International Residential Code Exam Questions and
Answers.
What is the nominal thickness of a ridge board? - Correct Answer Not less than 1"
How many jack studs will be required for a 2 - 2X12 header in an interior bearing wall
supporting one floor only, building width of 28', and a span of 7'0"? - Correct Answer 2 jack
studs supporting each end
What is the maximum hole that may be cut in a 2 X 12 nominal floor joist? - Correct Answer
4" (1/3rd the width)
What size strap is required if a top plate is notched more than 50% of its width? - Correct
Answer 16 gauge thick and 1 1/2" wide
The end of a wood joist must bear on a wood beam by at least __________ inches? -
Correct Answer Not less than 1 1/2"
Concrete gains most of its strength in how many days? - Correct Answer 28 days
In what section of the span of a floor joist is it NOT permitted to cut a notch? - Correct
Answer Center 1/3rd
What material is required for the door of an ash dump cleanout? - Correct Answer Ferrous
Metal or Masonry
A cricket is required when the width of a chimney is greater than __________ inches? -
Correct Answer 30" (and does not intersect the ridgeline)
What is the minimum ceiling height above a bathtub? - Correct Answer 6'8"
What is the maximum unsupported height of a pier consisting of 12"X16" hollow core
blocks filled with Type "S" mortar? - Correct Answer 10 times their least dimension (10 X
12" = 120")
What is the least outside circular diameter of a handrail? - Correct Answer not less than 1
1/4" (not greater than 2")
Insulation shall have a smoke-developed index not to exceed? - Correct Answer 450
From where must a smoke alarm draw its primary power? - Correct Answer From the
building wiring
What is the live load of an attic with habitable space? - Correct Answer 30 psi
, What is required width and height of the egress door? - Correct Answer Not less than 32" X
Not less than 78"
How far into concrete must anchor bolts extend? - Correct Answer 7"
What is the maximum height of the backfill for a plain masonry foundation wall, 8' high and
8" thick, and is constructed in type GW soil? - Correct Answer 5'
If a footing is 18" wide, what is the maximum width of a foundation wall placed on this
footing? - Correct Answer 14" (2" shelf on both sides)
What is the slope allowance for the bottom of a footing? - Correct Answer 1 in 10 (10%)
How far most foundation gravel extend above the footing drain? - Correct Answer 6"
What is the spacing in inches of veneer ties? - Correct Answer not more than 3' feet on
center, and placed within 12" of a wall opening
What is the minimum penetration of a drywall screw into wood? - Correct Answer 5/8"
What is the minimum width of a stairway? - Correct Answer 36"
What is the stair riser height and tread depth? - Correct Answer Risers shall not be higher
than 7 3/4"
Treads shall not be less than 10"
(USBC amended this to 8 1/4" X 9")
What size window is required in a bathroom if there is no mechanical ventilation? - Correct
Answer Not less than 3 sq. ft.
(half of which must be openable)
What is the minimum width of a hallway? - Correct Answer 3'
What are the R Value insulation requirements for the ceiling, wall, and floor? - Correct
Answer Ceiling = 49
Wall = 20
Floor = 19
The under floor space vents must be covered with material with a least dimension of? -
Correct Answer shall not exceed a 1/4"
What is the maximum slump of concrete placed in removable forms? - Correct Answer
Shall not exceed 6"
The end joints of double top plates must be offset at least __________? - Correct Answer
24"
Answers.
What is the nominal thickness of a ridge board? - Correct Answer Not less than 1"
How many jack studs will be required for a 2 - 2X12 header in an interior bearing wall
supporting one floor only, building width of 28', and a span of 7'0"? - Correct Answer 2 jack
studs supporting each end
What is the maximum hole that may be cut in a 2 X 12 nominal floor joist? - Correct Answer
4" (1/3rd the width)
What size strap is required if a top plate is notched more than 50% of its width? - Correct
Answer 16 gauge thick and 1 1/2" wide
The end of a wood joist must bear on a wood beam by at least __________ inches? -
Correct Answer Not less than 1 1/2"
Concrete gains most of its strength in how many days? - Correct Answer 28 days
In what section of the span of a floor joist is it NOT permitted to cut a notch? - Correct
Answer Center 1/3rd
What material is required for the door of an ash dump cleanout? - Correct Answer Ferrous
Metal or Masonry
A cricket is required when the width of a chimney is greater than __________ inches? -
Correct Answer 30" (and does not intersect the ridgeline)
What is the minimum ceiling height above a bathtub? - Correct Answer 6'8"
What is the maximum unsupported height of a pier consisting of 12"X16" hollow core
blocks filled with Type "S" mortar? - Correct Answer 10 times their least dimension (10 X
12" = 120")
What is the least outside circular diameter of a handrail? - Correct Answer not less than 1
1/4" (not greater than 2")
Insulation shall have a smoke-developed index not to exceed? - Correct Answer 450
From where must a smoke alarm draw its primary power? - Correct Answer From the
building wiring
What is the live load of an attic with habitable space? - Correct Answer 30 psi
, What is required width and height of the egress door? - Correct Answer Not less than 32" X
Not less than 78"
How far into concrete must anchor bolts extend? - Correct Answer 7"
What is the maximum height of the backfill for a plain masonry foundation wall, 8' high and
8" thick, and is constructed in type GW soil? - Correct Answer 5'
If a footing is 18" wide, what is the maximum width of a foundation wall placed on this
footing? - Correct Answer 14" (2" shelf on both sides)
What is the slope allowance for the bottom of a footing? - Correct Answer 1 in 10 (10%)
How far most foundation gravel extend above the footing drain? - Correct Answer 6"
What is the spacing in inches of veneer ties? - Correct Answer not more than 3' feet on
center, and placed within 12" of a wall opening
What is the minimum penetration of a drywall screw into wood? - Correct Answer 5/8"
What is the minimum width of a stairway? - Correct Answer 36"
What is the stair riser height and tread depth? - Correct Answer Risers shall not be higher
than 7 3/4"
Treads shall not be less than 10"
(USBC amended this to 8 1/4" X 9")
What size window is required in a bathroom if there is no mechanical ventilation? - Correct
Answer Not less than 3 sq. ft.
(half of which must be openable)
What is the minimum width of a hallway? - Correct Answer 3'
What are the R Value insulation requirements for the ceiling, wall, and floor? - Correct
Answer Ceiling = 49
Wall = 20
Floor = 19
The under floor space vents must be covered with material with a least dimension of? -
Correct Answer shall not exceed a 1/4"
What is the maximum slump of concrete placed in removable forms? - Correct Answer
Shall not exceed 6"
The end joints of double top plates must be offset at least __________? - Correct Answer
24"
