Virginia Commercial Building Technical Contractor Qualified Individual Examination

Under Virginia Board for Contractors regulations, which work is within the Commercial Building Contractor (CBC) classification?

• AConstruction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal, or demolition of commercial, indu…
• BConstruction and repair of dwellings and townhouses as defined in the USBC, including the…
• CInstallation of electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and gas-fitting systems in any occupancy
• DHighway, bridge, runway, and public-utility construction only

A Virginia CBC contractor is building a two-story medical office. Which trade work is outside the CBC classification and requires a separate trade license?

• APlacing the building’s structural concrete foundations
• BInstalling the low-slope roof membrane
• CErecting the masonry exterior walls
• DInstalling the building’s HVAC equipment and ductwork

Which project is outside the Virginia CBC classification because of the USBC occupancy of the building?

• AA new warehouse on an industrial park site
• BRemodeling a county courthouse
• CConstruction of a detached single-family dwelling as defined in the USBC
• DAn addition to a public school classroom wing

How does the Virginia RBC classification differ from CBC?

• ARBC covers dwellings and townhouses as defined in the USBC, including accessory buildings…
• BRBC and CBC are interchangeable; either license may build any occupancy
• CRBC covers only electrical and plumbing work in houses
• DRBC is limited to commercial tenant fit-outs and cannot touch dwellings

A developer asks a Virginia CBC contractor to build a four-story apartment building with many dwelling units. Is that building within CBC?

• ANo, any building with dwelling units requires only an RBC license
• BYes, but only if each unit is sold as a townhouse
• CNo, apartments may be built only by a Home Improvement Contracting (HIC) specialty
• DYes, the CBC classification includes multifamily housing with its listed commercial speci…

A new 80-room hotel is proposed. Under the USBC occupancy system, how should a Virginia CBC candidate classify that building for licensing scope?

• AAs a USBC dwelling, so only RBC may build it
• BAs a home-improvement project under HIC
• CAs an agricultural building that needs no contractor classification
• DAs a transient residential occupancy (typically Group R-1), which is commercial/CBC work…

A client wants a new three-story townhouse row built under the Virginia Residential Code. Which classification covers that work?

• ACBC, because any attached housing is multifamily commercial work
• BHighway/Heavy, because the units share party walls
• CCIC only, because townhouses are a commercial improvement
• DRBC, because townhouses as defined in the USBC are residential building work, not CBC

Which USBC occupancy is a CBC building rather than an RBC dwelling or townhouse?

• AA detached two-family dwelling (duplex) under the Virginia Residential Code
• BAn accessory garage serving only a single-family dwelling
• CA one-story townhouse with a separate means of egress
• DA Group B business occupancy such as a two-story professional office

A firm holds only the Commercial Improvement Contracting (CIC) specialty, not CBC. Which project may that firm perform?

• AConstruction of a new 10,000-square-foot retail building
• BInstallation of a new HVAC system in a store
• CConstruction of a new accessory storage building behind a warehouse
• DRepair and interior improvement of an existing office building that is not a USBC dwellin…

A CBC contractor is installing a commercial industrialized building. Which related mechanical or electrical task is within the industrialized-building function that CBC includes?

• AInstalling a new electric service meter for the building
• BInstalling the outdoor condensing unit for the HVAC system
• CCompleting internal tie-ins of the module’s plumbing, gas, electrical, and HVAC systems
• DExtending new gas piping to a future kitchen that is not part of the factory module tie-in

Which specialty function is included in the Virginia CBC classification for commercial, institutional, governmental, accessory, and multifamily work?

• AFire sprinkler contracting
• BElevator/escalator contracting
• CBillboard/sign contracting
• DAsbestos contracting

A marina owner wants a new commercial pier that provides access to a river, with no building, electrical, HVAC, or plumbing in the contract. Which Virginia classification may perform that marine-facility work?

• ARBC only, because a pier is an accessory residential structure
• BPainting and wallcovering specialty only
• CCIC only, because a pier is an interior commercial improvement
• DCBC, which includes marine facility contracting for commercial work

Which service is not a CBC-included function and is reserved to its own specialty because no other classification provides it?

• ARoofing contracting on a commercial building
• BAlternative energy system contracting from the customer’s meter
• CMasonry contracting on a school
• DSwimming pool construction on a hotel site

A city wants a new outdoor skate park with site grading and recreational structures, but paving and building construction are by others. Which CBC-included specialty describes that recreational work?

• ARecreational facility contracting, which CBC also provides, excluding paving and the cons…
• BHome improvement contracting, because a skate park is a residential amenity
• CFire suppression contracting
• DWater well/pump contracting

A three-story mixed-use building will have Group M retail on the first floor and Group R-2 apartments above. Which Virginia classification covers construction of this building?

• ARBC only, because the upper floors contain dwelling units
• BHIC, because the apartments are homes
• CCBC, because the work is commercial/mercantile and multifamily housing, not USBC dwelling…
• DCIC only, because mixed-use projects are classified as improvements rather than new build…

Under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, when must a CBC contractor obtain a building permit for a new commercial structure?

• AOnly after the building is occupied, so inspectors can see the finished work
• BBefore construction or demolition begins, by applying to the local building official, exc…
• CNever, because a CBC license replaces the USBC permit
• DOnly if the project exceeds the Class A contract threshold

In commercial structural design, what is a dead load?

• AThe weight of occupants, furniture, and movable equipment
• BThe permanent weight of the building materials and fixed equipment
• CThe pressure of wind on the windward wall
• DThe force caused by a design earthquake

A structural note lists a 100 pounds-per-square-foot live load on a commercial storage mezzanine. What does that live-load value represent?

• AThe weight of the mezzanine steel only
• BThe variable occupancy load the floor must be designed to support from use and storage
• CThe soil bearing pressure under the footings
• DThe fire-resistance rating of the floor assembly

Under the IBC/USBC occupancy system, which group typically includes a general business office used for professional or administrative work?

• AGroup A (assembly)
• BGroup B (business)
• CGroup H (high hazard)
• DGroup R-5 (Virginia dwellings and townhouses)

Why does a Type I commercial building generally allow greater height and area than a Type V building of the same occupancy?

• AType I construction is combustible light framing, which is more flexible
• BType I uses noncombustible materials and higher fire-resistance ratings, so the code allo…
• CType V is reserved for high-hazard occupancies only
• DConstruction type has no effect on allowable height or area

What is the intended gravity-load path in a typical commercial building?

• ASoil to footings to roof to walls
• BRoof and floors to beams and girders to columns or bearing walls to foundations to soil
• CWindows to cladding to interior partitions
• DOnly the elevator core carries gravity load

On a Virginia commercial project, why might the structural drawings show both a roof snow load and a wind uplift value?

• ASnow and wind are the same load case, so only one number is ever used
• BSnow is a downward gravity load and wind can produce upward suction; the roof structure a…
• CWind uplift replaces snow load wherever the building is heated
• DThose values apply only to residential shingle roofs

In a commercial building, what is the primary purpose of a fire barrier compared with an ordinary partition?

• ATo carry the building’s gravity loads
• BTo provide a fire-resistance-rated separation that restricts fire and smoke spread for th…
• CTo serve as the building’s waterproofing membrane
• DTo replace required exit stairs

Why do commercial codes tie the number and width of exits to occupant load?

• AOccupant load is only a furniture-planning number and has no egress effect
• BA larger calculated occupant load requires more exit capacity so occupants can leave in a…
• COccupant load sets the concrete compressive strength
• DOccupant load determines only the color of exit signs

What is the role of a shear wall in a commercial building?

• AIt only supports hanging artwork
• BIt resists lateral loads from wind or earthquake by acting as a stiff vertical diaphragm
• CIt is a nonstructural finish that may be removed without engineering review
• DIt replaces the foundation under isolated columns

How does a roof or floor diaphragm contribute to commercial lateral resistance?

• AIt only keeps rain out of the building
• BIt distributes lateral loads to the vertical resisting elements such as shear walls or br…
• CIt eliminates the need for any vertical lateral system
• DIt is used only in wood houses and never in steel or concrete buildings

A commercial building contains a Group A assembly hall and Group B offices. What is the contractor’s key code concern for mixed occupancy?

• AMixed occupancies are prohibited in Virginia
• BThe design must use separated or nonseparated mixed-occupancy rules, which affect fire ra…
• COnly the assembly hall needs a permit
• DOccupancy groups may be ignored if the owner buys extra insurance

A designer reduces a commercial building from Type III to Type V construction. What is the most likely code consequence?

• AAllowable height and area generally decrease unless other compensations, such as sprinkle…
• BThe building automatically becomes a high-rise
• COccupant load factors double
• DNo structural drawings are required

In model commercial building codes, a building is generally treated as a high-rise when which condition is met?

• AIt has any elevator
• BThe highest occupied floor is more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department…
• CIt contains more than two stories of any occupancy
• DIt is built of structural steel

Which set correctly names common commercial lateral force-resisting systems?

• APainted drywall, carpet, and acoustical ceiling tile
• BShear walls, braced frames, and moment-resisting frames
• CGutters, downspouts, and scuppers
• DVapor retarders, air barriers, and sealants

How many cubic feet are in one cubic yard of concrete?

• A9
• B12
• C27
• D36

In a specified concrete mix, which single ratio most strongly controls compressive strength and durability?

• AThe sand-to-gravel color ratio
• BThe water-cementitious materials ratio
• CThe number of form ties per sheet of plywood
• DThe brand of the ready-mix truck

How many cubic yards of concrete are required for a 40-foot by 60-foot slab that is 5 inches thick, before waste?

• A27 cubic yards
• B100 cubic yards
• C50 cubic yards
• D37 cubic yards

A continuous footing is 120 feet long, 24 inches wide, and 12 inches thick. How many cubic yards of concrete are required, before waste?

• A4 cubic yards
• B27 cubic yards
• C18 cubic yards
• D9 cubic yards

Using the standard weight of 0.668 pounds per foot for No. 4 reinforcing bar, what is the weight of 150 linear feet of No. 4 bar?

• A67 pounds
• B200 pounds
• C150 pounds
• D100 pounds

A 6-sack concrete mix uses six 94-pound sacks of cement per cubic yard. How many sacks of cement are in 10 cubic yards of that mix?

• A10 sacks
• B16 sacks
• C60 sacks
• D94 sacks

Why is air-entrained concrete typically specified for exterior Virginia slabs and pavements?

• ATo make the concrete darker in color
• BTo improve freeze-thaw durability by providing microscopic air voids
• CTo eliminate the need for joints
• DTo replace all reinforcing steel

Field-cured or standard-cured concrete cylinders for structural acceptance are most commonly tested for compressive strength at which age unless the specification says otherwise?

• A12 hours
• B3 days only, with no later test
• C28 days
• D1 year

For concrete cast against and permanently exposed to earth, what is the usual minimum clear cover to reinforcing steel in standard U.S. practice?

• A3/8 inch
• B3/4 inch
• C3 inches
• D12 inches

What is the difference between a control (contraction) joint and an isolation joint in a commercial slab?

• AThey are different names for the same tooled line
• BA control joint creates a weakened plane so shrinkage cracks form there; an isolation joi…
• CAn isolation joint is used only in masonry, and a control joint is used only in steel
• DControl joints transfer building gravity loads into the soil

A neat takeoff for a commercial slab is 27.0 cubic yards. The specifier requires a 10 percent waste allowance. How many cubic yards should be ordered?

• A27 cubic yards
• B30 cubic yards
• C37 cubic yards
• D270 cubic yards

A footing schedule calls for 200 linear feet of No. 5 bar. Using 1.043 pounds per foot, what is the steel weight?

• A134 pounds
• B200 pounds
• C209 pounds
• D400 pounds

After a commercial slab is finished, why must the concrete be cured rather than allowed to dry immediately?

• ACuring is only a cosmetic wet-look requirement
• BKeeping the concrete moist and at a suitable temperature allows cement hydration to devel…
• CCuring replaces the need for reinforcement
• DCuring is required only for interior colored floors

Overnight temperatures will fall below freezing after a late-day commercial slab pour. What is the correct contractor action?

• AAdd unlimited extra water so the mix cannot freeze
• BProtect the concrete from freezing until it gains sufficient strength, using approved mix…
• CIgnore temperature because air-entrained concrete cannot be damaged by frost
• DStrip the forms immediately so heat can escape