Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Kansas General Building Contractor (A) Exam (ICC 550, 2015 IBC)

Kansas  ·  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
75%
Exam time
240 min
Administered by
Pearson Vue
Format
Reference materials allowed

Kansas State Portion 90 questions

Administration General Regulations 14 Q · 15%
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 · 25%
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 · 45%
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 · 15%
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

Mark (Ch. 2 definition)vsLabel (Ch. 2 definition)

A mark is an identification applied by the manufacturer showing only the manufacturer's name and the product's function, while a label additionally carries performance characteristics and the identification of an approved agency (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'
FacilityvsLot / Structure / Building

A 'facility' is all or any portion of buildings, structures, site improvements, elements and pedestrian or vehicular routes located on a site, whereas a 'lot' is a portion or parcel of land considered as a unit, a 'structure' is that which is built or constructed, and a 'building' is any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.

IBC 2015 Chapter 2 — Definitions of 'Facility,' 'Lot,' 'Structure' and 'Building'
Incinerator room (incidental use, Table 509)vsFurnace room / refrigerant machinery room (Table 509)

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

IBC 2015 Chapter 5 — Table 509 Incidental Uses
Fixed seating without dividing armsvsSeating booths

Occupant load for fixed seating without dividing arms is not less than one person per 18 inches of seating length; for booths it is one person per 24 inches of booth seat length measured at the backrest.

IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1004.4 Fixed Seating
Rafter span tables, ceiling attached to rafters (L/240)vsRafter span tables, ceiling not attached (L/180) and floor joist tables (L/360)

Prescriptive rafter tables with a ceiling attached use a deflection limit of L/Δ = 240, tables with ceiling not attached use L/Δ = 180, and floor joist span tables (30 psf sleeping and 40 psf living live loads) use L/Δ = 360.

IBC 2015 Chapter 23 — Section 2308.7.2 and Tables 2308.7.2(1) through 2308.7.2(6)
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 girders trigger that requirement only when closer than 12 inches to exposed ground.

IBC 2015 Section 2304.12.1.1 (Chapter 23)
Combustible framing clearance to flues, chimneys and fireplacesvsCombustible framing clearance to flue openings

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

IBC 2015 Section 2304.5 (Chapter 23)
Stairway capacity factor 0.3 inch per occupantvsStairway capacity factor 0.2 inch per occupant

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

IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1005.3.1 Stairways
Dead-end corridor limit of 20 feetvsDead-end corridor limit of 50 feet (Exception 2)

Dead ends are limited to 20 feet where more than one exit or exit access doorway is required, but up to 50 feet is permitted 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 or ramp finish surface must be uniform at not less than 34 and not more than 38 inches; the 30-to-34-inch range applies only to alternating tread devices and ships ladders.

IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1014.2 Handrails, Height
Type I noncircular handrailvsType II noncircular handrail

Type I noncircular handrails have a perimeter of not less than 4 inches and not greater than 6-1/4 inches, while a perimeter greater than 6-1/4 inches makes it Type II and requires a graspable finger recess on both sides of the profile.

IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1014.3.2 Handrail Graspability, Type II
Type V cementvsType II cement

Type V sulfate-resistant cement should be used where concrete is exposed to severe sulfate soils or solutions, and Type II in moderate sulfate 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)
General code requirementvsSpecific code requirement

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

IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 102.1 General
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 for lumber and 15% or less for wood structural panels.

IBC 2015 Section 2303.2

Key Terms

Townhouse (Section 202) 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 (Section 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, shall comply with the International Residential Code.
Facility (Chapter 2) 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.
Mark (Chapter 2) IBC 2015 Chapter 2 — Definitions of 'Mark,' 'Label' and 'Manufacturer's Designation'
An identification applied on a product by the manufacturer indicating the name of the manufacturer and the function of the product or material.
Laitance (Concrete Manual §17.1–17.2) 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 created when tools are used on fresh concrete while bleed water is still present, bringing an excess of water and fines to the top and later causing dusting under traffic.
Modulus of rupture (Concrete Manual §3.4) 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 (Section 1803.5.3) IBC 2015 Chapter 18 — Section 1803.5.3 Expansive Soil
A soil meeting all four listed provisions, the first of which is a plasticity index of 15 or greater determined in accordance with ASTM D4318 (the expansion index threshold of 20 is Item 4).
Area of refuge sizing (Section 1009.6.3) IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1009.6.3 Areas of Refuge, Size
An area of refuge must be sized for 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 (Section 909.20.1) IBC 2015 Chapter 9 — Section 909.20.1 Access
A 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 (Section 111.3) 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 where the portion can be occupied safely, with a set time period during which it is valid.
Permit expiration (Section 105.5) IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 105.5 Expiration
A permit becomes invalid unless work on the site is commenced 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 – storage shed (Section 105.2) IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 105.2 Work Exempt from Permit
A one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool and storage shed, playhouse or similar use needs no permit provided the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet.
Hazardous location – glazing adjacent to a door (Section 2406.4.2) IBC 2015 Section 2406.4.2
Glazing in an individual fixed or operable panel is a hazardous location where 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 – window glazing (Section 2406.4.3) IBC 2015 Chapter 24 — Section 2406.4.3
Window 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.
Alternating tread device as egress (Section 1011.14) IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1011.14 Alternating Tread Devices
Permitted as an element of a means of egress in Groups F, H and S only to serve a mezzanine not more than 250 square feet in area serving not more than five occupants.
End-jointed lumber (Section 2303.1.1.2) 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 must bear the 'Heat Resistant Adhesive' or 'HRA' designation.
Complete load path (Section 1604.4) IBC 2015 Section 1604.4
The structural analysis must result in a system providing a complete load path capable of transferring loads from their point of origin to the load-resisting elements.
Guards, where required (Section 1015.2) IBC 2015 Chapter 10 — Section 1015.2 Guards, Where Required
Guards are required along open-sided walking surfaces, including mezzanines, equipment platforms, aisles, stairs, ramps and landings, located more than 30 inches vertically above the floor or grade below at any point within 36 inches horizontally of the open side (42 inches is the guard height under Section 1015.3).

Formulas to Know

Required stairway capacity (width) from occupant loadWidth = occupant load × 0.3 inch per occupant; worked example: 300 occupants × 0.3 = 90 inches (Group B, nonsprinklered). Use 0.2 inch per occupant only for buildings other than Groups H and I-2 equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system AND an emergency voice/alarm communication system. The 44-inch minimum stairway width of §1011.2 does not override a larger required capacity.
Single-exit story with dwelling units plus another occupancy (mixed occupancy)(actual number of dwelling units ÷ 4) + (ratio for the other occupancy) shall not exceed one.
Area of refuge sizeOne 30-inch by 48-inch wheelchair space per 200 occupants or portion thereof, based on the occupant load of the area of refuge and the areas it serves.
Occupant load of fixed seatingFixed seating without dividing arms: not less than one person per 18 inches of seating length. Seating booths: one person per 24 inches of booth seat length measured at the backrest.
Water-cement ratio converted to gallons per bag of cementW/C (by weight) × 94 lb per bag ÷ 8.33 lb per gallon = gallons per bag; worked example: 0.44 × 94 = 41.4 lb ÷ 8.33 ≈ 5.0 gal per bag.
Effect of cylinder length-to-diameter on indicated compressive strengthTaking the 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 and C42).
Lateral sliding resistance for cohesive soils (clay, sandy clay, silty clay, clayey silt, silt, sandy silt)Resistance = cohesion × contact area, but in no case shall it exceed one-half the dead load.
Minimum design wind force, alternate all-heights method (MWFRS)Force = not less than 16 psf × area of the structure projected on a plane normal to the assumed wind direction; design net wind pressure for components and cladding shall be not less than 16 psf acting in either direction normal to the surface.
Snow and live load factors in strength design (LRFD) load combinationsf2 = 0.7 for roof configurations (such as saw tooth) that do not shed snow off the structure and 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.
Combustible exterior wall covering area limit (Types I, II, III and 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; worked example: a 4-foot fire separation distance on a Type II building falls under the 10 percent limit.
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