Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) Exam (2015 IBC)

National  ·  Pearson Vue

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
90
Passing score
70%
Exam time
240 min
Administered by
Pearson Vue
Format
Reference materials allowed

National State Portion 90 questions

Administration General Regulations 14 Q · 16%
AdministrationCode Definitions and TermsPlan ReadingPermits: application requirements, issuance, validity, expiration, and revocationWork exempt from permit requirementsBuilding official authority, duties, and powersRequired inspections sequence and typesCertificate of occupancy requirements and issuanceBoard of appeals: purpose, authority limitations, and qualificationsViolations, stop work orders, and unsafe structure provisionsReferenced codes and applicability of International Codes
Building Planning and Life Safety 23 Q · 26%
Use & Occupancy & Types of ConstructionFire & Smoke Alarms & Fire Protection SystemsOccupancy Needs & Interior EnvironmentExiting & Means of EgressAccessibilityBuilding height and area limits by occupancy and construction typeAllowable area increases for sprinkler systems and building frontageMezzanines and equipment platformsMixed occupancy classifications and separation requirementsOccupant load calculation and posting requirementsMeans of egress illumination and emergency powerExit signs — placement, illumination, and power requirements +1 more
Structural Systems 40 Q · 44%
Footings and FoundationsConcreteFloorsWall Framing and StairsRoof Ceiling Construction Roof AssemblyMasonryStructural loads and load combinations (dead, live, wind, seismic, snow)Deflection limits and serviceability requirementsWood structural panels, sheathing, and fastening schedulesLumber grading, treatment, and minimum standardsWood trusses design requirements and truss submittal packagesConcrete mix design, water-cement ratio, and durability requirements +5 more
Building Envelope 13 Q · 14%
Interior FinishesGlass and GlazingExterior Finishes and Roof CoveringsRoof drainage systems and secondary overflow (scuppers and gutters)Roof assembly fire classification (Class A, B, and C ratings by construction type)Roof covering installation requirements by type (slope, underlayment, fasteners, flashing)Reroofing, roof recover, and roof replacement requirementsExterior wall weather protection and water-resistive barriersVapor retarders in exterior wall assembliesCombustible exterior wall coverings and cladding systems (MCM, EIFS, HPL)Gypsum board and plaster installation limitations and weather protection

Key Distinctions

MarkvsLabel

A 'mark' is an identification applied by the manufacturer giving the manufacturer's name and the function of the product, while a 'label' additionally carries performance characteristics and the identification of an approved agency (a 'manufacturer's designation' instead indicates compliance with a specified standard or set of rules).

IBC 2015 Chapter 2 — Definitions of 'Mark,' 'Label' and 'Manufacturer's Designation'
Stairway capacity at 0.3 inch per occupantvsStairway capacity at 0.2 inch per occupant

The 0.3-inch-per-occupant factor is the general stairway capacity rule, and the reduced 0.2-inch factor applies only to buildings (other than Groups H and I-2) equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system AND an emergency voice/alarm communication system.

IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1005.3.1 Stairways
Occupant load of seating booths (24 inches)vsOccupant load of fixed seating without dividing arms (18 inches)

Booths are computed at one person per 24 inches of booth seat length measured at the backrest, while fixed seating without dividing arms is computed at not less than one person per 18 inches of seating length.

IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1004.4 Fixed Seating
Crawl space wood joists/structural floorsvsCrawl space wood girders

Joists or structural floors closer than 18 inches to exposed ground must be naturally durable or preservative-treated, while for girders the threshold is closer than 12 inches to exposed ground.

IBC 2015 Section 2304.12.1.1 (Chapter 23)
Rafter span tables with ceiling attached to rafters (L/240)vsRafter span tables with ceiling not attached (L/180) and floor joist tables (L/360)

Prescriptive rafter tables use a deflection limit of L/240 when the ceiling is attached to the rafters and L/180 when it is not, while prescriptive floor joist span tables (both 30 psf sleeping and 40 psf living live loads) use L/360; uninhabitable attic ceiling joist tables use L/240.

IBC 2015 Chapter 23 — Section 2308.7.2 and Tables 2308.7.2(1) through 2308.7.2(6)
Incinerator room (incidental use)vsFurnace room or refrigerant machinery room (incidental use)

An incinerator room requires both a 2-hour separation AND an automatic sprinkler system, whereas furnace rooms and refrigerant machinery rooms require 1 hour OR sprinklers.

IBC 2015 Chapter 5 — Table 509 Incidental Uses
Dead-end corridor limit of 20 feetvsDead-end corridor limit of 50 feet

Dead ends are limited to 20 feet where more than one exit or exit access doorway is required, but Exception 2 permits up to 50 feet in Groups B, E, F, I-1, M, R-1, R-2, R-4, S and U where the building is sprinklered throughout per Section 903.3.1.1.

IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1020.4 Corridors, Dead Ends
Handrail height 34 to 38 inchesvsHandrail height 30 to 34 inches

Handrail height above stair tread nosings must be uniform at not less than 34 inches and not more than 38 inches, while the 30-to-34-inch range applies only to alternating tread devices and ships ladders.

IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1014.2 Handrails, Height
Where guards are required (more than 30 inches drop)vsRequired guard height (42 inches)

Guards are required where the vertical drop exceeds 30 inches at any point within 36 inches horizontally of the open side, while 42 inches is the required height of the guard itself under Section 1015.3.

IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1015.2 Guards, Where Required
General code requirementvsSpecific code requirement

Where a general requirement conflicts with a specific requirement addressing the same condition, the specific requirement governs; the separate 'most restrictive governs' rule applies where different sections specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements for the same case.

IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 102.1 General
Type V cementvsType II cement

For concrete exposed to sulfate soils or solutions, Type V sulfate-resistant cement is used in severe exposures and Type II in moderate exposures (Type III is high-early-strength, not sulfate-resisting).

Concrete Manual (2015 IBC / ACI 318-14), Chapter 4 — Section 4.2 (Deficiencies of the Concrete Itself)
Accessible means of egress stairway clear width (48 inches)vsGeneral minimum stairway width (44 inches)

A stairway serving as part of an accessible means of egress must have not less than 48 inches clear between handrails (Exception 2 waives this in buildings sprinklered throughout), while 44 inches is only the general minimum stairway width of Section 1011.2.

IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1009.3 Accessible Means of Egress, Stairways
Fire-retardant-treated lumber moisture content (19% or less)vsFire-retardant-treated wood structural panels (15% or less)

Before use, fire-retardant-treated wood must be dried to 19% or less moisture content when it is lumber and 15% or less when it is wood structural panels.

IBC 2015 Section 2303.2
Combustible framing clearance from flues, chimneys and fireplaces (2 inches)vsCombustible framing clearance from flue openings (6 inches)

Combustible framing must be not less than 2 inches from flues, chimneys and fireplaces, but must be 6 inches away from flue openings specifically.

IBC 2015 Section 2304.5 (Chapter 23)

Key Terms

Townhouse IBC 2015 Chapter 2 — Section 202 Definition of 'Townhouse'
A single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units in which each unit extends from foundation to roof and has open space on at least two sides.
IRC scope exception (IBC 101.2) IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 101.2 Scope
Detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories above grade plane with a separate means of egress, and their accessory structures not more than three stories, are permitted to comply with the International Residential Code.
Facility IBC 2015 Chapter 2 — Definitions of 'Facility,' 'Lot,' 'Structure' and 'Building'
All or any portion of buildings, structures, site improvements, elements and pedestrian or vehicular routes located on a site (compare 'Lot,' a portion or parcel of land considered as a unit; 'Structure,' that which is built or constructed; and 'Building,' any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy).
Laitance Concrete Manual (2015 IBC / ACI 318-14), Pages 342 and 348 (Chapter 17, Sections 17.1 and 17.2)
A weak sand-cement wearing surface formed when excess water and fines are brought to the top by working fresh concrete while bleed water is still present, which later dusts under traffic.
Modulus of rupture Concrete Manual (2015 IBC / ACI 318-14), Chapter 3 — Section 3.4 (Flexural Strength)
A measure of the flexural strength of concrete determined by testing a small beam, usually 6 by 6 inches in cross section, in bending with a concentrated load applied at each of the third points.
Expansive soil IBC 2015 Chapter 18 — Section 1803.5.3 Expansive Soil
Soil classified as expansive when it meets all four listed provisions of IBC 1803.5.3, the first of which is a plasticity index of 15 or greater determined in accordance with ASTM D4318 (20 is the expansion index threshold of Item 4).
Area of refuge (size) IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1009.6.3 Areas of Refuge, Size
A space sized to accommodate one 30-inch by 48-inch wheelchair space for each 200 occupants or portion thereof, based on the occupant load of the area of refuge and the areas it serves.
Smokeproof enclosure vestibule IBC 2015 Chapter 9 — Section 909.20.1 Access
An access vestibule whose minimum dimension must be not less than the required width of the corridor leading to it, but in no case less than 44 inches wide and not less than 72 inches long measured in the direction of egress travel.
Temporary certificate of occupancy IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 111.3 Temporary Occupancy
A certificate the building official is authorized to issue before completion of the entire permitted work, provided the portion can be occupied safely, with a set time period during which it is valid.
Permit expiration IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 105.5 Expiration
A permit becomes invalid unless work on the site commences within 180 days after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencement; the building official may grant written extensions of not more than 180 days each for justifiable cause.
Work exempt from permit (tool/storage shed) IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 105.2 Work Exempt from Permit
One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses do not require a permit provided the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet.
Hazardous location glazing adjacent to a door IBC 2015 Section 2406.4.2
Glazing in an individual fixed or operable panel is a hazardous location when its nearest vertical edge is within a 24-inch arc of either vertical edge of the door in a closed position and the bottom exposed edge of the glazing is less than 60 inches above the walking surface.
Hazardous location glazing in individual fixed window panels IBC 2015 Chapter 24 — Section 2406.4.3
Glazing is a hazardous location when all four conditions are met: exposed area of the individual pane greater than 9 square feet, bottom edge less than 18 inches above the floor, top edge more than 36 inches above the floor, and a walking surface within 36 inches of the plane of the glazing.
End-jointed lumber IBC 2015 Section 2303.1.1.2
Approved end-jointed lumber is permitted to be used interchangeably with solid-sawn members of the same species and grade, and when used in a fire-resistance-rated assembly it must bear the 'Heat Resistant Adhesive' or 'HRA' designation.
Exterior type wood structural panel IBC 2015 Section 2303.1.5
Wood structural panels permanently exposed in outdoor applications must be of exterior type, except that roof sheathing exposed to the outdoors on the underside is permitted to be Exposure 1 type (roof sheathing must be made with exterior glue).
Alternating tread device (as egress element) IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1011.14 Alternating Tread Devices
Permitted in Groups F, H and S to serve a mezzanine of not more than 250 square feet in area serving not more than five occupants.
Complete load path IBC 2015 Section 1604.4
The analysis must result in a system capable of transferring loads from their point of origin to the load-resisting elements; structural systems and members must also have adequate stiffness to limit deflections per Table 1604.3.
Approved agency inspection report IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 104.4 Inspections
Where the building official accepts inspection reports from approved agencies or individuals, the reports must be in writing and certified by a responsible officer of the approved agency or by the responsible individual.

Formulas to Know

Stairway egress capacity (nonsprinklered)Required stairway width = occupant load × 0.3 inch per occupant; worked example: 300 occupants × 0.3 = 90 inches (the 44-inch general minimum stairway width does not override the larger required capacity)
Water-cement ratio converted to gallons per bagW/C (by weight) × 94 lb cement per bag ÷ 8.33 lb/gal = gallons per bag; worked example: 0.44 × 94 = 41.4 lb ÷ 8.33 ≈ 5.0 gal/bag
Single-exit check for a story with dwelling units plus another occupancy(actual number of dwelling units ÷ 4) + (ratio for the other occupancy) shall not exceed 1
Area of refuge sizingOne 30-inch by 48-inch wheelchair space for each 200 occupants or portion thereof of the occupant load served
Occupant load of fixed seatingBooths: 1 person per 24 inches of booth seat length measured at the backrest; fixed seating without dividing arms: not less than 1 person per 18 inches of seating length
Minimum design wind force, alternate all-heights method (MWFRS)Design wind force shall be not less than 16 psf × area of the structure projected on a plane normal to the assumed wind direction; components and cladding net pressure not less than 16 psf in either direction normal to the surface
Combustible exterior wall covering limit (Types I, II, III, IV construction)Combustible exterior wall coverings shall not exceed 10 percent of the exterior wall surface area where the fire separation distance is 5 feet or less (example: a 4-foot fire separation distance triggers the 10 percent limit)
Presumptive lateral sliding resistance for cohesive soilsFor clay, sandy clay, silty clay, clayey silt, silt and sandy silt, resistance = cohesion × contact area, but in no case shall it exceed one-half the dead load
Effect of specimen length/diameter on indicated compressive strengthTaking a standard 6-by-12-inch cylinder (L/D = 2.0) as 100 percent, a 6-inch-diameter specimen 9 inches long indicates about 104 percent of that strength; correction factors for L/D less than 2.0 are applied for direct comparison (ASTM C39, C42)
Snow load factor f2 in strength design (LRFD) load combinationsf2 = 0.7 for roof configurations (such as saw tooth) that do not shed snow off the structure; f2 = 0.2 for other roof configurations (f1 = 0.5 for ordinary live loads and 1 for public assembly live loads over 100 psf and parking garages)
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