Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Louisiana Carpentry
Louisiana · PSI Services Contractor
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
120 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
Louisiana State Portion 60 questions
Safety
6 Q · 10%
Fall protection requirements and trigger heights (6-foot rule) for residential and general constructionPersonal fall arrest systems: components, specifications, and proper useGuardrail systems: height, strength, and construction requirementsScaffold safety: capacity, platform construction, access, and fall protectionLadder safety: types, duty ratings, setup angles, and safe use proceduresStairway requirements: riser/tread dimensions, handrails, and stairrail systemsFire prevention and protection: extinguisher types, flammable liquid storage, and fire prevention programsPersonal protective equipment (PPE): hard hats, eye protection, foot protection, and employer responsibilities
Insulation
1 Q · 2%
R-value and thermal resistance ratings by insulation type and thicknessTypes of insulation materials and forms (batts, blankets, loose-fill, rigid board, spray-foam)Building envelope and where to insulate (walls, floors, ceilings, attics, foundation/slabs)Vapor retarders: purpose, materials, perm values, and installation methodsAttic and crawl-space ventilation requirements including net free area calculationsRadiant-heat barriers: emissivity, reflectivity, and installation methodsAcoustical insulation: STC and INR/IIC ratings and wall/floor assembly constructionClimate zones and minimum insulation requirements by building component
Windows and Doors
3 Q · 5%
Window types and operating styles (double-hung, casement, awning, hopper, sliding, stationary)Door types and core construction (solid-core, hollow-core, raised-panel, flush)Rough opening sizing and framing requirements for windows and doorsDoor hardware installation (hinges, locksets, strike plates)Weatherstripping and energy efficiency for windows and doorsEgress window requirements (minimum dimensions, sill height, clear opening area)Safety glazing requirements and hazardous locations (IBC Chapter 24)Door and window trim installation (casing styles, stool and apron, extension jambs)
Rough Carpentry and Formwork
27 Q · 45%
Platform-frame and balloon-frame construction methodsFloor framing components: sill plates, girders, posts, joists, and subfloorWall framing members: studs, plates, headers, rough sills, cripple studs, and trimmer studsWall sheathing materials, installation, and bracing requirementsRoof framing types: common, hip, valley, and jack raftersRoof truss handling, installation, temporary restraint, and diagonal bracingConcrete formwork for footings and foundation wallsEngineered wood products: LVL, glulam, I-joists, and structural panels in framing applications
Finish Carpentry
14 Q · 23%
Door installation and hardware (prehung, hinges, locksets, hand of door)Door and window trim (casing styles, reveals, extension jambs, stool and apron)Molding installation (crown/cornice, base, chair rail, picture rail, coped and mitered joints)Wall treatments (tongue-and-groove wainscot, frame-and-panel wainscot, sheet paneling)Stair trim-out (skirt boards, treads and risers, balustrade, newel posts, balusters)Finish flooring (wood strip, plank, parquet, subfloor preparation, moisture content, fastening methods)Cabinet and closet installation (layout, leveling, reference lines, countertops, closet shelving and poles)Rough frame preparation and tool selection (blocking, furring, power and hand tools, scaffolding)
Drywall
7 Q · 12%
Gypsum panel types, sizes, and thickness selectionDrywall fasteners, fastener spacing, and attachment methodsLevels of drywall finish (Level 0 through Level 5)Joint treatment and taping proceduresCorner bead and trim accessories installationFire-rated drywall assemblies and Type X/Type C panelsMoisture-resistant, mold-resistant, and abuse-resistant panel applicationsCommon drywall defects, causes, and remedies
Siding
2 Q · 3%
Types of siding materials (wood, vinyl, plywood, fiber cement, stucco, brick veneer)Moisture protection methods (building paper, housewrap, flashing, drainage plane, caulking)Wood bevel siding installation (layout, story pole, coursing, exposure, nailing)Wood shingle siding installation (grades, coursing styles, nailing)Vinyl siding installation and fastening techniquesFiber cement and plywood panel siding installationEstimating siding materials and quantitiesIBC exterior wall covering requirements (minimum thickness, water-resistive barriers, fire separation, code compliance)
Key Distinctions
Dead LoadvsLive Load
A dead load is the permanent weight of the building and its fixed components, while a live load is non-permanent weight such as furniture and occupants.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 14.1 Framing Systems & Structural Design, Page 383Balloon FramingvsPlatform Framing
In balloon framing, studs run continuously from sill to second-floor top plate; in platform framing, studs are only one story high and each floor is built separately.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 14 – Structural Systems, Section 14.1LVL (Laminated-Veneer Lumber)vsPlywood
LVL uses parallel lamination (all grain runs the same direction) for uniform structural performance, while plywood uses cross-lamination (alternating perpendicular grain layers).
2021 International Building Code, Section 1610.1Active PressurevsAt-Rest Pressure
Foundation walls ≤8 ft below grade that are laterally supported at the top by flexible diaphragms may be designed for the lesser active pressure, whereas walls restricted from horizontal movement at the top must be designed for the higher at-rest pressure.
2021 International Building Code, Section 1610.1Collar Ties (structural only, 16" OC rafters)vsCollar Ties (supporting a ceiling)
When used only for structural purposes with rafters at 16" OC, collar ties are required only at every fourth rafter pair; when supporting a ceiling, they must be attached to every rafter pair.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 19.3, Page 5423/8" Gypsum Panelvs1/2" or 5/8" Gypsum Panel
3/8" panels are limited to framing spaced 16" OC, while 1/2" and 5/8" panels are approved for framing spaced up to 24" OC.
Gypsum Construction Handbook, Page 3 (Gypsum Panel Limitations item 3)Casement WindowvsDouble-Hung Window
A casement window is side-hinged and opens the entire window area for ventilation, while a double-hung window slides and only half the area can be opened at one time.
Windows & Skylights chapter, Types of Windows sectionSolid-Core DoorvsHollow-Core Door
Solid-core doors resist warping better and offer greater fire resistance, making them preferred for exterior applications, whereas hollow-core doors are lighter and typically used for interior applications.
Residential Doors chapter, Flat-Panel Doors sectionNewel PostvsBaluster
Newel posts at each end of a stairway handrail are the primary structural support, while balusters are secondary members and not the primary support.
Carpentry & Building Construction, Chapter 25, Section 25.2, 'Handrail — newel post anchoring'Load-Bearing Interior WallvsNon-Bearing Interior Wall (with roof trusses)
When roof trusses span the full width of a house, exterior walls carry all roof and ceiling loads and interior walls serve mainly as room dividers with no structural load-bearing role.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 16 – Wall Framing & Sheathing, Section 16.1Extruded Expanded Polystyrene (XPS)vsStandard EPS
XPS has greater compressive strength than standard EPS and is specifically suitable for below-grade foundation insulation applications.
Carpentry And Building Construction, Section 31.1 — Rigid Insulation Materials and R-ValueAdministrative/Engineering ControlsvsRespirators/PPE
OSHA requires administrative or engineering controls to be implemented first to reduce airborne contaminant exposure; respirators and other PPE are only the fallback when such controls are not feasible.
29 CFR 1926, §1926.55(b)Key Terms
Permissible Noise Exposure (8-hour) 29 CFR 1926, §1926.52
Per 29 CFR 1926.52, the maximum allowable sound level for a full 8-hour shift is 90 dBA slow response; exposures above this require engineering/administrative controls or PPE.
Emergency Action Plan (≤10 employees) 29 CFR 1926.35(e)(3)
Per 29 CFR 1926.35(e)(3), employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the emergency action plan orally and are not required to maintain a written plan.
First Aid Kit Inspection Frequency 29 CFR 1926, §1926.50(d)(2)
Per 29 CFR 1926.50(d)(2), the employer must check the first aid kit before sending it to each job and at least weekly on each job to replace expended items.
Scaffold Fall Protection Threshold 29 CFR 1926, §1926.451(g)(1)
Per 29 CFR 1926.451(g)(1), each employee working on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level must be protected from falling.
Guardrail Top Rail Height 29 CFR 1926, §1926.502(b)(1)
Per 29 CFR 1926.502(b)(1), the top edge of a guardrail system must be 42 inches (±3 inches) above the walking/working surface.
Trench Egress Lateral Travel Limit 29 CFR 1926, §1926.651(c)(2)
Per 29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2), a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe egress must be placed in trenches ≥4 feet deep so that no employee travels more than 25 feet laterally to reach it.
Fire Extinguisher Travel Distance 29 CFR 1926, §1926.150(c)(1)(i)
Per 29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(i), the maximum travel distance from any point in a protected building area to the nearest fire extinguisher on a construction site is 100 feet.
PPE Separate Violation Rule 29 CFR 1926.20(f)(1)
Per 29 CFR 1926.20(f)(1), each failure by an employer to provide required PPE to an individual employee may be treated as a separate OSHA violation.
Consolidation (concrete) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 8.2, Page 227
Consolidation is the process of removing air pockets and forcing concrete into all parts of the forms, accomplished by vibrating, tamping, spading, or tapping the forms.
Muntin Windows & Skylights chapter, Double-Hung Windows section
A muntin is a vertical or horizontal piece within a window sash that holds individual panes of glass.
Gain (hinge mortise) Residential Doors chapter, Hinges section
A gain is a mortise cut into the door edge or jamb with a depth equal to the thickness of a single hinge leaf, allowing the leaf to sit flush.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Carpentry and Building Construction, Construction Safety & Health, Book Page 92
An MSDS is a manufacturer-required document that lists a product's hazards, toxicity levels, first-aid recommendations, protective equipment requirements, and proper disposal methods; all workers must have access to it on site.
Unit Run of a Hip Rafter Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 18.1, Page 506
The unit run of a hip rafter is 16.97 inches (rounded to 17 inches), derived as the hypotenuse of a right triangle with two 12-inch legs using the Pythagorean theorem.
Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Dimension Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 12.1, Page 325
A lumber piece's nominal dimension (e.g., 2×4) is larger than its actual dimension (e.g., 1½" × 3½") because material is removed during surfacing and seasoning at the mill.
Crawl Space Minimum Clearance Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 9.2, Page 247
There must be at least 18 inches of clearance between the undersides of floor joists and the highest ground point enclosed by the foundation walls to allow inspection and moisture control.
Egress Window Minimum Open Area Windows & Skylights chapter, Design Requirements section
An egress window on an upper floor must have a minimum unblocked open area of 5.7 sq. ft. (grade-floor windows require at least 5.0 sq. ft.).
Formulas to Know
Crawl Space Ventilation Area
Net vent area (sq ft) = Crawl space area (sq ft) ÷ 150Window Rough Opening Width (rule of thumb)
Rough opening width = Glass width + 6 inchesHip Rafter Unit Run
Unit run of hip rafter = √(12² + 12²) ≈ 16.97 in (use 17 in)Foundation Excavation Volume
Volume (cu ft) = (Length + 4 ft) × (Width + 4 ft) × Depth; Cu yards = Cu ft ÷ 27Stair Riser Height Variation Limit
Max allowable difference between tallest and shortest riser = ⅜ inchVentilation Window Area Requirement
Minimum openable window area = 4% of room floor area (when no mechanical ventilation)Minimum Concrete Cover Over Rebar in Footings
Minimum cover = 3 inchesMinimum Concrete Floor Slab Thickness (IBC 1907.1)
Minimum slab thickness = 3½ inches; vapor retarder = 6-mil polyethylene with joints lapped ≥ 6 inches