Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Kansas Framing Contractor Exam (ICC KGJ, 2018 IBC/IRC)
Kansas · Pearson Vue
Kansas State Portion 50 questions
Key Distinctions
IRC R302.2.2 Item 1 allows a 1-hour fire-resistance-rated assembly where a P2904 sprinkler system is provided, while Item 2 requires not less than a 2-hour rated assembly where it is not.
IRC 2018 Page 59Per IRC R309.2 a carport must be open on not less than two sides; a vehicle shelter not open on two or more sides is considered a garage and must meet the garage provisions including the R302.6 separation.
IRC 2018 Section R309.2IRC R301.3 Item 1 limits wood wall framing story height to 11 feet 7 inches and, separately, to the laterally unsupported bearing wall stud height permitted by Table R602.3(5) (the two are not added); Item 3's 13 feet 7 inches applies to masonry walls (with bearing wall clear height not more than 12 feet). Where these limits are exceeded, the wind and seismic design must follow the IBC.
IRC 2018 Section R301.3IRC R408.4 requires through-wall access openings to be not less than 16 inches by 24 inches, while access through the floor shall be not smaller than 18 inches by 24 inches (a below-grade through-wall access also needs an areaway at least 16 by 24 inches).
IRC 2018 Section R408.4IRC R602.10.2.3 allows braced wall lines 16 feet or less to have not less than two braced wall panels of any length, or alternatively one braced wall panel equal to 48 inches or more.
IRC 2018 Section R602.10.2.3IRC R602.10.2.2.1 Exception Item 2 requires an 1,800-pound hold-down at the panel end nearest the corner when Method WSP/BV-WSP/continuous-sheathing panels begin not more than 10 feet from each end of a braced wall line in SDC D0–D2; the 800-pound device belongs to the corner-return/hold-down condition for continuously sheathed wall line ends.
IRC 2018 Section R602.10.2.2.1IBC Section 202 defines a collector as the horizontal diaphragm element parallel and in line with the applied force that transfers diaphragm shear to the vertical lateral force-resisting elements, while a diaphragm chord is the boundary element perpendicular to the applied load that takes axial stresses from the diaphragm moment.
IBC 2018 Page 18IRC R312.1.3 Exception 2 permits guards on the open side of stairs to have openings that will not pass a 4 3/8-inch sphere, whereas the general guard limit is a 4-inch sphere and the triangular opening at the riser, tread and bottom rail is limited to a 6-inch sphere (Exception 1).
IRC 2018 Page 74IRC R408.1 requires not less than 1 square foot of net ventilation area per 150 square feet of under-floor area where the ground is uncovered; the 1-per-1,500 ratio applies only where a Class I vapor retarder covers the ground.
IRC 2018 Section R408.1IRC R314.3.1 requires plain ionization alarms to be not less than 20 feet horizontally and ionization alarms with an alarm-silencing switch not less than 10 feet horizontally from the appliance, while photoelectric alarms require 6 feet; the 3-foot dimension in R314.3 Item 4 applies to bathroom door openings instead.
IRC 2018 Section R314.3.1IRC R105.5 makes a permit invalid if work is not commenced within 180 days or more than 180 days pass between inspections, with written extensions of not more than 180 days each; IBC 105.3.2 deems an application abandoned 180 days after filing, with written extensions not exceeding 90 days each.
IRC 2018 Section R105.5IBC Section 202 'WALL, LOAD-BEARING' classifies a metal or wood stud wall as load bearing when it supports more than 100 pounds per linear foot of vertical load in addition to its own weight, while the 200-pounds-per-linear-foot threshold applies to masonry or concrete walls.
IBC 2018 Page 42Key Terms
Formulas to Know
Aggregate glazing area ≥ 8% of floor area; openable area to outdoors ≥ 4% of floor area ventilated. Example: 300 sq ft room → 300 × 0.08 = 24 sq ft glazing and 300 × 0.04 = 12 sq ft openable.Risers = total rise ÷ 7.75, rounded up to the next whole number. Example: 112 in. ÷ 7.75 = 14.45 → 15 risers (≈7 7/16 in. each); 14 risers would give 8 in. and would not comply.Exposed ground, no Class I vapor retarder: 1 sq ft net area per 150 sq ft of under-floor area. Example: 1,800 ÷ 150 = 12 sq ft. Where a Class I vapor retarder covers the ground, the 1-per-1,500 ratio applies (1,800 ÷ 1,500 = 1.2 sq ft).Width ≥ wall thickness + 8 in.; depth ≥ 2 × projection beyond the wall. Example: 12-in. wall → 12 + 8 = 20 in. wide; projection = 4 in. each side → depth = 2 × 4 = 8 in. Mortar must be Type M or S.R1 = 1 for At ≤ 200 sq ft; R1 = 1.2 − 0.001At for 200 < At < 600 sq ft; R1 = 0.6 for At ≥ 600 sq ft.For a sloped roof, F = number of inches of rise per foot; R2 = 1.2 − 0.05F. (For an arch or dome, F is the rise-to-span ratio multiplied by 32; the percentage slope form is used only in the SI conversion.)Lr = Lo × R1 × R2, but not less than 12 psf. Example: At = 500 sq ft, F = 8 in./ft, Lo = 20 psf → R1 = 1.2 − 0.001(500) = 0.70; R2 = 1.2 − 0.05(8) = 0.80; Lr = 20(0.70)(0.80) = 11.2 psf → use 12 psf.Use the same bracing method and table length as the wall above, then multiply the required bracing length by 1.15; adjustments for omitting interior gypsum board are taken in addition to this increase.Brace adjacent parallel cripple walls with Method WSP or CS-WSP and multiply the Table R602.10.3(3) bracing length by 1.5; where length is still insufficient, reduce panel edge fastener spacing to 4 in. o.c. and adjust the required bracing length by 0.70; if still insufficient, design per accepted engineering practice.Live loads on a sloping surface are assumed to act vertically on the horizontal projection of that surface, so rafter spans and roof live loads are evaluated on the horizontal run rather than the sloped length.