Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
South Carolina (Limited) Building Contractor
South Carolina · 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
80
Passing score
70%
Exam time
300 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
South Carolina State Portion 80 questions
Sitework
7 Q · 9%
Underground utility locating and damage prevention (SC 811 one-call requirements)Excavator responsibilities under South Carolina Underground Facility Damage Prevention ActTolerance zone requirements and hand-digging near marked utilitiesSite layout and building location on a plot (batter boards, reference lines, surveying instruments)Soil classification, bearing capacity, and geotechnical investigation requirements (SC Building Code Chapter 18)Soil compaction methods, testing, and specifications (Proctor test, moisture content, lift thickness)Trench excavation, shoring systems, and trench safety (open ditch, shoring jacks, trench boxes)Site preparation (clearing, grading, drainage, backfill placement, and site grading slopes)
Concrete
10 Q · 12%
Concrete mixture components and proportioning (cement, aggregates, water, admixtures)Portland cement types and supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash, slag)Formwork design, materials, and types (job-built, prefabricated, gang, slipforms, ICFs)Formwork safety requirements and OSHA Subpart Q complianceSteel reinforcement types, sizing, placement, and cover requirementsConcrete placement methods (chute, pump, buggy, bucket) and consolidationFlatwork finishing operations (screeding, floating, troweling, curing, jointing)Joints in concrete (contraction, isolation, construction) for slabs and structures
Masonry
10 Q · 12%
Masonry materials: brick types, classifications, and sizesConcrete masonry units (CMU): types, grades, and propertiesMortar types, proportions, and proper useMasonry wall systems: solid, cavity, veneer, composite, and reinforcedLaying brick: techniques, leads, corners, and mason's lineLaying concrete block: techniques, wall types, and joint beddingAnchors, ties, and joint reinforcement in masonry constructionSC Building Code Chapter 21: masonry construction requirements and design methods
Metals
10 Q · 12%
Open web steel joist types and designations (K-, LH-, DLH-, CJ-Series, Joist Girders)Steel joist erection procedures and OSHA safety requirements (29 CFR 1926.757)Bridging types, installation sequence, and anchorage requirementsErection bridging requirements by joist span and load table shading zonesJoist and joist girder end bearing and seat attachment specificationsHandling, receiving, unloading, and jobsite storage of steel joist productsCold-formed steel framing members, designations, and construction methodsSC Building Code Chapter 22 governing standards for structural steel, cold-formed steel, and steel joists
Carpentry
12 Q · 15%
Wood properties, moisture content, and lumber gradingEngineered wood products (plywood, OSB, LVL, glulam, I-joists)Structural framing systems (platform, balloon, post-and-beam, SIP)Floor framing (sill plates, girders, joists, subfloor installation)Wall framing components and assembly (studs, plates, headers, sheathing)Roof framing (common, hip, valley, and jack rafters; ridge layout; trusses)Stairway construction (stringers, risers, treads, handrails, code requirements)Carpentry hand tools, power saws, and pneumatic/power tool usage and safety
Thermal and Moisture Protection
9 Q · 11%
R-value and insulation requirements by climate zoneTypes of insulation materials (batts, loose-fill, rigid board, spray-foam)Vapor retarders: classes, placement, and code requirementsUnderlayment types, application, and attachment requirements for sloping roofsRoof covering materials and installation requirements (asphalt shingles, tile, wood shakes, slate, metal, roll roofing, built-up, elastomeric)Flashing installation (step, valley, drip edge, eaves, chimney, parapet)Weather-resistive barriers and exterior wall moisture protectionRoof fire classification and wind resistance requirements
Doors and Windows
2 Q · 2%
Door types: exterior and interior (passage, sliding, folding, pocket, bifold, French, fire-rated, garage)Door construction: solid-core vs. hollow-core and raised-panelDoor hardware: hinges, locksets (entry, privacy, passage), and strike platesDoor hand (swing direction) determination methodsExterior door installation: rough opening, framing, sill, shimming, and weatherstrippingInterior door installation: pre-hung units, jamb assembly, clearances, and door stopsWindow types: double-hung, casement, awning, hopper, horizontal-sliding, and stationarySafety glazing requirements: hazardous locations, impact standards, and identification markings
Finishes
2 Q · 2%
Drywall types, installation, and fastening requirementsJoint compound application, taping, and finishing techniquesInterior finish flame spread and smoke-developed classifications (SC Building Code Chapter 8)Gypsum board and plaster code requirements (SC Building Code Chapter 25)Hardwood and engineered-wood flooring installationResilient, ceramic tile, and carpet flooring installationInterior and exterior paint types, application, and surface preparationMolding and trim installation (baseboard, crown, casing, and door/window details)
Safety
5 Q · 6%
OSHA regulations and employer/employee responsibilities under 29 CFR 1926Fall protection systems (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest)Scaffold safety requirements and load capacitiesLadder and stairway safety requirementsExcavation and trenching safety (cave-in protection, shoring, sloping)Personal protective equipment (PPE) selection and useFire prevention, fire protection equipment, and flammable liquid storageHazardous materials handling, confined spaces, and occupational health controls
General Code, Plan Reading and Estimating
13 Q · 16%
Occupancy classification and use groups (Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R, S, U)Building height and area limitations by construction type and occupancyTypes of construction (Types I–V) and fire-resistance rating requirementsMeans of egress requirements (occupant load, exit configuration, egress width, travel distance)Fire and smoke protection features (fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers)Reading architectural and construction plans (plan views, elevations, symbols, scales, schedules)Cost estimating methods (quantity takeoff, direct vs. indirect costs, unit cost estimating, bidding)Structural design loads and load combinations (dead, live, wind, seismic, snow)
Key Distinctions
Active pressure (foundation walls)vsAt-rest pressure (foundation walls)
Foundation walls ≤8 ft below grade supported at top by flexible diaphragms may be designed for active pressure; walls where horizontal movement is restricted at the top must be designed for the greater at-rest pressure.
2021 International Building Code, Section 1610.1Drip edge at eavesvsDrip edge at rakes
At eaves the drip edge is installed first and underlayment laps over it; at rakes the underlayment is installed first and the drip edge laps over the underlayment.
South Carolina Building Code 2021, Section 1507.2.8.3Fiberglass asphalt shinglesvsOrganic asphalt shingles
Fiberglass shingles use a fiberglass base mat, while organic shingles use a cellulose-fiber base mat, both then saturated with asphalt and surfaced with mineral granules.
Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 4—Asphalt ShinglesSingle-layer underlayment (shingles)vsDouble underlayment (shingles)
Asphalt shingles on slopes from 2:12 up to (but not including) 4:12 require double underlayment; at 4:12 or greater a single layer applied shingle-fashion with 2-inch laps is permitted.
IBC, Section 1507.2.2Solid-core doorvsHollow-core door
Solid-core doors use strips of wood, particleboard, or rigid foam as fill, reducing warping and providing greater fire resistance, making them preferred for exterior use; hollow-core doors lack this fill.
Residential Doors chapter, Flat-Panel Doors sectionCasement windowvsDouble-hung window
A casement window is side-hinged and allows the entire window area to be opened for ventilation, whereas a double-hung window only allows part of the window area to be opened.
Windows & Skylights chapter, Types of Windows sectionMuntinvsMullion
A muntin is a vertical or horizontal piece within a single sash that holds individual panes of glass, while a mullion strip is a vertical piece that separates two combined window units.
Windows & Skylights chapter, Double-Hung Windows sectionDirect (job) overhead costvsDirect construction cost
Direct job overhead costs are administrative costs tied to a specific job but not to a specific trade (e.g., traffic control), whereas direct construction costs are costs tied directly to labor, materials, and equipment for a specific phase (e.g., pipe materials, backhoe rental).
Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Pages 20-21Extruded Expanded Polystyrene (XPS)vsExpanded Polystyrene (EPS)
XPS has greater compressive strength than EPS and is specifically suitable for below-grade foundation wall insulation, rated at R-5 per inch.
Carpentry And Building Construction, Section 31.1 — Rigid Insulation Materials and R-ValueStandard SJI productsvsNon-standard SJI products
Standard SJI products follow typical SJI erection procedures, while non-standard products (e.g., scissor joists, barrel joists, bowstring joists) must be erected in accordance with AISC Code of Standard Practice Section 7 and OSHA 1926.756.
SJI Technical Digest, Chapter 1 - ProductsTheodolitevsTransit (conventional)
A theodolite reads horizontal and vertical angles electronically and displays measurements on an LCD screen without a vernier scale, while a conventional transit requires manual reading of a vernier scale.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Types of InstrumentsPrimary drainage system (roof)vsSecondary drainage system (roof)
The primary drainage system handles normal roof drainage; the secondary system is set at a higher elevation and activates only when the primary system is blocked, limiting water accumulation above that elevation.
2021 International Building Code, Section 1611.3Key Terms
Metal Roof Panel on Solid Deck South Carolina Building Code 2021, Section 1507.4.1
Per SC Building Code 2021 Section 1507.4.1, metal roof panel coverings must be applied to a solid or closely fitted deck unless the covering is specifically designed for spaced supports.
Drip Edge Layering Sequence South Carolina Building Code 2021, Section 1507.2.8.3
Per SC Building Code 2021 Section 1507.2.8.3, underlayment goes over the drip edge at eaves and the drip edge goes over the underlayment at rakes.
Asphalt Shingle Underlayment Slope Threshold IBC, Section 1507.2.2
Per IBC Section 1507.2.2, slopes from 2:12 to under 4:12 require double underlayment; 4:12 or greater permits a single layer.
Concrete Floor Slab Minimum Thickness 2021 International Building Code, Section 1907.1
Per IBC Section 1907.1, concrete floor slabs supported directly on the ground shall be not less than 3½ inches thick.
Polyethylene Vapor Retarder (Slab) 2021 International Building Code, Section 1907.1
Per IBC Section 1907.1, a 6-mil polyethylene vapor retarder with joints lapped not less than 6 inches must be placed between the base course and a concrete floor slab.
Plain Concrete Footing Minimum Thickness (Light-Frame R-3) 2021 International Building Code, Section 1906.1
Per IBC Section 1906.1, plain concrete footings for Group R-3 light-frame buildings may be as thin as 6 inches provided the footing does not extend more than 4 inches on either side of the supported wall.
Active Pressure Design Exception (Foundation Walls) 2021 International Building Code, Section 1610.1
Per IBC Section 1610.1 Exception, foundation walls extending not more than 8 feet below grade and laterally supported at the top by flexible diaphragms may be designed for active rather than at-rest lateral soil pressure.
Rain Load Formula 2021 International Building Code, Section 1611.1
Per IBC Section 1611.1, roof rain load R = 5.2(ds + dh), where ds is the static head depth and dh is the hydraulic head above the secondary drain inlet.
Rain Load Design Storm 2021 International Building Code, Section 1611.1
Per IBC Section 1611.1, the design rainfall for roof rain loads is based on the 100-year, 15-minute duration storm event.
Differential Leveling Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Measuring a Difference in Elevation
The process of determining elevation differences between remote points requiring one or more intermediate instrument setups.
Consolidation (Concrete) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 8.2, Page 227
The process of removing air pockets and forcing concrete into all parts of the forms, accomplished by vibrating, tamping, spearing, or tapping forms.
Porosity (Soil) Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — The Excavation
The measurement of the ability of water to flow through soil, used to determine drainage quality before construction begins.
Egress Window Minimum Open Area Windows & Skylights chapter, Design Requirements section
Egress windows on upper floors must have a minimum unblocked open area of 5.7 sq. ft.; grade-floor egress windows require at least 5.0 sq. ft.
U-value (Windows) Windows & Skylights chapter, Energy Efficiency - Ratings section
A measure of heat loss through a window assembly; lower U-values indicate greater insulating performance and less heat loss.
Batter Boards Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Setting Up Batter Boards
Temporary boards supported by 2×4 stakes driven at least 4 feet beyond each corner of the foundation lines, used to retain layout strings during excavation.
Retarding Admixture (Concrete) The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, Pages 72 and 82
An admixture that delays concrete setting, increases lateral pressure on forms (chemistry coefficient CC = 1.2), and requires longer form-stripping times.
Formulas to Know
Excavation Volume (cubic feet)
(Length + 2×clearance) × (Width + 2×clearance) × DepthExcavation Volume (cubic yards)
Cubic feet ÷ 27Crawl Space Ventilation (net sq ft required)
Crawl space area (sq ft) ÷ 150Roof Rain Load
R = 5.2 × (ds + dh) [ds = static head; dh = hydraulic head above secondary drain]Minimum Ventilation Opening Area (room)
Room floor area × 0.04 (4% of floor area)Minimum Natural Light Window Area (room)
Room floor area × 0.08 (8% of floor area)Board Feet of Lumber
(Thickness_in × Width_in × Length_ft) ÷ 12Elevation Difference (differential leveling)
Higher elevation − Lower elevation = Difference in feet