ICC General Requirements (GR) Practice Exam 2: Advanced
Special Inspector Certification
Comprehensive 150-Question Test Bank Covering IBC Chapter
17, Special Inspection Duties, Responsibilities, Documentation,
and Code Compliance
SECTION 1: ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND AUTHORITY (Questions 1-
35)
1. Who develops the special inspection program and outlines the duties of the special
inspectors?
A) Building officials
B) The contractor
C) The registered design professional
D) The approved inspection agency
Correct Answer: C) The registered design professional
Rationale: The registered design professional develops the special inspection program and
outlines the duties of the special inspectors. This is accomplished through the statement of
special inspections, which identifies which elements require inspection, the type of inspection
required, and the extent of inspection needed. The RDP's design expertise allows them to
identify critical elements that require oversight .
2. Special inspections are which of the following?
A) In addition to jurisdictional inspections and structural observations
B) In lieu of jurisdictional inspections and structural observations
C) Not required if there are jurisdictional inspections or structural observations
D) In lieu of jurisdictional inspections or structural observations
Correct Answer: A) In addition to jurisdictional inspections and structural observations
,Rationale: Special inspections are in addition to the jurisdictional/municipal inspections
performed by the city inspector and the structural observations performed by the registered
design professional. Special inspections focus on specific materials and workmanship details,
while jurisdictional inspections address broader compliance and structural observations
evaluate the overall structural system .
3. Who can waive the special inspection requirements for work of a minor nature?
A) The building official
B) The owner
C) The registered design professional
D) The contractor
Correct Answer: A) The building official
Rationale: The building official can waive the requirement of special inspections on work of a
minor nature, as specified in IBC 1704.2.2. The building official has the discretion to determine
that certain work does not require special inspection based on the minor nature of the work or
other considerations .
4. Who has the legal authority to enforce the special inspection provisions of the building
code?
A) The general contractor
B) The inspection company
C) The registered design professional
D) The building official
Correct Answer: D) The building official
Rationale: The building official holds the legal authority to enforce the special inspections
provisions of the building code. This includes authority to approve the special inspection
program, the inspection agencies, and the special inspectors, as well as taking enforcement
actions such as issuing stop work orders or revoking permits for non-compliance .
,5. Who can issue a stop work order?
A) The registered design professional
B) The building official
C) The contractor
D) The owner
Correct Answer: B) The building official
Rationale: The building official has the authority to issue stop work orders. Special inspectors
do not have this authority; they must report non-conforming work to the building official, who
then takes enforcement action. The building official may issue a stop work order when
construction does not comply with code requirements .
6. Which of the following is NOT part of the purpose of special inspection?
A) Review the work of the contractor and their employees
B) Make sure work is completed according to the schedule
C) Ensure that relevant building codes and ordinances are being followed
D) Ensure that the approved plans and specifications are being followed
Correct Answer: B) Make sure work is completed according to the schedule
Rationale: Ensuring that work is completed according to the schedule is not part of the
purpose of special inspection. Special inspection focuses on verifying that construction
complies with approved plans, specifications, and code requirements. Schedule management is
the contractor's responsibility, not the special inspector's .
7. A special inspector is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Approving RFIs
B) Observing construction
C) Reporting discrepancies
D) Documenting inspection findings
Correct Answer: A) Approving RFIs
, Rationale: A special inspector is not responsible for approving RFIs (Requests for Information).
RFI review is typically performed by the registered design professional or the project engineer.
The special inspector observes the work based on the approved responses to RFIs but does not
approve the RFIs themselves .
8. A special inspector is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Structure observation
B) Observing construction
C) Reporting discrepancies
D) Documenting inspection findings
Correct Answer: A) Structure observation
Rationale: Structural observation is performed by the registered design professional, not the
special inspector. The special inspector's role is to observe construction, report discrepancies,
and document inspection findings. Structural observation is a separate function that evaluates
the overall structural system during construction .
9. Special inspections review which level of detail?
A) Fine details
B) Broad details
C) Administrative details
D) Financial details
Correct Answer: A) Fine details
Rationale: Special inspection reviews the "fine details" of construction, while jurisdictional
inspection reviews "broader details." Special inspectors focus on specific technical aspects such
as concrete placement, welding, bolting, and reinforcing steel placement, which require
specialized knowledge and attention to detail .
Special Inspector Certification
Comprehensive 150-Question Test Bank Covering IBC Chapter
17, Special Inspection Duties, Responsibilities, Documentation,
and Code Compliance
SECTION 1: ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND AUTHORITY (Questions 1-
35)
1. Who develops the special inspection program and outlines the duties of the special
inspectors?
A) Building officials
B) The contractor
C) The registered design professional
D) The approved inspection agency
Correct Answer: C) The registered design professional
Rationale: The registered design professional develops the special inspection program and
outlines the duties of the special inspectors. This is accomplished through the statement of
special inspections, which identifies which elements require inspection, the type of inspection
required, and the extent of inspection needed. The RDP's design expertise allows them to
identify critical elements that require oversight .
2. Special inspections are which of the following?
A) In addition to jurisdictional inspections and structural observations
B) In lieu of jurisdictional inspections and structural observations
C) Not required if there are jurisdictional inspections or structural observations
D) In lieu of jurisdictional inspections or structural observations
Correct Answer: A) In addition to jurisdictional inspections and structural observations
,Rationale: Special inspections are in addition to the jurisdictional/municipal inspections
performed by the city inspector and the structural observations performed by the registered
design professional. Special inspections focus on specific materials and workmanship details,
while jurisdictional inspections address broader compliance and structural observations
evaluate the overall structural system .
3. Who can waive the special inspection requirements for work of a minor nature?
A) The building official
B) The owner
C) The registered design professional
D) The contractor
Correct Answer: A) The building official
Rationale: The building official can waive the requirement of special inspections on work of a
minor nature, as specified in IBC 1704.2.2. The building official has the discretion to determine
that certain work does not require special inspection based on the minor nature of the work or
other considerations .
4. Who has the legal authority to enforce the special inspection provisions of the building
code?
A) The general contractor
B) The inspection company
C) The registered design professional
D) The building official
Correct Answer: D) The building official
Rationale: The building official holds the legal authority to enforce the special inspections
provisions of the building code. This includes authority to approve the special inspection
program, the inspection agencies, and the special inspectors, as well as taking enforcement
actions such as issuing stop work orders or revoking permits for non-compliance .
,5. Who can issue a stop work order?
A) The registered design professional
B) The building official
C) The contractor
D) The owner
Correct Answer: B) The building official
Rationale: The building official has the authority to issue stop work orders. Special inspectors
do not have this authority; they must report non-conforming work to the building official, who
then takes enforcement action. The building official may issue a stop work order when
construction does not comply with code requirements .
6. Which of the following is NOT part of the purpose of special inspection?
A) Review the work of the contractor and their employees
B) Make sure work is completed according to the schedule
C) Ensure that relevant building codes and ordinances are being followed
D) Ensure that the approved plans and specifications are being followed
Correct Answer: B) Make sure work is completed according to the schedule
Rationale: Ensuring that work is completed according to the schedule is not part of the
purpose of special inspection. Special inspection focuses on verifying that construction
complies with approved plans, specifications, and code requirements. Schedule management is
the contractor's responsibility, not the special inspector's .
7. A special inspector is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Approving RFIs
B) Observing construction
C) Reporting discrepancies
D) Documenting inspection findings
Correct Answer: A) Approving RFIs
, Rationale: A special inspector is not responsible for approving RFIs (Requests for Information).
RFI review is typically performed by the registered design professional or the project engineer.
The special inspector observes the work based on the approved responses to RFIs but does not
approve the RFIs themselves .
8. A special inspector is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Structure observation
B) Observing construction
C) Reporting discrepancies
D) Documenting inspection findings
Correct Answer: A) Structure observation
Rationale: Structural observation is performed by the registered design professional, not the
special inspector. The special inspector's role is to observe construction, report discrepancies,
and document inspection findings. Structural observation is a separate function that evaluates
the overall structural system during construction .
9. Special inspections review which level of detail?
A) Fine details
B) Broad details
C) Administrative details
D) Financial details
Correct Answer: A) Fine details
Rationale: Special inspection reviews the "fine details" of construction, while jurisdictional
inspection reviews "broader details." Special inspectors focus on specific technical aspects such
as concrete placement, welding, bolting, and reinforcing steel placement, which require
specialized knowledge and attention to detail .
