West Virginia General Building Contractor Examination

A commercial floor plan is drawn at 1/4 inch = 1 foot 0 inches. A demising wall measures 6-1/2 inches on the print. What is the actual wall length?

• A13 feet 0 inches
• B26 feet 0 inches
• C52 feet 0 inches
• D6 feet 6 inches

On a commercial drawing set, which view cuts the building vertically and shows floor-to-floor heights, slab thicknesses, and concealed structure?

• AA floor plan
• BA building elevation
• CA building or wall section
• DA reflected ceiling plan

A door schedule lists 16 Type A leaves at 3 feet 0 inches by 7 feet 0 inches, 9 Type B leaves at 3 feet 6 inches by 7 feet 0 inches, and 4 Type C pairs (two leaves each) at 6 feet 0 inches by 7 feet 0 inches. How many individual door leaves are on the takeoff?

• A25 leaves
• B29 leaves
• C33 leaves
• D37 leaves

The structural drawings show a W16 beam but the architectural sections call a shallower depth that will not clear a duct. What is the contractor's first documented step?

• AField-cut the beam flanges to match the architectural depth
• BIssue a request for information to the design team before fabricating or installing the m…
• CFollow the architectural sheet because architecture governs all conflicts
• DOmit the beam and hang the joists from the deck

Per 2018 IBC Table 1004.5, what occupant-load factor applies to a typical office (Group B business) floor area?

• A50 square feet per occupant, net
• B100 square feet per occupant, gross
• C150 square feet per occupant, gross
• D200 square feet per occupant, gross

A single-tenant office story contains 9,000 gross square feet of business area and no assembly rooms. Using 2018 IBC Table 1004.5, what is the design occupant load?

• A45 occupants
• B60 occupants
• C90 occupants
• D180 occupants

A nonsprinklered Group B story has 16,500 gross square feet of office plus a 450-square-foot conference room with tables and chairs. Using 2018 IBC Table 1004.5 and Section 1005.3.1, what is the calculated stairway egress capacity for the story, and what minimum stair width still applies if two stairs serve an occupant load greater than 50?

• A33 inches total calculated width; each stair may be 36 inches
• B42 inches total calculated width; each stair must still be at least 44 inches
• C70 inches total calculated width; each stair must be 48 inches
• D140 inches total calculated width; each stair must be 72 inches

On a site or architectural plan, what do dashed lines that are labeled “EXIST.” typically represent compared with heavy solid “NEW” lines?

• AProperty lines that must be fenced
• BWork to be demolished only
• CExisting construction that remains, as opposed to new work
• DUnderground electrical conduit only

During bidding, an addendum revises a structural note after the original drawings were issued. Which document governs the bid quantity?

• AThe original drawing, because it was sealed first
• BThe later addendum, which modifies the contract documents
• CThe contractor’s internal estimate spreadsheet
• DThe soil report appendix

A first-floor office measures 85 feet by 62 feet. Resilient flooring is specified with an 8 percent waste factor. How many square feet should be ordered?

• A5,270 sf
• B5,481 sf
• C5,692 sf
• D6,324 sf

Proposed contours on a grading plan are labeled 612, 614, and 616 at a 2-foot interval. What does the 614 contour mean?

• AThe finished ground along that line is at elevation 614
• BThe cut depth is 614 cubic yards
• CThe building is 614 feet from the property line
• DThe frost line is 614 inches deep

Per 2018 IBC 1804.4, finish grade next to a foundation must fall at least 6 inches in the first 10 feet (1:20) unless an approved drain is used. A 10-foot run at that minimum slope produces how much drop?

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

A rectangular building pad 75 feet by 45 feet will be excavated an average of 3.5 feet. What is the bank-measure excavation volume in cubic yards, with no swell?

• A219 CY
• B394 CY
• C438 CY
• D11,813 CY

A cut is 320 cubic yards bank measure. The soil swells 25 percent when loaded. How many 10-cubic-yard truck loads are required to haul the material off site?

• A25 loads
• B32 loads
• C40 loads
• D50 loads

What is a site benchmark used for on a commercial building project?

• AA fixed point of known elevation that controls finish-floor and grade stakes
• BThe legal property corner used only for horizontal layout
• CThe construction entrance culvert invert
• DThe frost-depth note on the foundation sheet

Before excavating a commercial pad, OSHA 1926.651 requires the employer to determine the location of underground utilities. What is the standard field practice that satisfies that duty?

• ADig first and stop if a line is hit
• BNotify the one-call system (811) and wait for marks, then hand-excavate within the tolera…
• CRely only on as-built drawings from a previous tenant
• DJet the entire site with a water truck to expose lines

A 100-foot by 60-foot pad will be cut an average of 18 inches. The material swells 20 percent. How many 12-cubic-yard truck loads are needed to export the cut?

• A28 loads
• B34 loads
• C40 loads
• D50 loads

After placing structural fill for a slab-on-grade, what is a proof roll used to check?

• AThe air content of the concrete that will be placed later
• BWhether the compacted subgrade yields, pumps, or leaves ruts under a loaded truck or roll…
• CThe exact elevation of the nearest benchmark
• DThe chloride content of the backfill

Per 2018 IBC 1809.5, unless an approved alternative is used, exterior footings and foundations must be protected from frost by which method?

• AExtending them below the locally established frost line
• BWrapping the footing with 4-mil polyethylene only
• CPouring them on uncompacted topsoil above grade
• DUsing a 3-inch mud slab with no embedment

A utility trench in Type C soil is 8 feet deep with a 3-foot-wide level bottom. Using OSHA 1926 Subpart P maximum allowable slopes (1-1/2 horizontal : 1 vertical for Type C), what is the required width at the top of the cut if both sides are sloped and there is no bench?

• A15 feet
• B19 feet
• C27 feet
• D31 feet

How many cubic feet are in 1 cubic yard of concrete?

• A9 cubic feet
• B12 cubic feet
• C27 cubic feet
• D36 cubic feet

A warehouse slab is 54 feet by 36 feet and 5 inches thick. How many cubic yards of concrete are required, with no waste?

• A24.0 CY
• B27.0 CY
• C30.0 CY
• D36.0 CY

A continuous footing is 180 feet long, 20 inches wide, and 10 inches thick. How many cubic yards of concrete are required, with no waste?

• A6.9 CY
• B9.3 CY
• C11.1 CY
• D25.0 CY

A slab takeoff is 30.0 cubic yards. The estimator adds 8 percent for waste and pump residual. How many cubic yards should be ordered?

• A30.8 CY
• B32.4 CY
• C33.0 CY
• D36.0 CY

Per ACI 318, as referenced by 2018 IBC Chapter 19, what is the minimum concrete cover for reinforcement that is cast against and permanently exposed to earth?

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

What does a field slump test (ASTM C143) measure?

• A28-day compressive strength
• BWorkability and consistency of the fresh concrete
• CHardened air-void spacing
• DModulus of rupture of a beam

Per 2018 IBC 1907.1, what is the minimum thickness of a concrete slab-on-ground, and what vapor retarder is required unless an approved equivalent is used?

• A3 inches thick with 4-mil polyethylene
• B3-1/2 inches thick with 6-mil polyethylene lapped at least 6 inches
• C4 inches thick with no vapor retarder
• D5 inches thick with 10-mil polyethylene

A 54-foot by 36-foot by 5-inch slab (30.0 CY neat) and 180 feet of 20-inch by 10-inch footing (9.3 CY neat) will be placed. With 10 percent waste, how many cubic yards should be ordered?

• A39.3 CY
• B41.3 CY
• C43.2 CY
• D47.2 CY

ACI 306 treats concreting as cold-weather work when the average daily air temperature drops below which value for more than three successive days (with additional daily-high limits)?

• A20°F
• B32°F
• C40°F
• D50°F only, with no lower trigger

What is the nominal diameter of a #6 reinforcing bar?

• A1/2 inch
• B5/8 inch
• C3/4 inch
• D1 inch

As a common ACI field rule for unreinforced slabs on grade, contraction joints are spaced at about how many times the slab thickness in inches, giving the spacing in feet?

• A8 to 12 times the thickness
• B18 to 20 times the thickness
• C24 to 36 times the thickness
• D48 to 60 times the thickness

Unless the specifications set another age, acceptance of specified compressive strength f'c is based primarily on tests of standard cylinders at which age?

• A3 days
• B7 days
• C14 days
• D28 days

What is the primary purpose of internally vibrating freshly placed structural concrete?

• ATo consolidate the concrete by expelling entrapped air and working it around the reinforc…
• BTo add specified entrained air for freeze-thaw resistance
• CTo raise slump after the truck has been waiting too long
• DTo replace moist curing

All else equal, which change most reliably increases both compressive strength and durability of structural concrete?

• AIncreasing the water-cementitious ratio
• BDecreasing the water-cementitious ratio
• CAdding mixing water at the chute to raise slump
• DOmitting curing so the slab dries faster

Why is air-entrained concrete specified for exterior slabs and walks exposed to freeze-thaw while wet?

• ATo replace contraction joints
• BTo replace the under-slab vapor retarder
• CTo provide microscopic voids that relieve pressure from freezing water in the paste
• DTo increase 28-day strength above a non-air mix with the same w/cm

What are the actual manufactured face dimensions of a modular 8-inch by 8-inch by 16-inch concrete masonry unit, allowing for a 3/8-inch mortar joint?

• A8 inches by 8 inches by 16 inches
• B7-1/2 inches by 7-1/2 inches by 15-1/2 inches
• C7-5/8 inches by 7-5/8 inches by 15-5/8 inches
• D7-3/4 inches by 7-3/4 inches by 15-3/4 inches

Which ASTM C270 mortar type is the usual choice for masonry in contact with the ground or where high lateral or compressive demand is expected?

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

What is the standard specified thickness of head and bed joints in modular concrete masonry?

• A1/4 inch
• B3/8 inch
• C1/2 inch
• D5/8 inch

An 8-inch CMU wall is 88 feet long and 12 feet high. Using 1.125 units per square foot of wall face, how many units are required before waste?

• A1,056 units
• B1,188 units
• C1,320 units
• D1,408 units

Per TMS 602, as referenced by 2018 IBC Chapter 21, grout for reinforced masonry is typically placed at which slump, and cleanouts are required when the grout pour exceeds which height?

• A3 to 5 inches slump; cleanouts above 2 feet 8 inches
• B5 to 7 inches slump; cleanouts above 4 feet 0 inches
• C8 to 11 inches slump; cleanouts when the pour exceeds 5 feet 4 inches
• D12 to 14 inches slump; cleanouts are never required

Per 2018 IBC 1404.4, weep holes in the outside wythe of masonry walls shall be provided at a maximum spacing of which distance?

• A16 inches on center
• B24 inches on center
• C33 inches on center
• D48 inches on center

What is a bond beam in a CMU wall?

• AA course of U-shaped or knocked-out block filled with grout and reinforcement that ties t…
• BThe first course of brick in a veneer
• CA vertical grouted cell only
• DA control-joint gasket

Horizontal joint reinforcement in a running-bond CMU wall is commonly placed at which vertical spacing unless the design specifies otherwise?

• AEvery course (8 inches)
• BEvery other course (16 inches)
• CEvery fourth course (32 inches) only
• DAt the bond beam only, with no bed-joint reinforcement