Code Administration
4%of exam
Building Planning
8%of exam
Unit SeparationSite LocationRoom DimensionsEgress WindowsStairs
Footings and Foundations
16%of exam
Floor Construction
14%of exam
JoistsBearingNotchingSubflooringCrawlspaces
Wall Construction
27%of exam
StudsHeadersBracingFireblockingWRB
Roof and Ceiling
14%of exam
AtticsRaftersTrussesSheathingFlashing
Public Safety
17%of exam
EgressHandrailsGuardsAlarmsSafety Glazing
Quick Facts
- Exam
- B1
- Credential
- Residential Building Inspector
- Questions
- 60
- Time
- 2 hours
- Format
- Open book
- Scope
- IRC dwellings
- Pass
- 75 scaled
- Provider
- ICC
Permit vs CO
Permit
- Starts legal work
- Before construction
- Scope approval
CO
- Allows occupancy
- After final
- Use approval
Start work vs occupy
Inspection Picker
- Missing approved plans→Stop review(Baseline absent)
- Unlisted product→AHJ approval(Alternative path)
- Work concealed→Inspection required(Verify first)
- Unsafe condition→Stop work(Immediate risk)
- Defect found→Correction notice(Document fix)
- Final compliant→CO(Occupancy)
- Question asks scope→IRC chapter(Find authority)
- Local conflict→Jurisdiction rule(Local controls)
Project Admin
- AHJ
- Code authority
- Approved plans
- Inspection baseline
- Permit
- Work authorization
- Inspection report
- Field record
- Correction notice
- Defect direction
- Stop work
- Unsafe halt
- CO
- Occupancy approval
Building Planning
- Townhouse limit
- Three stories
- Unit separation
- Rated assembly
- Site plan
- Location check
- Grade slope
- Drain from foundation
- Flood elevation
- Local/FEMA check
- Room area
- Minimum floor area
- Light/vent
- Opening compliance
Anchor Bolts
Half, seven, six, twelve
1/2 in bolt7 in embed6 ft spacing12 in ends
Dampproof vs Waterproof
Dampproof
- Moisture resistance
- Damp soil
- Basic coating
Waterproof
- Water pressure
- Hydrostatic risk
- Stronger system
Dampness vs water pressure
Code Table Picker
- Footing size→Soil/load table
- Foundation wall→Backfill table
- Joist span→Span table
- Header size→Header table
- Rafter span→Rafter table
- Sheathing fasteners→Fastening schedule
- Concrete strength→Weathering table
- Roof covering→Slope table
Foundation Core
- Frost depth
- Below frost line
- Footing width
- Use load table
- Footing drains
- Basement/crawlspace drainage
- Wall thickness
- Backfill-driven table
- Unbalanced fill
- Wall design cue
- Dampproofing
- Moisture resistance
- Waterproofing
- Hydrostatic protection
- Backfill brace
- Support before fill
Concrete and Anchors
- Slab thickness
- 3-1/2 in
- Base course
- 4 in fill
- Concrete strength
- Weathering table
- Anchor diameter
- 1/2 in min
- Anchor embed
- 7 in min
- Anchor spacing
- 6 ft max
- End distance
- 12 in max
- Lap splice
- 40 bar diameters
Joist Cuts
Thirds rule cuts, two-inch edge
1/3 maxNo middle notches2 in edgeCheck engineered
Bearing vs Span
Bearing
- Support length
- Load transfer
- End condition
Span
- Clear distance
- Table lookup
- Species/load dependent
Resting length vs distance
Floor Framing
- Lumber grade
- Marking required
- Joist span
- Species/grade table
- Wood bearing
- 1-1/2 in
- Masonry bearing
- 3 in
- Notch depth
- 1/3 max
- Middle third
- No notches
- Bored holes
- 2 in edge
- Sill plate
- Preservative-treated
Floor Systems
- Engineered joists
- Manufacturer drawings
- Subfloor
- Thickness/span grade
- Decking
- Fastener schedule
- Crawl access
- Opening required
- Crawl vent
- Screened ventilation
- Draftstops
- Concealed-space blocks
- Decay risk
- Moisture contact
Bracing vs Sheathing
Bracing
- Lateral resistance
- Wall line
- Load path
Sheathing
- Panel material
- Thickness/fasteners
- May brace
Function vs material
Wall Framing
- Stud spacing
- Table condition
- Load path
- Loads to foundation
- Header span
- Opening/load table
- Steel studs
- Marking compliance
- Wall bracing
- Lateral resistance
- Fireblocking
- Vertical fire stops
- Garage separation
- Gypsum barrier
- Safety glazing
- Label required
Wall Coverings
- WRB
- Water-resistive barrier
- Sheathing
- Thickness/fasteners
- Veneer support
- Anchorage/backing
- Siding clearance
- Above grade
- Stucco lath
- Fastened support
- Shower walls
- Approved finish
- Masonry grout
- Where required
- Mortar joints
- Thickness check
Rafter vs Truss
Rafter
- Field framed
- Span table
- Collar ties
Truss
- Engineered assembly
- Approved drawings
- No field cuts
Prescriptive vs engineered
Roof and Ceiling
- Attic access
- Opening required
- Attic vent
- Net free area
- Rafter span
- Species/load table
- Rafter bearing
- Support required
- Collar ties
- Uplift restraint
- Trusses
- Approved drawings
- Roof sheathing
- 8d schedule
- Flashing
- Water diversion
- Roof slope
- Covering limit
- Chimney clearance
- Combustible separation
Egress Window
20 wide, 24 high, 44 sill
20 in width24 in height44 in sill5.7 sq ft
Guard vs Handrail
Guard
- Fall prevention
- Open side
- Sphere limits
Handrail
- Grip support
- Along stair
- Height range
Block fall vs grip
Safety Picker
- Sleeping room→EERO(Escape/rescue)
- Open side high→Guard(Fall risk)
- Stair walking→Handrail(Graspable)
- Bedroom level→Smoke alarm
- Fuel appliance→CO alarm
- Garage attached→CO alarm
- Hazardous glazing→Safety glazing
- Concealed chase→Fireblocking
Egress and Stairs
- Hall width
- 36 in
- Max riser
- 7-3/4 in
- Min tread
- 10 in
- Headroom
- 6 ft 8 in
- Max flight
- 12 ft 3 in
- Landing depth
- 36 in
- EERO sill
- 44 in max
- EERO area
- 5.7 sq ft
Stair Numbers
Seven-three-quarter up, ten across
Riser maxTread minHeadroom 6-8Flight 12-3
Public Safety
- Smoke alarms
- Bedrooms/levels
- CO alarms
- Fuel/garage trigger
- Cooking offset
- 10 ft preferred
- Deck guard
- Over 30 in
- Guard height
- 36 in surface
- Stair guard
- 34 in min
- Baluster opening
- 4 in sphere
- Triangle opening
- 6 in sphere
- Handrail grip
- Graspable profile
Common Traps
Grade vs normal EERO
Grade allows 5.0 ≠ Above needs 5.7
Stair guard vs deck guard
Stair guard 34 ≠ Deck guard 36
Wood vs masonry bearing
Wood bearing 1-1/2 ≠ Masonry bearing 3
Permit vs inspection
Permit authorizes work ≠ Inspection verifies work
Rafter vs truss cuts
Rafters table-driven ≠ Trusses need approval
Dampproof vs drain
Coating resists moisture ≠ Drain relieves water
Last Minute
- 1.Weights: 4,8,16,14,27,14,17
- 2.B1: 60 questions, 2 hours
- 3.Open book: know tables
- 4.IRC scope: dwellings/townhouses/accessory
- 5.EERO: 20x24, 44 sill
- 6.Stairs: 7-3/4 riser, 10 tread
- 7.Anchor bolts: 1/2, 7, 6
- 8.Joists: no middle-third notches
- 9.Guards: 30 trigger, 36 high
- 10.Final compliant: issue CO
Third-party resources · We may earn a commission from purchases.
ICC Residential Building Inspector Exam Prep (B1): Study Guide with Code Navigation Strategies, Practice Questions, and Inspection Scenarios to Pass the ICC Certification with Confidence
By Turner, Mike L
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