ICC General Building Contractor (Class B) & Code Review Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering life safety, egress, wood framing, foundation concrete, roofing, and structural codes based on the ICC General Building Contractor B review transcript.

FLSA Time Records Retention

FLSA time cards and schedules must be retained for a minimum of 2 years.

FLSA Payroll Records Retention

FLSA payroll records must be retained for a minimum of 3 years.

Building Permit Expiration Threshold

Permits typically expire if work is not started within 180 days or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days.

Commercial Stairway Riser and Tread Dimensions

Maximum riser height of $7\text{ inches}$ and minimum tread depth of $11\text{ inches}$.

Residential Stairway Riser and Tread Dimensions

Maximum riser height of $7\frac{3}{4}\text{ inches}$ and minimum tread depth of $10\text{ inches}$.

Handrail Height Requirement

Handrails must be placed between $34\text{ inches}$ and $38\text{ inches}$ measured vertically from the leading edge of the stair tread.

Exit Sign Emergency Power Duration

Emergency exit signs must be powered by an emergency circuit providing illumination for at least 90 minutes upon power loss.

ASTM C143

The standard governing the slump test for concrete using a cone that is $12\text{ inches}$ high.

Type M Mortar

High-strength mortar used for heavy structural loads and below-grade applications.

Type S Mortar

Medium-high strength mortar used for normal structural loads and exterior load-bearing walls.

Type N Mortar

Medium-strength mortar used for general interior above-grade applications.

Type O Mortar

Low-strength mortar used for historic restoration and non-load-bearing interior applications.

Concrete Initial Curing Requirement

Requires maintaining moisture and temperature for a minimum of 7 days during initial curing.

Dry Lumber Classification

Dimension lumber classified as 'dry' when its moisture content is $19\%$ or less.

Low-Slope Roof Drainage Minimum

Built-up or single-ply low-slope roofs require a minimum slope toward points of drainage of $\frac{1}{4}\text{ inch}$ per foot.

Garage and Dwelling Separation Wall

Requires $\frac{1}{2}\text{-inch}$ gypsum board (or $\frac{5}{8}\text{-inch}$ Type X gypsum board if habitable rooms are above the garage) with no hourly fire-resistance rating required.

Slotted Deflection Track

A steel top runner track used on non-bearing interior steel-framed walls to allow vertical structural deflection from floor/roof movement without taking on axial loads.

Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) Enclosure Rating

Requires a baseline minimum 1-hour fire-resistance rating (or 2-hour depending on elevator or smoke control infrastructure supported).

Cripple Wall Height Threshold (IRC R602.9.1)

If a cripple wall exceeds $48\text{ inches}$ ($4\text{ feet}$) in height, it must be framed with studs the next size larger or engineered as a full story.

Untreated Plywood Siding Ground Clearance

Requires a minimum clear distance of $6\text{ inches}$ from the earth ($8\text{ inches}$ if touching concrete or masonry foundations).

Accessible Route

A continuous, unobstructed path connecting all accessible elements and spaces of a building or facility.

Hot Weather Concrete Pour Risk

High temperature, high wind, and low relative humidity trigger plastic shrinkage cracking and reduce compressive strength due to rapid surface evaporation.

Concrete Over-Agitation in Transit Truck

Grinds coarse aggregates, increases mix temperature, lowers slump, decreases air entrainment, and reduces overall concrete compressive strength.

Roof Soffit Property Line Proximity

Projections cannot extend closer than $2\text{ feet}$ to an interior property line and must be 1-hour fire-resistance rated or heavy timber if between $2\text{ feet}$ and $5\text{ feet}$.

Unexposed Foundation Concrete Strength

A baseline minimum compressive strength of $2500\text{ PSI}$ for interior footings, basement walls, or slab-on-grade foundations completely protected from weathering.

Clothes Washer Standpipe Rating

Rated as a $2\text{ DFU}$ (Drainage Fixture Unit) load on the drainage system and requires a minimum standpipe/trap diameter of $2\text{ inches}$.

Maximum Bored Hole in Load-Bearing Wood Stud

Strictly capped at $25\%$ of stud depth ($1\frac{1}{2}\text{ inches}$ maximum diameter for a nominal 2x6 stud).

Foundation Anchor Bolt Rules

Must be embedded at least $7\text{ inches}$ into concrete, spaced maximum $6\text{ feet}$ apart, and located within $12\text{ inches}$ of the end of each sill plate section.

Area of Refuge

A fire-resistive and smoke-protected location within a building where persons unable to use stairways can shelter temporarily during emergency evacuation.

Area of Refuge Wheelchair Space Rule

Requires a designated clear space measuring at least $30\text{ inches} \times 48\text{ inches}$ for every 200 occupants served.

Ventilation Clearance for Roof Insulation

A minimum $1\text{-inch}$ clear space maintained between insulation material and roof sheathing at soffit or eave vents.

Fireblocking

Solid materials installed inside wall cavities and floor-ceiling spaces at maximum intervals of $10\text{ feet}$ horizontally and at floor/ceiling levels vertically to eliminate hidden air paths.

Draftstopping

Thinner materials installed in large concealed spaces to divide horizontal cavities into compartments not exceeding $1000\text{ sq ft}$ in residential or $3000\text{ sq ft}$ in commercial.

Interlayment

An $18\text{-inch}$ wide layer of asphalt-saturated felt woven between every course (layer) of wood shakes.

Type A Construction Classification

Refers to Protected Construction sub-classification of Types I through V building materials.

Floor Joist Notching Limits (Outer Thirds)

Maximum notch depth cannot exceed $\frac{1}{6}$ of the joist depth and is prohibited in the middle third of the joist span.

Floor Joist End Notch Limit

Maximum notch depth cannot exceed $\frac{1}{4}$ of the joist depth at support points.

Floor Joist Bored Hole Limit

Diameter cannot exceed $\frac{1}{3}$ of the joist depth and must be located at least $2\text{ inches}$ from edges, notches, or other holes.

Joist Bearing Length Requirements

Minimum $1\frac{1}{2}\text{ inches}$ on continuous wood top plates or steel beams, and minimum $3\text{ inches}$ directly on masonry or concrete.

Sloped Glazing Definition

Glass or glazing installed at a slope of more than $15\text{ degrees}$ from the vertical plane.

Habitable Room Ventilation Requirement

Openable window area must equal at least $4\%$ of the room's total floor area (with glazing total area at least $8\%$ for natural light).

Emergency Escape Window (EERO) Area Specs

Minimum net clear opening of $5.7\text{ sq ft}$ ($5.0\text{ sq ft}$ at grade level) with a maximum sill height of $44\text{ inches}$ above the floor.

Stairway Headroom Clearance

Minimum clear vertical headroom height of $80\text{ inches}$ ($6\text{ feet } 8\text{ inches}$).

Horizontal Wood Bevel Siding Overlap

Requires each course of siding to overlap the board beneath it by a minimum of $1\text{ inch}$.

Minimum Thickness for Plywood

Roof Sheathing (IRC Table R803.2.1(1) / IBC Table 2304.8(1))

7/16-inch. These panels will carry a Span Rating stamp of 24/16 from the manufacturer (meaning 24 inches on a roof, or 16 inches on a floor)

Minimum Thickness for Plywood Subfloors (IRC Table R503.2.1(1) / IBC Table 2304.8(2))

• For 16-Inch Joist Spacing: Minimum 5/8-inch (or 19/32-inch nominal).

• For 24-Inch Joist Spacing: Minimum ¾-inch (or 23/32-inch nominal).

A contractor is building a two-story home and needs to select sawn lumber for the first-floor load-bearing wall studs. What is the minimum grade allowed?

No. 2. Stud is for vertical wall columns and Utulity is max roof and ceiling, never a floor. Section R602.3.1

Can you use No. 3 lumber for a floor girder?

No. Minimum would be zero

Openings in the partitions

shall be protected by self-closing doors with automatic latches.

Floor joists must have a minimum of 1 ½ inches of bearing where they rest on wood wall plates or steel beams UNLESS

the ends of the joists are supported on a 1-inch by 4-inch (1x4) ribbon strip that is notched into the wall studs, and the joist is securely nailed directly to the face of the adjacent stud

The absolute maximum distance allowed between the washer trap weir and the vent fitting

8 feet

Markets (Group M - Mercantile) and Banks (Group B - Business) that cross the 49-person threshold

Two separate exits/exit doors are required, the main exit doors must swing outward in the direction of exit travel and requiring doors to be equipped with panic hardware or fire exit hardware (push bars)

If a room is calculated to hold 50 or more people

it is legally classified as an Assembly space, and it must have a minimum of two separate exits