, Question 1
Under PPRBD's contractor licensing rules, which condition most accurately
describes the experience requirement for a qualified supervisor seeking a Class
A (General) contractor license?
A. Two years of full-time experience in the trade, with at least one year in
a supervisory role.
B. Four years of full-time experience, with at least two years in a
supervisory capacity, verified by payroll records or notarized affidavits.
C. Five years of experience, with no more than one year in a
non-supervisory role.
D. A bachelor's degree in construction management plus one year of field
experience.
Correct Answer: B - Four years of full-time experience, with at
least two years in a supervisory capacity, verified by payroll
records or notarized affidavits.
RATIONALE
PPRBD requires four years of full-time experience for a Class A
license, with at least two years in a supervisory role, documented by
payroll or affidavits. Option A is insufficient; Option C misstates the
supervisory ratio; Option D is not an accepted substitute for the
experience requirement.
Question 2
A contractor is preparing a site plan for a steeply sloped lot in unincorporated
El Paso County. Which drainage control measure is required by the
PPRBD-adopted code to prevent erosion and off-site sedimentation during
construction?
A. A silt fence installed at the downslope perimeter only.
B. A stabilized construction entrance, sediment basin, and temporary
diversion swale.
Page 2
, C. Permanent seeding of all disturbed areas immediately after grading.
D. A retaining wall at the property line to intercept runoff.
Correct Answer: B - A stabilized construction entrance, sediment
basin, and temporary diversion swale.
RATIONALE
The code requires a combination of best management practices
including a stabilized entrance, sediment basin, and diversion swale
for sloped sites. Silt fence alone (A) is insufficient; immediate seeding
(C) is not a temporary control; retaining walls (D) are structural, not
sediment controls.
Question 3
For a residential deck ledger board attached to a rim joist, which fastening
detail is required by the IRC as adopted by PPRBD to resist lateral and vertical
loads?
A. Lag screws spaced 16 inches on center in a single row.
B. Through-bolts or lag screws with washers, spaced per table, with
flashing over the ledger.
C. Nails driven at 45 degrees through the ledger into the rim joist.
D. Construction adhesive alone between ledger and rim joist.
Correct Answer: B - Through-bolts or lag screws with washers,
spaced per table, with flashing over the ledger.
RATIONALE
The IRC requires through-bolts or lag screws with washers, properly
spaced, and flashing to prevent water intrusion. Nails (C) and adhesive
(D) are inadequate; single-row lag screws (A) do not meet the required
spacing and pattern.
Page 3
, Question 4
A gas-fired forced-air furnace is installed in a confined space within a
residential basement. Which combination of combustion air provisions satisfies
the IRC?
A. One permanent opening of 1 square inch per 3,000 Btu/h input.
B. Two permanent openings, one within 12 inches of the top and one
within 12 inches of the bottom, each sized at 1 square inch per 1,000
Btu/h input.
C. A single opening sized at 1 square inch per 4,000 Btu/h input.
D. No openings required if the space is mechanically ventilated.
Correct Answer: B - Two permanent openings, one within 12
inches of the top and one within 12 inches of the bottom, each
sized at 1 square inch per 1,000 Btu/h input.
RATIONALE
The IRC requires two permanent openings, one near the top and one
near the bottom, each sized at 1 square inch per 1,000 Btu/h for indoor
combustion air. Option A is for outdoor air via vertical ducts; Option
C is for outdoor air via horizontal ducts; Option D is not a recognized
alternative.
Question 5
In a residential electrical service, which grounding electrode system component
is required by the NEC as adopted by PPRBD when a metal underground water
pipe is used as an electrode?
A. The water pipe alone, if it is electrically continuous and has a
resistance of 25 ohms or less.
B. The water pipe must be supplemented by an additional electrode, such
as a ground rod, and the bonding jumper must be sized per Table 250.66.
C. A concrete-encased electrode is mandatory in all cases.
D. The water pipe is prohibited as a grounding electrode.
Page 4
Under PPRBD's contractor licensing rules, which condition most accurately
describes the experience requirement for a qualified supervisor seeking a Class
A (General) contractor license?
A. Two years of full-time experience in the trade, with at least one year in
a supervisory role.
B. Four years of full-time experience, with at least two years in a
supervisory capacity, verified by payroll records or notarized affidavits.
C. Five years of experience, with no more than one year in a
non-supervisory role.
D. A bachelor's degree in construction management plus one year of field
experience.
Correct Answer: B - Four years of full-time experience, with at
least two years in a supervisory capacity, verified by payroll
records or notarized affidavits.
RATIONALE
PPRBD requires four years of full-time experience for a Class A
license, with at least two years in a supervisory role, documented by
payroll or affidavits. Option A is insufficient; Option C misstates the
supervisory ratio; Option D is not an accepted substitute for the
experience requirement.
Question 2
A contractor is preparing a site plan for a steeply sloped lot in unincorporated
El Paso County. Which drainage control measure is required by the
PPRBD-adopted code to prevent erosion and off-site sedimentation during
construction?
A. A silt fence installed at the downslope perimeter only.
B. A stabilized construction entrance, sediment basin, and temporary
diversion swale.
Page 2
, C. Permanent seeding of all disturbed areas immediately after grading.
D. A retaining wall at the property line to intercept runoff.
Correct Answer: B - A stabilized construction entrance, sediment
basin, and temporary diversion swale.
RATIONALE
The code requires a combination of best management practices
including a stabilized entrance, sediment basin, and diversion swale
for sloped sites. Silt fence alone (A) is insufficient; immediate seeding
(C) is not a temporary control; retaining walls (D) are structural, not
sediment controls.
Question 3
For a residential deck ledger board attached to a rim joist, which fastening
detail is required by the IRC as adopted by PPRBD to resist lateral and vertical
loads?
A. Lag screws spaced 16 inches on center in a single row.
B. Through-bolts or lag screws with washers, spaced per table, with
flashing over the ledger.
C. Nails driven at 45 degrees through the ledger into the rim joist.
D. Construction adhesive alone between ledger and rim joist.
Correct Answer: B - Through-bolts or lag screws with washers,
spaced per table, with flashing over the ledger.
RATIONALE
The IRC requires through-bolts or lag screws with washers, properly
spaced, and flashing to prevent water intrusion. Nails (C) and adhesive
(D) are inadequate; single-row lag screws (A) do not meet the required
spacing and pattern.
Page 3
, Question 4
A gas-fired forced-air furnace is installed in a confined space within a
residential basement. Which combination of combustion air provisions satisfies
the IRC?
A. One permanent opening of 1 square inch per 3,000 Btu/h input.
B. Two permanent openings, one within 12 inches of the top and one
within 12 inches of the bottom, each sized at 1 square inch per 1,000
Btu/h input.
C. A single opening sized at 1 square inch per 4,000 Btu/h input.
D. No openings required if the space is mechanically ventilated.
Correct Answer: B - Two permanent openings, one within 12
inches of the top and one within 12 inches of the bottom, each
sized at 1 square inch per 1,000 Btu/h input.
RATIONALE
The IRC requires two permanent openings, one near the top and one
near the bottom, each sized at 1 square inch per 1,000 Btu/h for indoor
combustion air. Option A is for outdoor air via vertical ducts; Option
C is for outdoor air via horizontal ducts; Option D is not a recognized
alternative.
Question 5
In a residential electrical service, which grounding electrode system component
is required by the NEC as adopted by PPRBD when a metal underground water
pipe is used as an electrode?
A. The water pipe alone, if it is electrically continuous and has a
resistance of 25 ohms or less.
B. The water pipe must be supplemented by an additional electrode, such
as a ground rod, and the bonding jumper must be sized per Table 250.66.
C. A concrete-encased electrode is mandatory in all cases.
D. The water pipe is prohibited as a grounding electrode.
Page 4
