New Mexico CID GB-2 Residential Building Contractor Examination

Per IRC 2021 R401.3, lots shall be graded so that the finish grade falls not fewer than which amount within the first 10 feet away from foundation walls?

• A2 inches
• B4 inches
• C6 inches
• D12 inches

NMAC 14.7.3.12 replaces IRC R403.1.4 and requires all exterior footings for a New Mexico dwelling to be placed at least how far below grade?

• A6 inches
• B8 inches
• C12 inches
• D24 inches

On a GB-2 house in Santa Fe County, the local frost depth is published as 24 inches. Per IRC 2021 R403.1.4.1 and NMAC 14.7.3.12, what is the correct minimum depth to the bottom of an exterior spread footing that is not a frost-protected shallow foundation?

• A12 inches below grade, because that is the New Mexico statewide minimum
• B18 inches below grade, matching a common Sandoval County recommendation
• C24 inches below finished grade so the footing bottom is below the local frost line
• D36 inches below grade, the IRC default frost depth for all mountain jurisdictions

Per IRC 2021 R403.1.4.1, exterior footings shall be placed on undisturbed natural soils or engineered fill and shall not be placed on which of the following?

• ACompacted granular engineered fill
• BFrozen soil
• CNative caliche that has been inspected and accepted
• DUndisturbed sandy gravel

Per IRC 2021 R403.1.6, wood sole plates on a concrete foundation shall be anchored with bolts not less than which diameter, embedded not less than 7 inches, and spaced not more than 6 feet on center?

• A3/8 inch
• B1/2 inch
• C5/8 inch
• D3/4 inch

A 2x6 exterior wall sole plate is cantilevered over a New Mexico slab-on-grade to make room for perimeter insulation. Per NMAC 14.7.3.14, what is the maximum cantilever and the minimum distance from the exterior concrete edge to the anchor bolts?

• A1/2 inch cantilever; bolts 1 inch from the exterior edge
• B1 inch cantilever; bolts centered in the plate
• C1-1/2 inches cantilever; bolts not less than 2 inches from the exterior edge
• D3 inches cantilever; bolts 4 inches from the exterior edge

In Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, and D2, IRC 2021 R403.1.3.1 requires which horizontal reinforcement in a concrete stem wall with a concrete footing?

• AOne No. 3 bar at mid-height of the stem wall only
• BOne No. 4 bar within 12 inches of the top of the stem wall and one No. 4 bar 3 to 4 inche…
• CTwo No. 5 bars in the footing only, with no stem-wall steel
• DOne No. 6 bar at the top of the footing and none in the stem wall

NMAC 14.7.3.10 defines unbalanced backfill height as the difference between the exterior finish ground level and which interior measuring point when an interior slab-on-grade is in contact with the foundation wall?

• AThe bottom of the footing
• BThe top of the interior concrete slab
• CThe underside of the first-floor joists
• DThe top of the stem wall

Before excavating footings for a New Mexico GB-2 dwelling, the contractor must have underground utilities marked by calling which nationwide number?

• A311
• B411
• C811
• D911

Backfill against a new concrete foundation wall should be placed only after the wall has gained sufficient strength and, where required, after dampproofing or waterproofing is complete. Which placement practice is correct?

• ADump large unbroken clods and construction debris directly against the wall to speed the…
• BPlace soil in lifts, keep large rocks and construction debris away from the wall face, an…
• CSurcharge the unbraced wall immediately with a loaded dump truck to compact the first lift
• DOmit drainage stone and a drain pipe whenever the site soils are clay

A rectangular house is 40 feet by 28 feet. The continuous exterior spread footing is 18 inches wide and 8 inches thick. Ignoring waste, overlap at corners, and interior footings, how many cubic yards of concrete are required for that footing?

• A3.4 cubic yards
• B5.0 cubic yards
• C6.8 cubic yards
• D8.1 cubic yards

Per IRC 2021 R402.2 and Table R402.2, what is the minimum specified compressive strength for concrete basement walls, foundation walls, and other concrete not exposed to the weather?

• A2,000 psi
• B2,500 psi
• C3,500 psi
• D4,000 psi

Per IRC 2021 R506.1, a concrete slab-on-ground floor shall be not less than which thickness, unless designed in accordance with ACI 332?

• A2-1/2 inches
• B3-1/2 inches
• C5 inches
• D6 inches

Per IRC 2021 R506.2.3, which vapor retarder is required under a heated dwelling slab-on-ground, with joints lapped not less than 6 inches?

• AA 4-mil polyethylene sheet of any grade
• BA minimum 6-mil polyethylene sheet with no ASTM classification
• CA minimum 10-mil vapor retarder conforming to ASTM E1745 Class A
• DNo vapor retarder is required under any New Mexico slab

For a New Mexico porch slab or exterior step exposed to freeze-thaw, IRC 2021 Table R402.2 requires the concrete to have the specified strength for the weathering potential and which additional property?

• AA maximum 1-inch slump and no air entrainment
• BAir-entrained concrete where the weathering potential is moderate or severe
• CCalcium chloride accelerator as the only admixture
• DA water-cement ratio of not less than 0.70

A 30-foot by 27-foot dwelling slab is 4 inches thick. How many cubic yards of concrete are required for the slab, not including waste?

• A8.0 cubic yards
• B10.0 cubic yards
• C12.0 cubic yards
• D15.0 cubic yards

The same 30-foot by 27-foot by 4-inch slab will be ordered with a 10 percent waste factor. How many cubic yards should be ordered?

• A10.0 cubic yards
• B10.5 cubic yards
• C11.0 cubic yards
• D13.5 cubic yards

Per IRC 2021 R403.1.3.5.3 / R404.1.3.3.7.4 cover rules used with prescriptive residential footings, concrete cast against and permanently exposed to earth shall have not less than which concrete cover over reinforcement?

• A3/4 inch
• B1-1/2 inches
• C2 inches
• D3 inches

Cold-weather concreting for a GB-2 footing should not proceed if the ground is frozen. As a field rule consistent with ACI 306 practice used on residential pours, protection is required when the air temperature is at or below which value during placement and early curing?

• A50°F
• B40°F
• C32°F
• D20°F

NMAC 14.7.3.12 amends IRC R403.1.3.2 for masonry stem walls with concrete footings that are formed with rigid insulation. Which statement is correct?

• AAny thickness of beadboard may be used as a form in sandy soil
• BA minimum of 1-1/2-inch rigid insulation may be used as a form, but rigid insulation shal…
• CRigid insulation is prohibited as a form in all New Mexico soils
• DRigid insulation may replace the footing steel if it is 2 inches thick

When placing a residential footing with No. 4 bars, which consolidation practice is correct?

• AAdd water on site until the slump exceeds 8 inches so the concrete self-levels around the…
• BPlace concrete as near as possible to its final position and consolidate so that it compl…
• CDrop concrete more than 10 feet from a truck chute into a narrow form without a drop chut…
• DStop the pour at mid-footing overnight without a construction joint or dowels

A GB-2 crew will mix 80-pound bags of sacked concrete rated at 0.60 cubic feet per bag to pour a 4.8-cubic-yard footing. How many bags are required, with no waste allowance?

• A130 bags
• B162 bags
• C216 bags
• D288 bags

For above-grade residential brick veneer in a typical New Mexico exposure, which ASTM C270 mortar type is the usual specified mortar?

• AType M
• BType N
• CType O
• DType K

Per IRC 2021 R703.8.6, weep holes in anchored masonry veneer shall be provided in the outside wythe at a maximum spacing of which distance on center?

• A16 inches
• B24 inches
• C33 inches
• D48 inches

Per IRC 2021 R703.8.4, the air space between anchored masonry veneer and the backing shall be not less than which width, unless an approved alternative drainage system is used?

• A3/8 inch
• B1/2 inch
• C1 inch
• D3 inches

Per IRC 2021 R703.8.4.1, each masonry veneer tie shall support not more than 2.67 square feet of wall area and shall be spaced not more than which maximums?

• A16 inches horizontally and 16 inches vertically
• B24 inches horizontally and 16 inches vertically
• C32 inches horizontally and 24 inches vertically
• D48 inches horizontally and 36 inches vertically

Unless otherwise specified, the standard thickness of head and bed mortar joints in residential brick veneer and CMU work is which dimension?

• A1/8 inch
• B1/4 inch
• C3/8 inch
• D3/4 inch

Per IRC 2021 R703.8.5 and R703.8.6, corrosion-resistant flashing at the base of masonry veneer shall be located where, and weep holes shall be placed how relative to that flashing?

• AFlashing at mid-wall height, with weeps at the top of the veneer
• BFlashing beneath the first course of masonry above finished ground level, with weep holes…
• CFlashing only at the roof-to-wall intersection, with no base flashing required
• DNo flashing is required if Type S mortar is used

A brick-veneer wall is 40 feet long and 8 feet high. Using 7 bricks per square foot and a 5 percent waste factor, how many bricks should be ordered?

• A2,240 bricks
• B2,352 bricks
• C2,800 bricks
• D3,360 bricks

Which ASTM C270 mortar type is the appropriate choice for a below-grade CMU foundation wall or for veneer subject to high lateral load?

• AType N
• BType O
• CType S
• DType K

Per IRC 2021 R602.3.2, wood-stud bearing walls shall have a double top plate with end joints offset not less than which distance?

• A12 inches
• B16 inches
• C24 inches
• D48 inches

Per IRC 2021 R602.6, a bored hole in a bearing stud shall not exceed 40 percent of the stud width, and the edge of the hole shall be not closer than which distance to the edge of the stud?

• A1/4 inch
• B5/8 inch
• C1-1/2 inches
• D2 inches

IRC 2021 Table R602.3(1) changed roof-sheathing nailing for 8d common nails. What is the required spacing at intermediate supports for 8d common nails in roof sheathing?

• A6 inches on center
• B8 inches on center
• C12 inches on center
• D16 inches on center

Per IRC 2021 R502.6, the ends of floor joists shall have not less than which bearing on wood or metal and not less than which bearing on masonry or concrete?

• A1 inch on wood or metal; 2 inches on masonry or concrete
• B1-1/2 inches on wood or metal; 3 inches on masonry or concrete
• C3 inches on wood or metal; 4 inches on masonry or concrete
• D3-1/2 inches on wood or metal; 6 inches on masonry or concrete

Per IRC 2021 R302.11, fireblocking shall be provided in concealed spaces of stud walls at the ceiling and floor levels and at which maximum vertical interval?

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

NMAC 14.7.3.14 amends IRC R602.3 to require plywood or oriented strand board wall sheathing to have which gap at panel edge and end joints?

• ANo gap; panels shall be butted tight
• B1/16 inch
• C1/8 inch
• D1/2 inch

A 6-foot-wide opening in a bearing wall supports roof and ceiling loads only. Using IRC 2021 header tables (Table R602.7(1)), which statement is correct for a Southern Pine No. 2 header?

• AAny single 2x4 on the flat is always adequate for a 6-foot bearing-wall opening
• BHeader size and the number of plies must be selected from the span tables for the actual…
• CAll bearing-wall openings wider than 4 feet require a steel I-beam
• DHeaders are not required if cripples are omitted

Per BCSI (Building Component Safety Information) handling and installation rules used on the GB-2 bulletin list, which alteration of a metal-plate-connected wood truss is permitted without an engineered repair?

• ACutting a web to run a 4-inch bath fan duct
• BNotching the bottom chord for a plumbing drain
• CDrilling a 2-inch hole through a truss plate
• DNone of these field cuts; damaged or cut trusses require an engineered repair

During installation of metal-plate-connected roof trusses, BCSI requires temporary lateral restraint and diagonal bracing of the trusses. When may that temporary bracing be removed?

• AAs soon as the first truss is stood and nailed to the plate
• BAfter the roof sheathing and the permanent individual truss member restraint and bracing…
• CAfter the felt underlayment is loaded onto the unsheathed trusses
• DTemporary bracing is never required if the wind is under 20 mph

Floor joists and ceiling joists with a visible crown should be installed with the crown in which orientation?

• ACrown down so the joist can settle flat
• BCrown up so live load and seasoning straighten the member toward level
• CCrowns alternating up and down to average the floor
• DCrown orientation does not matter if the joist is a 2x12

Per IRC 2021 R802.3.1 and R802.4.2, rafter ties shall be placed in the lower third of the attic space, and collar ties, when used to resist wind uplift, shall be placed in which portion of the attic?

• AThe lower third
• BMidspan only
• CThe upper third
• DAt the top plate line only

NMAC 14.7.3.14 amends IRC R602.12 simplified wall bracing by changing Note 3 from 10 feet to which value?

• A8 feet
• B12 feet
• C16 feet
• D20 feet

How many board feet are in 24 pieces of 2x10 lumber, each 16 feet long?

• A320 board feet
• B480 board feet
• C640 board feet
• D768 board feet

Per IRC 2021 R807.1, an attic access opening serving an attic area of 30 square feet or more with a vertical height of 30 inches or more shall be not less than which size, with not less than 30 inches of unobstructed headroom above the opening?

• A16 inches by 24 inches
• B18 inches by 24 inches
• C22 inches by 30 inches
• D30 inches by 30 inches

When a floor joist is supported on a joist hanger, the hanger shall be installed with which fasteners?

• ARoofing nails in every hole, because they are the same diameter as hanger nails
• BThe hanger manufacturer’s specified nails or listed fasteners in the holes required by th…
• CDrywall screws in the side flanges only
• DA single 16d common toenail through the hanger stirrup