Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
ICC G14 Roofing Contractor Exam (2018 IBC/IRC/IPC)
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
60
Passing score
70%
Exam time
180 min
Administered by
Pearson Vue
Format
Reference materials allowed
National State Portion 60 questions
Administration and General Requirements
15 Q · 25%
AdministrationCode Definitions and TermsJob Planning and SetupPermits: application, issuance, validity, expiration, and exemptionsInspections: required types, sequence, and approval processCertificate of Occupancy requirements and issuanceBuilding Official authority, duties, and powersBoard of Appeals: purpose, authority limitations, and qualificationsViolations, stop work orders, and enforcement actionsConstruction documents: submittal, review, and retention requirementsRoof-related code definitions: roof assembly, roof covering, roof deck, underlayment, reroofing, and related terms
Types of Roofing Material and Application
21 Q · 35%
Shingle RoofingFlat RoofHot Mopping and Other MembranesClay and Concrete Tile RoofingMetal Roof Panels and Metal Roof ShinglesWood Shingles and Wood ShakesSlate ShinglesUnderlayment Types and Application RequirementsIce Barriers and Flashing RequirementsFire Classification of Roof AssembliesRoof Assemblies and Rooftop StructuresRoof Assemblies
Fasteners, Flashings, Drainage, and Scuppers
17 Q · 28%
FastenersFlashings and Accessory MaterialsRoof Drains, Gutters, and ScupperSecondary (emergency overflow) drain and scupper requirementsScupper sizing, minimum dimensions, and inlet elevationDrip edge installation requirements for shingle roofsValley flashing types and minimum dimensions by roof covering materialStorm drain pipe and vertical leader sizing based on rainfall rateGutter material requirements and sizing by flow rateCrickets and saddles at chimney and penetration flashingsIce barrier installation requirements by climate zoneRoof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures
+2 more
Re-roofing
7 Q · 12%
Remove Roofing Materials or Add Additional LayersRepair Roof Structure and Roof-Ceiling AssembliesConditions prohibiting roof recover (water-soaked, slate, clay, asbestos-cement tile, two or more existing layers)Roof recover vs. roof replacement requirements (removal down to deck vs. overlay permissions)Flashing requirements during reroofing (reconstruction, priming, reinstallation restrictions)Reinstallation of existing materials (slate, clay, cement tile, flashings, aggregate surfacing)Structural load capacity requirements during reroofing installation
Key Distinctions
Roof recovervsRoof replacement
A roof recover installs an additional roof covering over a prepared existing covering without removing it, while a roof replacement tears off the existing covering and installs new covering (reroofing is the broader term covering both).
IRC 2018 Chapter 2 — definition of ROOF RECOVERBuilt-up roof coveringvsModified bitumen / single-ply membrane
IRC defines a built-up roof covering as two or more layers of felt cemented together and surfaced, whereas a modified bitumen roof covering is one or more layers of polymer modified asphalt sheets and a single-ply membrane uses one layer of membrane material.
IRC 2018 Chapter 2 — definition of BUILT-UP ROOF COVERINGWood shakesvsWood shingles
Wood shakes require interlayment complying with ASTM D226, Type I and are spaced 3/8 inch to 5/8 inch within a course, while Table 1507.8 lists 'no requirements' for interlayment under wood shingles and IRC R905.7.5 spaces shingles 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch.
IBC 2018 Pages 352 to 353Drip edge at eavesvsDrip edge at rakes
Per IBC 1507.2.8.3 underlayment is installed over the drip edge along eaves, but the drip edge is installed over the underlayment along rake edges.
IBC 2018 Page 347Coal-tar built-up roofvsOther built-up roofs
IBC 1507.10.1 allows coal-tar built-up roofs a minimum design slope of 1/8 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal, while other built-up roofs require a design slope of not less than 1/4:12 for drainage.
IBC 2018 Page 353Lapped, nonsoldered seam metal panels without lap sealantvsLapped, nonsoldered seam metal panels with applied lap sealant
Without applied lap sealant the minimum slope is 3:12; with applied lap sealant the minimum is 1/2:12 (standing-seam metal panel systems may go as low as 1/4:12).
IBC 2018 Page 348Open valley lined with metal (asphalt shingles)vsOpen valley lined with two plies of mineral-surfaced roll roofing
Metal open valley lining shall be not less than 24 inches wide, while the two-ply roll roofing option uses an 18-inch bottom layer and a top layer not less than 36 inches wide.
IBC 2018 Page 347Asphalt shingle roofing nailsvsClay and concrete tile fasteners
Asphalt shingle nails are minimum 12 gage (0.105 in) shank with 3/8-inch head (IRC R905.2.5); the minimum for clay and concrete tile is 11 gage with a 7/16-inch head (R905.3.6).
IRC Section R905.2.5Overflow (secondary) drain flow linevsOverflow scupper opening
Overflow drains of the same size as the roof drains are set with the inlet flow line 2 inches above the low point of the roof, while secondary scuppers shall not have an opening dimension of less than 4 inches.
IRC 2018 Page 432Salvaged aggregate surfacingvsSalvaged slate, clay or cement tile
Under IRC R908.5 aggregate surfacing materials shall not be reinstalled, whereas sound slate, clay or cement tile may be reused.
IRC 2018 Section R908.5 Reinstallation of materialsBuilding official appointmentvsDeputy building official and staff appointment
IBC 103.2 has the chief appointing authority of the jurisdiction appoint the building official, while IBC 103.3 authorizes the building official to appoint deputies, technical officers, inspectors and plan examiners with the concurrence of the appointing authority.
IBC 2018 Section 103.3 (with Section 103.2)Annual permitvsIndividual permit
An annual permit may be issued only in lieu of individual permits for alterations to an already approved electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing installation for a firm regularly employing qualified tradepersons; reroofing, demolition and new construction require individual permits.
IBC 2018 Section 105.1.1 (with Section 105.1.2)Above-deck thermal insulation (IBC 1508.1)vsAbove-deck thermal insulation (IRC R906.1)
IBC permits above-deck insulation covered with an approved roof covering where it passes NFPA 276 or UL 1256 as an assembly, while IRC permits it where it complies with FM 4450 or UL 1256.
IBC 2018 Page 356Key Terms
Roof assembly IRC 2018 Chapter 2 — definition of ROOF ASSEMBLY
A system designed to provide weather protection and resistance to design loads that includes the roof deck, underlayment and roof covering, and can also include a thermal barrier, ignition barrier, insulation or vapor retarder (2018 IRC Chapter 2).
Alteration IRC 2018 Chapter 2 — definition of ALTERATION
Any construction, retrofit or renovation to an existing structure other than repair or addition that requires a permit, including a change to a building, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system involving an extension, addition or change to the arrangement, type or purpose of the original installation that requires a permit (2018 IRC Chapter 2).
Roof recover IRC 2018 Chapter 2 — definition of ROOF RECOVER
The process of installing an additional roof covering over a prepared existing roof covering without removing the existing roof covering (2018 IRC Chapter 2).
Built-up roof covering IRC 2018 Chapter 2 — definition of BUILT-UP ROOF COVERING
Two or more layers of felt cemented together and surfaced with a cap sheet, mineral aggregate, smooth coating or similar surfacing material (2018 IRC Chapter 2).
Scupper IRC 2018 Chapter 2 — definition of SCUPPER
An opening in a wall or parapet that allows water to drain from a roof (2018 IRC Chapter 2); when used for secondary drainage the opening dimension shall not be less than 4 inches (IBC 1502.3).
Cricket (saddle) IBC 2018 Page 341
A sloped construction installed on the ridge side of a chimney or penetration greater than 30 inches wide measured perpendicular to the slope, built of sheet metal or the same material as the roof covering; unit skylights meeting Section 2405.5 and flashed per manufacturer instructions are excepted (IBC 1503.5).
Ice barrier IBC 2018 Page 345
Two layers of underlayment cemented together or a self-adhering polymer modified bitumen sheet that extends from the lowest edges of all roof surfaces to a point not less than 24 inches inside the exterior wall line; detached accessory structures with no conditioned floor area are excepted (IBC 1507.1.2).
Interlayment (wood shakes) IRC 2018 Section R905.8.4
18-inch-wide strips of not less than No. 30 felt complying with ASTM D226, Type I laid between wood shake courses (IRC R905.8.4, R905.8.7).
Bulk shipment of roof covering materials IRC 2018 Section R904.4
Roof covering materials delivered other than in packages bearing the manufacturer's identifying marks and testing agency labels; the same information must be issued as a manufacturer's certificate or on a bill of lading (IRC R904.4).
Appendix provisions IBC 2018 Section 101.2.1
Code appendix provisions shall not apply unless specifically adopted by the jurisdiction (IBC 101.2.1); the IRC companion, R102.5, requires that they be specifically referenced in the adopting ordinance.
Exposure C (adjacency rule) IRC 2018 Section R301.2.1.4
A building otherwise in Exposure B terrain must be assessed as Exposure C where it is directly adjacent to open areas of Exposure C type terrain in any quadrant for a distance of more than 600 feet (IRC R301.2.1.4, Item 2).
Penthouse IBC 2018 Page 356
A rooftop structure limited to 18 feet above the roof deck on buildings of other than Type I construction, with an exception allowing a maximum 28 feet where it encloses tanks or elevators traveling to the roof level; penthouses on Type I construction are not limited in height (IBC 1510.2.1).
Mechanical equipment screen (combustible) IBC 2018 Pages 357 to 358
A rooftop screen on Type I, II, III or IV buildings permitted to be of combustible materials where the fire separation distance is not less than 20 feet and the screen height above the roof deck does not exceed 4 feet (IBC 1510.6.2, Item 1); the 18-foot limit of 1510.6.1 applies to screens generally.
Aerial supports IBC 2018 Page 358
Roof-mounted supports required to be of noncombustible materials, except that combustible construction is permitted for aerial supports not greater than 12 feet in height measured from the roof deck to the highest point of the supports (IBC 1510.8.1).
Low-slope roof IBC 2018 Page 343
A roof with a slope less than 2:12, whose coverings must demonstrate physical integrity over the working life of the roof based on 2,000 hours of accelerated weathering testing per ASTM G152, G154 or G155 (IBC 1504.6).
Class A roof assembly (copper exception) IBC 2018 Page 343
Minimum 16 ounce per square foot copper sheets installed over combustible decks are included as Class A roof assemblies (IBC 1505.2, Exception 3); Class A, B and C assemblies are tested to ASTM E108 or UL 790, with fire-retardant-treated wood roof coverings also tested to ASTM D2898.
Formulas to Know
Storm drainage sizing area when a vertical wall diverts rain onto the roof
Design area = projected roof area + (1/2 × vertical wall area). Worked example: wall 30 ft × 40 ft = 1,200 sq ft; half = 600 sq ft; 4,000 + 600 = 4,600 sq ft (IPC 1106.4).Placement of felt interlayment strips between wood shake courses
Lower edge of each 18-inch felt strip sits above the butt end of the shake it covers by 2 × weather exposure. Worked example: 24-inch shakes at 10-inch exposure → 2 × 10 = 20 inches (IRC R905.8.7).Minimum asphalt shingle fasteners
Use the manufacturer's specified number, but not fewer than 4 fasteners per strip shingle or 2 per individual shingle; where the manufacturer calls for fewer (e.g., 3 per strip), the code floor of 4 governs (IBC 1507.2.6).Ice barrier extent on steep roofs
Extend from the lowest roof edges to not less than 24 inches inside the exterior wall line; where slope is 8:12 or greater, also extend not less than 36 inches measured along the roof slope from the eave edge (IRC R905.1.2).Asphalt shingle underlayment layers by slope
Slopes 2:12 up to 4:12 → double (two-layer) underlayment: 19-inch starter strip at the eave, then 36-inch sheets overlapped 19 inches; 4:12 and greater → single layer (IBC 1507.2.2, Table 1507.1.1(2)).Clay/concrete tile attachment method trigger
Use the manufacturer's installation instructions where the ultimate design wind speed exceeds 130 mph, or where the roof is located more than 40 feet above grade; otherwise Table R905.3.7 may be used. In snow areas use not less than two fasteners per tile (IRC R905.3.7).Prescriptive vs. engineered design by ground snow load
Ground snow load 70 psf or less → prescriptive provisions of IRC Chapters 5, 6 and 8 permitted; greater than 70 psf → design in accordance with accepted engineering practice (IRC R301.2.3).SPF roof protective coating timing window
Apply the liquid-applied protective coating not less than 2 hours nor more than 72 hours after application of the foam (IBC 1507.14.3).High-wind underlayment fastening (BIPV panels)
Where Vasd is greater than 110 mph, fasten underlayment along the overlap at not more than 36 inches on center; where Vasd is not less than 120 mph, also use ASTM D226 Type III, D4869 Type IV or D6757 attached in a 12-inch grid pattern between side laps with 6-inch spacing at side laps (IBC 1507.18.4.1).