Kansas Building Contractor (B) Exam (ICC 551, 2015 IBC/IRC)

A mark is an identification applied by the manufacturer showing 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 indicates compliance with a specified standard or set of rules).

Labeled means a label, seal, symbol or mark of a nationally recognized testing laboratory or inspection agency that maintains periodic inspection of production has been affixed, while Listed means inclusion in a published list and Approved means acceptable to the building official.

An addition is an extension or increase in floor area OR height of a building (so a new second story is an addition), whereas an alteration is construction other than repair or addition and a repair is renewal of part of a building for maintenance or to correct damage.

Booth occupant load is 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.

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.

Lumber must be dried to a moisture content of 19 percent or less before use, while wood structural panels must be dried to 15 percent or less.

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.

Tables for a ceiling attached to the rafters are based on a deflection limit of L/240, while tables for a ceiling not attached are based on L/180 (floor joist span tables use L/360).

The base limit is 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.

Stairway capacity is 0.3 inch per occupant generally, while the 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.

The general guard limit blocks passage of a 4-inch sphere, while guards on the open side of stairs may have openings that do not allow passage of a 4-3/8-inch sphere and the triangular opening at riser, tread and bottom rail is limited to a 6-inch sphere.

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.

Type V sulfate-resistant cement is used for severe sulfate exposure while Type II is used for moderate sulfate exposure (Type III is a high-early-strength cement, not sulfate-resisting).

A stairway serving as part of an accessible means of egress needs 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.