ICC F14 Roofing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC/IPC) Exam Study Guide
This guide covers what you need for the ICC F14 Roofing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC/IPC) exam: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics it tests, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a plan to prepare. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
ICC F14 Roofing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC/IPC) Exam at a Glance
Here are the exam's key facts from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 60 questions |
| Time limit | 3 hours |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 70 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $120 |
On exam day
- Test questions are in four-option, multiple-choice format, with one answer on each question scored as correct.
References you may bring
- International Building Code (2015)
- International Plumbing Code (2015)
- International Residential Code (2015)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Exams are scheduled through PearsonVUE at www.pearsonvue.com/ICC, where candidates can create an account, schedule an exam, locate a test center, purchase vouchers and request accommodations.
- Results for examinations taken electronically are available immediately after the examination is completed.
- You must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
- After passing, contact the jurisdiction in which you wish to be licensed for any other requirements, because ICC is not a licensing agency.
Source: National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED June 30, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the ICC F14 Roofing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC/IPC) Exam Covers
The official content outline has 4 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Administration and General Requirements | 15 | 25% |
| Types of Roofing Material and Application | 21 | 35% |
| Fasteners, Flashings, Drainage, and Scuppers | 17 | 28% |
| Re-roofing | 7 | 12% |
How to Prepare for the ICC F14 Roofing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC/IPC) Exam
Start with the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are your main study tool. Get the editions the bulletin names.
Learn where things are. Read the table of contents and the index of each book until you know where every major subject lives. On test day, finding an answer fast matters more than memorizing it.
Highlight the sections you use most. Check the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings before you add any.
Spend most of your time on the biggest topics. Types of Roofing Material and Application and Fasteners, Flashings, Drainage, and Scuppers make up 63% of the exam.
Take timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 3 minutes per question.
Aim to pass more than once. One passing score can be luck. Several in a row means you're ready.
Reference Books for the ICC F14 Roofing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC/IPC) Exam
The references listed for this open-book exam are the 2015 International Building Code, the 2015 International Plumbing Code and the 2015 International Residential Code.
Where to get them:
On Test Day
- Go through the whole exam first. Answer every question you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions.
- Then go back to your bookmarks and work them out.
- Don't let one question eat your time. You have 3 hours for 60 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question.
- Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
Our practice exam is specifically designed to mimic the testing conditions at all exam centers. While untimed PDF study guides might help with studying, they don’t prepare you for the challenge of managing your time during an actual test.
Know your way around each book's index and table of contents. Open-book exams reward speed: you need to find specific items quickly.
A little anxiety before an exam is completely normal — acknowledge it instead of fighting it. If you feel yourself spiraling on a question, pause and take a few slow breaths to reset. If your test center allows a short break, use it; just remember the clock usually keeps running.
On technical questions, don't get bogged down in unfamiliar terminology. If you don't recognize a term, you're unlikely to figure it out on the spot—acknowledge it quickly and move on. Use the surrounding context, answer choices, and familiar terms to guide your reasoning, but don't linger on any single difficult question.
Sample ICC F14 Roofing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC/IPC) Practice Questions
These questions come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Re-roofing
Question: On a commercial reroof you are reconstructing metal base flashing at a parapet, and a modified bitumen membrane will be adhered directly to that metal flashing. At what point must the required primer be applied to the metal?
- A. After fastening, before adhering the bitumen
- B. Before the flashing is fabricated and formed
- C. Prior to installing the metal flashing
- D. After the bituminous material is adhered
Correct Answer: C
Per IBC 2015 Section 1511.6, flashings shall be reconstructed in accordance with approved manufacturer's installation instructions, and metal flashing to which bituminous materials are to be adhered shall be primed PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. Priming after the metal is fastened in place, priming after the bitumen is applied, or priming the raw stock before forming does not satisfy the code's stated timing.
Reference: IBC 2015 Section 1511.6
Sample 2 — Types of Roofing Material and Application
Question: A slate shingle roof is being installed on a church, and sheet metal valley flashing is being fabricated on site. What is the minimum width required for the valley flashing?
- A. 15 inches
- B. 12 inches
- C. 11 inches
- D. 8 inches
Correct Answer: A
IBC 2015 Section 1507.7.7 requires valley flashing for slate shingles to be a minimum of 15 inches wide, with a minimum uncoated thickness of 0.0179 inch zinc-coated G90. (The 8-inch and 11-inch dimensions apply to metal roof shingle and tile/wood valley flashing extensions from the centerline.)
Reference: IBC 2015 Chapter 15 — Section 1507.7.7 Flashing
Sample 3 — Fasteners, Flashings, Drainage, and Scuppers
Question: You are selecting corrosion-resistant nails for a clay tile roof over a 1/2-inch plywood deck. How deep must the fasteners penetrate?
- A. 3/4 inch, or through the deck
- B. 1/2 inch, or through the deck
- C. 1 inch, or through the deck
- D. 1-1/4 inches into the framing members
Correct Answer: A
IRC 2015 Section R905.3.6 requires nails for clay and concrete tile to be corrosion resistant, not less than 11 gage with a 7/16-inch head, and of sufficient length to penetrate the deck not less than 3/4 inch or through the thickness of the deck, whichever is less. With a 1/2-inch deck, the nail must penetrate through the deck.
Reference: IRC 2015 Section R905.3.6
Sample 4 — Administration and General Requirements
Question: While you are reroofing a one-family dwelling, the homeowner asks your crew to also build a wood privacy fence along the rear property line. Under the residential code's list of work exempt from permit, what is the greatest height the fence may be and still not require a permit?
- A. 6 feet
- B. 10 feet
- C. 8 feet
- D. 7 feet
Correct Answer: D
Per IRC 2015 Section R105.2, Building item 2, permits are not required for fences not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high. A fence exceeding that height requires a permit. Note that exemption from the permit requirement does not authorize work done in violation of the code or other ordinances.
Reference: IRC 2015 Section R105.2
Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF
A PDF shows you questions. It doesn't show you the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results break the score down by outline topic so you know what to study next.
Start Practicing
Take the free ICC F14 Roofing Contractor (2015 IBC/IRC/IPC) practice exam to see where you stand, then work through the topics that need attention. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.