How to Pass the ICC G31 Journeyman Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) Exam
You don't have to guess how to prepare for the ICC G31 Journeyman Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) 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 G31 Journeyman Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) Exam Basics
Here's what the official bulletin says about the exam:
| Questions | 50 questions |
| Time limit | 3 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's on the ICC G31 Journeyman Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) Exam
The official content outline splits the exam into 7 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Administration General Regulations | 11 | 22% |
| Appliances & Mechanical Equipment | 11 | 22% |
| Exhaust and Ventilation Systems | 7 | 14% |
| Duct Systems | 8 | 16% |
| Combustion Air | 4 | 8% |
| Chimneys and Vents | 5 | 10% |
| Fuel Supply Systems | 4 | 8% |
Your ICC G31 Journeyman Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) 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. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Put your energy where the points are. Administration General Regulations and Appliances & Mechanical Equipment make up 44% 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 36 seconds 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 G31 Journeyman 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:
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 50 questions, which is about 3 minutes 36 seconds per question. Before you finish, make sure every question has an answer. 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.
Know your way around each book's index and table of contents. Open-book exams reward speed: you need to find specific items quickly.
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.
This practice exam mirrors the real Pearson VUE exam — the same number of questions, drawn from the same topics. Practicing in that format now means no surprises when you sit for the real thing.
Try These ICC G31 Journeyman Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) Practice Questions
Give these a try. They come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Exhaust and Ventilation Systems
Question: A Type I commercial kitchen hood exhaust fan is controlled by radiant energy/temperature sensors rather than by direct appliance interlock. After the first appliance served by the hood is turned on, the fan must activate within a maximum of:
- A. 15 minutes
- B. 30 minutes
- C. 10 minutes
- D. 20 minutes
Correct Answer: A
IMC 507.1.1 states that where one or more temperature or radiant energy sensors are used to activate a Type I hood exhaust fan, the fan shall activate not more than 15 minutes after the first appliance served by that hood has been turned on.
Reference: IMC 2018 Section 507.1.1
Sample 2 — Chimneys and Vents
Question: A gas vent terminal must be located such that doors cannot swing within what horizontal distance of the vent terminal?
- A. 18 inches
- B. 6 inches
- C. 12 inches
- D. 24 inches
Correct Answer: C
Per IFGC Section 502.7.1, appliance and equipment vent terminals shall be located such that doors cannot swing within 12 inches horizontally of the vent terminal. Door stops or closers shall not be installed to obtain this clearance.
Reference: IFGC 2018 Section 502.7.1
Sample 3 — Combustion Air
Question: A combustion air intake opening is being installed on the exterior wall of a building. The lowest side of the opening must be located not less than how many inches vertically above the adjoining finished ground level?
- A. 12 inches
- B. 4 inches
- C. 8 inches
- D. 6 inches
Correct Answer: A
Per IFGC Section 304.11, Item 8, combustion air intake openings located on the exterior of a building shall have the lowest side of such openings located not less than 12 inches vertically from the adjoining finished ground level.
Reference: IFGC 2018 Section 304.11 — Combustion air ducts
Sample 4 — Fuel Supply Systems
Question: Steel, stainless steel and wrought-iron pipe used in a fuel gas piping system shall be not lighter than which schedule?
- A. Schedule 80
- B. Schedule 40
- C. Schedule 5
- D. Schedule 10
Correct Answer: D
IFGC 403.4.2 states that steel, stainless steel and wrought-iron pipe shall be not lighter than Schedule 10 and shall comply with the dimensional standards of ASME B36.10M and one of the listed ASTM standards.
Reference: IFGC 2018 Section 403.4.2
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 G31 Journeyman Mechanical (2018 IMC/IFGC) 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.