Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Kansas Framing Contractor Exam (ICC 846, 2015 IBC/IRC)
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
50
Passing score
75%
Exam time
150 min
Administered by
Pearson Vue
Format
Reference materials allowed
Kansas State Portion 50 questions
General Trade Knowledge
13 Q · 26%
Scope and applicability of IRC vs. IBC (dwelling types, story limits, accessory structures)Key code definitions for structural and framing terms (dead load, live load, braced wall line, diaphragm, light-frame construction)Building official authority, duties, and permit administrationClimatic and geographic design criteria (wind speed, seismic design category, snow load, flood hazard area)Minimum live and dead load requirements for floors, roofs, and structural membersStructural design methods and load combinations (ASD, LRFD, strength design)Risk category classification and its effect on design requirementsAlternative materials, engineered design, and referenced standards applicabilityScope and AdministrationDefinitions
Foundation and Floor Framing
11 Q · 22%
Footing size, depth, and frost protection requirements (IRC/IBC)Foundation wall types and prescriptive design (concrete and masonry)Foundation anchorage and sill plate attachmentFloor joist span tables, species, grades, and spacingGirder and header spans for floor framingFloor sheathing (lumber and wood structural panel) allowable spans and installationJoist notching, boring, and hole limitationsSoil classification and presumptive load-bearing valuesWoodFoundationsSoils and Foundations
Wall Framing
16 Q · 32%
Stud size, height, and spacing requirements for bearing and nonbearing wallsHeader and girder spans for exterior and interior bearing wallsTop plate and bottom plate requirements, including double top plate splicingDrilling and notching limitations for studs and top platesWall bracing methods, braced wall panel construction, and required bracing lengthsFastening schedules for wall framing connectionsCripple wall framing and bracing requirementsCold-formed steel wall framing member sizes, fastening, and web hole limitationsWall ConstructionWood
Roof Framing
10 Q · 20%
Rafter span tables and slope requirements (IBC/IRC conventional light-frame)Ceiling joist span tables and attic live load conditionsRoof framing member connections and nailing requirements (ridge, hip, valley, collar tie, rafter ties)Wood truss design requirements, truss design drawings, and truss member restraint/bracingRoof sheathing materials, allowable spans, and installation (lumber and wood structural panels)Roof load types and combinations (dead, live, snow, wind, rain/ponding) per IBC Chapter 16Rafter and truss uplift connection forces and wind tie-down requirementsMinimum slope requirements and framing details for ridge board, hip, valley, and purlin bracingWoodStructural DesignRoof-Ceiling Construction
Key Distinctions
Joist end bearing on wood or metalvsJoist end bearing on masonry
Under IBC 2015 conventional framing, joist ends need not less than 1-1/2 inches of bearing on wood or metal, but not less than 3 inches of bearing on masonry.
IBC 2015 Chapter 23 Wood — Section 2308.4.2.3 (Framing Details)Lapping opposing joists over a beam/girder/partitionvsTying opposing joists together
Joists framing from opposite sides must be lapped at least 3 inches, or else the opposing joists shall be tied together in an approved manner.
IBC 2015 Chapter 23 Wood — Section 2308.4.2.3 (Framing Details)Crawl space wood joists/structural floorsvsCrawl space wood girders
Per IBC 2304.12.1.1, joists or structural floors closer than 18 inches to exposed ground must be naturally durable or preservative-treated, while girders trigger that requirement when closer than 12 inches.
IBC 2015 Section 2304.12.1.1 (Chapter 23)Fire-retardant-treated lumbervsFire-retardant-treated wood structural panels
Before use, FRT lumber must be dried to a moisture content of 19 percent or less, while FRT wood structural panels must be dried to 15 percent or less.
IBC 2015 Section 2303.2Exterior type wood structural panelsvsExposure 1 wood structural panels
Panels permanently exposed in outdoor applications shall be Exterior type, except that wood structural panel roof sheathing exposed to the outdoors on the underside is permitted to be Exposure 1 type.
IBC 2015 Section 2303.1.5Permit application extension (IBC 105.3.2)vsIssued permit extension (IBC 105.5)
An application abandoned after 180 days may be extended by the building official for additional periods not exceeding 90 days each, whereas written extensions of an issued permit may be not more than 180 days each.
IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 105.3.2 Time Limitation of ApplicationMarkvsLabel
A mark is an identification applied by the manufacturer giving the manufacturer's name and the product's function; a label additionally carries performance characteristics and the identification of an approved agency.
IBC 2015 Chapter 2 — Definitions of 'Mark,' 'Label' and 'Manufacturer's Designation'Approved sourcevsApproved agency
An approved source is an independent person, firm or corporation approved by the building official, competent and experienced in applying engineering principles to materials, methods or systems analyses; an approved agency is one regularly engaged in conducting tests or furnishing inspection services.
IBC 2015 Chapter 2 — Definitions of 'Approved Source' and 'Approved Agency'Rafter span tables with ceiling attached to raftersvsRafter span tables with ceiling not attached to rafters
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 tables use L/360).
IBC 2015 Chapter 23 — Section 2308.7.2 and Tables 2308.7.2(1) through 2308.7.2(6)Cripple wall bracing factor 1.15 (IRC R602.10.11)vsInterior cripple wall factor 1.5 (IRC R602.10.11.1)
Cripple walls braced with the method and tabulated length of the wall above use a 1.15 multiplier, while the 1.5 factor applies only to interior cripple walls under unsupported braced wall lines.
IRC 2015 Section R602.10.11Hollow masonry pier, cells not filledvsHollow masonry pier solidly filled with concrete or grout
Per IRC R404.1.9, an ungrouted hollow masonry pier's nominal height shall not exceed four times its nominal thickness, while a solidly grouted one is permitted a nominal height not exceeding ten times its nominal thickness.
IRC 2015 Section R404.1.9Combustible framing clearance to flues, chimneys and fireplacesvsCombustible framing clearance to flue openings
Per IBC 2304.5, 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)Key Terms
Townhouse (IRC 2015 R202) IRC 2015 Section R202 — 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 with a yard or public way on not less than two sides.
IRC scope for townhouses (IBC 101.2 Exception) 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.
Owner-occupied lodging house (IRC R101.2, Exception 2) IRC 2015 Section R101.2
An owner-occupied lodging house with five or fewer guestrooms is permitted to be constructed under the residential code where equipped with a fire sprinkler system in accordance with Section P2904.
Accessory structure (IRC 2015 R202) IRC 2015 Section R202 (Accessory Structure)
A structure that is accessory to and incidental to the dwelling(s) and that is located on the same lot (the 200-square-foot and one-story conditions belong to the permit exemptions of R105.2).
Record drawings (IBC Chapter 2) IBC 2015 Chapter 2 — Definition of 'Record Drawings'
Drawings ('as builts') that document the location of all devices, appliances, wiring sequences, wiring methods and connections of the components of a fire alarm system as installed.
Structural composite lumber (IBC 2302.1) IBC 2015 Sections 2302.1 and 2303.1.10
A category including laminated strand lumber (LSL), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), oriented strand lumber (OSL) and parallel strand lumber (PSL), whose structural capacities are established and monitored per ASTM D5456 (Section 2303.1.10).
End-jointed lumber (IBC 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 must bear the 'Heat Resistant Adhesive' or 'HRA' designation when used in a fire-resistance-rated assembly.
Lumber grading standard (IBC 2303.1.1) IBC 2015 Section 2303.1.1
Sawn lumber used for load-supporting purposes shall be identified by the grade mark of a grading or inspection agency approved by an accreditation body complying with DOC PS 20 or equivalent.
Expansive soil (IBC 1803.5.3) IBC 2015 Chapter 18 Soils and Foundations — Section 1803.5.3 (Expansive Soil)
Soil meeting all four listed provisions, except that the tests for Items 1, 2 and 3 are not required if an expansion index greater than 20 is determined in accordance with ASTM D4829.
Plasticity Index criterion (IRC R403.1.8.1) IRC 2015 Section R403.1.8.1
A Plasticity Index of 15 or greater, determined per ASTM D4318, is one of the four provisions defining expansive soil; an Expansion Index greater than 20 is a separate criterion.
Preservative-treated wood quality mark (IBC 2303.1.9.1) IBC 2015 Section 2303.1.9.1
The quality mark must include, among other items, the type of preservative used and the minimum preservative retention in pcf.
Preservative-treated wood moisture limit (IBC 2303.1.9.2) IBC 2015 Section 2303.1.9.2
Where used in enclosed locations where drying in service cannot readily occur, such wood shall be at a moisture content of 19 percent or less before being covered with insulation, interior wall finish, floor covering or other materials.
Complete load path (IBC 1604.4) IBC 2015 Section 1604.4
The analysis shall result in a system providing a complete load path capable of transferring loads from their point of origin to the load-resisting elements.
Load notation 'E' (IBC 1602.1) IBC 2015 Section 1602.1
The combined effect of horizontal and vertical earthquake-induced forces as defined in ASCE 7 (F is fluids, H is lateral earth pressure, S is snow).
Temporary certificate of occupancy (IBC 111.3) IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 111.3 Temporary Occupancy
The building official is authorized to issue it before completion of the entire permitted work where the portion can be occupied safely, and shall set a time period during which it is valid.
Truss restraint/bracing design (IBC 2303.4.1.3) IBC 2015 Chapter 23 — Section 2303.4.1.3
The owner or owner's authorized agent must contract with a qualified registered design professional for the design of temporary installation restraint/bracing and permanent individual truss member restraint/bracing for all trusses with clear spans of 60 feet or greater.
Formulas to Know
Minimum crawl space ventilation opening net area
1 sq ft per 150 sq ft of under-floor area; reduced to 1 sq ft per 1,500 sq ft where the ground is covered with a Class 1 vapor retarder. Example: 1,800 ÷ 1,500 = 1.2 sq ft (without retarder, 1,800 ÷ 150 = 12 sq ft).Maximum nominal height of an isolated hollow masonry pier
4 × nominal thickness if not filled; 10 × nominal thickness if cells are solidly filled with concrete or grout. Example: 8-in nominal grouted pier = 10 × 8 = 80 in (ungrouted = 4 × 8 = 32 in).Value of proposed work for substantial improvement in a flood hazard area (IRC R105.3.1.1)
Value of proposed work = cost to repair the damaged building to its predamaged condition + cost of other proposed work; compare to 50% of predamage market value. Example: $70,000 repair + $60,000 addition = $130,000 > 50% of $240,000, so it is a substantial improvement.Required cripple wall bracing length
Required length = tabulated length/method required for the wall above × 1.15; any adjustment for omitting gypsum wallboard on the inside face is taken in addition to the 1.15 increase.Bracing length for stone/masonry veneer, first two stories, SDC B (IBC 2308.6.10.1 Exc. 1)
Length of wood structural panel bracing provided = 1.5 × length required by Table 2308.6.1.Bored holes in wood studs (IBC 2308.5.10)
Hole diameter permitted up to 40% of stud width; edge of bored hole not nearer than 5/8 in to the edge of the stud; holes not located at the same section as a cut or notch.Deflection limits used in prescriptive span tables (IBC 2308.7.2)
Rafters with ceiling attached: L/Δ = 240; rafters with ceiling not attached: L/Δ = 180; floor joists: L/Δ = 360.Foundation sill anchor bolt layout (IBC 2308.3.1)
1/2-in-diameter bolts embedded at least 7 in into concrete or masonry, spaced not more than 6 ft on center, with at least two bolts per piece located not more than 12 in and not less than 4 in from each end.Conventional light-frame construction load limits (IBC 2308.2.3)
Average dead load 15 psf; floor live load 40 psf; ground snow load shall not exceed 50 psf — exceeding any of these requires engineered design.Purlin/strut limits in conventional roof framing (IBC 2308.7.7)
Struts not less than 2x4; strut unbraced length shall not exceed 8 ft; strut slope not less than 45 degrees from horizontal; 2x4 purlins span max 4 ft, 2x6 purlins span max 6 ft.