NASCLA Commercial Building Exam
What is the minimum ceiling height for means of Egress? - ANS-Not less than 7 feet 6
inches
Emergency Power must illuminate for how long? - ANS-No less than 90 minutes
Elevators are required in a building with how many stories? - ANS-More than 3 (or at
least 4).
What is the size of the refuge space for one wheel chair? - ANS-30 inches by 48 inches
Each area of refuge shall be separated from the remainder of the story by what? -
ANS-Smoke Barrier
What is the minimum width of a door? - ANS-32 Inches
The minimum clear opening height of doors shall be no less than (at least) - ANS-80
inches
Which direction should a hinge door swing when the building occupies more than 50
people or is classified as Group "H"? - ANS-In the direction of egress
The force for pushing or pulling open interior swinging egress non fire doors shall not
exceed how many pounds? - ANS-No more than 5LBS
Clear opening below a door should be no more than - ANS-4 inches
Panic hardware is required when - ANS-There are more than 50 possible occupants
The maximum unlatching force of panic or fire hardware should not exceed how many
pounds? - ANS-15lbs
Stairway width for less than 50 people is - ANS-36 inches
Stairway width for more than 50 people - ANS-44 inches
Handrails should extend passed the top riser by - ANS-12 inches
,Maximum handrail width is - ANS-2 inches
Where handrails are not continuous between flights, the handrails should extend
horizontally how many inches? - ANS-12 inches
Clear space between handrail and wall - ANS-1 1/2
Required guards shall not have an opening how large? - ANS-4 inches
Corridor width chart can be found in what book? - ANS-2018 IBC (Thick blue book)
page 287
Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have the bottom of the opening not
greater than how many inches? - ANS-44 inches measure from floor
Accessible parking Spaces chart can be found where? - ANS-2018 IBC Page 308
Net Free Ventilating area shall not be less than - ANS-1/150th of the area of the space
ventilated (Page 321 IBC)
The spacing of the ties or fastenings for exterior metal veneer shall not exceed how
many inches? - ANS-24 inches
Lap siding should have minimum lap of how many inches? - ANS-1 and 1/4 inches
Metal flashing on walls, roof intersections, no less than how thick? - ANS-0.019
What class assemblies are most effective against severe fire test? - ANS-Class A
Asphalt shingles should only be used on roof slopes - ANS-Of two units vertical in 12
units horizontal (17%)
Valley lining material thickness chart can be found where? - ANS-IBC 351
Wood Shake and Wood shingle exposure table - ANS-IBC 352
Minimum Slope of a roof is - ANS-1/4 : 1
Allowable deflection table can be found - ANS-IBC 363
, A geotechnical investigation must be conducted when: - ANS-When backfilling more
than 12inches under a footer
The grade away from a building must be - ANS-5% for at least 10 feet
Dampproofing must be applied from where? - ANS-Footer to above grade
Where should a foundation drain be placed? - ANS-Top of the drain at least 6 inches
above the top of the footing, filter fabric over stone
Sandy, silty sand, clayey, table - found where? - ANS-434 IBC
Backfill compressive strength has to be what PSI? - ANS-At least 2000 PSI
Minimum Depth of footings below undisturbed ground surface should be how deep? -
ANS-12 inches
Minimum width of footing is - ANS-12 inches
Flange projections shall not exceed what dimension? - ANS-14 times the minimum
thickness of metal and flange width shall not be less than 80% of the depth of the
section
How thick should a vapor barrier be below a slab? - ANS-6 mil (0.006) lapped at least 6
inches
Chimney termination is at least how far above the highest point of the roof? - ANS-3 feet
What plan is submitted to the engineer? - ANS-Design (construction documents)
Steel Joist placement plans do not require what - ANS-Seal and signature of the joist
manufacturer
Trusses spanning more than how many feet require an engineer? - ANS-60ft
Underlayment should be a minimum of how thick? - ANS-1/4in thick
At what height do you need a permit for a retaining wall? - ANS-4ft
What is the minimum ceiling height for means of Egress? - ANS-Not less than 7 feet 6
inches
Emergency Power must illuminate for how long? - ANS-No less than 90 minutes
Elevators are required in a building with how many stories? - ANS-More than 3 (or at
least 4).
What is the size of the refuge space for one wheel chair? - ANS-30 inches by 48 inches
Each area of refuge shall be separated from the remainder of the story by what? -
ANS-Smoke Barrier
What is the minimum width of a door? - ANS-32 Inches
The minimum clear opening height of doors shall be no less than (at least) - ANS-80
inches
Which direction should a hinge door swing when the building occupies more than 50
people or is classified as Group "H"? - ANS-In the direction of egress
The force for pushing or pulling open interior swinging egress non fire doors shall not
exceed how many pounds? - ANS-No more than 5LBS
Clear opening below a door should be no more than - ANS-4 inches
Panic hardware is required when - ANS-There are more than 50 possible occupants
The maximum unlatching force of panic or fire hardware should not exceed how many
pounds? - ANS-15lbs
Stairway width for less than 50 people is - ANS-36 inches
Stairway width for more than 50 people - ANS-44 inches
Handrails should extend passed the top riser by - ANS-12 inches
,Maximum handrail width is - ANS-2 inches
Where handrails are not continuous between flights, the handrails should extend
horizontally how many inches? - ANS-12 inches
Clear space between handrail and wall - ANS-1 1/2
Required guards shall not have an opening how large? - ANS-4 inches
Corridor width chart can be found in what book? - ANS-2018 IBC (Thick blue book)
page 287
Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have the bottom of the opening not
greater than how many inches? - ANS-44 inches measure from floor
Accessible parking Spaces chart can be found where? - ANS-2018 IBC Page 308
Net Free Ventilating area shall not be less than - ANS-1/150th of the area of the space
ventilated (Page 321 IBC)
The spacing of the ties or fastenings for exterior metal veneer shall not exceed how
many inches? - ANS-24 inches
Lap siding should have minimum lap of how many inches? - ANS-1 and 1/4 inches
Metal flashing on walls, roof intersections, no less than how thick? - ANS-0.019
What class assemblies are most effective against severe fire test? - ANS-Class A
Asphalt shingles should only be used on roof slopes - ANS-Of two units vertical in 12
units horizontal (17%)
Valley lining material thickness chart can be found where? - ANS-IBC 351
Wood Shake and Wood shingle exposure table - ANS-IBC 352
Minimum Slope of a roof is - ANS-1/4 : 1
Allowable deflection table can be found - ANS-IBC 363
, A geotechnical investigation must be conducted when: - ANS-When backfilling more
than 12inches under a footer
The grade away from a building must be - ANS-5% for at least 10 feet
Dampproofing must be applied from where? - ANS-Footer to above grade
Where should a foundation drain be placed? - ANS-Top of the drain at least 6 inches
above the top of the footing, filter fabric over stone
Sandy, silty sand, clayey, table - found where? - ANS-434 IBC
Backfill compressive strength has to be what PSI? - ANS-At least 2000 PSI
Minimum Depth of footings below undisturbed ground surface should be how deep? -
ANS-12 inches
Minimum width of footing is - ANS-12 inches
Flange projections shall not exceed what dimension? - ANS-14 times the minimum
thickness of metal and flange width shall not be less than 80% of the depth of the
section
How thick should a vapor barrier be below a slab? - ANS-6 mil (0.006) lapped at least 6
inches
Chimney termination is at least how far above the highest point of the roof? - ANS-3 feet
What plan is submitted to the engineer? - ANS-Design (construction documents)
Steel Joist placement plans do not require what - ANS-Seal and signature of the joist
manufacturer
Trusses spanning more than how many feet require an engineer? - ANS-60ft
Underlayment should be a minimum of how thick? - ANS-1/4in thick
At what height do you need a permit for a retaining wall? - ANS-4ft
