ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) Exam (2015 IBC)

Key Concepts

Scope and referenced codes. The code applies to construction, alteration, relocation, repair, use and occupancy, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure (101.2). Exception: detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories above grade plane with a separate means of egress, and accessory structures not more than three stories, comply with the IRC. Appendix provisions do not apply unless specifically adopted (101.2.1). Referenced codes: IFGC — gas piping from the point of delivery to the inlet connections of appliances (101.4.1); IMC — mechanical systems including incinerators (101.4.2); IPC — plumbing and all aspects of a medical gas system (101.4.3); IPMC — existing structures, light, ventilation, space heating, sanitation, responsibilities of owners/operators/occupants (101.4.4); IEBC — repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition to and relocation of existing buildings (101.4.7).

Applicability. Specific requirements govern over general requirements; where different sections specify different materials or methods for the same case, the most restrictive governs (102.1). Where this code conflicts with a referenced code or standard, this code applies (102.4.1), and this code or the International Codes listed in 101.4 take precedence over referenced standards (102.4.2). Legal occupancy of structures existing on the adoption date may continue except as provided in this code, the IEBC, IPMC or IFC (102.6). A building never previously occupied must comply with the IBC or IRC for new construction or a current permit (102.6.1).

Department and building official. The building official is appointed by the chief appointing authority (103.2); the building official appoints deputies, technical officers, inspectors and plan examiners with the concurrence of the appointing authority (103.3). Outside inspection reports must be in writing and certified by a responsible officer of the approved agency or the responsible individual (104.4).

Key Concepts

General means of egress (Ch. 10) - Ceiling height in the means of egress: not less than 7 feet 6 inches, subject to listed exceptions (sloped ceilings, protruding objects, stair headroom, door height) — 1003.2. - Protruding objects may extend below that height where 80 inches headroom is kept; where vertical clearance is less than 80 inches, a barrier is required with its leading edge 27 inches maximum above the floor — 1003.3.1. - Doors fully opened shall not reduce required width by more than 7 inches; doors in any position not more than one-half — 1005.7.1.

Occupant load (1004) - Increased occupant load is permitted but shall not exceed one occupant per 7 square feet of occupiable floor space — 1004.2. - Seating booths: one person per 24 inches of booth seat length at the backrest; fixed seating without dividing arms: one person per 18 inches — 1004.4. - Mezzanine occupants egressing through a room on an adjacent level are added to that room's occupant load — 1004.1.1.2; occupant loads from separate stories are not added — 1004.1.1.3.

Exits, separation, accessible egress - Boiler/incinerator/furnace rooms over 500 square feet with fuel-fired equipment exceeding 400,000 Btu input need two exit access doorways — 1006.2.2.1. - Mixed occupancy, single exit: actual dwelling units divided by four plus the other occupancy's ratio shall not exceed one — 1006.3.2.1. - Separation measurement: to any point along a doorway width; to the closest riser for exit access stairways; to the start of the ramp run — 1007.1.1.1. - Accessible means of egress stairway: 48 inches clear between handrails plus area of refuge (Exception 2 waives 48 inches in fully sprinklered buildings); Exception 1 permits exit access stairways from mezzanines — 1009.3. Elevator required where a required accessible floor is four or more stories above or below the level of exit discharge — 1009.2.1. Area of refuge: one 30 × 48 inch wheelchair space per 200 occupants or portion thereof — 1009.6.3. Exterior area for assisted rescue: sides other than separation walls not less than 50 percent open — 1009.7.3.

Key Concepts

General design (Chapter 16) - Structural systems and members shall be designed to have adequate stiffness to limit deflections as indicated in Table 1604.3 (§1604.3). - The analysis shall result in a system providing a complete load path capable of transferring loads from their point of origin to the load-resisting elements (§1604.4).

Lumber grading and treatment (§2303) - Sawn lumber for load-supporting purposes is identified by the grade mark of a grading/inspection agency approved by an accreditation body complying with DOC PS 20 or equivalent (§2303.1.1). - A certificate of inspection as to species and grade may substitute for a grade mark for precut, remanufactured or rough-sawn lumber and for sizes larger than 3 inches nominal thickness (§2303.1.1.1). - Approved end-jointed lumber may be used interchangeably with solid-sawn members of the same species and grade; in fire-resistance-rated assemblies the grade mark must include "Heat Resistant Adhesive" or "HRA" (§2303.1.1.2). - Wood structural panels permanently exposed in outdoor applications shall be Exterior type, except roof sheathing exposed to the outdoors on the underside, which may be Exposure 1 (§2303.1.5). Roof sheathing shall be bonded by exterior glue (§2304.8.2). - Particleboard floor underlayment: Type PBU of ANSI A208.1, not less than 1/4 inch thick (§2303.1.8.1). - Preservative-treated wood quality mark includes: treating manufacturer, type of preservative, minimum preservative retention (pcf), end use, AWPA standard, accredited inspection agency (§2303.1.9.1). In enclosed locations where drying cannot readily occur, moisture content shall be 19 percent or less before covering (§2303.1.9.2). - Fire-retardant-treated wood: pressure process in closed vessels at not less than 50 psig (§2303.2.1); interior FRT wood not over 28 percent moisture at 92-percent RH per ASTM D3201 (§2303.2.7); dried before use to 19 percent or less for lumber, 15 percent or less for wood structural panels (§2303.2.8). - Nails: minimum average bending yield strengths — 80 ksi (shanks >0.177 to 0.254 in.), 90 ksi (>0.142 to 0.177 in.), 100 ksi (0.099 to 0.142 in.) (§2303.6).

ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) | 2015 IBC | 13 questions (14%)

Key Concepts

Interior finishes (Ch. 8) - Interior wall/ceiling finish is classed by ASTM E84 or UL 723: Class A = FSI 0–25, Class B = FSI 26–75, Class C = FSI 76–200; smoke-developed index 0–450 for all three (803.1.1). - NFPA 286 room corner test acceptance: peak heat release rate shall not exceed 800 kW; total smoke released shall not exceed 1,000 m² (803.1.2.1). - Textile and expanded vinyl wall/ceiling coverings qualified under ASTM E84/UL 723 require a Class A index and an automatic sprinkler system per 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2; mounting per ASTM E2404 (803.1.4). HDPE and PP interior finish must comply with 803.1.2 — NFPA 286 (803.9). - Thickness exemption: materials less than 0.036 inch applied directly to walls/ceilings need not be tested (803.2). Finish not more than 1/4 inch thick must be applied directly, no furring, not suspended (803.13.4). - Furred construction: intervening spaces filled with inorganic/noncombustible material, filled with Class A material, or fireblocked at a maximum of 8 feet in every direction per Section 718 (803.13.1.1). Dropped-ceiling hangers must be noncombustible; FRTW permitted in Type III and V (803.13.2.1). - Stability: finish must not readily detach at 200°F for not less than 30 minutes (803.12). - Floor finish: Class I = 0.45 watts/cm² or greater; Class II = 0.22 watts/cm² or greater (804.2). Class I required in Groups I-1, I-2, I-3; Class II in A, B, E, H, I-4, M, R-1, R-2, S (804.4.2). - Decorative materials: 10 percent of the wall/ceiling area; Exception 1 permits up to 75 percent of aggregate wall area in Group A auditoriums sprinklered per 903.3.1.1 and installed per 803.13 (Exception 2 = 50 percent, Group R-2 dormitories) (806.3). Flame propagation per NFPA 701 Test 1 or 2, or maximum 100 kW heat release per NFPA 289 with 20 kW ignition source (806.4). Pyroxylin imitation leather prohibited in Group A (806.6). Combustible trim, excluding handrails/guardrails, not more than 10 percent (806.7). Floor-wall base 6 inches or less in height — not less than Class II (806.8).…