Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Arkansas Remodeling, Renovations, Restoration, Alterations - Residential 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

Passing score

70%

Exam time

75 min

Administered by

PSI Services Contractor

Format

Reference materials allowed

Arkansas State Portion 30 questions

Sitework 3 Q · 10%

Concrete 3 Q · 10%

Masonry 3 Q · 10%

Metals 3 Q · 10%

Cold-formed steel wall framing member materials, dimensions, and corrosion protection requirementsCold-formed steel wall stud sizing, spacing, and load-bearing capacity tablesCold-formed steel header types, spans, and connection requirements (box beam and back-to-back headers)Cold-formed steel structural sheathing requirements and minimum full-height sheathing percentagesCold-formed steel wall-to-foundation and wall-to-floor anchor bolt and screw connection requirementsCold-formed steel floor joist web holes, reinforcing, and patching limitationsMetal fastener requirements for cold-formed steel roof framing members and sheathing attachmentGalvanized metal ties and straps for top plate repair, wall bracing connections, and uplift load paths

Carpentry 3 Q · 10%

Thermal and Moisture Control 3 Q · 10%

Building thermal envelope insulation R-value requirements by climate zoneAir leakage control and building envelope air sealing requirementsFenestration U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) requirementsVapor retarder classes and installation requirements for wall assembliesAttic and roof ventilation requirements including vented and unvented assembliesEnergy code compliance for alterations, additions, and reroofing of existing buildings

Doors and Windows 3 Q · 10%

Drywall and Finishes 3 Q · 10%

OSHA Safety 3 Q · 10%

General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating 3 Q · 10%

Key Distinctions

Habitable room natural light (glazing area)vsHabitable room natural ventilation (openable area)

Per 2015 IRC R303.1, aggregate glazing for natural light must be not less than 8 percent of floor area, while the openable area for natural ventilation must be not less than 4 percent of floor area.

IRC 2015 Section R303.1

Habitable room glazing requirementvsBathroom/water closet compartment glazing requirement

Habitable rooms need glazing of not less than 8 percent of floor area (2015 IRC R303.1), while bathrooms and similar rooms need an aggregate glazing area in windows of not less than 3 square feet with one-half openable (R303.3), and no glazing is required where artificial light and a local exhaust system are provided.

IRC 2015 Section R303.1

General guard opening limitvsGuard on open side of stairs

Per IRC R312.1.3, general guards shall not allow passage of a 4-inch sphere, Exception 2 permits guards on the open side of stairs to not allow passage of a 4-3/8-inch sphere, and the triangular opening formed by riser, tread and bottom rail is limited to a 6-inch sphere.

IRC 2015 Section R312.1.3

Prescriptive footing for one floor of light-frame constructionvsPrescriptive footings for two and three floors

Per Table 4.1 (adapted from 2015 IBC Table 1809.7), one floor requires minimum 12-inch width and 6-inch thickness, two floors require minimum 15-inch width and 6-inch thickness, and three floors require minimum 18-inch width and 8-inch thickness.

Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Page 47 (Table 4.1)

Cold-formed steel floor joist bearing at exterior wallvsCold-formed steel floor joist bearing at interior wall

Per 2015 IRC R505.3.2, bearing support length shall be not less than 1-1/2 inches at exterior wall supports and not less than 3-1/2 inches at interior wall supports.

IRC 2015 Section R505.3.2

Vented crawl space without ground vapor retardervsVented crawl space with approved Class I vapor retarder

Per IRC R408.2, net ventilation opening area shall be not less than 1 square foot per 150 square feet of under-floor area, which may be reduced to 1/1,500 of the under-floor area when an approved Class I vapor retarder covers the ground surface.

IRC Section R408.2

Permit application abandonment (IRC R105.3.2)vsPermit expiration (IRC R105.5)

An application is deemed abandoned 180 days after the date of filing unless pursued in good faith or a permit is issued, while an issued permit becomes invalid unless work commences within 180 days after issuance or if work is suspended/abandoned for 180 days after commencement; the building official may grant written extensions of not more than 180 days each in both cases.

IRC 2015 Section R105.3.2

Accessory structure definition (IRC R202)vsPermit exemption conditions (IRC R105.2)

The definition requires only that the structure be accessory and incidental to the dwelling and located on the same lot, while the 200-square-foot and one-story conditions belong to the permit-exemption provisions, not the definition.

IRC 2015 Section R202 (Accessory Structure)

Board of appeals authority to hear claimsvsBoard of appeals authority to waive code

Per 2015 IRC R112.2, an appeal may claim the code was incorrectly interpreted, that its provisions do not fully apply, or that an equally good or better form of construction is proposed, but the board shall not have authority to waive requirements of the code.

IRC 2015 Section R112.2

Rubble stone masonry wall minimum thicknessvsMasonry bearing wall more than one story high

Per IRC R606.4.2, rough, random or coursed rubble stone masonry walls have a minimum thickness of 16 inches, while the 8-inch minimum of R606.4.1 applies to masonry bearing walls more than one story high.

IRC 2015 Section R606.4.2

Braced wall line 16 feet or less in lengthvsBraced wall line greater than 16 feet

Per IRC R602.10.2.3, lines 16 feet or less shall have not less than two braced wall panels of any length or one braced wall panel of 48 inches or more, while lines greater than 16 feet require at least two panels.

IRC 2015 Section R602.10.2.3

Grout/mortar fill of penetrations in concrete or masonryvsTested firestop system

Per IRC R302.4.1 Exception Item 1, concrete, grout or mortar may be used in place of a tested firestop system for steel, ferrous or copper pipes, tubes or conduits only where the nominal diameter of the penetrating item is not more than 6 inches and the opening area does not exceed 144 square inches.

IRC 2015 Section R302.4.1

Emergency action plan for employers with 10 or fewer employeesvsEmergency action plan for larger employers

Per OSHA 1926.35(e)(3), employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally and need not maintain a written plan.

OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.35(e)(3)

Key Terms

Townhouse (2015 IRC R202) IRC 2015 Section R202 (Townhouse)

A single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units, each extending from foundation to roof with a yard or public way on not less than two sides.

Building, Existing (2015 IRC R202) IRC 2015 Section R202 (Building, Existing)

A building erected prior to the adoption of this code, or one for which a legal building permit has been issued.

Accessory structure (2015 IRC R202) IRC 2015 Section R202 (Accessory Structure)

A structure that is accessory to and incidental to that of the dwelling(s) and that is located on the same lot.

Scope of the Residential Code (2015 IRC R101.2) IRC 2015 Section R101.2

Covers detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress, plus their accessory structures not more than three stories above grade plane; taller structures fall under the International Building Code.

Appendix provisions (2015 IRC R102.5) IRC 2015 Section R102.5

Provisions in the code appendices shall not apply unless specifically referenced in the adopting ordinance.

Permit application content (2015 IRC R105.3) IRC 2015 Section R105.3

The written application must identify the work, describe the land, indicate intended use and occupancy, and state the valuation of the proposed work.

Certificate of occupancy (2015 IRC R110.3) IRC 2015 Section R110.3

A certificate containing the permit number, address, owner's name and address, description of the portion covered, a compliance statement, the name of the building official, and the edition of the code under which the permit was issued.

Fire-resistance-rated construction inspection (2015 IRC R109.1.5.1) IRC 2015 Section R109.1.5.1

Inspection required after lathing or gypsum board/gypsum panel products are in place but before plaster is applied or before board or panel joints and fasteners are taped and finished.

Rough inspection sequence (2015 IRC R109.1.2 and R109.1.4) IRC 2015 Sections R109.1.2 and R109.1.4

Rough plumbing, mechanical, gas and electrical inspections are made prior to covering or concealment and must be approved before the frame and masonry (framing) inspection.

Retaining wall permit exemption (2015 IRC R105.2, Building item 3) IRC 2015 Section R105.2 (Building item 3)

A permit is not required for retaining walls not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.

Draftstop (2015 IRC R302.12) IRC 2015 Section R302.12

Required in combustible construction where usable space exists both above and below the concealed space of a floor-ceiling assembly, installed so the concealed space area does not exceed 1,000 square feet and is divided into approximately equal areas.

Expansive soil (2015 IRC R403.1.8.1) IRC 2015 Section R403.1.8.1

Soil meeting the listed provisions, one of which is a Plasticity Index of 15 or greater determined per ASTM D 4318 (an Expansion Index greater than 20 is a separate criterion).

Frost-protected shallow foundation (IRC R403.3) IRC Section R403.3

For buildings where the monthly mean temperature is maintained at not less than 64°F, footings are not required to extend below the frost line where protected by insulation per Figure R403.3(1) and Table R403.3(1); this method shall not be used for unheated spaces.

Exterior footing depth (IRC R403.1.4) IRC Section R403.1.4

Exterior footings shall be placed not less than 12 inches below the undisturbed ground surface, with additional depth possibly required for frost protection.

Exposure Category F3 (Table 2.5) Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Page 24 (Table 2.5)

Concrete exposed to freezing-and-thawing cycles with frequent exposure to water and to deicing chemicals; maximum w/cm 0.40 and minimum compressive strength 5000 psi.

Sulfate exposure class S2 (Table 2.5) Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Page 24 (Table 2.5)

Dissolved sulfate concentrations between 1500 and 10,000 ppm; maximum w/cm 0.45 and minimum compressive strength 4500 psi.

Exposure Category W1 (Table 2.5) Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Page 24 (Table 2.5)

Concrete in contact with water where low permeability is required; maximum w/cm 0.50 with minimum compressive strength 4000 psi.

Minimum concrete cover cast against earth (ACI 318 via Table 6.3) Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Page 100 (Table 6.3)

Cast-in-place concrete cast against and permanently exposed to earth, such as footings, requires a minimum cover of 3 inches.

Competent person (OSHA 1926.32(f)) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.32(f), Page 31

One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

Permissible noise exposure (OSHA 1926.52, Table D-2) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.52, Table D-2, Page 36

The permissible noise exposure for an 8-hour duration is 90 dBA slow response.

First-aid availability (OSHA 1926.50(c)) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.50(c)

In the absence of a reasonably accessible infirmary, clinic, hospital or physician, a person holding a valid first-aid certificate from the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the American Red Cross, or equivalent verifiable training shall be available at the worksite to render first aid.

Formulas to Know

Minimum aggregate glazing area for natural light in a habitable room (2015 IRC R303.1)Glazing area = not less than 8% x floor area; worked example: 300 sq ft x 0.08 = 24 sq ft

Minimum openable area for natural ventilation in a habitable room (2015 IRC R303.1)Openable area = not less than 4% x floor area; worked example: 300 sq ft x 0.04 = 12 sq ft

Bathroom natural light/ventilation (2015 IRC R303.3)

Aggregate glazing in windows = not less than 3 sq ft, one-half of which must be openable (not required where artificial light and local exhaust are provided)

Crawl space ventilation net opening area (IRC R408.2)

Net vent area = under-floor area / 150; reduced to under-floor area / 1,500 where an approved Class I vapor retarder covers the ground

Draftstop spacing in floor-ceiling assemblies (2015 IRC R302.12)Concealed space area shall not exceed 1,000 sq ft, divided into approximately equal areas

Cripple wall bracing length (IRC R602.10.11)

Required bracing length = tabulated length for wall above x 1.15 (any adjustment for omitting gypsum board on the inside face is in addition to this 1.15 increase)

Form tie working load (safety factor)Working load of new ties = 1/2 of ultimate tensile strength (usual safety factor 2:1)

Foundation drain pipe slopeSlope pipe to the outlet or drywell at 1/8 in. per foot (10 mm/m)

Grout/concrete firestop limits for penetrations (IRC R302.4.1, Exception 1)Permitted where nominal diameter of penetrating item is not more than 6 in. AND opening area does not exceed 144 sq in.

Minimum toilet facilities on a job site (OSHA 1926.51(c)(1), Table D-1)20 or fewer employees = 1 facility minimum

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