in which foundations are required only for the piers and those foundations extend below the frost depth, making it economical through reduced panel thickness.
Type S mortar Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10 — Mortar and Grout, Section 10.5.2
A medium-high-strength mortar for reinforced masonry and unreinforced masonry needing maximum flexural strength, with tensile bond near the best obtainable with cement-lime mortars; required for cavity walls where winds may exceed 80 mph.
Type M mortar Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 10, Pages 191-192
Mortar used for masonry below grade and in contact with earth, such as foundations, retaining walls and manholes.
Hollow glass masonry units Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 8 — Concrete Masonry Units, Section 8.2.5 — Hollow Glass Units Code Note
Per the IRC, units that must be partially evacuated and have a minimum average glass face thickness of 3/16 inch (5 mm), with mortar-contact surfaces treated with polyvinyl butyral coating or latex-based paint.
Thumbprint hard Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 12 — Laying Brick
The proper condition for tooling mortar joints — the mortar can be indented with a thumb without much pressure but does not stick to the thumb; mortar too dry when tooled turns black from metal worn off the jointer.
Job hazard analysis (JHA) Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 4 — Job Hazard Analysis section
A jobsite safety walk-through that, because the site constantly changes, may be performed multiple times a day — usually one in the morning and another directly after lunch.
Variegated Indiana limestone Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 9 — Stone, Section 9.2.1
One of the four ILI grades (Select, Standard, Rustic, Variegated); an unselected mixture of Select, Standard and Rustic permitting both buff and gray colors.

Formulas to Know

Maximum height above grade of a straight freestanding masonry garden wall at 10 psf wind pressureHeight shall not exceed 3/4 × (wall thickness)²; worked example: 8" wall → 3/4 × 8² = 3/4 × 64 = 48 inches
Base width of a gravity-type masonry retaining wallBase width ≥ 1/2 to 3/4 of the wall height (shown on drawings as 0.7H)
Maximum size of coarse aggregate in concreteNever greater than 1/5 the thickness of a finished wall section, 1/3 the thickness of a slab, or 3/4 the width of the narrowest space the concrete must pass through during placing
Maximum depth of chases and recesses in masonry (IRC)Depth ≤ 1/3 of the wall thickness
Solid masonry unit classificationNet cross-sectional area in every plane parallel to the bearing surface ≥ 75% of gross cross-sectional area in the same plane (cores less than 25%)
Headers in masonry-bonded brick wallsNot less than 4% headers in the wall surface; distance between nearest headers shall not exceed 24 inches vertically or horizontally
Cavity wall tie size and spacingTies 3/16" diameter or #9 gauge wire, placed one in every 4 1/2 sq ft of wall space when the cavity is no more than 4"
Grout sampling and specimen requirementsMinimum 1/2 cubic foot of grout sampled from material being placed; one sample = three 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 7" specimens per ASTM C1019; sample for each 5,000 sq ft of masonry or whenever mix proportions, materials or mixing method change
Minimum grout compressive strength (MSJC)At least equal to the specified compressive strength of masonry, but not less than 2000 psi (13.8 MPa) per ASTM C1019
Air entrainment for concrete exposed to freezing and thawing (IRC)Minimum total air content 5%; 2% or less gains no benefit and over 7% can reduce finished concrete strength
Start free practice Full study guide