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Tennessee BC-b Small Commercial Contractor

Tennessee  ·  Prov

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
70
Passing score
73%
Exam time
210 min
Administered by
Prov
Format
Reference materials allowed

Tennessee State Portion 70 questions

Estimating, Plan Reading 9 Q · 13%
Reading and interpreting civil drawings (site plans, plan and profile sheets, cross-sections)Contour lines, grading plans, and cut-and-fill mapsExcavation volume calculations (rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, and cylindrical shapes)Unit conversions and material weight calculations for excavationConstruction specifications format (CSI MasterFormat Division 31 Earthwork)Slope and grade control using stakes, benchmarks, and layout methods
General Code 6 Q · 9%
Occupancy classification and use group assignments (Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R, S, U)Building height and area limitations by occupancy and type of constructionTypes of construction (Types I–V) and fire-resistance rating requirements for building elementsFire-resistance-rated assemblies: fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers, and smoke partitionsMeans of egress requirements: occupant load, exit capacity, number and separation of exits, egress illuminationAutomatic sprinkler system requirements by occupancy, building height, and fire areaAccessibility requirements: accessible routes, entrances, parking, and means of egressScope, administration, and authority of the building official; permits, inspections, and certificates
Sitework 2 Q · 3%
Excavation safety requirements and competent person responsibilities (OSHA 1926 Subpart P)Trench protective systems: sloping, benching, shoring, and shieldingSoil classification for excavation (Type A, B, C, Stable Rock)Grading operations: cuts, fills, compaction, and slope requirements (IBC Appendix J)Earthmoving equipment selection and site excavation methodsDrainage and water control on construction sitesUnderground pipe installation: trench preparation, bedding, and thrust blocksPaving operations: concrete and hot-mix asphalt methods, equipment, and quality control
Footings and Foundations 4 Q · 6%
Soil classification and presumptive load-bearing valuesFooting minimum dimensions, depth, and frost protectionConcrete and masonry foundation wall design and reinforcementFoundation dampproofing and waterproofingGeotechnical investigations and soil testing requirementsFootings and foundations on or adjacent to slopesDeep foundation elements and pile design requirements
Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement 8 Q · 11%
ConcreteConcrete ReinforcementConcrete mix design and proportioningConcrete batching, mixing, and transportingConcrete placement, consolidation, and finishingCuring methods and requirementsConcrete durability and exposure categoriesFormwork design and removalReinforcing bar fabrication, sizes, grades, and ASTM standardsConcrete cover requirements and bar supports
Masonry 6 Q · 9%
Masonry materials: clay brick types, grades, and manufacturing processesConcrete masonry unit (CMU) types, grades, and propertiesMortar types, proportions, and mixing requirementsMasonry wall systems: solid, cavity, composite, hollow, and veneer wallsLaying brick and block techniques: mortar placement, coursing, leads, and mason's lineMasonry reinforcement, anchors, ties, and joint reinforcementMasonry structural design: allowable stress, strength design, and empirical design methodsOSHA safety requirements and jobsite safety for masonry construction
Carpentry 6 Q · 9%
Wood wall framing components (studs, plates, headers, cripple studs, trimmer studs)Wall bracing methods and braced wall panel requirementsHeader sizing and span tables for wall openingsFastening schedules for wood wall and roof framing connectionsDrilling and notching limitations for studs and top platesCold-formed steel wall framing materials, member identification, and installationWood floor framing: joist spans, bridging, blocking, and cantileversWood roof framing: rafter spans, ridge boards, collar ties, and ceiling joists
Doors, Windows, and Stairs 1 Q · 1%
Door size, swing direction, and operational force requirementsDoor hardware, locking, and latching requirements (including panic hardware and delayed egress)Special door types (revolving, power-operated, sliding, and security grilles)Stair dimensions, treads, risers, landings, and headroomHandrail requirements for stairs and rampsGuards: height, location, and opening limitationsSafety glazing: hazardous locations and impact test requirementsGlazing in handrails, guards, skylights, and sloped applications
Interior Finish 1 Q · 1%
Gypsum board types and special-use panels (Type X, water-resistant, abuse-resistant, flexible, sheathing)Drywall fasteners: nails, screws (Types W, S, G), and adhesives — selection and spacing requirementsFire-rated wall and ceiling assemblies: single-ply vs. multi-ply construction and fire-stopping methodsInterior wall and ceiling finish flame spread and smoke-developed classifications (Class A, B, C) by occupancySound-isolation construction methods: STC ratings, separated partitions, resilient channels, and sound-isolating materialsDrywall installation procedures: cutting, fitting, fastener patterns, floating interior angle construction, and moisture-resistant applicationsDrywall accessories: corner beads, casings, control joints, and perimeter reliefInterior floor finish and decorative materials requirements under IBC Chapter 8
Structural Steel 12 Q · 17%
Pre-erection activities and site readiness verificationStructural steel erection sequence (columns, horizontal members, bracing and bridging)Column anchorage requirements and anchor bolt tolerancesBolted and welded field connections (framed-beam, seated-beam, end-plate, single-plate shear)Erection tolerances for columns and structural membersTemporary supports, bracing, and plumbing-up during erectionSteel erection safety requirements under OSHA Subpart R (fall protection, hoisting, open web steel joists, metal decking)Pre-engineered metal building erection and IBC Chapter 22 steel design standards
Roofing, Siding, and Insulation 7 Q · 10%
Roof covering types and minimum slope requirements (asphalt shingles, clay/concrete tile, metal panels, wood shingles/shakes, built-up, modified bitumen, single-ply)Underlayment selection, application, and attachment requirements by roof covering type and wind speedRoof flashing requirements (valleys, drip edges, base/cap flashing, crickets and saddles, parapet walls)Fire classification of roof assemblies (Class A, B, C ratings and applicable construction types)Insulation types, R-values, and installation methods (flexible, loose-fill, rigid/semirigid, reflective, spray foam)Vapor retarders and moisture control (perm ratings, vapor barrier classes, placement relative to building thermal envelope by climate zone)Exterior wall weather protection and water-resistive barriers (building wrap/house wrap installation, flashing at openings, drainage requirements)Reroofing requirements (roof recover vs. roof replacement, conditions prohibiting recover, reinstallation of materials)
Plumbing Concepts 1 Q · 1%
Minimum plumbing fixture counts by occupancy type (IBC Table 2902.1)Sanitary drainage system design: pipe sizing, slope, and fixture unit valuesBackflow prevention devices and cross-connection controlVenting methods and vent pipe sizing requirementsWater supply system design: pressure, flow rates, and pipe sizingFixture trap requirements: seal depth, size, and prohibited trap typesWater heater installation: relief valves, pan requirements, and prohibited locationsStorm drainage and subsoil drain systems
HVAC Concepts 1 Q · 1%
Combustion air requirements and sizing methods for fuel-gas appliancesFuel gas piping materials, sizing, and installationVenting systems and chimney types for gas appliances (Type B, BW, L, single-wall, factory-built)Duct system construction, materials, insulation, and sealingHeating and cooling equipment installation, sizing, and clearances to combustiblesCondensate disposal and auxiliary drain pan requirementsBoiler and water heater installation, safety controls, and pressure reliefExhaust systems for dryers, cooking equipment, and mechanical ventilation
Electrical Concepts 1 Q · 1%
GFCI and AFCI protection requirements by locationService entrance sizing, conductors, and disconnecting meansGrounding and bonding systems (electrodes, conductors, jumpers)Branch circuit ratings, loading, and overcurrent protectionReceptacle outlet placement and spacing requirementsWiring methods, raceways, and conduit fillPanelboard installation, ratings, and working space clearancesEmergency and standby power systems (IBC requirements)
OSHA Safety 5 Q · 7%
Fall protection requirements and systems (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest)Scaffold safety requirements and load capacityExcavation and trenching safety (cave-in protection, sloping, shoring)Personal protective equipment (PPE) selection and employer responsibilitiesElectrical safety in construction (grounding, GFCI, lockout/tagout, working clearances)Hazardous and toxic substances (asbestos, silica, permissible exposure limits)Fire protection and prevention on construction sitesStairway and ladder safety requirements

Key Distinctions

Slope (roof framing)vsPitch (roof framing)

Slope is a ratio of rise to run, while pitch is a ratio of rise to span; slope is the term most suited to roof framing.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 470
Contact lap splicevsSpaced-lap splice

A contact splice has the bars touching and is preferred because it provides more strength, while a spaced-lap splice places the bars apart without contact at a center-to-center spacing that must not exceed 6 inches.

Study Guide for Commercial Building Contractor, Module 27304 Reinforcing Concrete, Section 4.1.2
Direct construction costsvsDirect (job) overhead costs

Direct construction costs are labor, material and equipment tied to a trade or phase (pipe materials, backhoe rental, pipe bedding aggregate), while direct job overhead covers administrative costs resulting from taking the job but not tied to a specific trade or phase (traffic control with barricades, flaggers and lane delineators; pipe and soil density testing).

Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Pages 20-21
Fiberglass asphalt shinglesvsOrganic asphalt shingles

Fiberglass shingles use a fiberglass base mat saturated and covered with flexible asphalt and surfaced with mineral granules, while organic shingles use a cellulose-fiber base mat.

NRCA Roofing Manual: Architectural Metal Flashing Condensation and Air Leakage Control, and Reroofing, Appendix 6—Climatic Design Information (glossary, "asphalt shingle")
MuntinvsMullion strip

A muntin is the vertical or horizontal piece within a sash that holds an individual pane of glass, while a mullion strip is the vertical piece separating combined window units.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Windows & Skylights chapter, Double-Hung Windows section
Field-cured test cylindersvsLaboratory-cured test cylinders

Field-cured specimens stay on site under the same conditions as the placement and may be used to determine when it is safe to remove forms, while acceptance strength is determined from laboratory-cured cylinders tested under ASTM C39.

Study Guide for Commercial Building Contractor, Module 23212 Properties of Concrete, Section 3.4.0
Registered design professional's duty for open-web steel joists (IBC 2021 §2207.2)vsJoist manufacturer's duty (IBC 2021 §2207.3)

The registered design professional indicates on the construction documents the joist and joist girder designations, design requirements, layout, end supports, anchorage, bridging design differing from SJI specifications, bridging termination connections and bearing connection design for uplift and lateral loads, while the manufacturer designs the joists to support those stated loads and submits sealed calculations plus connection design for connections differing from SJI specifications, field splices and joist headers.

IBC 2021 Section 2207.2
"K" series joist weld attachment (OSHA §1926.757(b)(1))vs"LH"/"DLH" series joists and joist girders

Each end of a "K" series joist requires a minimum of two 1/8-inch fillet welds 1 inch long (or two 1/2-inch bolts or the equivalent), while the larger 1/4-inch by 2-inch welds apply to "LH" and "DLH" series joists and joist girders.

29 CFR 1926, Subpart R, §1926.757(b)(1)
B-B Plyform® deck surfacevsHDO-overlaid deck surface

B-B Plyform®, sanded both sides and mill oiled rather than overlaid, gives 5 to 10 reuses, while an HDO-overlaid surface normally produces 20 to 50 reuses or more with reasonable care.

Study Guide for Commercial Building Contractor, Module 27309 Horizontal Formwork, Section 4.1.0
Hollow masonry unitvsSolid masonry unit

A hollow unit has net cross-sectional area less than 75 percent of its gross cross-sectional area measured in any plane parallel to the surface containing voids, while a solid unit has 75 percent or more.

ACI 530/530.1-11, TMS 402 Code Chapter 1, Section 1.6 Definitions, Page C-16
3/8-inch gypsum panelsvs1/2-inch and 5/8-inch gypsum panels

Per Gypsum Panel Limitations, 3/8-inch panels are designed for framing centers up to 16 inches on center, while 1/2-inch and 5/8-inch panels are designed for framing centers up to 24 inches.

Gypsum Construction Handbook (7th ed.), Page 3 (Gypsum Panel Limitations item 3)
Cantilever ratio, IRC 2018 Table R502.3.3(1)vsCantilever ratio, IRC 2018 Table R502.3.3(2)

For floor joists supporting a light-frame exterior bearing wall and roof only, the backspan-to-cantilever ratio shall be not less than 3 to 1, while 2 to 1 is the minimum given for joists cantilevered to support an exterior balcony.

IRC 2018 Table R502.3.3(1)
Thickened slab beneath an interior bearing wallvsStandard footing

The thickened slab area acts like a footing but is formed by a trench dug into the subgrade (strengthened with rebar) rather than by formwork.

Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 11.1, Page 295
Solid-core doorsvsHollow-core doors

Solid-core construction (wood strips, particleboard, rigid foam or other core covered with thin veneer) reduces warping, is more fire-resistant, and is generally preferred for exterior doors.

Residential Doors chapter, Flat-Panel Doors section

Key Terms

Fire wall (IBC 2021 §202) IBC 2021 Section 202 (Definitions - Fire Wall)
A fire-resistance-rated wall having protected openings that restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the foundation to or through the roof, with sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall.
Building area (IBC 2021 §202) IBC 2021 Section 202 (Definitions - Area, Building)
The area within surrounding exterior walls, or exterior walls and fire walls, exclusive of vent shafts and courts, with unwalled areas included if they fall within the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above.
Occupant load (IBC 2021 §202) IBC 2021 202
The number of persons for which the means of egress of a building or portion thereof is designed, which is a design value rather than the actual number of people present.
Story above grade plane (IBC 2021 §202) IBC 2021 Section 202 (Definitions - Story Above Grade Plane)
Any story having its finished floor surface entirely above grade plane, or in which the finished surface of the floor next above is more than 6 feet above grade plane or more than 12 feet above the finished ground level at any point.
Cavity wall (TMS 402/ACI 530 §1.6) ACI 530/530.1-11, TMS 402 Code Chapter 1, Section 1.6 Definitions, Page C-14
A masonry wall of two or more wythes, at least two of which are separated by a continuous air space, with the separated wythes connected by wall ties.
Hollow masonry unit (TMS 402/ACI 530 §1.6) ACI 530/530.1-11, TMS 402 Code Chapter 1, Section 1.6 Definitions, Page C-16
A masonry unit whose net cross-sectional area is less than 75 percent of its gross cross-sectional area measured in any plane parallel to the surface containing voids.
Lap splice, masonry allowable stress design (IBC 2021 §2107.2.1) IBC 2021 Section 2107.2.1
Reinforcing bar splice length in tension or compression calculated as ld = 0.002db × fs, but not less than 12 inches and not less than 40 bar diameters.
Keyway Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 10.1, Page 258
A groove formed in the top of a footing—usually 3½ inches wide and 1½ inches deep because a 2×4 is often used to form it—that locks the foundation wall to the footing and prevents moisture from seeping between them.
Cold joint Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 10.2, Page 266
The joint that occurs where fresh concrete is poured on top of or next to concrete that has already begun to cure; it is weaker and more likely to leak, so concrete should be poured continuously without interruption.
Consolidation Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 8.2, Page 227
The process that removes air pockets and forces concrete into all parts of the forms, accomplished with a concrete vibrator, by tamping, by spearing with a spade, or by tapping forms with a hammer.
Shear wall Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 378
A wall designed to resist lateral (sideways) forces, often created by a specific sheathing nail spacing and properly fastened to the framing above and to the sill plate and foundation below.
Ridge board Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 468
The horizontal framing member that connects the upper ends of the rafters and extends the full length of the house.
Differential leveling Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Measuring a Difference in Elevation
The process of determining differences in elevation between points remote from each other that requires one or more additional intermediate instrument setups.
Theodolite Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 9 — Types of Instruments
A transit that reads horizontal and vertical angles electronically, needs no vernier scale, displays measurements on an LCD screen, and is used when extremely accurate measurements are required.
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.
Plyform® Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 19, Page 402
An exterior-type plywood specially designed for concrete forming, made from special wood species and veneer grades and available in Class I and Class II grades.

Formulas to Know

Roof rise and ridge elevation for a symmetric gableRun = span ÷ 2; Rise = run × (pitch rise ÷ 12); Ridge elevation = top-of-wall elevation + rise. Examples: 56' span, 6:12 → 28 × 0.5 = 14.00' rise, ridge = 9.00' + 14.00' = 23.00'; 63' span, 8:12 → 31.50 × (8/12) = 21.00' rise, ridge = 12.00' + 21.00' = 33.00'.
Sloped (rafter) length from wall to ridgeRafter length = √(run² + rise²). Example: run 31.50', rise 21.00' → √(992.25 + 441.00) = 37.86'.
Hip roof ridge length and true hip length (equal slopes all planes)Ridge = Length − Width (60 − 36 = 24.00 ft); True hip = √(plan run₁² + plan run₂² + rise²) with rise = 18 × (6/12) = 9 ft → √(324 + 324 + 81) = 27.00 ft.
Roof area in squares using the slope factorSlope factor = √(12² + rise²) ÷ 12 (6:12 → √180/12 = 1.118); Roof area = footprint × slope factor; Squares = roof area ÷ 100. Example: 60 × 36 = 2,160 sf × 1.118 = 2,415 sf ÷ 100 = 24.2 squares. A printed porch factor example: 8 ft run × 1.031 = 8.25 ft rafter.
Excavation volume for a house with working clearanceVolume = (length + clearance each side) × (width + clearance each side) × depth ÷ 27. Example: (40+2+2) × (26+2+2) × 7 = 44 × 30 × 7 = 9,240 cf ÷ 27 ≈ 342 cubic yards.
Trapezoidal footing excavation volume (prism)Area = ½ (base 1 + base 2) × height; Volume = area × run length ÷ 27. Example: ½ (2 + 3) × 4 = 10 sf × 27 ft = 270 cf ÷ 27 = 10 cubic yards.
Concrete volume for slabs/flatwork and whole-yard orderingVolume (cy) = area (sf) × thickness in feet (inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27, rounded up to whole yards when ordering. Examples: pool deck 720 sf × 0.333' = 240 cf ÷ 27 = 8.89 → 9 cy; driveway 45 × 12 = 540 sf × 5/12 = 225 cf ÷ 27 = 8.33 cy; sidewalk 30 × 4 = 120 sf × 4/12 = 40 cf ÷ 27 = 1.48 cy; both together 265 cf ÷ 27 = 9.81 → order 10 cy; footing 200 × 2 × 1 = 400 cf ÷ 27 = 14.8 → order 15 cy.
Bar spacing within a footing mat (NCCER Module 27304 §4.2.1)Convert the footing dimension to inches, subtract 1 from the number of bars running in that direction, then divide. Example: 15 ft = 180 in.; 11 bars − 1 = 10; 180 ÷ 10 = 18 in. on center (with an odd bar count the first bar is placed on the center line).
Crawl-space ventilation net area1 square foot of net venting per 150 square feet of crawl-space area. Example: 1,200 ÷ 150 = 8 square feet.
Formwork contact area and labor price with burden and O&PContact area = length × form height × number of faces (200 × 1.0 × 2 = 400 sf); Base labor = area × unit rate (400 × $1.25 = $500.00); × 1.25 for 25% burden = $625.00; × 1.15 for 15% O&P = $718.75.
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