CSL EXAM PREP - 202
CSL EXAM PREP - 2026 MASSACHUSETTS PSI EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
1. In a residential home masonry fireplace, what is the total
minimum thick- ness of the front, back, and side walls? 8 in (IRC
10-4 p. 1001.8 "chimneys + fireplaces")
2. What is the minimum size of roof collar ties? 1x4 (IRC 8-20 802.4.6
roof & chimney
construction)
3. When it is necessary to eject or pump drainage water from
your basement, how deep in the floor should the hole be for
the sump pump? 24 in (IRC 30-10 3807.3.2 "sanitary drainage")
4. What is the min. screw size screw for attaching for
sheathing to steel floor joists? #8 (IRC 5-13 505.2.5 "floors" or table on
following page)
5. With steel floor joists in a two-story house, what is the max.
cantilever? 24 in
(IRC p5-13 505.3.6 "floors")
6. What is the minimum height and width of a covered
pedestrian walkway protection? 8 ft H x 4 ft W (IBC p33-2 3306.7)
7. Egress door when fully opened shall not reduce the opening
by more than? 7
,CSL EXAM PREP - 202
in (IBC 10-14 1010.1.5 "means of egress")
8. In a theater balcony seating 50 or more, how many means
of egress are needed? two (IBC 10-43 1030.5 - means of egress)
9. What is the min. ceiling height in any habitable room or
corridor? 7'6" (IBC
1208.2 p 12-5 "interior environment")
10. No building permit is required to build a detached shed
when the size is less than .: 120 sf (IBC 105.2 "scope & administration")
11. Recessed lights shall have hair leakage of no more than .:
2.0 cfm (IRC 11-48
1102.4.5 "energy efficiency")
12. In an exposed foundation wall, how far below grade
must the insulation extend? 6 in (IRC 11-40 1101.11 "energy elk.")
13. What is the min. Compressive strength for foundation base
walls? 2500 lbs.
(IRC 4-2 402.2 "foundations")
14. What is the min. diameter for metal ducts? 4 in (IRC 15-1
1502.4.1)
15. What is the min. duration illumination for emergency
lighting by battery? 90
min (IRC p10-9 1008.3.4 "egress")
,CSL EXAM PREP - 202
16. In an educational facility, "Group E" Day Care is used for
groups up to what grade level? 12th grade (IBC p3-3 305.1 "use +
occupancy")
17. The total leakage of air ducts for conditioned floor area
shall be no more than .: 4cf/min/100 sf (IRC 11-50 1103.3.6 energy
efficiency)
18. Pipe insulation is mandatory when fluids within are what
temperature? 105F
or below 55F (IRC p11-50-5 p 1103.4 "efficiency")
19. What percentage of permanent lighting must be high-
efficiency? 100% (IRC 11-15 1104.1, IECC & 225 CMR as well)
20. Grouted masonry shall be placed before any initial set
occurs and must be within: 1 ½ hours of water being added (IRC 606.3.5.1
'grout placements')
21. Metal flashing should be corrosion resistant and have a
minimum thickness of .: .019 (IRC 9-1 903.2.1 'locations')
22. The strength of concrete foundation is measured in: Pounds per
square feet in
compression (IRC 404.1.3.5.1 Foundations)
23. On which drawing will you find the building location and lot
lines? Site plan/plot plan (IRC p1-6 R106.2)
24. How many days does a Building Inspector have to act on a
permit Applica- Tion? 30 days (780 CMR p.228 105.3.1 'action on application')
25. Smooth, water-resistant material needs to be high
above the tub/shower drain.: 72 in (IRC p.3-41 R307.2)
26. Habitable rooms are required to have natural light
with an aggregate glazing area that's at least of the
,CSL EXAM PREP - 202
floor area.: 8% (IRC p3-39 R303.1)
27. To where do bathroom fans need to be vented? Outdoors (IRC 15-3
M1505.2 or 15.1
M1501.1)
28. Ferrous metals contain mostly what? iron (gen. knowledge)
29. How much sand is required under a concrete slab in a
basement? 4" (IRC p5-25
506.2.2 'floors')
30. Openings through fire walls cannot exceed square feet.
The aggregate- ed-width of all openings at any floor level in a
non-sprinkled building shall not exceed % of the length of the
wall.: 156, 25 (IBC p7-13 707.6 'fire & smoke detention')
CSL EXAM PREP - 2026 MASSACHUSETTS PSI EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
1. In a residential home masonry fireplace, what is the total
minimum thick- ness of the front, back, and side walls? 8 in (IRC
10-4 p. 1001.8 "chimneys + fireplaces")
2. What is the minimum size of roof collar ties? 1x4 (IRC 8-20 802.4.6
roof & chimney
construction)
3. When it is necessary to eject or pump drainage water from
your basement, how deep in the floor should the hole be for
the sump pump? 24 in (IRC 30-10 3807.3.2 "sanitary drainage")
4. What is the min. screw size screw for attaching for
sheathing to steel floor joists? #8 (IRC 5-13 505.2.5 "floors" or table on
following page)
5. With steel floor joists in a two-story house, what is the max.
cantilever? 24 in
(IRC p5-13 505.3.6 "floors")
6. What is the minimum height and width of a covered
pedestrian walkway protection? 8 ft H x 4 ft W (IBC p33-2 3306.7)
7. Egress door when fully opened shall not reduce the opening
by more than? 7
,CSL EXAM PREP - 202
in (IBC 10-14 1010.1.5 "means of egress")
8. In a theater balcony seating 50 or more, how many means
of egress are needed? two (IBC 10-43 1030.5 - means of egress)
9. What is the min. ceiling height in any habitable room or
corridor? 7'6" (IBC
1208.2 p 12-5 "interior environment")
10. No building permit is required to build a detached shed
when the size is less than .: 120 sf (IBC 105.2 "scope & administration")
11. Recessed lights shall have hair leakage of no more than .:
2.0 cfm (IRC 11-48
1102.4.5 "energy efficiency")
12. In an exposed foundation wall, how far below grade
must the insulation extend? 6 in (IRC 11-40 1101.11 "energy elk.")
13. What is the min. Compressive strength for foundation base
walls? 2500 lbs.
(IRC 4-2 402.2 "foundations")
14. What is the min. diameter for metal ducts? 4 in (IRC 15-1
1502.4.1)
15. What is the min. duration illumination for emergency
lighting by battery? 90
min (IRC p10-9 1008.3.4 "egress")
,CSL EXAM PREP - 202
16. In an educational facility, "Group E" Day Care is used for
groups up to what grade level? 12th grade (IBC p3-3 305.1 "use +
occupancy")
17. The total leakage of air ducts for conditioned floor area
shall be no more than .: 4cf/min/100 sf (IRC 11-50 1103.3.6 energy
efficiency)
18. Pipe insulation is mandatory when fluids within are what
temperature? 105F
or below 55F (IRC p11-50-5 p 1103.4 "efficiency")
19. What percentage of permanent lighting must be high-
efficiency? 100% (IRC 11-15 1104.1, IECC & 225 CMR as well)
20. Grouted masonry shall be placed before any initial set
occurs and must be within: 1 ½ hours of water being added (IRC 606.3.5.1
'grout placements')
21. Metal flashing should be corrosion resistant and have a
minimum thickness of .: .019 (IRC 9-1 903.2.1 'locations')
22. The strength of concrete foundation is measured in: Pounds per
square feet in
compression (IRC 404.1.3.5.1 Foundations)
23. On which drawing will you find the building location and lot
lines? Site plan/plot plan (IRC p1-6 R106.2)
24. How many days does a Building Inspector have to act on a
permit Applica- Tion? 30 days (780 CMR p.228 105.3.1 'action on application')
25. Smooth, water-resistant material needs to be high
above the tub/shower drain.: 72 in (IRC p.3-41 R307.2)
26. Habitable rooms are required to have natural light
with an aggregate glazing area that's at least of the
,CSL EXAM PREP - 202
floor area.: 8% (IRC p3-39 R303.1)
27. To where do bathroom fans need to be vented? Outdoors (IRC 15-3
M1505.2 or 15.1
M1501.1)
28. Ferrous metals contain mostly what? iron (gen. knowledge)
29. How much sand is required under a concrete slab in a
basement? 4" (IRC p5-25
506.2.2 'floors')
30. Openings through fire walls cannot exceed square feet.
The aggregate- ed-width of all openings at any floor level in a
non-sprinkled building shall not exceed % of the length of the
wall.: 156, 25 (IBC p7-13 707.6 'fire & smoke detention')
