South Carolina (Limited) Building Contractor

9% of exam | 7 questions

Key Concepts

SC 811 One-Call / Underground Facility Damage Prevention Act

• Call 811 at least 3 full business days before excavating (not counting the day you call or the day you dig).
• Applies to all excavators — contractors, homeowners, and anyone moving earth mechanically or with explosives.
• Utilities must be marked within 3 business days of notification.
• Tolerance zone: 18 inches on either side of the outer edge of a marked underground facility (total 36-inch zone around the mark). Within this zone, hand-digging or vacuum excavation is required — no mechanical equipment.
• If you damage a line, stop work, secure the area, and notify the facility owner and 911 if hazardous.
• Excavator's responsibility: verify marks are present before digging; maintain marks throughout the project.

Key Concepts

Concrete Mixture Components

• Cement binds aggregates; aggregates (fine = sand, coarse = gravel/crushed stone) provide bulk and strength; water triggers hydration; admixtures modify workability, set time, air content, or strength.
• Water-cement (w/c) ratio is the single most important factor controlling strength — lower ratio = higher strength. Never add excess water on the job.
• Portland cement types: Type I (general use), Type II (moderate sulfate resistance), Type III (high early strength), Type IV (low heat), Type V (high sulfate resistance).
• Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs): Fly ash (Class C or F) and slag (GGBFS) replace a portion of cement — improve workability, reduce heat of hydration, extend set time, and enhance long-term durability.

Key Concepts

Brick Types & Classifications

• Grades by weathering exposure: SW (Severe Weathering), MW (Moderate Weathering), NW (No Weathering/interior only)
• Types by use: FBX (high precision, minimal variation), FBS (standard), FBA (architectural, intentional variation)
• Nominal brick size (standard): 4" × 2⅔" × 8"; modular coursing = 3 courses per 8"

Concrete Masonry Units (CMU)

• Grades: Grade N (general use, above/below grade, exposed to weather); Grade S (above grade, protected from weather)
• Types: Hollow, solid, open-end (A-block), bond beam, lintel block
• Standard CMU nominal size: 8" × 8" × 16" (actual: 7⅝" × 7⅝" × 15⅝" to account for ⅜" mortar joint)

Mortar Types & Proportions

Mortar type is selected based on application — higher strength ≠ always better (high-strength mortar can crack softer brick):

10 questions | 12% of exam

Key Concepts

Open Web Steel Joist Series & Designations

• K-Series: Depths 10"–30" (2" increments), spans 10–60 ft. Standard bearing depth: 2½". Designation example: 18K7 → 18" depth, K-series, chord #7. Typically underslung (top bearing), Warren or modified Warren web.
• LH-Series (Longspan): Depths 18"–48", spans up to 96 ft. Standard bearing depth: 5". Designation example: 40LH13 → 40" depth at mid-span.
• DLH-Series (Deep Longspan): Depths 52"–120", spans up to 240 ft. Bearing depth: 5" (chord #10–17) or 7½" (chord #18–25).
• CJ-Series: Composite joists — designed to act compositely with a concrete slab.
• Joist Girders: Primary members, bear on columns, support perpendicular joists. Depths 20"–120", spans up to 120 ft. Standard bearing depth: 7½". Designation example: 36G9N6K → 36" depth, 9 joist spaces, 6-kip load per panel point…

Study Brief | 12 Questions | 15% of Exam

Key Concepts

Wood Properties, Moisture Content & Lumber Grading

• Moisture content (MC) affects strength, shrinkage, and stability. Lumber used in framing should be at or below 19% MC (S-Dry). Green lumber (>19%) will shrink and warp as it dries.
• Lumber is stress-graded: Select Structural > No. 1 > No. 2 > No. 3. No. 2 is the most common framing grade.
• Defects that reduce grade: knots, checks, wane, slope of grain, and splits.

Engineered Wood Products

• Plywood: graded by face veneer (A–D) and exposure rating (Exterior, Exposure 1). Span ratings are stamped on the panel (e.g., 32/16 = roof/floor span).
• OSB (Oriented Strand Board): comparable structural performance to plywood; common for sheathing and subfloor. Edges must be supported or use tongue-and-groove.…

Key Concepts

R-Value & Insulation Requirements

• R-value measures thermal resistance; higher = better insulation. SC falls primarily in Climate Zone 3 (most of the state) and Zone 4 (Upstate/mountains).
• Zone 3 typical minimums: Ceiling R-38, Wall R-13, Floor R-19. Zone 4: Ceiling R-49, Wall R-20 or R-13+5ci (continuous insulation).
• Requirements are governed by IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) as adopted by SC.

Insulation Types

• Batts/rolls: Fiberglass or mineral wool; friction-fit between studs; vapor retarder facing toward warm-in-winter side.
• Loose-fill (blown-in): Cellulose or fiberglass; used in attics and existing walls; settled depth must account for settling.
• Rigid board: Extruded polystyrene (XPS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), polyisocyanurate; used as continuous insulation (ci) on exterior walls; XPS ≈ R-5/inch.
• Spray polyurethane foam (SPF): Open-cell (~R-3.7/inch) or closed-cell (~R-6.5/inch); closed-cell also acts as vapor retarder.…

Key Concepts

Door Types

• Exterior doors: Solid-core construction required for security and insulation; common types include French (paired glass-panel doors), sliding patio, and garage doors
• Interior doors: Hollow-core (lightweight, lower cost) for passage; solid-core used where sound control or fire rating is needed
• Fire-rated doors: Labeled with a specific rating (20-min, 45-min, 60-min, 90-min); must be self-closing and paired with a rated frame and hardware — never modify or block open
• Specialty interior types: Pocket (slides into wall cavity), bifold (folding panels on track), sliding (bypass), passage (standard swing)
• Raised-panel doors: Solid or engineered stiles and rails with floating panels — a construction method, not a fire-rating category

Key Concepts

Drywall Types & Installation

• Standard gypsum board comes in ½" (most common for walls) and 5/8" (required for fire-rated assemblies) thicknesses.
• Type X gypsum board is used in fire-rated wall and ceiling assemblies.
• Moisture-resistant (MR) board ("greenboard") is used in wet areas; cement board is used as tile backer in showers/tubs.
• Fastening: Screws preferred over nails; screws are placed 12" o.c. on ceilings, 16" o.c. on walls when framing is 16" o.c. Nails are placed 7" o.c. on ceilings, 8" o.c. on walls.
• Edges must land on framing members; joints on adjacent panels must be staggered.

Key Concepts

Employer & Employee Responsibilities (Subpart C)

• § 1926.20: The prime contractor retains overall responsibility for safety compliance on all work, even when subcontracting. Prime and subcontractors share joint responsibility — both are subject to enforcement.
• Employers must maintain accident prevention programs, conduct frequent and regular inspections by competent persons, and prohibit use of non-compliant equipment (tag it, lock it out, or remove it).
• Only qualified employees (by training or experience) may operate equipment and machinery.
• § 1926.21: Employers must train each employee on hazard recognition, avoidance, and applicable regulations — including specific training for those handling poisons, flammables, and toxic materials. Each failure to train an employee is a separate violation.
• PPE failures are also cited per employee — each unprotected worker is a separate violation.

South Carolina (Limited) Building Contractor Exam — 16% of Exam (13 Questions)

Key Concepts

Occupancy Classification (IBC Chapter 3)

• Group A (Assembly): A-1 theaters, A-2 restaurants/bars, A-3 churches/gyms, A-4 indoor sports, A-5 outdoor
• Group B (Business): offices, banks, outpatient clinics
• Group E (Educational): schools through 12th grade, daycare >5 children over age 2½
• Group F (Factory): F-1 moderate hazard (woodworking, autos), F-2 low hazard (metal, glass)
• Group H (High Hazard): H-1 through H-5 based on hazard type (detonation, deflagration, physical/health hazard)
• Group I (Institutional): I-1 supervised residential, I-2 hospitals/nursing homes, I-3 prisons, I-4 daycare
• Group M (Mercantile): retail stores, markets, showrooms
• Group R (Residential): R-1 hotels/motels, R-2 apartments (3+ units), R-3 1-2 family dwellings, R-4 assisted living
• Group S (Storage): S-1 moderate hazard, S-2 low hazard -…