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ICC National Standard General Building Contractor Exam
(Class A), QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
ICC National Standard General Building Contractor Exam (Class A), each with an answer and a
summarized rationale based on the International Building Code (IBC) and ICC exam content outlines.
Summarized Exam Topics Covered (Point Form – Accurate for Class A Exam)
• Exam Structure (F11-N / G11-N): 90 questions, 4 hours, open-book, 70% passing score
• Primary Reference Code: International Building Code (IBC) – 2015 for F-series, 2018 for G-series
• Administration & General Regulations: Permitting process, plan review, inspections, certificate
of occupancy
• Building Planning & Life Safety: Occupancy classifications, types of construction, fire-resistance
ratings, means of egress, allowable heights/areas, mixed occupancies
• Structural Systems: Load combinations (ASCE 7), foundations, framing (wood/steel/concrete),
seismic/wind design, lateral force-resisting systems
• Building Envelope: Roof assemblies, exterior walls, fenestration, thermal and moisture
protection
• Special Inspections & Statement of Special Inspections: Responsible parties (RDP, building
official, contractor, special inspector), reporting requirements, non-conforming items
• Role of Registered Design Professional (RDP): Statement of special inspections, structural
observation, responding to discrepancies
• Role of Building Official: Approving special inspection program, monitoring activities, receiving
reports, issuing certificates of occupancy
• Role of Contractor: Notifying special inspector, ensuring day-to-day work is covered,
preconstruction meetings, hiring special inspectors (by owner)
• Open-Book Test Strategies: Tabbing codes, navigation, time management, use of answer
elimination
1. A general contractor is preparing to pour foundation concrete for a commercial building. The contract
documents require a special inspector for concrete placement. Who is responsible for hiring the special
inspection agency?
A) The building official
B) The contractor
C) The owner or registered design professional (RDP)
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D) The material supplier
Answer: C
Rationale: The owner or the registered design professional (RDP) hires the special inspection agency. The
contractor may or may not be involved in hiring, but the responsibility ultimately lies with the
owner/RDP .
2. During a structural observation for a steel frame building, the registered design professional (RDP)
notices that a beam connection does not match the approved drawings. Who is responsible for
responding to and resolving this uncorrected discrepancy?
A) The building official
B) The contractor
C) The special inspector
D) The registered design professional
Answer: D
Rationale: The RDP is responsible for responding to reports of uncorrected discrepancies . The RDP must
address deviations from the approved plans.
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3. The building official has approved the special inspection program for a large mixed-use project. Who
is responsible for monitoring that special inspection activities are actually being performed as required?
A) The contractor
B) The registered design professional
C) The building official
D) The owner
Answer: C
Rationale: It is the responsibility of the building official to monitor the special inspection activities . The
building official oversees the program to ensure compliance.
4. A special inspector arrives at a jobsite and finds that the reinforcing steel does not meet the specified
grade. Who should the special inspector notify first about this non-conforming item?
A) The owner
B) The building official
C) The inspection supervisor
D) The registered design professional
Answer: C
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Rationale: If there is a non-conforming item, the special inspector notifies the inspection supervisor first .
This ensures immediate chain-of-command notification.
5. The owner of a new office building wants to eliminate certain special inspections to save money. Who
has the authority to deem special inspections unnecessary?
A) The contractor
B) The registered design professional
C) The building official
D) The owner unilaterally
Answer: C
Rationale: The building official has the authority to deem special inspections unnecessary . This decision
is based on code provisions and site-specific conditions.
6. For a large commercial warehouse, who is required to prepare the statement of special inspections?
A) The building official
B) The contractor
C) The owner
D) The registered design professional (RDP)
ICC National Standard General Building Contractor Exam
(Class A), QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
ICC National Standard General Building Contractor Exam (Class A), each with an answer and a
summarized rationale based on the International Building Code (IBC) and ICC exam content outlines.
Summarized Exam Topics Covered (Point Form – Accurate for Class A Exam)
• Exam Structure (F11-N / G11-N): 90 questions, 4 hours, open-book, 70% passing score
• Primary Reference Code: International Building Code (IBC) – 2015 for F-series, 2018 for G-series
• Administration & General Regulations: Permitting process, plan review, inspections, certificate
of occupancy
• Building Planning & Life Safety: Occupancy classifications, types of construction, fire-resistance
ratings, means of egress, allowable heights/areas, mixed occupancies
• Structural Systems: Load combinations (ASCE 7), foundations, framing (wood/steel/concrete),
seismic/wind design, lateral force-resisting systems
• Building Envelope: Roof assemblies, exterior walls, fenestration, thermal and moisture
protection
• Special Inspections & Statement of Special Inspections: Responsible parties (RDP, building
official, contractor, special inspector), reporting requirements, non-conforming items
• Role of Registered Design Professional (RDP): Statement of special inspections, structural
observation, responding to discrepancies
• Role of Building Official: Approving special inspection program, monitoring activities, receiving
reports, issuing certificates of occupancy
• Role of Contractor: Notifying special inspector, ensuring day-to-day work is covered,
preconstruction meetings, hiring special inspectors (by owner)
• Open-Book Test Strategies: Tabbing codes, navigation, time management, use of answer
elimination
1. A general contractor is preparing to pour foundation concrete for a commercial building. The contract
documents require a special inspector for concrete placement. Who is responsible for hiring the special
inspection agency?
A) The building official
B) The contractor
C) The owner or registered design professional (RDP)
, Page 2 of 121
D) The material supplier
Answer: C
Rationale: The owner or the registered design professional (RDP) hires the special inspection agency. The
contractor may or may not be involved in hiring, but the responsibility ultimately lies with the
owner/RDP .
2. During a structural observation for a steel frame building, the registered design professional (RDP)
notices that a beam connection does not match the approved drawings. Who is responsible for
responding to and resolving this uncorrected discrepancy?
A) The building official
B) The contractor
C) The special inspector
D) The registered design professional
Answer: D
Rationale: The RDP is responsible for responding to reports of uncorrected discrepancies . The RDP must
address deviations from the approved plans.
, Page 3 of 121
3. The building official has approved the special inspection program for a large mixed-use project. Who
is responsible for monitoring that special inspection activities are actually being performed as required?
A) The contractor
B) The registered design professional
C) The building official
D) The owner
Answer: C
Rationale: It is the responsibility of the building official to monitor the special inspection activities . The
building official oversees the program to ensure compliance.
4. A special inspector arrives at a jobsite and finds that the reinforcing steel does not meet the specified
grade. Who should the special inspector notify first about this non-conforming item?
A) The owner
B) The building official
C) The inspection supervisor
D) The registered design professional
Answer: C
, Page 4 of 121
Rationale: If there is a non-conforming item, the special inspector notifies the inspection supervisor first .
This ensures immediate chain-of-command notification.
5. The owner of a new office building wants to eliminate certain special inspections to save money. Who
has the authority to deem special inspections unnecessary?
A) The contractor
B) The registered design professional
C) The building official
D) The owner unilaterally
Answer: C
Rationale: The building official has the authority to deem special inspections unnecessary . This decision
is based on code provisions and site-specific conditions.
6. For a large commercial warehouse, who is required to prepare the statement of special inspections?
A) The building official
B) The contractor
C) The owner
D) The registered design professional (RDP)
