NYS CIC – Code Enforcement Official Certification
Study Set Actual Exam | Correct & Verified | Detailed
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Uniform Code – Building & Fire Safety Provisions (NYS amendments)
Q1: A code official is inspecting a newly constructed one-family dwelling in Albany.
According to NYS Uniform Code requirements for smoke alarms, where must smoke
alarms be installed?
A. Only in the kitchen and living room
B. In each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level including the
basement [CORRECT]
C. Only on the main floor and in the master bedroom
D. In the basement and attic only
Rationale: The best answer is B. The NYS Uniform Code requires interconnected smoke
alarms in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area within 21 feet, and on every
story including basements. This matches the standard fire safety provision for
one-family dwellings where you always verify full coverage for early warning.
Correct Answer: B
Q2: A mixed-use building in Syracuse has a restaurant on the ground floor and four
apartments on the second floor. During inspection, the code official notes that the
stairway serving both occupancies is not separated from the restaurant by a fire-rated
enclosure. What does the NYS Uniform Code require in this situation?
A. No separation is needed since the stairway serves fewer than six units
B. The stairway must be enclosed with fire-rated construction to protect the egress path
[CORRECT]
C. Only a smoke detector is required at the stairway entrance
D. A sprinkler system eliminates the need for stairway enclosure
Rationale: The best answer is B. When a stairway serves mixed occupancies, the NYS
Uniform Code requires proper fire-rated enclosure to protect the means of egress from
fire hazards in the commercial space. This aligns with egress safety standards where
you always ensure occupants can exit safely regardless of where a fire starts.
Correct Answer: B
,Q3: A contractor installs a new interior stairway in a two-family dwelling. The risers
measure 8 inches and the treads measure 8.75 inches. What should the code official
determine?
A. The stairway meets all dimensional requirements
B. The risers are acceptable but the treads are too narrow [CORRECT]
C. Both the risers and treads exceed maximum limits
D. The stairway is acceptable with a variance
Rationale: The best answer is B. The NYS Uniform Code limits risers to 8.25 inches
maximum and requires treads to be at least 9 inches deep. At 8 inches, the riser is fine,
but the 8.75-inch tread is too narrow. This is a common framing inspection finding
where contractors sometimes cut treads short.
Correct Answer: B
Q4: During a rough inspection of a new three-family dwelling, the inspector notices that
the attic above the second-floor apartment is open to the attic above the third-floor
apartment with no fire-rated separation. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Approve the work since attics are not living spaces
B. Require draft stopping between floor joist spaces only
C. Require fire-blocking to prevent fire spread between dwelling units [CORRECT]
D. Issue a certificate of compliance since the building is sprinklered
Rationale: The best answer is C. Fire-blocking is required at intervals and between
stories to restrict the spread of fire and smoke through concealed spaces in multi-family
dwellings. This matches the NYS Uniform Code fire separation requirements where you
always verify that concealed spaces don't create vertical fire paths between units.
Correct Answer: C
Q5: Which construction type permits the use of unprotected wood framing throughout
the building structure?
A. Type I-A
B. Type II-B
C. Type III-B
D. Type V-B [CORRECT]
Rationale: The best answer is D. Type V construction allows the use of wood and other
combustible materials throughout the structural frame, with Type V-B having no
fire-resistance rating requirements for structural elements. This is a fundamental
building code concept that every code official needs to know for occupancy and height
limitations.
Correct Answer: D
, Q6: A homeowner in Rochester installs a new gas-fired furnace in the basement of their
existing single-family home. The home previously had all-electric heat and no carbon
monoxide detectors. What does the NYS Uniform Code require?
A. No CO detectors are needed since the home is existing
B. CO detectors are required on the lowest sleeping level only
C. CO detectors are required outside each sleeping area and on every level [CORRECT]
D. Only a hardwired CO detector in the basement is required
Rationale: The best answer is C. When fuel-burning appliances are installed in existing
dwellings, the NYS Uniform Code requires carbon monoxide alarms outside each
sleeping area and on every story. This aligns with current fire safety standards where
you always verify CO protection when combustion equipment is added.
Correct Answer: C
Q7: A new assembly occupancy restaurant has an occupant load of 120. The two exit
access doors each measure 32 inches clear width. According to NYS Uniform Code
egress requirements, what should the code official determine?
A. The doors are inadequate because assembly occupancies require 44-inch doors
B. The doors are adequate (120 × 0.2 = 24"; 32" × 2 = 64") [CORRECT]
C. The doors are inadequate because the calculation is 120 × 0.3 = 36" per door
D. The doors meet requirements only if panic hardware is installed
Rationale: The best answer is B. For doors in assembly occupancies, the required
egress width is calculated at 0.2 inches per occupant, requiring 24 inches total. Two
32-inch doors provide 64 inches, which exceeds the minimum. This is a standard egress
width calculation that code officials perform regularly.
Correct Answer: B
Q8: During a framing inspection of a multi-family dwelling, the inspector observes that
wood framing members penetrate a one-hour fire-resistance-rated wall assembly
between apartments with no protection at the penetrations. What does the code
require?
A. No protection is needed for wood framing in one-hour walls
B. The penetrations must be protected with an approved fire-resistant system
[CORRECT]
C. Caulking around the framing is sufficient
D. Only steel framing is permitted in fire-rated walls
Rationale: The best answer is B. Any penetration through a fire-resistance-rated
assembly must be protected with an approved penetration firestop system to maintain
Study Set Actual Exam | Correct & Verified | Detailed
Rationales Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Uniform Code – Building & Fire Safety Provisions (NYS amendments)
Q1: A code official is inspecting a newly constructed one-family dwelling in Albany.
According to NYS Uniform Code requirements for smoke alarms, where must smoke
alarms be installed?
A. Only in the kitchen and living room
B. In each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level including the
basement [CORRECT]
C. Only on the main floor and in the master bedroom
D. In the basement and attic only
Rationale: The best answer is B. The NYS Uniform Code requires interconnected smoke
alarms in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area within 21 feet, and on every
story including basements. This matches the standard fire safety provision for
one-family dwellings where you always verify full coverage for early warning.
Correct Answer: B
Q2: A mixed-use building in Syracuse has a restaurant on the ground floor and four
apartments on the second floor. During inspection, the code official notes that the
stairway serving both occupancies is not separated from the restaurant by a fire-rated
enclosure. What does the NYS Uniform Code require in this situation?
A. No separation is needed since the stairway serves fewer than six units
B. The stairway must be enclosed with fire-rated construction to protect the egress path
[CORRECT]
C. Only a smoke detector is required at the stairway entrance
D. A sprinkler system eliminates the need for stairway enclosure
Rationale: The best answer is B. When a stairway serves mixed occupancies, the NYS
Uniform Code requires proper fire-rated enclosure to protect the means of egress from
fire hazards in the commercial space. This aligns with egress safety standards where
you always ensure occupants can exit safely regardless of where a fire starts.
Correct Answer: B
,Q3: A contractor installs a new interior stairway in a two-family dwelling. The risers
measure 8 inches and the treads measure 8.75 inches. What should the code official
determine?
A. The stairway meets all dimensional requirements
B. The risers are acceptable but the treads are too narrow [CORRECT]
C. Both the risers and treads exceed maximum limits
D. The stairway is acceptable with a variance
Rationale: The best answer is B. The NYS Uniform Code limits risers to 8.25 inches
maximum and requires treads to be at least 9 inches deep. At 8 inches, the riser is fine,
but the 8.75-inch tread is too narrow. This is a common framing inspection finding
where contractors sometimes cut treads short.
Correct Answer: B
Q4: During a rough inspection of a new three-family dwelling, the inspector notices that
the attic above the second-floor apartment is open to the attic above the third-floor
apartment with no fire-rated separation. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Approve the work since attics are not living spaces
B. Require draft stopping between floor joist spaces only
C. Require fire-blocking to prevent fire spread between dwelling units [CORRECT]
D. Issue a certificate of compliance since the building is sprinklered
Rationale: The best answer is C. Fire-blocking is required at intervals and between
stories to restrict the spread of fire and smoke through concealed spaces in multi-family
dwellings. This matches the NYS Uniform Code fire separation requirements where you
always verify that concealed spaces don't create vertical fire paths between units.
Correct Answer: C
Q5: Which construction type permits the use of unprotected wood framing throughout
the building structure?
A. Type I-A
B. Type II-B
C. Type III-B
D. Type V-B [CORRECT]
Rationale: The best answer is D. Type V construction allows the use of wood and other
combustible materials throughout the structural frame, with Type V-B having no
fire-resistance rating requirements for structural elements. This is a fundamental
building code concept that every code official needs to know for occupancy and height
limitations.
Correct Answer: D
, Q6: A homeowner in Rochester installs a new gas-fired furnace in the basement of their
existing single-family home. The home previously had all-electric heat and no carbon
monoxide detectors. What does the NYS Uniform Code require?
A. No CO detectors are needed since the home is existing
B. CO detectors are required on the lowest sleeping level only
C. CO detectors are required outside each sleeping area and on every level [CORRECT]
D. Only a hardwired CO detector in the basement is required
Rationale: The best answer is C. When fuel-burning appliances are installed in existing
dwellings, the NYS Uniform Code requires carbon monoxide alarms outside each
sleeping area and on every story. This aligns with current fire safety standards where
you always verify CO protection when combustion equipment is added.
Correct Answer: C
Q7: A new assembly occupancy restaurant has an occupant load of 120. The two exit
access doors each measure 32 inches clear width. According to NYS Uniform Code
egress requirements, what should the code official determine?
A. The doors are inadequate because assembly occupancies require 44-inch doors
B. The doors are adequate (120 × 0.2 = 24"; 32" × 2 = 64") [CORRECT]
C. The doors are inadequate because the calculation is 120 × 0.3 = 36" per door
D. The doors meet requirements only if panic hardware is installed
Rationale: The best answer is B. For doors in assembly occupancies, the required
egress width is calculated at 0.2 inches per occupant, requiring 24 inches total. Two
32-inch doors provide 64 inches, which exceeds the minimum. This is a standard egress
width calculation that code officials perform regularly.
Correct Answer: B
Q8: During a framing inspection of a multi-family dwelling, the inspector observes that
wood framing members penetrate a one-hour fire-resistance-rated wall assembly
between apartments with no protection at the penetrations. What does the code
require?
A. No protection is needed for wood framing in one-hour walls
B. The penetrations must be protected with an approved fire-resistant system
[CORRECT]
C. Caulking around the framing is sufficient
D. Only steel framing is permitted in fire-rated walls
Rationale: The best answer is B. Any penetration through a fire-resistance-rated
assembly must be protected with an approved penetration firestop system to maintain
