ICC F12 General Building Contractor (B) Exam (2015 IBC/IRC)

Key Concepts

Scope — IBC vs. IRC. The IBC applies to construction, alteration, relocation, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure (IBC 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 their accessory structures not more than three stories above grade plane, comply with the IRC (IBC 101.2; IRC R101.2). A townhouse is a single-family dwelling unit in a group of three or more attached units, each extending from foundation to roof with a yard or public way on not less than two sides (IRC R202).

Appendices. IBC appendix provisions do not apply unless specifically adopted (IBC 101.2.1); IRC appendix provisions do not apply unless specifically referenced in the adopting ordinance (IRC R102.5).

Referenced codes. IFGC — gas piping from the point of delivery to the inlet connections of appliances (IBC 101.4.1). IMC — mechanical systems including ventilating, heating, cooling, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, incinerators (IBC 101.4.2). IPC — plumbing systems and all aspects of a medical gas system (IBC 101.4.3). IPMC — existing structures and premises; light, ventilation, space heating, sanitation; responsibilities of owners, operators and occupants (IBC 101.4.4). IEBC — repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition to and relocation of existing buildings (IBC 101.4.7).

Conflicts. General vs. specific requirement: the specific requirement applies; where different sections specify different materials/methods for the same case, the most restrictive governs (IBC 102.1). Code vs. referenced standard: the provisions of this code apply (IBC 102.4.1; 102.4.2).

Buildings not previously occupied must comply with the IBC or IRC for new construction, or with any current permit for such occupancy (IBC 102.6.1).

Key Concepts

Means of egress — general (IBC 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 over walking surfaces; where clearance is less than 80 inches a barrier is required with its leading edge 27 inches maximum above the floor — 1003.3.1. - Doors, when fully opened, shall not reduce required width by more than 7 inches; in any position, not more than one-half — 1005.7.1. - Minimum stairway width is 44 inches (1011.2); capacity may require more. - Exit separation measurement: to any point along the width of a doorway; to the closest riser for exit access stairways; to the start of the ramp run for ramps — 1007.1.1.1. - Two exit access doorways in boiler/incinerator/furnace rooms over 500 sq ft with fuel-fired equipment exceeding 400,000 Btu input — 1006.2.2.1. - Alternating tread devices as egress in Groups F, H and S: mezzanine not more than 250 sq ft serving not more than five occupants — 1011.14. - Stories connected by exit access stairways/ramps include basements, not mezzanines — 1019.1. - Dead-end corridors: 20 feet where more than one exit/exit access doorway is required; Exception 2 allows 50 feet in Groups B, E, F, I-1, M, R-1, R-2, R-4, S and U sprinklered per 903.3.1.1 — 1020.4. - Handrail height uniform, not less than 34 inches and not more than 38 inches (1014.2); alternating tread devices/ships ladders 30 to 34 inches. Type I circular handrails: outside diameter 1 1/4 to 2 inches; noncircular perimeter 4 to 6 1/4 inches — 1014.3.1. - Guards required where the drop is more than 30 inches within 36 inches horizontally of the open side (1015.2); required height 42 inches (1015.3); guards at serviceable rooftop components extend not less than 30 inches beyond each end and block a 21-inch sphere (1015.6). - Panic/fire exit hardware on electrical rooms with equipment rated 1,200 amperes or more and…

Key Concepts

General structural design - Structural systems and members must have adequate stiffness to limit deflections as indicated in Table 1604.3 (IBC 1604.3). - The analysis must produce a complete load path capable of transferring loads from their point of origin to the load-resisting elements (IBC 1604.4).

Wood materials and grading (IBC Ch. 23) - Sawn lumber for load-supporting purposes must bear the grade mark of an agency approved by an accreditation body complying with DOC PS 20 or equivalent; grading practices and identification follow rules published by an agency approved under DOC PS 20 procedures (2303.1.1). - A certificate of inspection as to species and grade may replace 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). Wood structural panel 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, installed per Composite Panel Association instructions (2303.1.8.1). - Preservative-treated wood quality mark must include treating manufacturer, type of preservative, minimum preservative retention (pcf), end use, AWPA standard, and the accredited inspection agency (2303.1.9.1). Where used in enclosed locations where drying in service cannot readily occur, moisture content shall be 19 percent or less before being covered (2303.1.9.2). - Fire-retardant-treated wood: pressure process in closed vessels at not less than 50 psig (2303.2.1); interior FRTW moisture content not over 28 percent per ASTM D3201 at 92-percent relative humidity (2303.2.7); dried before use to 19 percent or less for lumber, 15 percent or less for wood structural panels (2303.2.8). - Trusses: the truss manufacturer provides the truss placement diagram (2303.4.2); design/manufacture/quality assurance of metal-plate-connected wood trusses per TPI 1 (2303.4.6); the **owner or owner's authorized…

Key Concepts

Interior finishes (IBC Chapter 8) - Interior wall/ceiling finish tested to ASTM E84 or UL 723 is grouped as Class A (FSI 0–25), Class B (FSI 26–75), Class C (FSI 76–200), each with smoke-developed index 0–450 (Section 803.1.1). - Materials less than 0.036 inch thick applied directly to the surface of walls or ceilings are not required to be tested (Section 803.2, Thickness Exemption). - Finish applied to furring strips not exceeding 1¾ inches over rated or noncombustible construction: intervening spaces must be filled with inorganic/noncombustible material, filled with Class A material, or fireblocked at a maximum of 8 feet in every direction per Section 718 (Sections 803.13.1, 803.13.1.1). - Combustible curtains, draperies and fabric hangings shall not exceed 10 percent of the specific wall or 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 permits 50 percent in Group R-2 dormitory sleeping/dwelling units (Section 806.3).

Glass and glazing (IBC Chapter 24) - Skylights set at an angle less than 45 degrees from horizontal shall be mounted at least 4 inches above the plane of the roof on a curb built as required for the frame (Section 2405.4). - Glazing in all fixed and operable panels of swinging, sliding and bifold doors is a hazardous location; exceptions include openings a 3-inch sphere cannot pass, decorative glazing, curved panels in revolving doors, and commercial refrigerated cabinet glazed doors (Section 2406.4.1). - Glazing adjacent to a door is hazardous where the nearest vertical edge is within a 24-inch arc of either vertical edge of the door in the closed position and the bottom exposed edge is less than 60 inches above the walking surface (Section 2406.4.2). - Window glazing is hazardous only when all four conditions are met: pane area greater than 9 square feet; bottom edge less than 18 inches above the floor; top edge greater than 36 inches above the floor; a walking surface within 36 inches of the plane of the glazing (Section 2406.4.3). - Glass in handrails/guards: laminated…