Florida Home Inspector Exam
questions and answers
Define 'technically exhaustive' within the scope of a home inspection. ✔✔Includes
dismantling, extensive use of measurements, instruments, testing or calculations.
Define 'inspector' within the context of the Standards of Practice. ✔✔A person hired to
examine and system or component of a building, in accordance with these Standards of
Practice.
Summarize in one sentence each of the three elements of the Code of Ethics. ✔✔1.
Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
2. Act in good faith toward your clients and other interested parties.
3. Avoid activities that my harm the public or discredit yourself or the profession.
List 4 reasons written reports are needed. ✔✔1. The Standards require it.
2. To help the client.
3. To control liability.
4. Marketing tool.
List 2 delivery options for providing the report. ✔✔1. on-site reports
2. reports sent after the inspection
List 3 general types of report forms. ✔✔1. checklists
2. narrative
3. combination
List 10 common components of the body of the report. ✔✔1. scope/contract
2. descriptions
3. conditions or evaluations
4. causes of conditions
5. implications of conditions
6. recommended actions
7. limitations
8. life expectancy
9. priorities
10. ballpark costs
Give a one-sentence example of each of these components. ✔✔1. Scope--the
inspections was done according to the ASHI Standards.
2. Descriptions--the roofing material is asphalt shingles.
3. Conditions or evaluations--the water heater is leaking.
,4. Causes of conditions--the wet basement is the result of the leaking gutters and
downspouts.
5. Implications--the uneven stairs are a trip hazard.
Give a one-sentence example of each of these components. ✔✔6. Recommended
actions--the 30 amp fuses should be replaced with 15 amp fuses.
7. Limitations--no access was gained to the crawlspace.
8. Life expectancy--replacement of the roof covering will probably be necessary within
the next 3 to 6 years.
9. Priorities--the open electrical box should be provided with a cover immediately and
the service should be upgraded to 200 amps within the next year.
10. Ball park--furnace replacement may cost $1500-$2500.
Which components are required by the Standards? ✔✔descriptions, conditions, and
implications unless they are self-evident
What elements over and above the 10 you have listed might be included in home
inspection reports? ✔✔1. report summary
2. client questionnaire
3. maintenance tips
4. filing systems
5. life cycle and cost estimates
(None of these are required by the Standards)Service entrace conductors run from the
service drop to the service box or service panel. True or False? ✔✔True
The service size is determined by the amperage and the voltage ratings of the service.
✔✔True
Is the service drop overhead or underground? ✔✔Overhead
Are service laterals overhead or underground? ✔✔Underground
The drip loop is typically part of the service drop. True or False? ✔✔False
The wire size for the service drop must be the same as the wire size for the service
entrance conductors. True or False? ✔✔False
How many wires would you typically find in a 240-volt service drop? ✔✔3
What would 4 wires mean? ✔✔3-phase electricity
What would 2 wires usually mean? ✔✔120 volt service
List 7 common problems with service drops. ✔✔1. Overhead wires too low.
,2. Damaged or frayed wires.
3. Trees or vines interfering with wires.
4. Wires too close to doors or windows.
5. Wires not well-secured to the house.
6. Poor connection between service drop and service entrance.
7. Inadequate clearance from roofs.
List clearances above ground, swimming pools, and roofs. ✔✔above roadway--18 ft.
above driveway--12 ft.
above flat roof--8 to 10 ft.
above sloped roof--18 inches
away from water in swimming pool--22.5 ft
3 ft. above sloped roof with pitch > 4 in 12
above walkway--10 ft.
The service entrance conductors run from the _________ to the ___________.
✔✔service drop to service box
All service entrance conductors must be in conduit. True or False? ✔✔False
All service entrance conductors must be attached above roof level. True or False?
✔✔False
The drip loop should be as close to the roof as possible. True or False? ✔✔False
List 10 common problems with service entrance conductors. ✔✔1. No drip loop
2. No mast head
3. Mast head not weather tight.
4. Mast or conduit bent.
5. Mast or conduit rusted.
6. Mast rotted (if wood).
7. Mast conduit or cable not well secured.
8. Mast conduit or cable not weather tight.
9. Conduit or cable not well sealed at house/wall penetration.
10. Cable frayed, damaged, or covered by siding.
List 4 common areas of water penetration into service entrances. ✔✔1. conduit joints
2. mast head
3. roof flashing
4. meter base
5. house entry
List 2 functions of the drip loop. ✔✔1. Prevents water entry into the conduit or service
entrance conductors.
2. Shows that the service drop wires are not straining the splices.
, Roughly 999 out of 1000 houses have _________ volts available. ✔✔240
Roughly 999 out of 1000 houses have __________ service entrance wires. ✔✔3
Load calculations are part of a home inspection. ✔✔False
Implications of an undersized service include:
a. shock hazard
b. fire hazard
c. shock and fire hazard
d. melting insulation
e. nuisance tripping of the main fuses and breakers ✔✔e.
What is the largest single-phase service that you are likely to find in a home? ✔✔400
amps
What size copper wire would you expect to find on the service entrance for:
a. 60-amp service
b. 100-amp service
c. 200-amp service ✔✔a. 6 gauge
b. 4 gauge
c. 2-0 gauge
Which of the following is a reliable way to identify the service size?
a. the size of the service drop wires
b. the distribution panel rating
c. the service box rating
d. the service entrance conductor
e. the service entrance conduit size ✔✔d.
Aluminum is an acceptable service entrance conductor material. True or False?
✔✔True
A fused 200-amp service has two 100-amp fuses in the service box. True or False?
✔✔False
If you can't read the size of the fuses in the service box, you should remove them to try
to get a better look. True or False? ✔✔False
Which of the following is a safety issue:
a. The main fuses have a lower rating than the service entrance wire.
b. The main fuses have a higher rating than the service entrance wire.
c. The service box has a higher rating than the service entrance wires.
d. The service box has the same rating as the service entrance wires.
questions and answers
Define 'technically exhaustive' within the scope of a home inspection. ✔✔Includes
dismantling, extensive use of measurements, instruments, testing or calculations.
Define 'inspector' within the context of the Standards of Practice. ✔✔A person hired to
examine and system or component of a building, in accordance with these Standards of
Practice.
Summarize in one sentence each of the three elements of the Code of Ethics. ✔✔1.
Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
2. Act in good faith toward your clients and other interested parties.
3. Avoid activities that my harm the public or discredit yourself or the profession.
List 4 reasons written reports are needed. ✔✔1. The Standards require it.
2. To help the client.
3. To control liability.
4. Marketing tool.
List 2 delivery options for providing the report. ✔✔1. on-site reports
2. reports sent after the inspection
List 3 general types of report forms. ✔✔1. checklists
2. narrative
3. combination
List 10 common components of the body of the report. ✔✔1. scope/contract
2. descriptions
3. conditions or evaluations
4. causes of conditions
5. implications of conditions
6. recommended actions
7. limitations
8. life expectancy
9. priorities
10. ballpark costs
Give a one-sentence example of each of these components. ✔✔1. Scope--the
inspections was done according to the ASHI Standards.
2. Descriptions--the roofing material is asphalt shingles.
3. Conditions or evaluations--the water heater is leaking.
,4. Causes of conditions--the wet basement is the result of the leaking gutters and
downspouts.
5. Implications--the uneven stairs are a trip hazard.
Give a one-sentence example of each of these components. ✔✔6. Recommended
actions--the 30 amp fuses should be replaced with 15 amp fuses.
7. Limitations--no access was gained to the crawlspace.
8. Life expectancy--replacement of the roof covering will probably be necessary within
the next 3 to 6 years.
9. Priorities--the open electrical box should be provided with a cover immediately and
the service should be upgraded to 200 amps within the next year.
10. Ball park--furnace replacement may cost $1500-$2500.
Which components are required by the Standards? ✔✔descriptions, conditions, and
implications unless they are self-evident
What elements over and above the 10 you have listed might be included in home
inspection reports? ✔✔1. report summary
2. client questionnaire
3. maintenance tips
4. filing systems
5. life cycle and cost estimates
(None of these are required by the Standards)Service entrace conductors run from the
service drop to the service box or service panel. True or False? ✔✔True
The service size is determined by the amperage and the voltage ratings of the service.
✔✔True
Is the service drop overhead or underground? ✔✔Overhead
Are service laterals overhead or underground? ✔✔Underground
The drip loop is typically part of the service drop. True or False? ✔✔False
The wire size for the service drop must be the same as the wire size for the service
entrance conductors. True or False? ✔✔False
How many wires would you typically find in a 240-volt service drop? ✔✔3
What would 4 wires mean? ✔✔3-phase electricity
What would 2 wires usually mean? ✔✔120 volt service
List 7 common problems with service drops. ✔✔1. Overhead wires too low.
,2. Damaged or frayed wires.
3. Trees or vines interfering with wires.
4. Wires too close to doors or windows.
5. Wires not well-secured to the house.
6. Poor connection between service drop and service entrance.
7. Inadequate clearance from roofs.
List clearances above ground, swimming pools, and roofs. ✔✔above roadway--18 ft.
above driveway--12 ft.
above flat roof--8 to 10 ft.
above sloped roof--18 inches
away from water in swimming pool--22.5 ft
3 ft. above sloped roof with pitch > 4 in 12
above walkway--10 ft.
The service entrance conductors run from the _________ to the ___________.
✔✔service drop to service box
All service entrance conductors must be in conduit. True or False? ✔✔False
All service entrance conductors must be attached above roof level. True or False?
✔✔False
The drip loop should be as close to the roof as possible. True or False? ✔✔False
List 10 common problems with service entrance conductors. ✔✔1. No drip loop
2. No mast head
3. Mast head not weather tight.
4. Mast or conduit bent.
5. Mast or conduit rusted.
6. Mast rotted (if wood).
7. Mast conduit or cable not well secured.
8. Mast conduit or cable not weather tight.
9. Conduit or cable not well sealed at house/wall penetration.
10. Cable frayed, damaged, or covered by siding.
List 4 common areas of water penetration into service entrances. ✔✔1. conduit joints
2. mast head
3. roof flashing
4. meter base
5. house entry
List 2 functions of the drip loop. ✔✔1. Prevents water entry into the conduit or service
entrance conductors.
2. Shows that the service drop wires are not straining the splices.
, Roughly 999 out of 1000 houses have _________ volts available. ✔✔240
Roughly 999 out of 1000 houses have __________ service entrance wires. ✔✔3
Load calculations are part of a home inspection. ✔✔False
Implications of an undersized service include:
a. shock hazard
b. fire hazard
c. shock and fire hazard
d. melting insulation
e. nuisance tripping of the main fuses and breakers ✔✔e.
What is the largest single-phase service that you are likely to find in a home? ✔✔400
amps
What size copper wire would you expect to find on the service entrance for:
a. 60-amp service
b. 100-amp service
c. 200-amp service ✔✔a. 6 gauge
b. 4 gauge
c. 2-0 gauge
Which of the following is a reliable way to identify the service size?
a. the size of the service drop wires
b. the distribution panel rating
c. the service box rating
d. the service entrance conductor
e. the service entrance conduit size ✔✔d.
Aluminum is an acceptable service entrance conductor material. True or False?
✔✔True
A fused 200-amp service has two 100-amp fuses in the service box. True or False?
✔✔False
If you can't read the size of the fuses in the service box, you should remove them to try
to get a better look. True or False? ✔✔False
Which of the following is a safety issue:
a. The main fuses have a lower rating than the service entrance wire.
b. The main fuses have a higher rating than the service entrance wire.
c. The service box has a higher rating than the service entrance wires.
d. The service box has the same rating as the service entrance wires.
