Tennessee BC-B Commercial Contractor Practice Exam

Estimating, Plan Reading 15 items

Our study plan for this topic: Reading and interpreting civil drawings (site plans, plan and profile sheets, cross-sections); Contour lines, grading plans, and cut-and-fill maps; Excavation volume calculations (rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, and cylindrical shapes); Unit conversions and material weight calculations for excavation; Construction specifications format (CSI MasterFormat Division 31 Earthwork); Slope and grade control using stakes, benchmarks, and layout methods.

General Code 12 items

Our study plan for this topic: Occupancy classification and use group assignments (Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R, S, U); Building height and area limitations by occupancy and type of construction; Types of construction (Types I–V) and fire-resistance rating requirements for building elements; Fire-resistance-rated assemblies: fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers, and smoke partitions; Means of egress requirements: occupant load, exit capacity, number and separation of exits, egress illumination; Automatic sprinkler system requirements by occupancy, building height, and fire area; Accessibility requirements: accessible routes, entrances, parking, and means of egress; Scope, administration, and authority of the building official; permits, inspections, and certificates.

Sitework 5 items

Our study plan for this topic: Excavation safety requirements and competent person responsibilities (OSHA 1926 Subpart P); Trench protective systems: sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding; Soil classification for excavation (Type A, B, C, Stable Rock); Grading operations: cuts, fills, compaction, and slope requirements (IBC Appendix J); Earthmoving equipment selection and site excavation methods; Drainage and water control on construction sites; Underground pipe installation: trench preparation, bedding, and thrust blocks; Paving operations: concrete and hot-mix asphalt methods, equipment, and quality control.

Footings and Foundations 6 items

Our study plan for this topic: Soil classification and presumptive load-bearing values; Footing minimum dimensions, depth, and frost protection; Concrete and masonry foundation wall design and reinforcement; Foundation dampproofing and waterproofing; Geotechnical investigations and soil testing requirements; Footings and foundations on or adjacent to slopes; Deep foundation elements and pile design requirements.

Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement 15 items

Our study plan for this topic: Concrete; Concrete Reinforcement; Concrete mix design and proportioning; Concrete batching, mixing, and transporting; Concrete placement, consolidation, and finishing; Curing methods and requirements; Concrete durability and exposure categories; Formwork design and removal.

Masonry 10 items

Our study plan for this topic: Masonry materials: clay brick types, grades, and manufacturing processes; Concrete masonry unit (CMU) types, grades, and properties; Mortar types, proportions, and mixing requirements; Masonry wall systems: solid, cavity, composite, hollow, and veneer walls; Laying brick and block techniques: mortar placement, coursing, leads, and mason's line; Masonry reinforcement, anchors, ties, and joint reinforcement; Masonry structural design: allowable stress, strength design, and empirical design methods; OSHA safety requirements and jobsite safety for masonry construction.

Carpentry 4 items

Our study plan for this topic: Wood wall framing components (studs, plates, headers, cripple studs, trimmer studs); Wall bracing methods and braced wall panel requirements; Header sizing and span tables for wall openings; Fastening schedules for wood wall and roof framing connections; Drilling and notching limitations for studs and top plates; Cold-formed steel wall framing materials, member identification, and installation; Wood floor framing: joist spans, bridging, blocking, and cantilevers; Wood roof framing: rafter spans, ridge boards, collar ties, and ceiling joists.

Doors, Windows, and Stairs 1 item

Our study plan for this topic: Door size, swing direction, and operational force requirements; Door hardware, locking, and latching requirements (including panic hardware and delayed egress); Special door types (revolving, power-operated, sliding, and security grilles); Stair dimensions, treads, risers, landings, and headroom; Handrail requirements for stairs and ramps; Guards: height, location, and opening limitations; Safety glazing: hazardous locations and impact test requirements; Glazing in handrails, guards, skylights, and sloped applications.

Interior Finish 1 item

Our study plan for this topic: Gypsum board types and special-use panels (Type X, water-resistant, abuse-resistant, flexible, sheathing); Drywall fasteners: nails, screws (Types W, S, G), and adhesives — selection and spacing requirements; Fire-rated wall and ceiling assemblies: single-ply vs. multi-ply construction and fire-stopping methods; Interior wall and ceiling finish flame spread and smoke-developed classifications (Class A, B, C) by occupancy; Sound-isolation construction methods: STC ratings, separated partitions, resilient channels, and sound-isolating materials; Drywall installation procedures: cutting, fitting, fastener patterns, floating interior angle construction, and moisture-resistant applications; Drywall accessories: corner beads, casings, control joints, and perimeter relief; Interior floor finish and decorative materials requirements under IBC Chapter 8.

Structural Steel 10 items

Our study plan for this topic: Pre-erection activities and site readiness verification; Structural steel erection sequence (columns, horizontal members, bracing and bridging); Column anchorage requirements and anchor bolt tolerances; Bolted and welded field connections (framed-beam, seated-beam, end-plate, single-plate shear); Erection tolerances for columns and structural members; Temporary supports, bracing, and plumbing-up during erection; Steel erection safety requirements under OSHA Subpart R (fall protection, hoisting, open web steel joists, metal decking); Pre-engineered metal building erection and IBC Chapter 22 steel design standards.

Roofing, Siding, and Insulation 6 items

Our study plan for this topic: Roof covering types and minimum slope requirements (asphalt shingles, clay/concrete tile, metal panels, wood shingles/shakes, built-up, modified bitumen, single-ply); Underlayment selection, application, and attachment requirements by roof covering type and wind speed; Roof flashing requirements (valleys, drip edges, base/cap flashing, crickets and saddles, parapet walls); Fire classification of roof assemblies (Class A, B, C ratings and applicable construction types); Insulation types, R-values, and installation methods (flexible, loose-fill, rigid/semirigid, reflective, spray foam); Vapor retarders and moisture control (perm ratings, vapor barrier classes, placement relative to building thermal envelope by climate zone); Exterior wall weather protection and water-resistive barriers (building wrap/house wrap installation, flashing at openings, drainage requirements); Reroofing requirements (roof recover vs. roof replacement, conditions prohibiting recover, reinstallation of materials).

Plumbing Concepts 3 items

Our study plan for this topic: Minimum plumbing fixture counts by occupancy type (IBC Table 2902.1); Sanitary drainage system design: pipe sizing, slope, and fixture unit values; Backflow prevention devices and cross-connection control; Venting methods and vent pipe sizing requirements; Water supply system design: pressure, flow rates, and pipe sizing; Fixture trap requirements: seal depth, size, and prohibited trap types; Water heater installation: relief valves, pan requirements, and prohibited locations; Storm drainage and subsoil drain systems.

HVAC Concepts 3 items

Our study plan for this topic: Combustion air requirements and sizing methods for fuel-gas appliances; Fuel gas piping materials, sizing, and installation; Venting systems and chimney types for gas appliances (Type B, BW, L, single-wall, factory-built); Duct system construction, materials, insulation, and sealing; Heating and cooling equipment installation, sizing, and clearances to combustibles; Condensate disposal and auxiliary drain pan requirements; Boiler and water heater installation, safety controls, and pressure relief; Exhaust systems for dryers, cooking equipment, and mechanical ventilation.

Electrical Concepts 3 items

Our study plan for this topic: GFCI and AFCI protection requirements by location; Service entrance sizing, conductors, and disconnecting means; Grounding and bonding systems (electrodes, conductors, jumpers); Branch circuit ratings, loading, and overcurrent protection; Receptacle outlet placement and spacing requirements; Wiring methods, raceways, and conduit fill; Panelboard installation, ratings, and working space clearances; Emergency and standby power systems (IBC requirements).

OSHA Safety 6 items

Our study plan for this topic: Fall protection requirements and systems (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest); Scaffold safety requirements and load capacity; Excavation and trenching safety (cave-in protection, sloping, shoring); Personal protective equipment (PPE) selection and employer responsibilities; Electrical safety in construction (grounding, GFCI, lockout/tagout, working clearances); Hazardous and toxic substances (asbestos, silica, permissible exposure limits); Fire protection and prevention on construction sites; Stairway and ladder safety requirements.