ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector Practice Test

Answer choices

1. A. Cover only the bottom 3 feet with gypsum board.
2. B. Accept it because the finish is nonstructural.
3. C. Approve it if the room has smoke alarms. The existing permit could remain unchanged and the work could proceed to concealment.
4. D. Reject or replace the finish because it exceeds the permitted flame-spread index for wall and ceiling finishes.

Wrong-answer review

• A. Cover only the bottom 3 feet with gypsum board.: Incorrect. Partial unrelated covering does not establish compliance for the remaining exposed finish.
• B. Accept it because the finish is nonstructural.: Incorrect. Nonstructural finishes are exactly what the provision regulates.
• C. Approve it if the room has smoke alarms. The existing permit could remain unchanged and the work could proceed to concealment.: Incorrect. Smoke alarms do not waive material flame-spread limits.

Answer choices

1. A. Use stronger decking boards but leave beams and footings unverified.
2. B. Approve it based on expected light use.
3. C. Verify the deck framing and connections support the code-required design loads using R507 tables or an approved engineered design.
4. D. Reduce the posted occupant count instead of checking structure. Treat the modified value as sufficient without additional calculations. Document only that adjustment before allowing the work to proceed.

Answer choices

1. A. Install smoke alarms in the concealed space instead.
2. B. Approve it because fireblocking at wall plates is sufficient.
3. C. Install draftstopping so no concealed area exceeds 1,000 square feet and the spaces are divided into approximately equal areas.
4. D. Require draftstopping only if the building has three stories. Treat that measure as the complete correction and require no further design change.

Answer choices

1. A. Issue a certificate of occupancy with a condition that the bracing be restored later.
2. B. Allow the work to continue until the contractor voluntarily requests a reinspection.
3. C. Issue a written stop-work order stating the reason and the conditions under which the cited work may resume.
4. D. Revoke every permit held by the contractor in the jurisdiction without further process.

Answer choices

1. A. The bedroom is noncompliant because a habitable room must provide at least 70 square feet of floor area.
2. B. The bedroom is compliant because any sleeping room over 60 square feet is permitted. Keep the existing construction unchanged under the approved permit.
3. C. The bedroom is compliant if it has an emergency escape and rescue opening.
4. D. The bedroom is exempt because the 70-square-foot minimum applies only to living rooms.

Answer choices

1. A. Correct the masonry work to comply with prescribed mortar-joint construction or obtain an approved design addressing the deviation.
2. B. Approve it if the wall is plumb. The existing permit could remain unchanged and the work could proceed to concealment. The inspector would simply note the acceptance in the field record for closeout.
3. C. Fill the joints later with surface caulk.
4. D. Increase grout strength only.

Answer choices

1. A. Direct the contractor to double the concrete strength without design review.
2. B. Hold footing approval and require the bearing condition to be evaluated and the approved design revised if necessary.
3. C. Approve the footing if the organic soil is dry on inspection day. The next scheduled inspection could proceed without further correction of this item.
4. D. Use the approved footing schedule without change because it was already permitted.

Answer choices

1. A. Approve it because panel thickness alone controls capacity.
2. B. Correct the panel orientation or provide approved documentation showing the installation is permitted for the span and loading.
3. C. Add finish flooring and ignore panel orientation.
4. D. Increase joist hanger nails without changing the panels. Document only that adjustment before allowing the work to proceed. Make no other change to the surrounding framing or approved assembly.

Answer choices

1. A. Approve the toe nails because the roof is heavy.
2. B. Add extra roof-covering nails instead.
3. C. Install the required uplift connectors to complete the roof-to-wall load path before concealment.
4. D. Increase rafter depth but omit the connectors.

Answer choices

1. A. Waive flood requirements if the owner signs a statement accepting the risk.
2. B. Treat the flood map as advisory if the foundation is concrete. Once that change is made, retain the rest of the approved detail without revision.
3. C. Apply only ordinary footing tables because flood provisions begin after occupancy.
4. D. Apply the flood-resistant construction provisions of R322 and verify the required flood design and elevation information before approval.