ICC G29 Master Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) Exam Study Guide
This guide covers what you need for the ICC G29 Master Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) 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 G29 Master Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) Exam at a Glance
Here are the exam's key facts from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $120 |
On exam day
- Test questions are in four-option, multiple-choice format with one scored correct answer.
- You may bring copyrighted, bound books to the test administration, including those specifically listed as approved references. However, training materials such as presentations, study guides, or practice questions are not permitted. All exam questions are based solely on the approved reference list, and only those references may be used as the basis for appealing exam questions.
References you may bring
- 2018 International Mechanical Code
- 2018 International Fuel Gas Code
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; ICC Exam Catalog, checked October 6, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the ICC G29 Master Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) Exam Covers
The official content outline has 7 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Administration General Regulations | 30 | 30% |
| Appliances & Mechanical Equipment | 27 | 27% |
| Exhaust and Ventilation Systems | 11 | 11% |
| Duct Systems | 12 | 12% |
| Combustion Air | 6 | 6% |
| Chimneys and Vents | 8 | 8% |
| Fuel Supply Systems | 6 | 6% |
How to Prepare for the ICC G29 Master Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) 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. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Spend most of your time on the biggest topics. Administration General Regulations and Appliances & Mechanical Equipment make up 57% of the exam.
Take timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 2 minutes 24 seconds 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 G29 Master Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) Exam
The listed references are the 2018 International Mechanical Code and the 2018 International Fuel Gas 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 4 hours for 100 questions, which is about 2 minutes 24 seconds per question.
- Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
On an open-book exam, the winners aren't the smartest people in the room — they're the fastest at finding answers. Buy the required book, practice with it open, and tab and highlight each section the first time a question sends you there. Learn the index and table of contents until you can land on any topic in seconds. That speed is what separates a pass from a fail.
On an open-book exam, work through every question once: answer the ones you know and skip the ones you don't. Then go back to the ones you flagged. You can bookmark questions for later review, just like on our exams — and don't sink too much time into any single question. The clock is still running.
Give yourself at least three to six weeks. Use your exam's candidate bulletin as your roadmap for what's tested, and spend your time on finding-it-fast skills over rote memorization. In practice, aim for three clean passes at 80% or higher — setting your practice bar above the real cut score gives you a comfortable margin on test day.
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.
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.
Every exam you take will be different from the last. New questions, new order, but always based on the exam bulletin in terms of topics, questions and time.
Sample ICC G29 Master Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) Practice Questions
These questions come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Exhaust and Ventilation Systems
Question: You are designing the continuously operating outdoor air ventilation system for a new 2,400-square-foot, four-bedroom single-family dwelling unit. What is the minimum required outdoor airflow rate?
- A. 46.5 cfm
- B. 69 cfm
- C. 61.5 cfm
- D. 54 cfm
Correct Answer: C
IMC 2018 Section 403.3.2.1, Equation 4-9: QOA = 0.01Afloor + 7.5(Nbr + 1) = 0.01(2,400) + 7.5(4 + 1) = 24 + 37.5 = 61.5 cfm. Omitting the '+1' in the bedroom term yields the 54 cfm distractor.
Reference: IMC 2018 Section 403.3.2.1
Sample 2 — Chimneys and Vents
Question: You are sizing a listed corrugated metallic chimney liner system installed in a masonry chimney serving one Category I appliance, using the Type B gas vent sizing tables. By what amount must the maximum capacity taken from those tables be reduced before additional reductions for bends or offsets are applied?
- A. 25 percent
- B. 20 percent
- C. 5 percent
- D. 10 percent
Correct Answer: B
Per IFGC 504.2.7, listed corrugated metallic chimney liner systems in masonry chimneys are sized using the Type B vent tables with the maximum capacity reduced by 20 percent (0.80 × maximum capacity); the minimum capacity is used as shown. The 20-percent reduction includes an allowance for one long-radius 90-degree turn at the bottom of the liner; other bends or offsets require further reduction per 504.2.3.
Reference: IFGC 2018 Section 504.2.7
Sample 3 — Combustion Air
Question: When combining indoor spaces on the same story to meet combustion air volume requirements, each opening connecting the spaces must have a minimum free area of 1 square inch per 1,000 Btu/h of total input rating, but in no case less than what minimum area?
- A. 50 square inches
- B. 100 square inches
- C. 150 square inches
- D. 75 square inches
Correct Answer: B
Per IFGC Section 304.5.3.1, when combining spaces on the same story for combustion air, each opening shall have a minimum free area of 1 square inch per 1,000 Btu/h of the total input rating of all appliances in the space, but not less than 100 square inches.
Reference: IFGC 2018 Section 304.5.3.1
Sample 4 — Fuel Supply Systems
Question: What is the minimum size bonding jumper required for CSST gas piping systems that do not have an arc-resistant jacket?
- A. 6 AWG copper wire
- B. 10 AWG copper wire
- C. 4 AWG copper wire
- D. 8 AWG copper wire
Correct Answer: A
Per IFGC Section 310.2.2, the bonding jumper for CSST without an arc-resistant jacket shall be not smaller than 6 AWG copper wire or equivalent.
Reference: IFGC 2018 Section 310.2.2
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 G29 Master Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) 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.