Building Plans Examiner B3 Practice Exam Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms, operational definitions, numerical criteria, and structural codes extracted directly from the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) practice questions and official answer key for Building Plans Examiners.

Stationary Generator Systems Standard

UL 2200

Group B Occupancy (Assembly Exception)

An assembly building with an occupant load of less than $50$ persons.

Semiconductor Fabrication Facility Power Requirements

Must be provided with emergency power.

Dwelling Unit Minimum Temperature Capability

Must be capable of maintaining a minimum temperature of $68^{\circ}\text{F}$.

Group A-4 Automatic Sprinkler Threshold

Required when the fire area has an occupant load of $300$ or more.

Ready Access

The required access type for Class II standpipe hose connections.

Parapet Wall Requirement

A protective wall requirement applied to exterior walls of a building.

Construction Document Retention Period

Must be retained for not less than $180\,\text{days}$ from completion of the project.

Underground Buildings Power Requirements

Must be equipped with both emergency and standby power.

High-Rise Building Power Requirements

Must be provided with both emergency and standby power.

Group I-2 Maximum Sleeping Room Travel Distance

The maximum travel distance from a sleeping room to an exit access door is $50\,\text{ft}$.

Aircraft Control Tower Automatic Sprinkler Requirement

Required when there is an occupied floor located more than $35\,\text{ft}$ above the lowest fire department access level.

High-Rise Tower Stairway Separation Distance

The minimum distance between exit stairways in a high-rise tower is $30\,\text{ft}$.

Group I-1 Commercial Cooking Fire Extinguisher Distance

A fire extinguisher must be installed within $30\,\text{ft}$ of commercial cooking equipment.

Chimney Cricket / Saddle Requirement Threshold

Must be installed on the ridge side of any chimney with a width greater than $30\,\text{in}$.

Group H-2 Fire Wall Rating

$$4\,\text{hours}$$

Permit Application Extension Period

The building official may grant an extension of up to $90\,\text{days}$ on a permit application.

Group H Exterior Wall Rating (< 5 ft Separation)

Exterior walls in a Group H occupancy with a fire separation distance of less than $5\,\text{ft}$ must have a fire resistance rating of $3\,\text{hours}$.

Type IV Construction

Construction type characterized by exterior walls of noncombustible materials and interior elements of solid or laminated wood.

Foam Plastic Insulation Maximum Smoke Developed Index

$$450$$

Group H-2 Occupancy

Classification used for buildings and structures containing materials that pose a deflagration hazard.

Handrail Height Limits

Must be located between $34\,\text{in}$ and $38\,\text{in}$ vertically above the finished floor or stair tread nosing.

Group R

Occupancy classification designated for residential groups.

Foam Plastic Insulation Maximum Flame Spread Index

$$75$$

Polyethylene Vapor Retarder Lap Joint Minimum

Joints for poly vapor retarders under concrete slabs directly on the ground must be lapped not less than $6\,\text{in}$.

Live Load

A variable or transient load imposed by the intended use and occupancy within a structure.

Construction Barrier Minimum Height

$$8\,\text{ft}$$

Structural Glass Veneer Maximum Single Piece Area

$10\,\text{sq ft}$ ($10\,\text{ft}$)

Sloped Glazing Screen Distance

Screens required for sloped glazing must be located within $4\,\text{in}$ of the glass.

Public Parking Garage Vehicle Barrier Threshold

Vehicle barriers are required where there is a change in elevation of $1\,\text{ft}$ or more.

Metal Roof Shingle Valley Flashing Centerline Distance

Valley flashing must extend not less than $8\,\text{in}$ from the centerline.

Louvered Window Maximum Length

$$48\,\text{in}$$

Interior Door Maximum Opening Force

Must not exceed $5\,\text{lbs}$ of force.

Official Plan Approval Stamp Phrase

"Reviewed for code compliance"

Braced Wall Line

A straight line through the building plan that represents the location of lateral resistance provided by wall bracing.

Ramp Handrail Threshold Rise

Ramps require handrails when the rise exceeds $6\,\text{in}$.

Fire Damper

A listed device installed in ducts and air transfer openings designed to close automatically upon detection of heat and resist the passage of flame.

Group A-3

Assembly occupancy designation for spaces such as libraries and places of worship without spectating.

Marquee Maximum Height

$9\,\text{ft}$ when projecting less than two-thirds of the distance from the lot line to the curb line.

Group I

Occupancy classification designated for institutional facilities.

Group F

Occupancy classification designated for factory and industrial uses.

Dead Load

A permanent structural load comprised of the weight of fixed assets, structural framing, and permanent building materials.

Fireplace Combustible Clearance

Requires a minimum $2\,\text{in}$ airspace clearance between combustible materials and the fireplace structure.

Stretcher Elevator Minimum Dimensions

$24\,\text{in}$ by $84\,\text{in}$

Step Projection Limit into Public Right of Way

Steps shall not project more than $12\,\text{in}$ into the public right-of-way.

Shallow Foundation Footing Minimum Depth

$12\,\text{in}$ below undisturbed ground surface.

Slab-on-Ground Minimum Thickness

$3\frac{1}{2}\,\text{in}$ ($3.5\,\text{in}$)

Group R-1 Fire Wall Rating

$$3\,\text{hours}$$

Type II Construction

Building construction type in which exterior walls and interior structural elements are constructed of noncombustible materials.

Incidental Use Area Limit

Incidental uses shall not occupy more than $10\%$ ($10\,\text{percent}$) of the building area.

Group F-2

Occupancy classification designated for low-hazard factory industrial uses.

Transient Occupancy

Occupancy of a dwelling unit or sleeping unit for a duration of not more than $30\,\text{days}$.

Awning Vertical Clearance Projection Limit

Awnings projecting into the public right-of-way shall not be less than $7\,\text{ft}$ vertically above the walkway.

Construction Site Walkway Live Load Capacity

Must be capable of withstanding a design live load of not less than $150\,\text{psf}$.

Masonry Hearth Minimum Thickness

$$4\,\text{in}$$

Handrail Uniform Linear Load Capacity

$50\,\text{lbs/ft}$ ($50\,\text{lbs}$)

Chimney Wall Minimum Thickness

$$4\,\text{in}$$

Group A Occupancy Standpipe Requirement (Non-Sprinklered)

A Class I standpipe system is required in non-sprinklered Group A buildings with an occupant load exceeding $1000$.

Parapet Wall Exception Area Threshold

Parapets are not required on buildings having an area of not more than $1000\,\text{sq ft}$.

Type I-A Tank Support Volume Threshold

Tanks with a capacity of $500\,\text{gal}$ or more must be supported by Type I-A construction.

Agricultural Facilities Risk Category

Category I

Draft Stop

A material, device, or construction installed to restrict the movement of air within open spaces of concealed building components such as crawl spaces, floor/ceiling assemblies, and attics.

Group A-2 Nightclub Lavatory Ratio

$1$ lavatory per $75$ occupants.

Mezzanine Clear Height Requirement

The clear height above and below a mezzanine floor assembly shall be no less than $7\,\text{ft}$.

Vehicle Barrier Concentrated Load Capacity

$$6000\,\text{lbs}$$

Group A-5

Occupancy designation for outdoor assembly areas such as stadiums and grandstands.

Fire Pump Barrier Protection Rating

Fire pumps must be protected by a fire barrier rated for $2\,\text{hours}$.

Group H-5

Occupancy classification designated for semiconductor fabrication facilities.

Parapet Uppermost Noncombustible Face Distance

Must have noncombustible faces for the uppermost distance of $18\,\text{in}$.

Group H-1

Occupancy classification for buildings containing materials that present a high detonation or explosive hazard.

Exterior Plaster Weep Screen Minimum Thickness

$$0.019\,\text{in}$$

Asphalt Felt Water Barrier Grade

No. 15 asphalt felt.

Group A-1

Occupancy classification for assembly spaces with fixed seating intended for the viewing of performing arts or motion pictures (e.g., theaters).

Open Valley Flashing Minimum Width (Asphalt Shingles)

$24\,\text{in}$ wide.

Group I-3 Fire Alarm Type

A manual fire alarm system designed to alert staff.

Area of Refuge Wheelchair Space Dimensions

$30\,\text{in}$ by $52\,\text{in}$

Stair Riser Maximum Height

$$7\,\text{in}$$

Class A Interior Finish Flame Spread Index

$0$ to $25$

Temporary Membrane Structure Maximum Service Life

Not more than $180\,\text{days}$

Court

An open, uncovered space bounded on two or more sides by the exterior walls of a building or structure, open to the sky.

Smoke Barrier Fire Resistance Rating

$$1\,\text{hour}$$

Covered Mall Open Space Surrounding Requirement

An open space of no less than $60\,\text{ft}$ surrounding the covered mall building.

Thin Exterior Glass Veneer Minimum Thickness

$$0.344\,\text{in}$$

Attic Access Minimum Opening Dimensions

$20\,\text{in}$ by $30\,\text{in}$

Dwelling Unit Minimum Corridor Width

$$36\,\text{in}$$

Exit Passageway

An exit component that is separated from other interior spaces of a building by fire-resistance-rated construction and provides a protected path of egress travel in a horizontal direction.

Group H

Occupancy classification for high-hazard uses.

Group S

Occupancy classification for storage uses.

Crawl Space Minimum Opening Size

$18\,\text{in}$ by $24\,\text{in}$

Group H-3

Occupancy classification for buildings containing materials that readily support combustion or present a physical hazard.

Emergency Power Minimum Duration Capability

$$2\,\text{hours}$$

Required Exits for Occupant Load > 1000

Not less than $4$ exits.

Slab-on-Ground Vapor Retarder Thickness

$6\,\text{mil}$ polyethylene sheet.

Shallow Foundation Footing Minimum Width

$$12\,\text{in}$$

Group I-3 Clear Door Width

Clear width of not less than $28\,\text{in}$ for sleeping unit doors.

1-Hour Corridor Wall Fire Door Rating

$\frac{1}{3}\,\text{hour}$ ($20\,\text{minutes}$)

Expansive Soil Index Criterion

Expansion Index greater than $20$ per ASTM D4829.

Habitable Space Minimum Room Dimension

No less than $7\,\text{ft}$ in any plan dimension (excluding kitchens).

Egress Door Maximum Threshold Height

$\frac{1}{2}\,\text{in}$ above the finished floor.

Group A-2 Automatic Sprinkler Threshold

Required when the fire area exceeds $5000\,\text{sq ft}$.