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CALIFORNIA BUILDING PLANS EXAMINER –
I6 STATE PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026
COMPLETE (110) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
BUILDING
Prepare for the California Building Plans Examiner – I6 State Certification
Examination with practice questions covering building code
interpretation, plan review procedures, occupancy classifications, fire
and life safety requirements, structural considerations, accessibility
standards, and permit compliance. Designed to improve technical review
skills and boost confidence in evaluating building plans for code
compliance. Suitable for plans examiners, building officials, inspectors,
and construction professionals seeking California I6 certification.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
1. According to CBC Chapter 2, which term describes a building
or portion thereof used on a 24-hour basis for the medical,
psychiatric, or obstetrical care of four or more persons?
A. Residential care facility
B. Hospital
C. Ambulatory care facility
D. Nursing home
Answer: B. Hospital
Rationale: The California Building Code defines a hospital
, Page 2 of 56
as a facility providing 24-hour inpatient care for medical,
psychiatric, or obstetrical treatment of four or more
persons. Nursing homes fall under different classifications
such as I-2 or R-2.1.
2. When performing plan review for an ambulatory care facility,
the plans examiner must verify compliance with which section
of the CBC for the special detailed requirements?
A. Section 403 (High-Rise Buildings)
B. Section 422 (Ambulatory Care Facilities)
C. Section 305 (Group I-3)
D. Section 429 (Group B)
Answer: B. Section 422 (Ambulatory Care Facilities)
Rationale: CBC Section 422 provides specific requirements
for ambulatory care facilities, including egress, fire
protection, and smoke compartmentation features that the
plans examiner must review.
3. A new building is classified as Group B occupancy. Under CBC
Chapter 3, which of the following would be included in this
classification?
A. A restaurant with an occupant load of 60
B. An animal hospital with no overnight boarding
C. A retail store
D. A fire station
Answer: B. An animal hospital with no overnight boarding
Rationale: Professional services such as veterinary offices
without overnight stays are classified as Group B. A
restaurant is A-2, retail is M, and a fire station is typically B
or possibly R-2 depending on design.
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4. The plans for a Group E (Educational) building show corridors
with an occupant load of 300. What is the minimum required
clear width of these corridors?
A. 36 inches
B. 44 inches
C. 0.2 inches per occupant, so 60 inches
D. 0.3 inches per occupant, so 90 inches
Answer: C. 0.2 inches per occupant, so 60 inches
Rationale: Egress width for corridors in educational
occupancies is calculated at 0.2 inches per occupant, with
a minimum of 44 inches. 300 × 0.2 = 60 inches, which
governs.
5. In reviewing the accessibility provisions of a new apartment
complex (Group R-2), the plans examiner identifies that the
adaptable dwelling unit requirements are specified in:
A. CBC Chapter 11A
B. CBC Chapter 11B
C. ADA Standards for Accessible Design
D. The Fair Housing Act only
Answer: A. CBC Chapter 11A
Rationale: Privately funded residential occupancies are
subject to CBC Chapter 11A for accessibility and
adaptability requirements, not Chapter 11B which covers
public accommodations.
6. A ramp in a new public building has a rise of 30 inches and a
slope of 1:12. What is the minimum required length of the
ramp?
A. 24 feet
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B. 30 feet
C. 36 feet
D. 40 feet
Answer: B. 30 feet
Rationale: A 1:12 slope means for every 1 inch of rise, 12
inches of length is needed. 30 inches rise × 12 inches = 360
inches = 30 feet. The plans examiner checks that the ramp
run length is adequate.
7. A plans examiner is checking the required number of
accessible parking spaces for a new retail building with 50 total
spaces. How many standard accessible spaces and how many
van accessible spaces are required?
A. 1 standard, 1 van
B. 2 standard, 1 van (one of which must be van)
C. 2 standard, 2 van
D. 1 standard, 0 van
Answer: B. 2 standard, 1 van (one of which must be van)
Rationale: For 26–50 total spaces, 2 accessible spaces are
required, with at least one being a van accessible space.
The examiner checks the parking plan for this count.
8. When an existing building undergoes a change of occupancy
from Group M (Mercantile) to Group S-1 (Moderate-hazard
storage), the plans examiner applies the provisions of:
A. CBC only
B. California Existing Building Code (CEBC)
C. California Fire Code only
D. The local zoning ordinance
Answer: B. California Existing Building Code (CEBC)
CALIFORNIA BUILDING PLANS EXAMINER –
I6 STATE PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026
COMPLETE (110) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
BUILDING
Prepare for the California Building Plans Examiner – I6 State Certification
Examination with practice questions covering building code
interpretation, plan review procedures, occupancy classifications, fire
and life safety requirements, structural considerations, accessibility
standards, and permit compliance. Designed to improve technical review
skills and boost confidence in evaluating building plans for code
compliance. Suitable for plans examiners, building officials, inspectors,
and construction professionals seeking California I6 certification.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
1. According to CBC Chapter 2, which term describes a building
or portion thereof used on a 24-hour basis for the medical,
psychiatric, or obstetrical care of four or more persons?
A. Residential care facility
B. Hospital
C. Ambulatory care facility
D. Nursing home
Answer: B. Hospital
Rationale: The California Building Code defines a hospital
, Page 2 of 56
as a facility providing 24-hour inpatient care for medical,
psychiatric, or obstetrical treatment of four or more
persons. Nursing homes fall under different classifications
such as I-2 or R-2.1.
2. When performing plan review for an ambulatory care facility,
the plans examiner must verify compliance with which section
of the CBC for the special detailed requirements?
A. Section 403 (High-Rise Buildings)
B. Section 422 (Ambulatory Care Facilities)
C. Section 305 (Group I-3)
D. Section 429 (Group B)
Answer: B. Section 422 (Ambulatory Care Facilities)
Rationale: CBC Section 422 provides specific requirements
for ambulatory care facilities, including egress, fire
protection, and smoke compartmentation features that the
plans examiner must review.
3. A new building is classified as Group B occupancy. Under CBC
Chapter 3, which of the following would be included in this
classification?
A. A restaurant with an occupant load of 60
B. An animal hospital with no overnight boarding
C. A retail store
D. A fire station
Answer: B. An animal hospital with no overnight boarding
Rationale: Professional services such as veterinary offices
without overnight stays are classified as Group B. A
restaurant is A-2, retail is M, and a fire station is typically B
or possibly R-2 depending on design.
, Page 3 of 56
4. The plans for a Group E (Educational) building show corridors
with an occupant load of 300. What is the minimum required
clear width of these corridors?
A. 36 inches
B. 44 inches
C. 0.2 inches per occupant, so 60 inches
D. 0.3 inches per occupant, so 90 inches
Answer: C. 0.2 inches per occupant, so 60 inches
Rationale: Egress width for corridors in educational
occupancies is calculated at 0.2 inches per occupant, with
a minimum of 44 inches. 300 × 0.2 = 60 inches, which
governs.
5. In reviewing the accessibility provisions of a new apartment
complex (Group R-2), the plans examiner identifies that the
adaptable dwelling unit requirements are specified in:
A. CBC Chapter 11A
B. CBC Chapter 11B
C. ADA Standards for Accessible Design
D. The Fair Housing Act only
Answer: A. CBC Chapter 11A
Rationale: Privately funded residential occupancies are
subject to CBC Chapter 11A for accessibility and
adaptability requirements, not Chapter 11B which covers
public accommodations.
6. A ramp in a new public building has a rise of 30 inches and a
slope of 1:12. What is the minimum required length of the
ramp?
A. 24 feet
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B. 30 feet
C. 36 feet
D. 40 feet
Answer: B. 30 feet
Rationale: A 1:12 slope means for every 1 inch of rise, 12
inches of length is needed. 30 inches rise × 12 inches = 360
inches = 30 feet. The plans examiner checks that the ramp
run length is adequate.
7. A plans examiner is checking the required number of
accessible parking spaces for a new retail building with 50 total
spaces. How many standard accessible spaces and how many
van accessible spaces are required?
A. 1 standard, 1 van
B. 2 standard, 1 van (one of which must be van)
C. 2 standard, 2 van
D. 1 standard, 0 van
Answer: B. 2 standard, 1 van (one of which must be van)
Rationale: For 26–50 total spaces, 2 accessible spaces are
required, with at least one being a van accessible space.
The examiner checks the parking plan for this count.
8. When an existing building undergoes a change of occupancy
from Group M (Mercantile) to Group S-1 (Moderate-hazard
storage), the plans examiner applies the provisions of:
A. CBC only
B. California Existing Building Code (CEBC)
C. California Fire Code only
D. The local zoning ordinance
Answer: B. California Existing Building Code (CEBC)
