South Carolina Wood Frame Structures Contractor Examination

Under 29 CFR 1926.501, when must an employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge be protected by a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall-arrest system?

• AWhen the fall to a lower level is 6 feet or more
• BWhen the fall to a lower level is 10 feet or more
• CWhen the fall to a lower level is 4 feet or more
• DOnly when the employee is working on a steep-slope roof

What is the required top-edge height of a construction guardrail system under 29 CFR 1926.502(b)?

• A42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches
• B36 inches, plus or minus 2 inches
• C39 inches exactly, with no tolerance
• D48 inches, plus or minus 1 inch

A carpenter is working on a supported scaffold platform 12 feet above grade. Which OSHA rule governs fall protection on that scaffold?

• ASubpart M requires protection only if the platform is 6 feet or higher, and a warning lin…
• BOnly a safety monitor is required on any scaffold under 20 feet
• CNo fall protection is required on scaffolds until the platform reaches 15 feet
• DSubpart L requires each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level to b…

When a portable ladder is used to reach an upper landing, how far must the side rails extend above that landing under 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1)?

• AAt least 3 feet
• BAt least 2 feet
• CAt least 42 inches for every portable ladder, the same as a fixed ladder
• DNo extension is required if a coworker foot-ties the base

Unless a qualified person designs the complete personal fall-arrest system, what is the minimum anchorage strength required for each employee attached to a PFAS under 29 CFR 1926.502(d)?

• A1,800 pounds
• B5,000 pounds
• C3,000 pounds
• D10,000 pounds

What is the commonly applied setup ratio for a non-self-supporting portable ladder so that it is used at about 75-1/2 degrees from horizontal?

• A1:1 — base one foot out for each foot of working length
• B2:1 — base one foot out for each two feet of working length
• C4:1 — base one foot out for each four feet of working length to the support
• D6:1 — base one foot out for each six feet of working length

On a low-slope roof, when mechanical equipment is not being used, how far from the roof edge must a warning-line system be erected under 29 CFR 1926.502(f)?

• ANot less than 6 feet from the roof edge
• BNot less than 4 feet from the roof edge
• CNot less than 15 feet from the roof edge
• DWarning lines may be placed at the drip edge if flagged every 20 feet

How must a positioning-device system be rigged under 29 CFR 1926.502(e), compared with a personal fall-arrest system?

• AThe employee may free-fall up to 6 feet, the same as PFAS
• BPositioning devices have no free-fall limit if the anchor is rated 5,000 pounds
• CThe employee cannot free-fall more than 12 inches
• DThe employee cannot free-fall more than 2 feet

A 2-foot by 3-foot opening is cut in a second-floor deck for a future stair. What does OSHA 1926.502(i) require of the hole cover?

• AA sheet of 1/2-inch drywall laid over the opening is acceptable if someone is assigned to…
• BThe cover must support twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may b…
• CAny plywood scrap is acceptable if it overlaps the hole by 1 inch on two sides
• DCovers are optional if the hole is smaller than 3 feet in any dimension

On a wood-frame residential project 9 feet above grade, the employer wants to use a written fall-protection plan instead of guardrails, nets, or PFAS. When does OSHA 1926.501(b)(13) allow that plan?

• AAnytime the contractor prefers a monitor because PFAS slows production
• BOnly when the employer demonstrates that conventional systems are infeasible or create a…
• CWhenever the building is a one- or two-family dwelling, with no further showing required
• DOnly after a worker has already fallen and the competent person documents the incident

Before excavating for a wood-frame foundation in South Carolina, when must the excavator notify SC811?

• AAt least three full business days before excavation, excluding weekends and holidays
• BThe morning of the dig, as long as flags are requested
• CWithin 24 hours after the first bucket of soil is removed
• DOnly if the excavation will be deeper than 5 feet

In South Carolina, what is the Tolerance Zone around a marked underground facility?

• A12 inches on either side of the mark, regardless of pipe size
• B18 inches on either side of the mark, the APWA default in every state
• C24 inches on either side of the mark, plus one-half the diameter of the facility if known
• D5 feet on either side of the mark, inside which no excavation is allowed

A 6-inch gas main is marked in the path of a footing trench. How must the contractor excavate inside the South Carolina Tolerance Zone?

• AUse hand tools, vacuum excavation, or other non-invasive methods until the facility is ex…
• BUse a toothed bucket on the marks because the locator has already exposed the line
• COffset the trench 6 inches from the paint and machine-dig at full depth
• DMachine-dig to 12 inches, then probe with a steel wrecking bar

Where must excavated spoil be placed relative to the edge of a trench under 29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2)?

• AAt least 2 feet from the edge of the excavation
• BNo closer than 6 inches if the pile is less than 3 feet high
• CPiled immediately at the lip to reduce haul distance
• DOn the opposite side of the trench from the ladder, with no setback required

When does 29 CFR 1926.652 require a cave-in protective system in an excavation that is not entirely in stable rock?

• AOnly when the excavation is 8 feet or deeper
• BOnly in Type C soil; Type A soil never needs a protective system
• CIn every excavation deeper than 18 inches
• DWhen the excavation is 5 feet or deeper, unless a competent person finds no indication of…

What is the maximum allowable simple slope for Type C soil in an excavation less than 20 feet deep under OSHA Subpart P Appendix B?

• A3/4 horizontal to 1 vertical (53 degrees)
• BVertical (90 degrees)
• C1 horizontal to 1 vertical (45 degrees)
• D1-1/2 horizontal to 1 vertical (34 degrees)

A competent person classifies a 7-foot foundation excavation as Type B soil. What is the steepest simple slope OSHA Appendix B allows for that cut if it is less than 20 feet deep?

• A1/2:1 (63 degrees), the Type A short-term slope
• B3/4:1 (53 degrees)
• C1:1 (45 degrees)
• D1½:1 (34 degrees)

A 4-foot-6-inch-deep footing trench is 70 feet long. What access/egress does OSHA 1926.651(c)(2) require?

• ANo ladder is required until the trench is 5 feet deep
• BA rope hung from a parked truck
• COne ladder at one end of the trench, regardless of length
• DA stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe means of egress so that no employee travels more…

How many cubic yards of soil are removed for a footing trench 90 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 6 feet deep, assuming vertical walls and no swell?

• A20 cubic yards
• B45 cubic yards
• C60 cubic yards
• D90 cubic yards

How often must a competent person inspect excavations under 29 CFR 1926.651(k)?

• ADaily, before the start of work and as needed throughout the shift, and after every rains…
• BOnce at the start of the project, then only if a cave-in occurs
• CWeekly, unless the trench is deeper than 10 feet
• DOnly when OSHA is known to be on site

A Type C footing excavation is 6 feet deep and 3 feet wide at the bottom. If it is sloped on both long sides at the maximum OSHA simple slope, what is the required width at the top?

• A9 feet
• B12 feet
• C15 feet
• D21 feet

A crew is ready to pour continuous wall footings. The trench bottom is frozen and contains pockets of topsoil. What is the correct action before placing concrete?

• APlace the concrete; the heat of hydration will thaw the subgrade
• BRemove frozen soil and organic/topsoil and bear the footing on firm, undisturbed mineral…
• CCover the frozen bottom with 2 inches of loose gravel and pour immediately
• DAdd extra water to the mix so it bonds to the ice

What are the IBC Section 1809.4 minimum depth below undisturbed ground and minimum width for a shallow footing?

• A12 inches deep and 12 inches wide
• B6 inches deep and 8 inches wide
• C18 inches deep and 16 inches wide
• D24 inches deep and 24 inches wide in every climate

Overnight rain leaves several inches of standing water in a 6-foot footing trench. What does OSHA 1926.651(h) require before employees re-enter?

• AEmployees may wade in and work if they wear rubber boots
• BEmployees shall not work in excavations where water is accumulating unless special precau…
• CStanding water is acceptable in Type A soil only
• DPump the water onto the spoil pile at the lip and resume immediately without inspection

How many cubic yards of concrete are required to place a 27-foot by 30-foot slab that is 4 inches thick? Ignore waste.

• A7.5 cubic yards
• B10 cubic yards
• C12 cubic yards
• D27 cubic yards

A continuous wall footing is 54 feet long, 18 inches wide, and 12 inches thick. How many cubic yards of concrete are required? Ignore waste.

• A1.5 cubic yards
• B6.0 cubic yards
• C3.0 cubic yards
• D2.0 cubic yards

What is the IBC Section 1907.1 minimum thickness of a concrete floor slab supported directly on the ground?

• A2 inches
• B3-1/2 inches
• C5-1/2 inches
• D8 inches

What is the commonly applied ACI 318 / IBC minimum concrete cover for reinforcement cast against and permanently exposed to earth, such as the bottom of a footing poured in a trench?

• A1-1/2 inches
• B3/4 inch
• C3 inches
• D6 inches

For No. 4 and No. 5 bars in formed concrete exposed to earth or weather (for example, an exposed foundation wall face), what is the usual ACI 318 minimum cover?

• A3/4 inch
• B3 inches
• C1-1/2 inches
• D4 inches

Ready-mixed concrete arrives stiffer than the crew likes. What is the correct response if the mix is still within the specification time and slump limits?

• AAdd unmeasured water until the concrete is soup, then pour
• BDo not add water that will push the mix outside the specified slump or water-cementitious…
• CAdd a shovel of dry cement to each wheelbarrow to soak up extra water later
• DDump the load on the ground and hose it into the forms

For typical portland-cement concrete in a wood-frame foundation, what is the commonly specified minimum moist-curing period when no approved curing compound or accelerated cement is used?

• A12 hours
• B28 days of continuous water ponding in every climate
• C7 days
• D24 hours

Air temperature at a South Carolina pour is 35°F and falling, and the subgrade is frost-crusted. Which cold-weather practice is correct?

• ADo not place concrete on a frozen subgrade; thaw and protect the earth, and protect the c…
• BPlace the concrete on the frost; the mix heat will take care of it
• CAdd extra water so the mix will not freeze as quickly
• DUse only lightweight aggregate and skip curing

A 4-inch slab-on-ground will have saw-cut contraction joints. What is a commonly used maximum joint spacing rule of thumb for unreinforced or lightly reinforced slabs?

• AJoints at 4 feet on center in both directions, regardless of thickness
• BJoints spaced in feet at about 24 to 36 times the slab thickness in inches (about 8 to 12…
• CNo joints are needed if the slab is placed in one day
• DJoints only at the building perimeter

How should reinforcing bars in a footing or slab be held at the specified cover before and during the pour?

• APull the bars up through the concrete with a rake as the truck discharges
• BWire the bars to wood grade stakes left in the pour
• CLay the bars on the dirt and cover them after the pour with a cement wash
• DSupport bars on chairs, dobies, or other approved supports so cover is maintained during…

A 36-foot by 24-foot slab is 6 inches thick. How many cubic yards should be ordered if the estimator adds 10 percent for waste and spillage?

• A16.0 cubic yards
• B17.6 cubic yards
• C19.2 cubic yards
• D24.0 cubic yards

Under IBC Section 1907.1, what vapor retarder is required between an interior concrete floor slab and the base course or subgrade (unless an exception applies)?

• AA 6-mil polyethylene vapor retarder with joints lapped not less than 6 inches, or another…
• BNo vapor retarder is required under any interior slab
• CBuilding paper (asphalt felt) lapped 2 inches
• DA coat of curing compound on top of the slab in place of an under-slab retarder

What does a slump test measure on a load of concrete?

• A28-day compressive strength
• BAir content
• CConsistency (workability) of the freshly mixed concrete
• DUnit weight of the coarse aggregate only

Why is air-entrained concrete specified for an exterior stoop or exposed foundation wall in a freeze-thaw climate?

• AEntrained air replaces the need for any compressive-strength requirement
• BAir-entrained mixes are always specified for interior heated slabs
• CMicroscopic air voids relieve freezing pressure in the paste and improve freeze-thaw dura…
• DEntrained air is added only to make pumping impossible

Acceptance of specified compressive strength for structural concrete is ordinarily based on tests of cylinders at what standard age?

• A24 hours
• B90 days, and never earlier
• C28 days, unless the specification sets another age
• D3 days only, for every mix

During placement of a wall or footing, what is the purpose of internal vibration?

• ATo consolidate the concrete around reinforcement and into corners without creating voids,…
• BTo drive all coarse aggregate to the bottom so the top is only paste
• CTo add air so a non-air mix becomes freeze-thaw resistant
• DTo raise slump after unauthorized water has been added

What loads must vertical formwork for a foundation wall be designed to resist?

• AOnly the weight of the carpenters walking the wales
• BThe lateral pressure of freshly placed concrete plus construction live loads, without exc…
• CWind load only; concrete pressure is neglected if the pour is less than 8 feet
• DThe 28-day strength of the wall, because green concrete has no pressure

For conventional light-frame construction under IBC 2308.3.1, what are the minimum anchor-bolt rules for a wood sill on a concrete foundation?

• A1/4-inch bolts at 8 feet on center, one bolt per wall regardless of plate breaks
• B1/2-inch-diameter steel bolts embedded at least 7 inches, spaced not more than 6 feet on…
• C3/4-inch bolts at 12 feet on center, placed at the outer edge of the plate
• DPowder-actuated pins only, with no cast-in bolts permitted

How many board feet are in 24 pieces of 2×6 lumber, each 10 feet long?

• A120 board feet
• B180 board feet
• C240 board feet
• D480 board feet

What are the standard dressed (actual) cross-section dimensions of a kiln-dried 2×4 stud?

• A2 inches by 4 inches
• B1-3/4 inches by 3-3/4 inches
• C1-1/4 inches by 3-1/4 inches
• D1-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches

A takeoff lists 40 pieces of 2×12, each 16 feet long. How many board feet is that?

• A640 board feet
• B960 board feet
• C1,280 board feet
• D1,536 board feet