CTR 2026/2027 CHAMPION TEST EXAM with Questions and
Answers/Plus a Rationale Updated 2026 A+/Instant
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EXAM COVERAGE - 1. Masonry Materials, Units, and
Properties - 2. Mortar and Grout Specifications - 3.
Reinforcement and Anchorage Placement - 4. Construction
Operations, Tolerances, and Weather Provisions - 5. Quality
Assurance and Inspection Standards
1. During the construction of a multi-story reinforced masonry bearing wall project governed by
TMS 402/602, an inspection of concrete masonry units (CMUs) reveals that the units do not
meet the specified minimum compressive strength requirements verified via compression testing
per ASTM C140. The contractor proposes to increase the grout strength to compensate for the
lower-strength masonry units. What is the appropriate regulatory and engineering response?
A. Accept the contractor's proposal since the overall composite assembly strength of the
reinforced masonry wall will remain unchanged.
B. Reject the contractor's proposal because individual masonry unit strength properties
independently govern the allowable stress and nominal capacity calculations for masonry
assemblages.
C. Approve the substitution provided that a licensed design professional submits a revised
structural calculation demonstrating equivalent shear wall capacity.
D. Require core testing of the installed masonry assembly to determine if the units achieved
adequate hydration prior to final acceptance.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
Rationale: Masonry design standards (TMS 402/602) require that masonry units meet specific
minimum compressive strength requirements (f'm) determined through standardized testing.
Increasing grout strength cannot mathematically or structurally substitute for deficient unit
compressive strength in masonry design equations. Option A is incorrect because masonry
assemblies do not behave as uniform monolithic elements where arbitrary component offsets are
permitted. Option C is incorrect because field modifications without proper material
replacement violate prescriptive structural specifications. Option D is incorrect because core
testing does not rectify non-compliant base masonry unit properties governed by material
standards.
,2. A special inspector is observing the placement of high-lift grout in a masonry wall exceeding 12
feet in height. The contractor plans to use a mechanical vibrator to consolidate the grout in lifts
of 8 feet without interruption. Which of the following conditions must be satisfied to ensure
code-compliant high-lift grouting?
A. The grout must be placed with a slump between 10 and 11 inches to ensure complete
flowability around congested reinforcement.
B. Cleanout openings must be provided at the bottom of every masonry course where grout
placement exceeds 5 feet.
C. Grout must be consolidated by mechanical vibration during placement and
reconsolidated by mechanical vibration before plastic loss occurs, with cleanouts provided
at the bottom of each grouted cell.
D. The masonry must be allowed to cure for a minimum of 72 hours before grouting high-lift
walls to prevent hydrostatic pressure failures.
Answer: C [Correct Answer]
Rationale: Per TMS 602, high-lift grouting requires cleanouts at the bottom of each grouted cell
to remove debris before grouting, and grout must be mechanically vibrated and reconsolidated
to eliminate voids. Option A is incorrect because excessive slump leads to segregation and
excessive drying shrinkage. Option B is incorrect because cleanouts are required at the bottom
of the course, not every course. Option D is incorrect because high-lift grouting occurs when
walls are freshly constructed, prior to masonry setting to structural design age, and delayed
grouting creates cold joints.
3. While inspecting the installation of vertical reinforcement in a reinforced masonry wall, you
observe that two adjacent vertical #7 reinforcing bars are spliced with a lap length of 30 bar
diameters, but they are separated laterally by a clear distance of 2 inches. According to TMS
602, what is the minimum required clear distance between parallel reinforcement splices in a
cell?
A. One bar diameter, but not less than 1 inch.
B. Not less than the nominal diameter of the bars, nor less than 1 inch, or 1.33 times the
maximum size of the coarse aggregate.
C. Exactly two times the bar diameter to allow adequate aggregate flow during grouting.
D. A minimum of 3 inches regardless of bar size to ensure proper bond development.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
, Rationale: TMS 602 specifies that the clear distance between parallel bars in a cell or between
parallel splices must be at least the nominal diameter of the bars, 1 inch, or 1.33 times the
maximum size of the coarse aggregate, whichever is greater. Option A is incomplete because it
omits aggregate size considerations. Option C and D specify arbitrary dimensions not supported
by the code formula.
4. An inspector is evaluating mortar samples taken in the field for compressive strength testing in
accordance with ASTM C270. The laboratory report indicates that the 28-day mortar cube
strength falls 15 percent below the specified minimum compressive strength for Type S mortar.
What is the immediate required course of action?
A. Automatically condemn the entire masonry wall and issue a stop-work order.
B. Notify the architect, structural engineer, and contractor immediately, and request an
evaluation or cylinder/core testing of the masonry assembly.
C. Permit the contractor to inject epoxy into the mortar joints to recover structural integrity.
D. Average the 7-day and 28-day test results to determine if compliance can be established.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
Rationale: When mortar strength test results fail to meet specified requirements, standard
quality assurance protocols mandate immediate notification of the design team and contractor
for structural evaluation. Option A is premature without engineering evaluation. Option C is
structurally invalid and impractical for mortar joints. Option D is incorrect because 28-day
compressive strength is the specification benchmark.
5. During cold weather masonry construction where ambient temperatures are forecast to drop
below 40°F, which of the following protective measures is mandated by TMS 602 for masonry
units?
A. Masonry units with a suction rate exceeding 20 grams per minute must be soaked in water
immediately prior to laying.
B. Masonry units containing moisture must not be laid if their temperatures are below
32°F, and visible ice on units must be thawed before laying.
C. All masonry units must be heated to a minimum temperature of 90°F before being brought to
the work face.
D. Units must be coated with an acrylic bonding agent to prevent moisture infiltration during
freezing cycles.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
, Rationale: TMS 602 establishes cold weather construction requirements stating that masonry
units with visible ice or moisture must not be laid if their temperatures are below freezing.
Option A refers to general suction control rather than cold weather specific protection. Option C
and D are not code-mandated requirements for cold weather masonry operations.
6. In evaluating the placement of horizontal bond beam reinforcement, an inspector notices that the
reinforcing steel is placed directly on the top surface of the masonry units without chairs or
spacers prior to grouting. What is the potential structural defect caused by this practice?
A. Excessive thermal bridging across the bond beam.
B. Inadequate bottom concrete/grout cover, leading to corrosion and bond failure.
C. Increased compressive stress concentration in the masonry web.
D. Reduction in the effective depth of the masonry lintel.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
Rationale: Reinforcement must be supported on chairs or approved spacers to ensure specified
protective grout cover surrounds the bar completely. Without chairs, the bar rests against the
masonry, leaving zero bottom cover and causing corrosion vulnerability. Option A, C, and D do
not accurately describe the primary failure mechanism of missing bar clearance.
7. A masonry contractor is using Type M mortar for a below-grade foundation wall. During
batching at the jobsite, the mason adds a significant amount of retempering water to mortar that
has stiffened due to evaporation after 90 minutes. What is the code limitation regarding
retempering mortar?
A. Mortar may be retempered indefinitely provided total water content does not exceed initial
mix ratios.
B. Mortar shall be proportioned and mixed, and water can be added to temper mortar
within a period not to exceed 2 hours from initial mixing, but mortar outside this time
frame must be discarded.
C. Retempering is strictly prohibited under any circumstances in structural masonry applications.
D. Mortar may only be retempered using a structural polymer additive rather than plain water.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
Rationale: TMS 602 permits mortar to be tempered and retempered within 2 hours of initial
mixing to replace water lost by evaporation, but all mortar must be used or discarded after that
window. Option A ignores the 2-hour limit. Option C is overly restrictive since retempering
within limits is allowed. Option D introduces unauthorized chemical modifiers.
Answers/Plus a Rationale Updated 2026 A+/Instant
Download PDF
EXAM COVERAGE - 1. Masonry Materials, Units, and
Properties - 2. Mortar and Grout Specifications - 3.
Reinforcement and Anchorage Placement - 4. Construction
Operations, Tolerances, and Weather Provisions - 5. Quality
Assurance and Inspection Standards
1. During the construction of a multi-story reinforced masonry bearing wall project governed by
TMS 402/602, an inspection of concrete masonry units (CMUs) reveals that the units do not
meet the specified minimum compressive strength requirements verified via compression testing
per ASTM C140. The contractor proposes to increase the grout strength to compensate for the
lower-strength masonry units. What is the appropriate regulatory and engineering response?
A. Accept the contractor's proposal since the overall composite assembly strength of the
reinforced masonry wall will remain unchanged.
B. Reject the contractor's proposal because individual masonry unit strength properties
independently govern the allowable stress and nominal capacity calculations for masonry
assemblages.
C. Approve the substitution provided that a licensed design professional submits a revised
structural calculation demonstrating equivalent shear wall capacity.
D. Require core testing of the installed masonry assembly to determine if the units achieved
adequate hydration prior to final acceptance.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
Rationale: Masonry design standards (TMS 402/602) require that masonry units meet specific
minimum compressive strength requirements (f'm) determined through standardized testing.
Increasing grout strength cannot mathematically or structurally substitute for deficient unit
compressive strength in masonry design equations. Option A is incorrect because masonry
assemblies do not behave as uniform monolithic elements where arbitrary component offsets are
permitted. Option C is incorrect because field modifications without proper material
replacement violate prescriptive structural specifications. Option D is incorrect because core
testing does not rectify non-compliant base masonry unit properties governed by material
standards.
,2. A special inspector is observing the placement of high-lift grout in a masonry wall exceeding 12
feet in height. The contractor plans to use a mechanical vibrator to consolidate the grout in lifts
of 8 feet without interruption. Which of the following conditions must be satisfied to ensure
code-compliant high-lift grouting?
A. The grout must be placed with a slump between 10 and 11 inches to ensure complete
flowability around congested reinforcement.
B. Cleanout openings must be provided at the bottom of every masonry course where grout
placement exceeds 5 feet.
C. Grout must be consolidated by mechanical vibration during placement and
reconsolidated by mechanical vibration before plastic loss occurs, with cleanouts provided
at the bottom of each grouted cell.
D. The masonry must be allowed to cure for a minimum of 72 hours before grouting high-lift
walls to prevent hydrostatic pressure failures.
Answer: C [Correct Answer]
Rationale: Per TMS 602, high-lift grouting requires cleanouts at the bottom of each grouted cell
to remove debris before grouting, and grout must be mechanically vibrated and reconsolidated
to eliminate voids. Option A is incorrect because excessive slump leads to segregation and
excessive drying shrinkage. Option B is incorrect because cleanouts are required at the bottom
of the course, not every course. Option D is incorrect because high-lift grouting occurs when
walls are freshly constructed, prior to masonry setting to structural design age, and delayed
grouting creates cold joints.
3. While inspecting the installation of vertical reinforcement in a reinforced masonry wall, you
observe that two adjacent vertical #7 reinforcing bars are spliced with a lap length of 30 bar
diameters, but they are separated laterally by a clear distance of 2 inches. According to TMS
602, what is the minimum required clear distance between parallel reinforcement splices in a
cell?
A. One bar diameter, but not less than 1 inch.
B. Not less than the nominal diameter of the bars, nor less than 1 inch, or 1.33 times the
maximum size of the coarse aggregate.
C. Exactly two times the bar diameter to allow adequate aggregate flow during grouting.
D. A minimum of 3 inches regardless of bar size to ensure proper bond development.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
, Rationale: TMS 602 specifies that the clear distance between parallel bars in a cell or between
parallel splices must be at least the nominal diameter of the bars, 1 inch, or 1.33 times the
maximum size of the coarse aggregate, whichever is greater. Option A is incomplete because it
omits aggregate size considerations. Option C and D specify arbitrary dimensions not supported
by the code formula.
4. An inspector is evaluating mortar samples taken in the field for compressive strength testing in
accordance with ASTM C270. The laboratory report indicates that the 28-day mortar cube
strength falls 15 percent below the specified minimum compressive strength for Type S mortar.
What is the immediate required course of action?
A. Automatically condemn the entire masonry wall and issue a stop-work order.
B. Notify the architect, structural engineer, and contractor immediately, and request an
evaluation or cylinder/core testing of the masonry assembly.
C. Permit the contractor to inject epoxy into the mortar joints to recover structural integrity.
D. Average the 7-day and 28-day test results to determine if compliance can be established.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
Rationale: When mortar strength test results fail to meet specified requirements, standard
quality assurance protocols mandate immediate notification of the design team and contractor
for structural evaluation. Option A is premature without engineering evaluation. Option C is
structurally invalid and impractical for mortar joints. Option D is incorrect because 28-day
compressive strength is the specification benchmark.
5. During cold weather masonry construction where ambient temperatures are forecast to drop
below 40°F, which of the following protective measures is mandated by TMS 602 for masonry
units?
A. Masonry units with a suction rate exceeding 20 grams per minute must be soaked in water
immediately prior to laying.
B. Masonry units containing moisture must not be laid if their temperatures are below
32°F, and visible ice on units must be thawed before laying.
C. All masonry units must be heated to a minimum temperature of 90°F before being brought to
the work face.
D. Units must be coated with an acrylic bonding agent to prevent moisture infiltration during
freezing cycles.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
, Rationale: TMS 602 establishes cold weather construction requirements stating that masonry
units with visible ice or moisture must not be laid if their temperatures are below freezing.
Option A refers to general suction control rather than cold weather specific protection. Option C
and D are not code-mandated requirements for cold weather masonry operations.
6. In evaluating the placement of horizontal bond beam reinforcement, an inspector notices that the
reinforcing steel is placed directly on the top surface of the masonry units without chairs or
spacers prior to grouting. What is the potential structural defect caused by this practice?
A. Excessive thermal bridging across the bond beam.
B. Inadequate bottom concrete/grout cover, leading to corrosion and bond failure.
C. Increased compressive stress concentration in the masonry web.
D. Reduction in the effective depth of the masonry lintel.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
Rationale: Reinforcement must be supported on chairs or approved spacers to ensure specified
protective grout cover surrounds the bar completely. Without chairs, the bar rests against the
masonry, leaving zero bottom cover and causing corrosion vulnerability. Option A, C, and D do
not accurately describe the primary failure mechanism of missing bar clearance.
7. A masonry contractor is using Type M mortar for a below-grade foundation wall. During
batching at the jobsite, the mason adds a significant amount of retempering water to mortar that
has stiffened due to evaporation after 90 minutes. What is the code limitation regarding
retempering mortar?
A. Mortar may be retempered indefinitely provided total water content does not exceed initial
mix ratios.
B. Mortar shall be proportioned and mixed, and water can be added to temper mortar
within a period not to exceed 2 hours from initial mixing, but mortar outside this time
frame must be discarded.
C. Retempering is strictly prohibited under any circumstances in structural masonry applications.
D. Mortar may only be retempered using a structural polymer additive rather than plain water.
Answer: B [Correct Answer]
Rationale: TMS 602 permits mortar to be tempered and retempered within 2 hours of initial
mixing to replace water lost by evaporation, but all mortar must be used or discarded after that
window. Option A ignores the 2-hour limit. Option C is overly restrictive since retempering
within limits is allowed. Option D introduces unauthorized chemical modifiers.
