ICC G14 Roofing Contractor Exam (2018 IBC/IRC/IPC)

How to Pass the ICC G14 Roofing Contractor (2018 IBC/IRC/IPC) Exam

You don't have to guess how to prepare for the ICC G14 Roofing Contractor (2018 IBC/IRC/IPC) exam. This guide lays it out: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics on the test, the books you need, sample questions with answers, and a study plan you can follow. Pearson VUE gives the exam.

ICC G14 Roofing Contractor (2018 IBC/IRC/IPC) Exam Basics

Here's what the official bulletin says about the exam:

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 Residential Code (2018)
• International Building Code (2018)
• International Plumbing Code (2018)

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's on the ICC G14 Roofing Contractor (2018 IBC/IRC/IPC) Exam

The official content outline splits the exam into 4 topics:

Your ICC G14 Roofing Contractor (2018 IBC/IRC/IPC) Study Plan

Your books are your best friend on this exam. It's open book, so the references on the bulletin's list are what you'll use on test day. Get your own copies in the editions the bulletin names.

Get to know them early. Spend time with each book's table of contents and index until you can find any major subject quickly. On an open-book exam, finding answers fast is the skill that counts.

Make the books yours. Highlight the sections you keep coming back to. Check the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings before you add any.

Put your energy where the points are. Types of Roofing Material and Application and Fasteners, Flashings, Drainage, and Scuppers make up 63% of the exam, so start there.

Practice with the clock running. Our timed practice exams help you build the pace the real exam needs: about 3 minutes per question. Every attempt is another rep.

Keep going until you pass practice exams consistently. One good score is a great start. A few passing scores in a row is how you know you're ready.

Books You'll Need for the ICC G14 Roofing Contractor (2018 IBC/IRC/IPC) Exam

The references listed for this open-book exam are the 2018 International Residential Code, the 2018 International Building Code and the 2018 International Plumbing Code.

Where to get them:

• IRC 2018
• IPC 2018
• IBC 2018

Test Day Tips

Start with a quick pass through the whole exam. Answer every question you're sure about and bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you return to bookmarked questions, so nothing is lost by moving on.

Then come back to your bookmarks and work through them one at a time. Keep an eye on the clock: you have 3 hours for 60 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question. Before you finish, make sure every question has an answer. A blank can't earn a point.

Study Tips

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.

Practicing against a ticking clock is the best way to beat exam-clock anxiety. Use these timed tests to build your pacing, so you learn to move steadily and never burn too long on a single question. By test day, the format feels routine.

You're given plenty of time, so use as much of it as you need. Don't get rattled when other people finish early — finishing first isn't a prize. Work at your own steady pace and review your answers before you submit.

Several 25–30 minute sessions across the week beat one long cram. Spaced repetition moves facts into long-term memory so they stick through exam day.

Try These ICC G14 Roofing Contractor (2018 IBC/IRC/IPC) Practice Questions

Give these a try. They come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.

Sample 1 — Re-roofing

Question: You are installing metal roof panels over an existing wood shake roof on a commercial building, and the new assembly will create a combustible concealed space. Which material is specifically identified by code as acceptable for covering the entire existing shake surface?

• A. Expanded polystyrene board
• B. Perlite aggregate
• C. Asphalt-saturated felt
• D. Glass fiber

Correct Answer: D

Per IBC Section 1511.4, where application of a new roof covering over wood shingle or shake roofs creates a combustible concealed space, the entire existing surface shall be covered with gypsum board, mineral fiber, glass fiber or other approved materials securely fastened in place. Felt, perlite aggregate and foam plastic board are not among the listed materials.

Reference: IBC 2018 Section 1511.4 Roof recovering

Sample 2 — Types of Roofing Material and Application

Question: You are installing concrete roof tile weighing 11 pounds per square foot on solid sheathing without battens. The roof slope is 4:12, the ultimate design wind speed is 110 mph, the roof is 20 feet above grade, and the area is subject to snow. What is the minimum tile attachment required in the field of the roof?

• A. One fastener per tile every other row
• B. One fastener per tile
• C. Two fasteners per tile
• D. Fasteners not required

Correct Answer: C

Per IRC R905.3.7, in areas subject to snow, not less than two fasteners per tile are required. The one-fastener-per-tile value from Table R905.3.7 for solid sheathing without battens applies only outside snow areas.

Reference: IRC 2018 Page 438

Sample 3 — Fasteners, Flashings, Drainage, and Scuppers

Question: Where flashing installed at wall and roof intersections is of metal, the metal shall be corrosion resistant with a thickness of not less than:

• A. 0.019 inch
• B. 0.0142 inch
• C. 0.0179 inch
• D. 0.024 inch

Correct Answer: A

IBC 1503.2.1 requires metal flashing to be corrosion resistant with a thickness of not less than 0.019 inch (0.483 mm), equivalent to No. 26 galvanized sheet. The 0.0179-inch value applies to zinc-coated G90 valley metal for slate (1507.7.7), and 0.024 inch is the minimum aluminum valley lining thickness.

Reference: IBC 2018 Section 1503.2.1

Sample 4 — Administration and General Requirements

Question: You are closing out a permitted one-family dwelling located in a designated coastal flood hazard area, and the owner wants to schedule the last required inspection. The jurisdiction requires documentation of the as-built elevations for the structure. Under the Residential Code, when must that elevation documentation be submitted to the building official?

• A. Within 30 days after occupancy begins
• B. With the original permit application
• C. Prior to the final inspection
• D. Before the frame and masonry inspection

Correct Answer: C

Per IRC R109.1.6.1, if the building is located in a flood hazard area, the documentation of elevations required by Section R322.1.10 shall be submitted to the building official prior to the final inspection. Separately, R109.1.3 requires lowest-floor elevation documentation upon placement of the lowest floor and before further vertical construction, which makes the framing-inspection answer a near-miss, not the rule for the closeout documentation.

Reference: IRC 2018 Section R109.1.6.1

Why Practice Online?

Reading questions in a PDF is a start, but it doesn't prepare you for the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you build speed along with knowledge. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results show your score by topic so you know where to focus next.

Ready to Start?

Take the free ICC G14 Roofing Contractor (2018 IBC/IRC/IPC) practice exam and see where you stand today. Then focus on the topics that need the most work. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.