ICC Masonry
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update!!
1. Does not provide additional strength, but it does improve mortar plasticity,
water retention, water tightness, and bonding ability. - Correct Answer:
Lime
2. What ASTM is the standard spec for masonry cement - Correct Answer:
ASTM C 91
3. What ASTM is the standard spec for mortar cement - Correct Answer:
ASTM C 1329
4. High strength mortar recommended for use in reinforced masonry below
grade or in contact with the earth, as foundation and retaining walls subject
to high lateral or compressive loads; compressive strength is 2500 psi -
Correct Answer: Type M mortar
5. Is medium-strength mortar recommended for general use; compressive
strength is 750 psi, more flexible than S or M, which helps to reduce cracks
in the masonry units and wall. - Correct Answer: Type N mortar
,6. Minimum compressive strength of only about 350 psi. Very workable,
sometimes used for repair. Generally limited to interior non-loadbearing
applications. - Correct Answer: Type O mortar
7. Medium-high strength mortar for use in masonry where bond and lateral
strength are more important than compressive strength; compressive
strength is 1800 psi - Correct Answer: Type S mortar
8. What ASTM is the standard spec for mortar for unit masonry - Correct
Answer: ASTM C 270
9. What are the Two lime types - Correct Answer: Type N - normal
Type S - higher early plasticity and higher water retentivity capabilities.
10.IBC does not consider it an acceptable cement for use in commercial
buildings - Correct Answer: Plastic Cement
11.What ASTM Provides proportioning requirements for three different
mortars: cement line, mortar cement, and masonry cement - Correct
Answer: ASTM C 270
12.What type of mortar Is not permitted for use in any SFRS for any SDC -
Correct Answer: Type O Mortar
13.SFRS means - Correct Answer: Seismic force resisting systems
,14.SDC - Correct Answer: Seismic design category
15.What types of mortar are permitted in SFRS for SDC, D, E, and F -
Correct Answer: Mortar type M & S are permitted
16.What types of mortar are permitted in SFRS for SDCA, B, and C - Correct
Answer: Mortar types M, S, and N are all permitted
17.What type of mortar is not permitted for use in any SFRS for any SDC -
Correct Answer: Type O mortar is not permitted
18.What type of mortar is permitted with use in glass unit masonry -
Correct Answer: Type S or M mortar can be used with glass unit masonry
19.Specially manufactured mortar must be used for what type of masonry -
Correct Answer: AAC masonry requires specially manufactured mortar in
thin horizontal mortar joints
20.Horizontal mortar joints are called - Correct Answer: Bed joints
21.Vertical mortar joints are - Correct Answer: Head joints
, 22.Mortar must be used within how long of initially adding water to the mix -
Correct Answer: It must be used within 2 1/2 hours of initially adding
water to the mix
23.Can you add more water to mortar mix - Correct Answer: Yes, but not
after 2 1/2 hours
24.What does grout do? - Correct Answer: 1. Grout binds the masonry unit,
mortar, and reinforcement together to create structural masonry.
2. Provides some sheer, but mainly compressive strength to a wall.
3. Embeds reinforcing steel, which provides additional shear strength.
4. Fills empty spaces and voids.
25.What uses superplasticizer admixtures (and not just extra water) to make
the grout soupy and fluid enough that it can fill grout spaces without being
consolidated by a mechanical vibrator? - Correct Answer: Self-
consolidating grout
26.Slumps for conventional grout and self consolidating grout - Correct
Answer: Conventional grout has a slump of 8 to 11 inches
Self consolidating grout has a slump flow between 24 and 30 inches
27.Grout is typically design for a minimum compressive strength of? -
Correct Answer: 2000 psi
28.What is the Standard specification for grout for masonry - Correct
Answer: ASTM C 476.
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update!!
1. Does not provide additional strength, but it does improve mortar plasticity,
water retention, water tightness, and bonding ability. - Correct Answer:
Lime
2. What ASTM is the standard spec for masonry cement - Correct Answer:
ASTM C 91
3. What ASTM is the standard spec for mortar cement - Correct Answer:
ASTM C 1329
4. High strength mortar recommended for use in reinforced masonry below
grade or in contact with the earth, as foundation and retaining walls subject
to high lateral or compressive loads; compressive strength is 2500 psi -
Correct Answer: Type M mortar
5. Is medium-strength mortar recommended for general use; compressive
strength is 750 psi, more flexible than S or M, which helps to reduce cracks
in the masonry units and wall. - Correct Answer: Type N mortar
,6. Minimum compressive strength of only about 350 psi. Very workable,
sometimes used for repair. Generally limited to interior non-loadbearing
applications. - Correct Answer: Type O mortar
7. Medium-high strength mortar for use in masonry where bond and lateral
strength are more important than compressive strength; compressive
strength is 1800 psi - Correct Answer: Type S mortar
8. What ASTM is the standard spec for mortar for unit masonry - Correct
Answer: ASTM C 270
9. What are the Two lime types - Correct Answer: Type N - normal
Type S - higher early plasticity and higher water retentivity capabilities.
10.IBC does not consider it an acceptable cement for use in commercial
buildings - Correct Answer: Plastic Cement
11.What ASTM Provides proportioning requirements for three different
mortars: cement line, mortar cement, and masonry cement - Correct
Answer: ASTM C 270
12.What type of mortar Is not permitted for use in any SFRS for any SDC -
Correct Answer: Type O Mortar
13.SFRS means - Correct Answer: Seismic force resisting systems
,14.SDC - Correct Answer: Seismic design category
15.What types of mortar are permitted in SFRS for SDC, D, E, and F -
Correct Answer: Mortar type M & S are permitted
16.What types of mortar are permitted in SFRS for SDCA, B, and C - Correct
Answer: Mortar types M, S, and N are all permitted
17.What type of mortar is not permitted for use in any SFRS for any SDC -
Correct Answer: Type O mortar is not permitted
18.What type of mortar is permitted with use in glass unit masonry -
Correct Answer: Type S or M mortar can be used with glass unit masonry
19.Specially manufactured mortar must be used for what type of masonry -
Correct Answer: AAC masonry requires specially manufactured mortar in
thin horizontal mortar joints
20.Horizontal mortar joints are called - Correct Answer: Bed joints
21.Vertical mortar joints are - Correct Answer: Head joints
, 22.Mortar must be used within how long of initially adding water to the mix -
Correct Answer: It must be used within 2 1/2 hours of initially adding
water to the mix
23.Can you add more water to mortar mix - Correct Answer: Yes, but not
after 2 1/2 hours
24.What does grout do? - Correct Answer: 1. Grout binds the masonry unit,
mortar, and reinforcement together to create structural masonry.
2. Provides some sheer, but mainly compressive strength to a wall.
3. Embeds reinforcing steel, which provides additional shear strength.
4. Fills empty spaces and voids.
25.What uses superplasticizer admixtures (and not just extra water) to make
the grout soupy and fluid enough that it can fill grout spaces without being
consolidated by a mechanical vibrator? - Correct Answer: Self-
consolidating grout
26.Slumps for conventional grout and self consolidating grout - Correct
Answer: Conventional grout has a slump of 8 to 11 inches
Self consolidating grout has a slump flow between 24 and 30 inches
27.Grout is typically design for a minimum compressive strength of? -
Correct Answer: 2000 psi
28.What is the Standard specification for grout for masonry - Correct
Answer: ASTM C 476.
