ICC F13 Residential Building Contractor (C) Exam (2015 IRC)

Key Concepts

Scope and applicability - The IRC applies to detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress, and their accessory structures not more than three stories above grade plane (R101.2). - Where different sections specify different materials or methods, the most restrictive shall govern; where a general and a specific requirement conflict, the specific applies (R102.1). - Exception to R102.4: where enforcement of a code provision would violate the conditions of the listing of equipment or an appliance, the conditions of the listing and the manufacturer's instructions shall apply. Otherwise, provisions of this code apply over referenced codes and standards (R102.4.1, R102.4.2). - Appendix provisions shall not apply unless specifically referenced in the adopting ordinance (R102.5).

Building official authority - Modifications for practical difficulties may be granted only where the modification does not lessen health, life and fire safety or structural requirements; details of action granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the files of the department of building safety (R104.10). - Reports of inspections by approved agencies/individuals must be in writing and certified by a responsible officer of the approved agency or the responsible individual (R104.4); the building official is authorized to accept approved agency reports (R109.2).

Permits - Permit application content includes, among other items, the valuation of the proposed work (R105.3). - An application is deemed abandoned 180 days after the date of filing unless pursued in good faith or a permit is issued; the building official may grant extensions not exceeding 180 days each, requested in writing with justifiable cause (R105.3.2). - Issuance of a permit based on construction documents shall not prevent the building official from requiring correction of errors in those documents (R105.4). - A permit becomes invalid unless work is commenced within 180 days after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencement; written extensions not more than 180 days each (R105.5). - A permit may be suspended or revoked where issued in error, on incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete information,…

Based on the 2015 International Residential Code, Chapter 3 — Building Planning

Key Concepts

Fire-Resistant Construction & Separation

• Townhouse common walls (R302.2): With a fire sprinkler system in accordance with Section P2904 — not less than a 1-hour fire-resistance-rated assembly tested to ASTM E 119 or UL 263 (Item 1). Without such a sprinkler system — not less than 2 hours (Item 2).
• Parapets (R302.2.2): Where roof surfaces adjacent to the common wall are at the same elevation, the parapet shall extend not less than 30 inches above the roof surfaces. The same 30-inch dimension applies above the lower roof where roofs are at different elevations not more than 30 inches apart.
• Parapet faces (R302.2.3): Parapets have the same fire-resistance rating as the supporting wall; on any side adjacent to a roof surface, the uppermost 18 inches must have noncombustible faces, including counterflashing and coping materials.
• Two-family dwellings (R302.3): 1-hour rating between dwelling units; Exception 1 permits 1/2 hour where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13.
• Membrane penetrations (R302.4.2, Exception 1): Steel electrical boxes in walls rated not more than 2 hours, each box not exceeding 16 square inches, aggregate openings not exceeding 100 square inches in any 100 square feet of wall area.
• Garage doors (R302.5.1): Solid wood doors not less than 1-3/8 inches thick, solid or honeycomb-core steel doors not less than 1-3/8 inches thick, or 20-minute fire-rated doors, each with a self-closing device. Openings directly into a sleeping room are prohibited.
• Garage ducts (R302.5.2): Minimum No. 26 gage sheet steel or other approved material, with no openings into the garage.
• Table R302.6: Garage separated from habitable rooms above — not less than 5/8-inch Type X gypsum board or equivalent; separation from the residence and attics generally not less than 1/2-inch gypsum board.
• Under-stair protection (R302.7): Enclosed accessible space under stairs — walls, under-stair surface and soffits protected on the enclosed side with 1/2-inch gypsum board.
• Interior finishes: flame spread index not greater than 200 (R302.9.1);…

Key Concepts

Wood wall framing materials (R602.1). Each product has its own standard: cross-laminated timber — ANSI/APA PRG 320 (R602.1.6); engineered wood rim board — ANSI/APA PRR 410 (R602.1.7); structural composite lumber — ASTM D 5456 (R602.1.5); glued-laminated timbers — ANSI/AITC A190.1 (R602.1.3); structural log members — ICC 400 (R602.1.4); particleboard — ANSI A208.1 (R602.1.9). End-jointed lumber used in an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating must carry "Heat Resistant Adhesive" or "HRA" in its grade mark (R602.1.2).

Top plates and drilling/notching. Double top plate end joints shall be offset not less than 24 inches; joints need not occur over studs (R602.3.2). Bored holes in studs: not less than 5/8 inch shall be maintained from the edge of the bored hole to the edge of the stud, and the hole shall not occur in the same section as a cut or notch (R602.6, Item 2). Where a top plate in an exterior or interior load-bearing wall is cut, drilled or notched more than 50 percent of its width, fasten a galvanized metal tie not less than 0.054 inch (16 ga) thick and 1-1/2 inches wide across the plate with not less than eight 10d nails at each side, extending a minimum of 6 inches past the opening (R602.6.1).

Nonbearing headers (R602.7.4). A single flat 2-inch by 4-inch member may serve as a header in nonbearing walls for openings up to 8 feet wide if the vertical distance to the parallel nailing surface above is not more than 24 inches; cripples or blocking are then not required above.

ICC F13 Residential Building Contractor (C) Exam, 2015 IRC

Key Concepts

Interior plaster - Support spacing for gypsum or metal lath on walls or ceilings shall not exceed 16 inches for 3/8-inch-thick plain gypsum lath, or 24 inches for 1/2-inch-thick plain gypsum lath (R702.2.3). - Three-coat cement plaster: second coat not sooner than 24 hours after the first coat; finish coat not sooner than 48 hours after the second coat (R702.2.2.2). Two-coat cement plaster: finish coat not sooner than 48 hours after the first coat (R702.2.2.2). Each coat kept moist not less than 24 hours before the next coat (R702.2.2.1).

Gypsum board - Type W or Type S screws to wood framing shall penetrate the wood not less than 5/8 inch; screws to cold-formed steel less than 0.033 inch thick shall penetrate the steel not less than 3/8 inch; screws to structural insulated panels shall penetrate the wood structural panel facing not less than 7/16 inch (R702.3.5.1). - Horizontal gypsum board diaphragm ceilings: maximum allowable diaphragm proportion 1-1/2:1 between shear-resisting elements; rotation or cantilever conditions not permitted; boards installed perpendicular to framing (R702.3.6). - Water-resistant gypsum backing board is permitted on ceilings and as the base for adhesive application of ceramic tile, but shall not be installed over a Class I or II vapor retarder in a shower or tub compartment (R702.3.7). - Wood veneer and hardboard paneling less than 1/4-inch nominal thickness requires not less than a 3/8-inch gypsum board or gypsum panel product backer, framing spaced not more than 16 inches on center (R702.5).

Vapor retarders - Class I or II vapor retarders required on the interior side of frame walls in Climate Zones 5, 6, 7, 8 and Marine 4. Exceptions: basement walls; below-grade portion of any wall; construction where moisture or its freezing will not damage the materials (R702.7). - Deemed to comply — Class I: sheet polyethylene, unperforated aluminum foil. Class II: kraft-faced fiberglass batts. Class III: latex or enamel paint. Otherwise class is based on the manufacturer's certified testing or a tested assembly (R702.7.2).