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Question 1

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Which code chapter of the 2024 IECC contains the commercial energy efficiency provisions that a plans examiner reviews?

Chapter 2 CE — Definitions

Chapter 3 CE — General Requirements

Chapter 4 CE — Commercial Energy Efficiency

Chapter 5 CE — Existing Buildings

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ICC 77 Exam

70 Qs

Exam Questions

Open-book

3.5 hrs

Time Limit

3 min/question

Passing Score

Scaled score

$220-$320

Exam Fee

ICC member discount

IECC + 90.1

Reference Codes

Chapter 4 CE

5 Domains

Content Areas

ICC 77 outline

The ICC 77 exam has 70 multiple-choice questions with a 3.5-hour time limit in an open-book format. You must score a scaled score of 75 (approximately 75% correct, or roughly 53 of 70 questions). The exam is based on the IECC Commercial Provisions (Chapter 4 CE) with ASHRAE 90.1 as an allowed alternate compliance path reference. The exam fee runs roughly $220-$320 depending on ICC membership status. Testing is available at Pearson VUE centers or via ICC PRONTO remote proctoring 24/7.

Sample ICC 77 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ICC 77 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which code chapter of the 2024 IECC contains the commercial energy efficiency provisions that a plans examiner reviews?

A.Chapter 2 CE — Definitions

B.Chapter 3 CE — General Requirements

C.Chapter 4 CE — Commercial Energy Efficiency

D.Chapter 5 CE — Existing Buildings

Explanation: The 2024 IECC Commercial Provisions place all prescriptive, performance, and total building performance compliance requirements for new commercial construction in Chapter 4 CE — Commercial Energy Efficiency. This chapter covers envelope, mechanical, service water heating, electrical power, and lighting systems. Exam tip: When in doubt on a commercial energy question, start your code lookup in C401 through C408 of Chapter 4 CE.

2Under the 2024 IECC Commercial Provisions, which occupancy is NOT required to comply with Chapter 4 CE?

A.A Group B office building with conditioned space

B.A Group M mercantile building with mechanical cooling

C.A low-energy building where the peak design rate of energy usage is less than 3.4 Btu/h/ft2 of floor area

D.A Group A-3 assembly building with gas heating

Explanation: IECC C101.5.2 exempts low-energy buildings from Chapter 4 CE when the peak design rate of energy usage for space conditioning is less than 3.4 Btu/h·ft2 or 1.0 W/ft2 of floor area. These buildings do not meet the threshold of conditioned space that triggers compliance. Exam tip: Memorize C101.5 exemptions — they appear frequently on applicability questions in domain 01.

3As a plans examiner, which document must be present on the construction drawings to verify commercial energy code compliance?

A.Only the architectural floor plans

B.A compliance report or energy documentation identifying the compliance path used

C.The soils report only

D.The owner's stated energy budget in dollars

Explanation: IECC C103.2 requires construction documents to show details and information necessary to determine compliance, including a compliance report or energy documentation identifying whether the prescriptive, performance (C407), or total building performance path is used. Without this, the plans examiner cannot verify compliance. Exam tip: Reject plans that do not specify the compliance path — you cannot verify what you cannot identify.

4Which climate zone information must be specified on commercial energy plans to verify envelope compliance?

A.The ASHRAE climate zone only

B.The IECC climate zone per IECC Chapter 3 CE Figure C301.1

C.Only the latitude of the site

D.The soil classification

Explanation: IECC C103.2 and C301 require the IECC climate zone per Figure C301.1 and Table C301.1 to be indicated on the plans because envelope U-factors, R-values, and SHGC all vary by climate zone. The plans examiner cannot check envelope tables without knowing the correct zone. Exam tip: Climate zones 1 through 8 drive every envelope value — if the zone is missing, reject the submittal.

5A plan submittal uses the prescriptive compliance path of IECC Section C402. What must the plans examiner verify for envelope assemblies?

A.Only that the architect stamped the drawings

B.That each assembly meets the U-factor, F-factor, or minimum R-value in Tables C402.1.3 and C402.1.4

C.That the building uses the lowest-cost materials available

D.That the HERS index is below 55

Explanation: Under the prescriptive path, IECC C402.1.3 (U-factor) and C402.1.4 (R-value) provide maximum U-factors and minimum R-values by climate zone and assembly type. The plans examiner must confirm each assembly meets the listed value. Exam tip: The prescriptive path is the fastest review — verify by table lookup, not by calculation.

6Which IECC section provides the commercial performance compliance path (Total Building Performance)?

A.C402

B.C405

C.C406

D.C407

Explanation: IECC C407 — Total Building Performance — is the simulation-based compliance path that compares the proposed design annual energy cost to a standard reference design. C402 is envelope prescriptive, C405 is lighting, and C406 is additional efficiency package requirements. Exam tip: When a submittal references energy modeling software output, look under C407 for documentation requirements.

7For a performance path submittal under IECC C407, which comparison must the proposed design demonstrate?

A.Annual energy cost of proposed design is less than or equal to that of the standard reference design

B.First cost of proposed design is less than standard reference design

C.Envelope U-factors match exactly

D.The building earns ENERGY STAR certification

Explanation: C407 requires the annual energy cost (or, in the 2024 IECC, annual site energy use or CO2e equivalent as permitted) of the proposed design to be less than or equal to that of the standard reference design modeled under C407.3. Exam tip: Review the simulation report summary page first — that is where the comparative pass/fail is stated.

8An addition to a commercial building adds 2,500 square feet of conditioned space. Under IECC Chapter 5 CE, how must the addition be treated?

A.The addition is exempt from the energy code

B.The addition shall comply with the provisions of the code as they relate to new construction

C.Only the envelope must comply; mechanical and lighting are exempt

D.The entire existing building must be brought up to current code

Explanation: IECC C502 requires that additions to existing buildings comply with the provisions of the code applicable to new construction. The existing building is not required to be upgraded beyond the portions affected by the addition. Exam tip: For additions, focus review on the addition itself — do not force existing-building upgrades unless C503 alterations triggers apply.

9Which alteration scenario would trigger IECC C503 compliance for the altered portion of an existing commercial building?

A.Repainting interior walls

B.Replacing more than 50 percent of a lighting system in a space

C.Replacing a single light fixture

D.Recarpeting a lobby

Explanation: IECC C503.6 and C405 require altered lighting systems to comply when the lighting replacement exceeds a threshold (typically more than 10 percent of luminaires or a complete system replacement) — a substantial alteration triggers compliance. Paint, carpet, and single-fixture swaps do not. Exam tip: Look for the scope-of-work narrative — only substantive replacements trigger code compliance.

10A building is changing occupancy from a warehouse (semi-heated) to a Group B office (fully conditioned). What energy code action is required?

A.No action — the shell is unchanged

B.The building must comply with the code as required for the new occupancy

C.Only the lighting must comply

D.The change of occupancy is exempt from the IECC

Explanation: IECC C505 requires a change of occupancy or use that results in increased energy demand (for example, unconditioned to conditioned) to comply with the provisions for new buildings applicable to the new occupancy. Exam tip: Any increase in conditioned space demand triggers full compliance for the affected spaces.

About the ICC 77 Exam

The ICC Commercial Energy Plans Examiner (77) exam is administered by the International Code Council and certifies individuals to review construction documents for compliance with the commercial energy provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1. The open-book exam tests knowledge of applicability and compliance paths, building envelope performance, mechanical systems and equipment efficiency, electrical power and lighting power density (LPD), and service water heating requirements. Candidates must evaluate whether a project uses the prescriptive path, the performance (total building) path, or ASHRAE 90.1 as an alternate, and must verify envelope U-factor calculations, HVAC equipment efficiency tables, lighting control schedules, and commissioning plans. ICC 77 certification is recognized nationally and is a key credential for code officials and plans examiners working on commercial construction.

Questions

70 scored questions

Time Limit

3.5 hours

Passing Score

75 (scaled score)

Exam Fee

$220-$320 (ICC (Pearson VUE / PRONTO))

ICC 77 Exam Content Outline

16%

General Plan Review Issues

Applicability, exemptions, climate zones, required document information, compliance path selection, and commissioning per IECC C101-C103 and C408

27%

Building Envelope

R-values, fenestration U-factor/SHGC, air barrier continuity, and envelope compliance via C402.1.4 U-factor method or C402.1.5 component performance

26%

Mechanical Systems

HVAC equipment efficiency (ASHRAE 90.1 Table 6.8.1), economizers, DCV, energy recovery, duct/pipe insulation, and controls per IECC C403

27%

Electrical Power and Lighting Systems

Interior and exterior LPD calculations (Building Area / Space-by-Space), lighting controls, receptacle controls, and electrical metering per IECC C405

Service Water Heating

Water heater efficiency, pipe insulation, circulation controls, and heat traps per IECC C404

How to Pass the ICC 77 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75 (scaled score)
Exam length: 70 questions
Time limit: 3.5 hours
Exam fee: $220-$320

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ICC 77 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Tab IECC Chapter 4 CE extensively — mark applicability (C101.5), climate zones (C301), envelope tables (C402.1.3 opaque assemblies, C402.4 fenestration U-factor/SHGC), the C402.1.4 U-factor alternative, mechanical equipment tables referenced in C403.3, LPD tables in C405.3.2(1) and C405.3.2(2), and the commissioning requirements in C408

2Master the three compliance paths cold — prescriptive (C402-C405 + C408), performance / total building performance (C407 energy cost budget), and ASHRAE 90.1 as an alternate. Every plan review starts with identifying which path the designer selected, and the required documentation differs for each

3Practice the C402.1.4 U-factor alternative (weighted average) method — multiply each assembly's U-factor by its area, sum them, then divide by total opaque area to compare against the C402.1.4 target U-factor. This weighted calc appears on most exams and trips up candidates who only memorized R-values

4Know ASHRAE 90.1 Table 6.8.1 equipment efficiency lookups — air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers, chillers, furnaces, and water heaters each have their own subtable. Practice finding minimum IEER, SEER2, AFUE, and COP values by equipment category and capacity bracket under exam time pressure

5Calculate LPD both ways — the Building Area Method (C405.3.2(1), single W/ft2 value for the whole building use) and the Space-by-Space Method (C405.3.2(2), sum of each space's allowed W/ft2 times area). Also memorize C405.2 lighting controls: occupant sensors, daylight-responsive controls, and automatic time-switch requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

What score do I need to pass the ICC 77 exam?

The ICC 77 Commercial Energy Plans Examiner exam requires a scaled score of 75 to pass, which corresponds to approximately 75% of questions answered correctly — roughly 53 out of 70 questions. If you pass, you see 'PASS' on your results — no numerical score is shown for passing candidates. If you fail, you receive a diagnostic report showing your performance by content area so you know which of the five domains to restudy. ICC uses scaled scoring set by the ICC Exam Development Committee to normalize difficulty across exam forms.

Is the ICC 77 exam open-book?

Yes, the ICC 77 exam is open-book. You may bring the IECC Commercial Provisions (edition per the current ICC bulletin) and ASHRAE 90.1 as your primary references. You can tab, highlight, and annotate your codebooks, but sticky notes and loose inserts are not permitted. With 3 minutes per question on average, you must be highly familiar with IECC Chapter 4 CE (C401-C408) and ASHRAE 90.1 Sections 5 (Envelope), 6 (HVAC), 7 (Service Water Heating), 8 (Power), 9 (Lighting), and 11 (Energy Cost Budget) so you can locate values quickly.

How hard is the ICC 77 exam?

The ICC 77 is moderately challenging. The hardest areas are Building Envelope (27%), Electrical Power and Lighting (27%), and Mechanical Systems (26%), which together make up 80% of the exam. The difficulty comes from multi-table lookups — envelope U-factor weighted averages (C402.1.4), HVAC equipment minimum efficiencies across dozens of ASHRAE 90.1 Table 6.8.1-1 through 6.8.1-11 categories, and Space-by-Space LPD calculations that require adding up allowances from C405.3.2(2). Candidates who tab both codebooks aggressively and practice timed mocks have the highest success rates.

What codebook do I need for the ICC 77 exam?

The current ICC 77 exam is primarily based on the IECC Commercial Provisions (confirm the exact edition on the ICC exam bulletin before purchase — ICC is transitioning from 2021 IECC to 2024 IECC). ASHRAE 90.1 (matching edition referenced by the IECC) is also permitted as the alternate compliance path reference. You can purchase both from ICC and ASHRAE stores. Our 100 practice questions are written against the 2024 IECC / ASHRAE 90.1-2022 section numbering; core concepts and calculation approaches carry over between editions.

What jobs can I get with ICC 77 certification?

ICC 77 Commercial Energy Plans Examiner certification qualifies you for plans examiner and energy code specialist positions with city, county, and state building departments as well as third-party plan review firms. Average salaries range from $65,000-$95,000 depending on location and experience. Many jurisdictions require ICC certification as a condition of employment. The 77 is often combined with B3 (Commercial Building Plans Examiner), M2, E2, and P2 credentials to earn broader commercial plan review authority and higher-paying roles.

How do I prepare for the ICC 77 exam?

Start by obtaining the IECC Commercial Provisions and ASHRAE 90.1 codebooks. Read IECC Chapter 4 CE (C401-C408) in full and tab the envelope tables (C402.1.3 opaque, C402.4 fenestration), HVAC equipment tables in ASHRAE 90.1 Section 6, LPD tables in IECC C405.3, and the commissioning requirements in C408. Practice at least three full-length 70-question timed mocks. Focus heavily on envelope weighted U-factor calcs, Space-by-Space LPD math, and identifying which compliance path (prescriptive, performance, or ASHRAE 90.1) each scenario uses.