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CALIFORNIA BUILDING PLANS EXAMINER –
I6 STATE PREP EXAM 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 California Building Code
(CBC, Title 24, Part 2), accessibility (Chapter 11B), structural plan review,
life safety, and California-specific amendments, 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 the California Building Code (CBC), which of the
following occupancy classifications is considered a Group A
assembly occupancy?
A. A factory with fewer than 10 employees
B. A restaurant with an occupant load of 49 or less
C. A theater with fixed seating for 300 persons
D. A single-family dwelling used as a home office
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Answer: C. A theater with fixed seating for 300 persons
Rationale: Under CBC Chapter 3, Group A occupancies include
assembly uses intended for the gathering of persons for civic,
social, or religious functions, recreation, or food/drink
consumption with an occupant load of 50 or more. A theater with
300 seats meets this definition.
2. A building of Type V-A construction has which basic structural
frame characteristics?
A. Noncombustible, 1-hour fire resistance
B. Wood frame, 1-hour fire resistance
C. Wood frame, no fire resistance
D. Masonry bearing walls, 2-hour fire resistance
Answer: B. Wood frame, 1-hour fire resistance
Rationale: Type V-A is the most restrictive of the Type V (wood
frame) categories, requiring the structural frame and bearing
walls to have a 1-hour fire-resistive rating. Type V-B has no fire
resistance requirement for the structure.
3. When determining the maximum allowable building height in
feet for a Group R-2 apartment building, the plans examiner
consults which primary table in CBC Chapter 5?
A. Table 503 (Allowable Building Heights and Areas)
B. Table 601 (Fire-Resistance Rating Requirements)
C. Table 1004.1.2 (Occupant Load Factor)
D. Table 504.3 (Allowable Height in Feet)
Answer: A. Table 503 (Allowable Building Heights and Areas)
Rationale: Table 503 provides the maximum allowable height (in
feet and stories) and floor area based on occupancy group and
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type of construction. The plans examiner must verify
compliance with these limits, including any allowable increases
for sprinklers or frontage.
4. Under the CBC, the minimum number of exits required from a
story with an occupant load of 600 persons is:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: C. 3
Rationale: CBC Section 1006.2.1 requires 2 exits for occupant
loads between 501 and 1,000, and 3 exits for 501–1,000 only for
certain high-hazard or large assembly spaces? Wait, let's check:
For any story, if occupant load is 501–1,000, minimum 3 exits are
required per Table 1006.2.1. For 500 or fewer, 2 exits; 501–1,000, 3
exits; >1,000, 4 exits. So occupant load 600 requires 3 exits.
5. What is the maximum travel distance to an exit for a
nonsprinklered Group B office occupancy?
A. 200 feet
B. 250 feet
C. 300 feet
D. 400 feet
Answer: A. 200 feet
Rationale: Per CBC Table 1017.2, the maximum exit access travel
distance for a nonsprinklered Business (Group B) occupancy is
200 feet. If the building is fully sprinklered, it can be increased to
300 feet.
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6. A plans examiner reviews an apartment building drawing and
notices an accessible route that has a cross slope of 1:48. Is
this compliant with CBC Chapter 11B?
A. Yes, the maximum cross slope for an accessible route is
1:50
B. Yes, the maximum cross slope is 1:48
C. No, the maximum cross slope is 1:24
D. No, the cross slope must be flat (0%)
Answer: B. Yes, the maximum cross slope is 1:48
Rationale: CBC Section 11B-402.2 allows a maximum cross
slope of 1:48 (2.08%) for accessible routes, except at curb ramps
and blended transitions. 1:48 is the maximum, not a violation.
7. Which of the following is considered a “high-rise” building
under the California Building Code?
A. A building with a floor level used for human occupancy
located more than 55 feet above the lowest level of fire
department vehicle access
B. Any building over 75 feet in height
C. A building with four or more stories above grade plane
D. A building with an occupied floor more than 75 feet above
the lowest level of fire department vehicle access
Answer: D. A building with an occupied floor more than 75 feet
above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access
Rationale: CBC Section 202 defines a high-rise as a building with
an occupied floor located more than 75 feet above the lowest
level of fire department vehicle access. Option A is 55 feet,
CALIFORNIA BUILDING PLANS EXAMINER –
I6 STATE PREP EXAM 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 California Building Code
(CBC, Title 24, Part 2), accessibility (Chapter 11B), structural plan review,
life safety, and California-specific amendments, 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 the California Building Code (CBC), which of the
following occupancy classifications is considered a Group A
assembly occupancy?
A. A factory with fewer than 10 employees
B. A restaurant with an occupant load of 49 or less
C. A theater with fixed seating for 300 persons
D. A single-family dwelling used as a home office
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Answer: C. A theater with fixed seating for 300 persons
Rationale: Under CBC Chapter 3, Group A occupancies include
assembly uses intended for the gathering of persons for civic,
social, or religious functions, recreation, or food/drink
consumption with an occupant load of 50 or more. A theater with
300 seats meets this definition.
2. A building of Type V-A construction has which basic structural
frame characteristics?
A. Noncombustible, 1-hour fire resistance
B. Wood frame, 1-hour fire resistance
C. Wood frame, no fire resistance
D. Masonry bearing walls, 2-hour fire resistance
Answer: B. Wood frame, 1-hour fire resistance
Rationale: Type V-A is the most restrictive of the Type V (wood
frame) categories, requiring the structural frame and bearing
walls to have a 1-hour fire-resistive rating. Type V-B has no fire
resistance requirement for the structure.
3. When determining the maximum allowable building height in
feet for a Group R-2 apartment building, the plans examiner
consults which primary table in CBC Chapter 5?
A. Table 503 (Allowable Building Heights and Areas)
B. Table 601 (Fire-Resistance Rating Requirements)
C. Table 1004.1.2 (Occupant Load Factor)
D. Table 504.3 (Allowable Height in Feet)
Answer: A. Table 503 (Allowable Building Heights and Areas)
Rationale: Table 503 provides the maximum allowable height (in
feet and stories) and floor area based on occupancy group and
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type of construction. The plans examiner must verify
compliance with these limits, including any allowable increases
for sprinklers or frontage.
4. Under the CBC, the minimum number of exits required from a
story with an occupant load of 600 persons is:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: C. 3
Rationale: CBC Section 1006.2.1 requires 2 exits for occupant
loads between 501 and 1,000, and 3 exits for 501–1,000 only for
certain high-hazard or large assembly spaces? Wait, let's check:
For any story, if occupant load is 501–1,000, minimum 3 exits are
required per Table 1006.2.1. For 500 or fewer, 2 exits; 501–1,000, 3
exits; >1,000, 4 exits. So occupant load 600 requires 3 exits.
5. What is the maximum travel distance to an exit for a
nonsprinklered Group B office occupancy?
A. 200 feet
B. 250 feet
C. 300 feet
D. 400 feet
Answer: A. 200 feet
Rationale: Per CBC Table 1017.2, the maximum exit access travel
distance for a nonsprinklered Business (Group B) occupancy is
200 feet. If the building is fully sprinklered, it can be increased to
300 feet.
, Page 4 of 53
6. A plans examiner reviews an apartment building drawing and
notices an accessible route that has a cross slope of 1:48. Is
this compliant with CBC Chapter 11B?
A. Yes, the maximum cross slope for an accessible route is
1:50
B. Yes, the maximum cross slope is 1:48
C. No, the maximum cross slope is 1:24
D. No, the cross slope must be flat (0%)
Answer: B. Yes, the maximum cross slope is 1:48
Rationale: CBC Section 11B-402.2 allows a maximum cross
slope of 1:48 (2.08%) for accessible routes, except at curb ramps
and blended transitions. 1:48 is the maximum, not a violation.
7. Which of the following is considered a “high-rise” building
under the California Building Code?
A. A building with a floor level used for human occupancy
located more than 55 feet above the lowest level of fire
department vehicle access
B. Any building over 75 feet in height
C. A building with four or more stories above grade plane
D. A building with an occupied floor more than 75 feet above
the lowest level of fire department vehicle access
Answer: D. A building with an occupied floor more than 75 feet
above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access
Rationale: CBC Section 202 defines a high-rise as a building with
an occupied floor located more than 75 feet above the lowest
level of fire department vehicle access. Option A is 55 feet,
