Mississippi Carpentry Examination

Under OSHA 1926.501, when must a carpenter on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge be protected from falling by a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system?

• AWhen the fall distance is 6 feet or more to a lower level
• BOnly when the fall distance is 10 feet or more
• COnly when the fall distance is 4 feet or more, the general-industry walking-surface trigg…
• DOnly when the worker requests fall protection in writing

What is the required top-edge height of an OSHA construction guardrail system above the walking/working surface?

• A36 inches, plus or minus 2 inches
• B42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches
• C48 inches exactly
• D30 inches, plus or minus 3 inches

An OSHA construction guardrail top rail must resist which minimum force applied within 2 inches of the top edge in any outward or downward direction?

• A50 pounds
• B100 pounds
• C200 pounds
• D5,000 pounds

A 16-inch by 20-inch floor opening is covered while framing continues. Which OSHA 1926.502 cover practice is required?

• AThe cover may be loose cardboard if someone is posted as a monitor
• BThe cover must support at least twice the weight that may be imposed, be secured against…
• CAny plywood scrap is acceptable if it is larger than the hole
• DThe cover must support the live load of the finished floor only and need not be marked

A portable extension ladder reaches a landing 20 feet above the base support. Approximately how far out from the wall should the base be set under OSHA 1926.1053?

• A2 feet
• B5 feet
• C8 feet
• D10 feet

When a portable ladder is used to reach an upper landing, how far must the side rails extend above that landing unless the ladder is secured and a grab device is provided?

• A1 foot
• B2 feet
• C3 feet
• D6 feet

A carpenter is working on a supported scaffold platform. At what height above a lower level does OSHA 1926.451 require fall protection on that scaffold?

• A4 feet
• B6 feet, the same as general construction edges
• CMore than 10 feet
• D15 feet, the steel-erection trigger

Which pair of OSHA scaffold rules is correct for a typical supported frame scaffold?

• AThe scaffold must support its own weight plus 2 times the intended load, and it may be fr…
• BThe scaffold must support its own weight plus at least 4 times the maximum intended load,…
• CThe scaffold must support 5,000 pounds per bay, and ties are required only above 20 feet
• DThe scaffold must support the intended load with no safety factor if a competent person i…

Unless it is designed as part of a complete personal fall arrest system with a safety factor of at least two, an OSHA personal-fall-arrest anchorage must be capable of supporting how much per attached employee?

• A200 pounds
• B1,800 pounds
• C5,000 pounds
• D10,000 pounds

When must erected concrete shoring equipment be inspected on a carpentry/formwork crew, per OSHA 1926.703?

• AOnly after the pour is finished and the crew is stripping
• BImmediately prior to, during, and immediately after concrete placement
• COnce, when the forms are first delivered to the site
• DOnly if the pour height exceeds 8 feet

A carpenter stuffs an unfaced R-19 fiberglass batt into a 2x4 wall cavity, compressing the batt to 3-1/2 inches. What is the main thermal result?

• AThe installed R-value stays R-19 because the fiber mass did not change
• BThe installed R-value decreases because trapped air thickness is reduced
• CThe installed R-value increases because the fibers become denser
• DCompression only matters for rigid foam, not for batts

Kraft-faced fiberglass batts are being installed in an exterior wood-frame wall. How should the facing be oriented?

• AFacing toward the exterior sheathing so it sheds any wall-cavity moisture
• BFacing toward the interior conditioned space, because the kraft paper is a vapor retarder
• CFacing either way, because kraft paper has no vapor-retarder function
• DFacing must be stripped off whenever batts are used in Mississippi

A flanged window is being flashed into a weather-resistive barrier. In what order should the flashing layers be installed so water sheds out of the wall?

• AHead flashing, then jamb flashing, then sill flashing
• BSill pan or sill flashing first, then jamb flashing, then head flashing, each layer lappe…
• CJamb flashing first, then a single piece of tape across head and sill
• DHead flashing only; sills and jambs rely on sealant

When setting a prehung exterior door, where should the primary shims be placed to keep the jamb from bowing and to keep the latch working?

• AOnly at mid-span on each jamb, regardless of hardware
• BAt each hinge location and at the strike/lock area, plus additional points as needed to k…
• COnly under the threshold, because the hinges will pull the side jambs true
• DContinuously along the entire jamb with no gaps for insulation

After a window is set in the rough opening, what is the quickest reliable check that the unit is square before final fastening?

• AMeasure only the width at the sill
• BConfirm that the two diagonal measurements of the frame are equal
• CSight the head from the exterior only
• DClose the sash; if it latches, the unit must be square

How should a nail-fin window be integrated with housewrap so the wall still drains?

• APlace the entire window on top of uncut housewrap and caulk the fin on all four sides wit…
• BCut the wrap, install a sill pan or sill flashing, set the window, lap jamb and head wrap…
• CStaple housewrap over the head fin only and leave jambs and sill unflashed
• DOmit housewrap behind flanged windows because the fin is the weather barrier

A manufacturer specifies a rough opening 1/2 inch wider and 1/2 inch taller than the window frame. The frame is 35-1/2 inches wide by 47-1/2 inches high. What rough opening should be framed?

• A35-1/2 inches by 47-1/2 inches
• B36 inches by 48 inches
• C36-1/2 inches by 48-1/2 inches
• D37-1/2 inches by 49-1/2 inches

How should dimensional-lumber floor joists be oriented when they are set on the plates or beams?

• ACrown down so the joist will flatten under load
• BCrown up so live load tends to straighten the joist
• CRandom crowns so the floor averages out
• DBark side down regardless of crown

How many board feet are in one 2x8 that is 12 feet long?

• A12 board feet
• B16 board feet
• C18 board feet
• D24 board feet

A takeoff lists thirty 2x6s that are each 12 feet long. How many board feet is that order?

• A180 board feet
• B240 board feet
• C360 board feet
• D720 board feet

How many board feet are in eighteen 2x10s that are each 16 feet long?

• A240 board feet
• B288 board feet
• C360 board feet
• D480 board feet

A straight wall is 12 feet long and studs are spaced 16 inches on center. Counting both end studs and ignoring openings and corners, how many studs are required?

• A9 studs
• B10 studs
• C12 studs
• D16 studs

A wall line is 32 feet long with studs at 16 inches on center. Counting both ends and ignoring openings, how many studs are required?

• A24 studs
• B25 studs
• C32 studs
• D20 studs

A partition is 22 feet 8 inches long and is laid out 16 inches on center. Counting both end studs and ignoring openings, how many studs are required?

• A16 studs
• B17 studs
• C18 studs
• D22 studs

In IBC conventional light-frame construction, bearing and exterior wall studs are capped with which plate arrangement?

• AA single top plate is always sufficient if the studs are 16 inches on center
• BDouble top plates installed to overlap at corners and at intersecting walls
• CA doubled sill plate in place of any top plate
• DNo top plate if a rim joist is nailed to the studs

In conventional wood framing, what are the usual minimum end-bearing lengths for a joist, beam, or girder?

• A3/4 inch on wood or metal and 1-1/2 inches on masonry or concrete
• B1-1/2 inches on wood or metal and 3 inches on masonry or concrete
• C3 inches on wood or metal and 1-1/2 inches on masonry or concrete
• D5-1/2 inches on every support, matching a 2x6 plate

A load-bearing 2x4 stud has an actual depth of 3-1/2 inches. What is the maximum notch depth permitted in that stud under IBC conventional construction?

• A7/8 inch (25 percent of the stud depth)
• B1-3/8 inches (about 40 percent of the stud depth)
• C1-3/4 inches (half the stud depth)
• DAny depth if a metal patch plate is nailed on one face

In a nonbearing partition that supports only its own weight, what is the maximum notch depth in a wood stud?

• A15 percent of the stud depth
• B25 percent of the stud depth
• C40 percent of the stud depth
• D60 percent of the stud depth

A plumber wants to bore a hole through a single load-bearing 2x4 stud (actual depth 3-1/2 inches). Which hole complies with IBC conventional construction?

• AA 2-1/8-inch hole centered in the stud
• BA 1-3/8-inch hole whose edge stays at least 5/8 inch from either edge of the stud, with n…
• CA 1-3/8-inch hole that also has a 7/8-inch notch at the same height
• DAny hole if it is in the middle third of the stud height

Where are notches in the top or bottom of a solid-sawn floor joist prohibited under IBC 2308.4.2.4?

• AOnly within 12 inches of the bearing
• BIn the middle third of the span
• CAnywhere on the compression edge
• DOnly if the joist is a 2x6

A 2x10 joist has an actual depth of 9-1/4 inches. Which bored hole complies with IBC 2308.4.2.4?

• AA 4-inch hole anywhere in the web
• BA 3-inch hole at least 2 inches from the top and bottom edges
• CA 3-inch hole through the top edge so the pipe can sit in a saddle
• DA 5-inch hole in the middle third if it is centered on the depth

Wood sill plates that rest on a concrete foundation wall or slab in contact with the earth must be which of the following?

• AAny kiln-dried SPF, because concrete wicks moisture away from the plate
• BNaturally durable or preservative-treated wood
• CFire-retardant-treated wood only
• DGreen (unseasoned) lumber so it can dry with the slab

In concealed stud-wall spaces, IBC 718.2.2 requires fireblocking horizontally at intervals not exceeding:

• A4 feet
• B8 feet
• C10 feet
• D16 feet

Besides the 10-foot horizontal interval, where must fireblocking be provided in concealed stud-wall spaces?

• AOnly at the roof ridge
• BVertically at the ceiling and floor levels
• COnly behind tubs and showers
• DOnly in Type I noncombustible construction

What is the primary structural job of a header over a window or door in a load-bearing wall?

• ATo provide a nailing surface for exterior trim only
• BTo carry the loads from above the opening to the jack studs at each side
• CTo replace the need for a double top plate
• DTo serve as a fireblock at mid-wall height

Which set of conditions is used to select a conventional wood header from IBC/IRC span tables rather than guessing a size?

• AOnly the rough-opening width
• BOpening width, the loads and number of stories supported, snow or live-load values, and t…
• COnly the stud spacing in the rest of the wall
• DOnly whether the header will be wrapped with drywall

In a load-bearing door opening, what are the roles of the king stud and the jack (trimmer) stud?

• AThe king stud is cut to header height and carries the header; the jack runs full height f…
• BThe jack stud is cut to support the header and carries the header load to the plate; the…
• CBoth studs are cut to header height and share the header load equally
• DNeither stud carries load if a steel flitch plate is used

How many square feet does one 4-foot by 8-foot sheet of plywood or OSB cover?

• A16 square feet
• B24 square feet
• C32 square feet
• D36 square feet

How many 4x8 sheets are needed to cover a rectangular floor that is 24 feet by 28 feet, with no waste allowance?

• A21 sheets
• B24 sheets
• C28 sheets
• D32 sheets

A 20-foot by 24-foot floor will be sheathed with 4x8 panels. How many sheets should be ordered if 10 percent waste is added and the count is rounded up to a whole sheet?

• A15 sheets
• B16 sheets
• C17 sheets
• D20 sheets

Why should all joists in a floor bay be set with the crown in the same direction?

• ATo make the subfloor nails miss the joists
• BTo keep the finished floor plane consistent and avoid a washboard surface
• CTo satisfy a grading-stamp ink-orientation rule
• DCrowns must alternate so the bay cannot twist

What is the primary structural purpose of ceiling joists that connect the heels of opposing common rafters?

• ATo serve as a finished ceiling only
• BTo act as rafter ties that resist the outward thrust that would spread the walls
• CTo replace the need for a ridge board
• DTo provide a nailing base for roof sheathing

When installing a metal joist hanger, which fastening practice is required?

• AFill the hanger’s specified nail holes with the hanger manufacturer’s specified nails, an…
• BDrive two 16d common nails wherever they fit and leave the joist 1/2 inch above the seat
• CUse roofing nails because they are shorter and will not poke through the ledger
• DOmit the face nails if the hanger has a seat

A wood structural panel is stamped 32/16. What does that span rating mean when the panel is installed with the strength axis across the supports?

• AIt may be used as roof sheathing over supports 32 inches on center, or as subfloor over s…
• BIt is 32/16 inch thick
• CIt may be used as roof sheathing at 16 inches on center only
• DThe panel is limited to 32-inch-wide buildings

When installing roof or floor sheathing, how should panel end joints be arranged?

• ALined up so every joist or rafter has a continuous joint on one member
• BStaggered so end joints in adjacent rows do not fall on the same support line
• CCentered in the bay with no bearing on a joist or rafter
• DButted tight with no gap, regardless of manufacturer spacing notes