LATEST BUILDING PLANS EXAMINER (B3)
CERTIFICATION EXAM OFFERED BY
INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL (ICC) |
Q&A WITH RATIONALES
1. A building plans examiner is reviewing a set of
construction documents for a new commercial
building. The cover sheet indicates that the project
was designed by a licensed architect, but the
structural calculations are not stamped by a licensed
structural engineer. According to IBC 107.1, what is
the examiner's most appropriate action?
A) Accept the documents as submitted because the
architect's stamp is sufficient.
B) Request that the structural calculations be sealed
by a licensed structural engineer before proceeding
with the review.
C) Proceed with the review because the calculations
are not required for plan approval.
D) Issue a permit with a condition that the
calculations be provided later.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: IBC Section 107.1 requires that
construction documents be prepared by a registered
,design professional when required by state law.
Structural calculations must be sealed by a licensed
structural engineer when the building's structural
design is not covered by prescriptive tables.
**2. A developer submits plans for a new warehouse
using an alternative construction method not
explicitly addressed in the IBC. The architect
provides test reports from an accredited laboratory
showing the assembly meets the required
fire‑resistance rating. According to IBC 104.11, what
must the building official do before approving this
alternative method?**
A) Approve it immediately because the test reports
are sufficient evidence.
B) Reject it because the method is not prescriptively
listed in the code.
C) Determine that the alternative method is
equivalent to the prescriptive requirements of the
code.
D) Send the proposal to the manufacturer for a
warranty.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: IBC Section 104.11 allows the building
official to approve alternative materials, designs, or
,methods provided they are found to be equivalent to
the prescriptive requirements of the code.
**3. During a plan review for a new office building, the
plans examiner notices that the project valuation
listed on the permit application is significantly lower
than industry norms for similar structures. According
to IBC 109.3, what action should the examiner take?**
A) Approve the permit application as submitted.
B) Request that the applicant submit a revised
project valuation consistent with industry norms
before issuing the permit.
C) Ignore the discrepancy because permit fees are
based on square footage, not valuation.
D) Issue the permit but note the discrepancy in the
file.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: IBC Section 109.3 requires that permit
fees be based on the valuation of the work. The
building official must verify that the estimated project
valuation is consistent with industry norms.
**4. A building plans examiner is reviewing a set of
drawings for a new restaurant. The design includes a
pre‑engineered metal building system. The
, manufacturer's calculations and specifications are
not included with the submitted documents.
According to IBC 107.2.1, what should the examiner
do?**
A) Accept the drawings and issue the permit.
B) Request that the manufacturer's calculations and
specifications be submitted for review before permit
issuance.
C) Approve the permit with a condition that the
calculations be provided before construction begins.
D) Reject the application entirely.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: IBC Section 107.2.1 requires that
construction documents include design data and
calculations for structural components.
Pre‑engineered building systems must be supported
by the manufacturer's calculations and
specifications.
**5. A developer proposes to use a new fire‑resistant
coating material that is not listed in the IBC. The
manufacturer provides evidence that the material has
been tested and listed by an approved independent
testing laboratory. According to IBC 104.2, what is
the examiner's responsibility?**
CERTIFICATION EXAM OFFERED BY
INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL (ICC) |
Q&A WITH RATIONALES
1. A building plans examiner is reviewing a set of
construction documents for a new commercial
building. The cover sheet indicates that the project
was designed by a licensed architect, but the
structural calculations are not stamped by a licensed
structural engineer. According to IBC 107.1, what is
the examiner's most appropriate action?
A) Accept the documents as submitted because the
architect's stamp is sufficient.
B) Request that the structural calculations be sealed
by a licensed structural engineer before proceeding
with the review.
C) Proceed with the review because the calculations
are not required for plan approval.
D) Issue a permit with a condition that the
calculations be provided later.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: IBC Section 107.1 requires that
construction documents be prepared by a registered
,design professional when required by state law.
Structural calculations must be sealed by a licensed
structural engineer when the building's structural
design is not covered by prescriptive tables.
**2. A developer submits plans for a new warehouse
using an alternative construction method not
explicitly addressed in the IBC. The architect
provides test reports from an accredited laboratory
showing the assembly meets the required
fire‑resistance rating. According to IBC 104.11, what
must the building official do before approving this
alternative method?**
A) Approve it immediately because the test reports
are sufficient evidence.
B) Reject it because the method is not prescriptively
listed in the code.
C) Determine that the alternative method is
equivalent to the prescriptive requirements of the
code.
D) Send the proposal to the manufacturer for a
warranty.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: IBC Section 104.11 allows the building
official to approve alternative materials, designs, or
,methods provided they are found to be equivalent to
the prescriptive requirements of the code.
**3. During a plan review for a new office building, the
plans examiner notices that the project valuation
listed on the permit application is significantly lower
than industry norms for similar structures. According
to IBC 109.3, what action should the examiner take?**
A) Approve the permit application as submitted.
B) Request that the applicant submit a revised
project valuation consistent with industry norms
before issuing the permit.
C) Ignore the discrepancy because permit fees are
based on square footage, not valuation.
D) Issue the permit but note the discrepancy in the
file.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: IBC Section 109.3 requires that permit
fees be based on the valuation of the work. The
building official must verify that the estimated project
valuation is consistent with industry norms.
**4. A building plans examiner is reviewing a set of
drawings for a new restaurant. The design includes a
pre‑engineered metal building system. The
, manufacturer's calculations and specifications are
not included with the submitted documents.
According to IBC 107.2.1, what should the examiner
do?**
A) Accept the drawings and issue the permit.
B) Request that the manufacturer's calculations and
specifications be submitted for review before permit
issuance.
C) Approve the permit with a condition that the
calculations be provided before construction begins.
D) Reject the application entirely.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: IBC Section 107.2.1 requires that
construction documents include design data and
calculations for structural components.
Pre‑engineered building systems must be supported
by the manufacturer's calculations and
specifications.
**5. A developer proposes to use a new fire‑resistant
coating material that is not listed in the IBC. The
manufacturer provides evidence that the material has
been tested and listed by an approved independent
testing laboratory. According to IBC 104.2, what is
the examiner's responsibility?**
