Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Louisiana Insulation for Cold Storage and Buildings

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

Passing score

70%

Exam time

120 min

Administered by

PSI Services Contractor

Format

Reference materials allowed

Louisiana State Portion 50 questions

Batt/Roll Insulation 4 Q · 8%

R-value ratings and thickness relationships for batt/roll productsBatt and roll material types: fiberglass, rock wool, slag wool, cotton, and plastic fiberFacing types: kraft paper, foil, and unfaced products as vapor retardersInstallation methods: inset stapling, face stapling, pressure fit, and unfaced placementApplication by location: walls, attics, floors, crawl spaces, basements, and cathedral ceilingsCompression effects on R-value performanceHealth and safety precautions for handling fiberglass and mineral woolVapor retarder placement and moisture control principles for batt insulation assemblies

Blown or Loose-Fill Insulation 4 Q · 8%

Types of loose-fill insulation materials (cellulose, fiberglass, mineral wool, perlite, vermiculite)R-value per inch and coverage charts for blown/loose-fill materialsInstallation methods (pneumatic blowing vs. pouring) for attics and wall cavitiesSettling, fluffing, voids, and density requirements to maintain R-valueMoisture absorption, vapor retarders, and ventilation requirementsFire resistance and safety clearances (recessed lights, chimneys, flues)Sprayed-in-place (wet-spray) insulation systems including BIBS and wet-spray celluloseHealth and safety precautions during installation (PPE, respiratory protection, fiber hazards)

General Knowledge and Theory 8 Q · 16%

Heat transfer mechanisms: conduction, convection, and radiationR-value and U-value definitions, calculations, and relationshipsFactors affecting R-value: temperature, density, and thicknessThermal comfort principles and human thermoregulationHistorical development of insulation materials and technologiesBuilding energy codes and standards: IECC, ASHRAE, and model codesRegulatory bodies and compliance requirements: FTC, ASTM, CPSC

Other Insulation Applications and Fire Stopping/Fireproofing 6 Q · 12%

Fire-resistance ratings and testing standards for insulation materials (ASTM E84, ASTM E119, UL 723)Thermal barrier requirements for foam plastic insulation (IBC Section 2603.4)Flame spread index and smoke-developed index limits for insulating materialsFoam plastic insulation in cold storage/cooler/freezer applicationsFirestopping and through-penetration firestop systems for wall and floor assembliesFireblocking and draftstopping requirements in concealed spacesSprayed fire-resistant materials (SFRM) application and substrate requirementsFire and smoke damper requirements for duct penetrations of rated assemblies

Plan Reading, Materials, Estimating, and Take Offs 5 Q · 10%

Reading and interpreting architectural plans, floor plans, and elevation drawingsQuantity takeoff methods and material estimation techniquesCalculating insulation coverage from manufacturer bag labels and coverage chartsUnit-cost and pre-design estimating for insulation projectsInsulation R-values, material types, and cost comparison using reference tablesCommon estimating abbreviations and units of measure (SF, LF, BF, CY)Scales, dimensions, and symbols used in construction drawingsSchedules and specifications as they relate to material selection and takeoffs

Rigid-Board and Reflective Insulation 2 Q · 4%

Types of rigid board insulation materials (EPS, XPS, polyisocyanurate, polyurethane, perlite, mineral fiber, cellular glass, wood fiberboard)R-values and thermal performance characteristics of rigid board insulation by typeFire resistance requirements and thermal barrier provisions for foam plastic insulation (IBC Chapter 26)Moisture resistance, vapor permeance, and water absorption properties of rigid board productsRadiant barrier principles: emittance, reflectance, absorptance, and airspace requirementsReflective insulation systems: product types, R-value directionality, and installation locationsFoam plastic insulation requirements for cold storage and cooler/freezer applicationsExterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS): barrier-type vs. drainable-type construction and moisture management

Safety and Employee Protection 8 Q · 16%

Asbestos hazard recognition, permissible exposure limits, and exposure monitoringAsbestos work classifications (Class I–IV) and required control methodsRespiratory protection selection and use for insulation-related hazardous exposuresPersonal protective equipment requirements and employer payment obligationsFall protection systems for insulation work at elevated heightsOccupational health controls: noise exposure, ventilation, and airborne contaminant limitsMedical surveillance, recordkeeping, and employee training requirementsHealth hazards of historical and current insulation materials (fiberglass, asbestos, sprayed-in-place)

Spray-On Application 4 Q · 8%

Wet-spray cellulose insulation materials, standards, and R-valuesSpray-on fiberglass and Blow-In-Blanket System (BIBS) installation and R-valuesWet-spray rock wool and slag wool application procedures and R-valuesFoamed-in-place insulation types (polyurethane, Icynene, Air Krete, Tripolymer) and R-valuesPre-application site preparation and equipment requirementsDrying time, moisture content monitoring, and vapor retarder requirementsFire resistance, thermal barrier requirements, and flame spread standards (IBC Section 2603)Health and safety precautions for installers (respiratory protection, PPE, OSHA guidelines)

Vapor Barrier and Retarders 4 Q · 8%

Moisture migration mechanisms (bulk moisture, capillary action, air leakage, vapor diffusion)Perm ratings and vapor permeance classification (Classes I, II, and III per IBC Table 1404.3)Vapor retarder placement by climate zone and building location (warm-side vs. cold-side installation)Vapor retarder material types (polyethylene film, kraft-faced batts, foil, vapor barrier paint, coatings)Dew point, relative humidity, and condensation principlesAir barriers vs. vapor retarders (housewrap function, infiltration/exfiltration control)Vapor retarder requirements by assembly location (walls, floors, ceilings, crawl spaces, attics)IBC 2021 Section 1404.3 code requirements for vapor retarders in frame wall assemblies

Ventilation 5 Q · 10%

Attic and rafter space cross-ventilation requirements (net free area ratios)Intake and exhaust vent placement (eave/soffit vs. ridge vents)Unvented attic and enclosed rafter assembly conditions and insulation requirementsUnder-floor and crawl space ventilation openings and minimum net areaNatural ventilation openings (minimum openable area as percentage of floor area)Moisture condensation prevention through ventilation in roof and wall assembliesAttic ventilation interaction with vapor retarders (vented vs. unvented attic vapor retarder requirements)Mechanical ventilation requirements for crawl spaces with vapor retarders

Key Distinctions

Open-cell SPFvsClosed-cell SPF

Open-cell semirigid water-blown polyurethane foam is R-3.81 per inch because its cells are filled with air, while closed-cell SPF is 6 to 7 per inch because its cells hold a blowing agent (closed-cell expands about 30:1 on mixing; open-cell expands up to 120 times its liquid volume).

Insulation Handbook (2001), Chapter 10 - Foamed-in-Place Insulation, Open-cell SPF section

Cellulose loose-fillvsFiberglass / rock wool loose-fill

Cellulose absorbs 5 to 20 percent of its weight in moisture (a listed disadvantage) and is about R-3.5 per inch, whereas fiberglass and rock wool absorb less than 1 percent of their weight and run about R-2.5 and R-3.2 per inch respectively.

Insulation Handbook (2001), Chapter 7 - Loose-Fill Insulation, Cellulose section

Extruded polystyrene (XPS)vsExpanded polystyrene (EPS) / PIR

XPS holds a consistent R-value of 5.0 per inch regardless of density and has greater compressive strength for below-grade foundation use, while EPS R-value varies with density and PIR R-values vary with facer type.

Insulation Handbook (2001), Chapter 11 - Rigid Board Insulation

Standard R-30 fiberglass battvsHigh-density R-30C superbatt

A standard R-30 batt is 9½ to 10 inches thick, while the 'C'-suffix high-density R-30C batt achieves R-30 at only 8¼ to 8½ inches so it fits nominal 2×10 framing and still leaves the required 1-inch ventilation airspace.

Insulation Handbook (2001), Chapter 8 - Blanket Insulation: Batts and Rolls

Underlayment at eavesvsUnderlayment at rake edges

Per IBC 1507.2.8.3 the underlayment is installed over the drip edge along eaves, but the drip edge is installed over the underlayment along rakes (drip edge fastened at not more than 12 inches on center).

IBC 2021 Section 1507.2.8.3

Asphalt shingle slope 4:12 or greatervsAsphalt shingle slope 2:12 up to 4:12

At 4:12 and steeper a single layer of underlayment lapped 2 inches is sufficient, while from 2:12 up to 4:12 double (two-layer) underlayment application is required; asphalt shingles cannot be installed below 2:12.

IBC 2021 Table 1507.1.1(2)

Wood shakes minimum slopevsWood shingles minimum slope

IBC 1507.9.2 allows wood shakes only on slopes of not less than 4:12 (33 percent), which is steeper than the 3:12 minimum permitted for wood shingles.

IBC 2021 Section 1507.9.2

Slate shingle minimum slopevsClay and concrete tile minimum slope

Slate shingles require 4:12 or greater (IBC 1507.7.2), while clay and concrete tile require a minimum of 2.5:12 (IBC 1507.3.2).

IBC 2021 Section 1507.7.2

Standard built-up roofvsCoal-tar built-up roof

IBC 1507.10.1 requires a design slope of not less than 1/4 unit vertical in 12 for standard built-up roofs, but only 1/8:12 for coal-tar built-up roofs.

IBC 2021 Section 1507.10.1

Class 1 foam plasticvsClass 2 foam plastic

In surface-burning tests, class 1 foam has a flame spread index of 25 or less with smoke development of 210, while class 2 foam has flame spread less than 75 and smoke development less than 450.

IBC 2021 Section 2603; Insulation Handbook, Chapter 10 — Spray Polyurethane Foam Fire Resistance section

U-valuevsR-value

U-value measures heat flow (Btu through one square foot per hour per degree F difference) so lower is better insulating, while R-value measures resistance so higher is better; they are reciprocals (U = 1/R, R = 1/U).

Insulation Handbook (2001), Chapter 3 — U-value section

Horizontal vinyl siding fastener spacingvsVertical vinyl siding fastener spacing

Per IBC 1404.14.1.3, fastener spacing must not exceed 16 inches on center for horizontal siding and 12 inches for vertical siding.

IBC 2021 Section 1404.14.1.3

Whole-wall R-valuevsClear-wall / center-of-cavity R-value

Whole-wall R-value (Rww) includes both the clear-wall area and interface details (wall-wall corners, wall-roof, wall-floor, wall-door, wall-window), making it a better criterion for comparing wall systems than clear-wall or center-of-cavity values.

Insulation Handbook (2001), Chapter 3 - Insulation Fundamentals and Principles

Key Terms

Building envelope Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 31.1 — Where to Insulate

The continuous layer of insulation separating heated and cooled spaces from unheated spaces exposed to outdoor temperatures; everything inside it is conditioned and everything outside is exposed.

Knee wall Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 31.1 — Where to Insulate (Walls)

A half-height wall often found in attic areas of a one-and-a-half-story house that must be insulated and treated just as if it were an exterior wall.

Enveloping (vapor retarder) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 31.1 — Vapor Retarders (Enveloping)

Stapling wide rolls of plastic film over studs, plates, and window and door headers to cover the entire exposed wall after insulating; used over insulation lacking a retarder (such as unfaced batts) and considered one of the best systems for blocking vapor movement.

Perm value (vapor retarder) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 31.1 — Vapor Retarders

A measure of resistance to vapor transmission in which 0.50 perm is adequate and less than 0.25 perm is good practice, so a higher value such as 0.75 perm is not adequate.

Sound Transmission Class (STC) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 31.2 — How Sound Travels

A numerical rating of a material's or assembly's ability to reduce airborne sound transmission; the higher the STC number, the better the sound barrier.

Flanking path Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 31.2 — Flanking Paths

A sound leak that bypasses an assembly's rating, such as a 1-square-inch hole that can reduce an STC 50 wall to about STC 30.

Radiant-heat barrier (draped installation) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 31.1 — Radiant-Heat Barriers

A barrier draped loosely over rafters before roof sheathing so it droops to leave at least 1 inch of air space beneath the sheathing, improving effectiveness and creating a soffit-to-ridge air channel.

BIBS (Blow-In-Blanket System) Insulation Handbook (2001), Chapter 9 — BIBS R-value section

A blown fiberglass system rated at 4.2 per inch by ASTM C518 that achieves up to R-15 in 2×4 walls and up to R-23 in 2×6 walls.

Plastic fiber batt Insulation Handbook (2001), Chapter 8 - Blanket Insulation: Batts and Rolls

Batt insulation made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that does not cause skin irritation, is extremely soft but looks like high-density fiberglass, with R-values of 3.8 to 4.3 per inch.

IECC tradeoff worksheet approach Insulation Handbook (2001), Chapter 6 - Building Codes, Standards, and Regulations

A compliance method in which increasing total glazing area requires improving window thermal performance (lowering U-value) or increasing insulation in the opaque portion to satisfy the overall U-value requirement.

Cricket or saddle IBC 2021 Section 1503.5

A roof element required by IBC 1503.5 on the ridge side of any chimney or penetration greater than 30 inches wide measured perpendicular to the slope, covered with sheet metal or the same material as the roof covering.

Scupper (secondary roof drainage) IBC 2021 Section 1502.3

An emergency overflow drainage opening that, per IBC 1502.3, shall not have an opening dimension less than 4 inches.

Metal flashing (wall and roof intersections) IBC 2021 Section 1503.2.1

Per IBC 1503.2.1, corrosion-resistant metal not less than 0.019 inch thick, which is No. 26 galvanized sheet.

Competent person OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Page 31

Per 29 CFR 1926.32(f), one capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them (no specific degree, experience, or certificate required).

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Carpentry and Building Construction, Construction Safety & Health, Book Page 92

A manufacturer-supplied document accompanying product shipments that lists physical data, toxicity levels, first-aid recommendations, storage and disposal, protective equipment, and spill/leak response; every worker must have jobsite access.

Shear wall Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 378

A wall designed to resist lateral (sideways) forces, commonly created by specific sheathing nail spacing and required to be fastened to the framing above and to the sill plate and foundation below, with shear strength especially critical at house corners.

Consolidation (concrete) Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 233

The process that removes air pockets and forces concrete into all parts of the forms for dense, uniform placement.

Room-finish schedule Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 2.3, Page 57

A plan schedule identifying the materials and finishes for floors, walls, and ceilings in each room, including hallways.

Formulas to Know

U-value from R-value (and R from U)U = 1/R and R = 1/U; e.g., R-20 assembly gives U = 1/20 = 0.05, and U = 0.05 gives R = 1/0.05 = 20

Cumulative R-value of layered insulationTotal R = (R per inch) × (inches); e.g., 2 in. of R-5-per-inch insulation = R-10

Minimum crawl-space net ventilation area1 sq ft of net vent area per 150 sq ft of crawl-space area; e.g., 1,200 ÷ 150 = 8 sq ft

Excavation volume in cubic yards

[(house length + clearance each side) × (house width + clearance each side) × depth] ÷ 27; e.g., 44 × 30 × 7 = 9,240 cu ft ÷ 27 ≈ 342 cu yd

Equal side setback from a site planSide setback = (lot dimension − house dimension) ÷ 2; e.g., (78 − 42) ÷ 2 = 18'-0"

Diagonal distance from two setback legsDiagonal = √(leg1² + leg2²); e.g., √(24² + 18²) = √900 = 30'-0"

Rear yard depthRear yard = lot width − front setback − house width; e.g., 110 − 24 − 30 = 56'-0"

Average lot elevation and maximum corner difference

Average = (sum of four corner elevations) ÷ 4, e.g., (4.00 + 3.00 + 2.00 + 3.00) ÷ 4 = +3.00'; Max difference = highest corner − lowest corner, e.g., 4.00 − 2.00 = 2.00'

Deck-and-pool overall footprint

Overall footprint = (pool length + deck width both sides) × (pool width + deck width both sides); e.g., (32+6+6) × (16+6+6) = 44 × 28 = 1,232 sq ft

Fire extinguisher coverage on construction sites

One extinguisher rated not less than 2A per each 3,000 sq ft of protected building area, or major fraction thereof (OSHA 1926.150(c)(1)(i))

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