Louisiana Commercial Plans Examiner
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
1. A 6-story office building has a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling assembly.
The architect proposes a 4-inch diameter PVC conduit penetrating the assembly for a
plumbing drain. Under the IBC, which of the following is required for this
penetration?
A. A firestop system with an F-rating of at least 2 hours and a T-rating of at least 1 hour.
B. An approved firestop system with an F-rating equal to the assembly rating and a
T-rating of at least 1 hour.
C. No firestop is required because the conduit is noncombustible.
D. A firestop system with an F-rating of 1 hour and a T-rating of 1 hour.
Answer: B. An approved firestop system with an F-rating equal to the assembly rating
and a T-rating of at least 1 hour.
Rationale: IBC Section 714.3 requires through-penetration firestop systems to have an
F-rating equal to the fire-resistance rating of the assembly and a T-rating of at least 1 hour.
Option A incorrectly lowers the F-rating to 2 hours; Option C is false because PVC is
combustible and penetrations require protection; Option D incorrectly reduces the F-rating
to 1 hour.
Page 1 of 62
,2. A mixed-occupancy building contains a Group B business area and a Group A-2
restaurant. The designer proposes a 1-hour fire barrier between them. The building is
fully sprinklered. Which of the following best describes the required separation under
the IBC?
A. No separation is required because the building is sprinklered.
B. A 1-hour fire barrier is required unless the building meets the nonseparated occupancy
provisions of Section 508.3.
C. A 2-hour fire wall is required because A-2 is a higher-hazard occupancy.
D. A 1-hour horizontal assembly is required only if the floor area exceeds the tabular
allowance.
Answer: B. A 1-hour fire barrier is required unless the building meets the
nonseparated occupancy provisions of Section 508.3.
Rationale: IBC Section 508.3 allows nonseparated occupancies if the most restrictive
requirements are applied; otherwise, Table 508.4 requires a 1-hour separation between B
and A-2. Option A is incorrect because sprinklers do not automatically eliminate
separation; Option C overstates the requirement (a fire wall is not mandated); Option D
confuses horizontal assembly with occupancy separation.
Page 2 of 62
,3. In a Group R-2 apartment building, the exit access travel distance from the most
remote point in a dwelling unit to the nearest exit is measured along the path of egress.
If the building is not sprinklered, what is the maximum allowable travel distance
under the IBC?
A. 125 feet
B. 200 feet
C. 250 feet
D. 300 feet
Answer: C. 250 feet
Rationale: IBC Table 1017.2 limits travel distance for R-2 occupancies to 250 feet when not
sprinklered. Option A is the limit for certain high-hazard occupancies; Option B is the limit
for sprinklered R-2; Option D exceeds the allowable maximum.
4. A commercial kitchen hood suppression system is being reviewed. The design
includes a listed pre-engineered wet chemical system. Which of the following must be
verified to ensure compliance with NFPA 17A and the IBC?
A. The system must be connected to the building fire alarm system and supervised.
B. The system must have a manual activation means located within 10 feet of the hood.
C. The system must automatically shut down all fuel and electrical power to the cooking
equipment upon activation.
D. The system must be tested annually by the fire code official.
Answer: C. The system must automatically shut down all fuel and electrical power to
the cooking equipment upon activation.
Rationale: NFPA 17A requires automatic fuel and power shutdown upon system activation.
Option A is not required for all pre-engineered systems unless specified; Option B is
incorrect because manual activation must be within 20 feet and accessible; Option D is
incorrect because testing is the owner's responsibility, not the fire code official's.
Page 3 of 62
, 5. A new retail store (Group M) has a calculated occupant load of 150. The store has
two exits. What is the minimum required egress width for the exits using the IBC
capacity factors?
A. 0.2 inches per occupant for stairways and 0.15 inches per occupant for other egress
components
B. 0.3 inches per occupant for stairways and 0.2 inches per occupant for other egress
components
C. 0.15 inches per occupant for stairways and 0.2 inches per occupant for other egress
components
D. 0.2 inches per occupant for both stairways and other egress components
Answer: B. 0.3 inches per occupant for stairways and 0.2 inches per occupant for
other egress components
Rationale: IBC Table 1005.1 specifies 0.3 inches per occupant for stairways and 0.2 inches
per occupant for other egress components for Group M. Options A, C, and D misstate the
required factors.
6. A project includes a 4-story building with a Group B occupancy and a basement.
The basement is used for storage and has an occupant load of 20. Which of the
following is required for the basement egress?
A. A single exit is permitted because the occupant load is under 50.
B. Two exits are required because the basement is a story below the level of exit
discharge.
C. One exit is permitted if the basement is sprinklered and has a travel distance under 75
feet.
D. Two exits are required only if the basement exceeds 2,500 square feet.
Answer: A. A single exit is permitted because the occupant load is under 50.
Rationale: IBC Section 1006.3.3 permits a single exit for basements with an occupant load
of 50 or fewer. Option B is incorrect because the number of exits is based on occupant load,
not just being below grade; Option C adds conditions not required; Option D introduces a
square footage threshold not in the code.
Page 4 of 62
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
1. A 6-story office building has a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling assembly.
The architect proposes a 4-inch diameter PVC conduit penetrating the assembly for a
plumbing drain. Under the IBC, which of the following is required for this
penetration?
A. A firestop system with an F-rating of at least 2 hours and a T-rating of at least 1 hour.
B. An approved firestop system with an F-rating equal to the assembly rating and a
T-rating of at least 1 hour.
C. No firestop is required because the conduit is noncombustible.
D. A firestop system with an F-rating of 1 hour and a T-rating of 1 hour.
Answer: B. An approved firestop system with an F-rating equal to the assembly rating
and a T-rating of at least 1 hour.
Rationale: IBC Section 714.3 requires through-penetration firestop systems to have an
F-rating equal to the fire-resistance rating of the assembly and a T-rating of at least 1 hour.
Option A incorrectly lowers the F-rating to 2 hours; Option C is false because PVC is
combustible and penetrations require protection; Option D incorrectly reduces the F-rating
to 1 hour.
Page 1 of 62
,2. A mixed-occupancy building contains a Group B business area and a Group A-2
restaurant. The designer proposes a 1-hour fire barrier between them. The building is
fully sprinklered. Which of the following best describes the required separation under
the IBC?
A. No separation is required because the building is sprinklered.
B. A 1-hour fire barrier is required unless the building meets the nonseparated occupancy
provisions of Section 508.3.
C. A 2-hour fire wall is required because A-2 is a higher-hazard occupancy.
D. A 1-hour horizontal assembly is required only if the floor area exceeds the tabular
allowance.
Answer: B. A 1-hour fire barrier is required unless the building meets the
nonseparated occupancy provisions of Section 508.3.
Rationale: IBC Section 508.3 allows nonseparated occupancies if the most restrictive
requirements are applied; otherwise, Table 508.4 requires a 1-hour separation between B
and A-2. Option A is incorrect because sprinklers do not automatically eliminate
separation; Option C overstates the requirement (a fire wall is not mandated); Option D
confuses horizontal assembly with occupancy separation.
Page 2 of 62
,3. In a Group R-2 apartment building, the exit access travel distance from the most
remote point in a dwelling unit to the nearest exit is measured along the path of egress.
If the building is not sprinklered, what is the maximum allowable travel distance
under the IBC?
A. 125 feet
B. 200 feet
C. 250 feet
D. 300 feet
Answer: C. 250 feet
Rationale: IBC Table 1017.2 limits travel distance for R-2 occupancies to 250 feet when not
sprinklered. Option A is the limit for certain high-hazard occupancies; Option B is the limit
for sprinklered R-2; Option D exceeds the allowable maximum.
4. A commercial kitchen hood suppression system is being reviewed. The design
includes a listed pre-engineered wet chemical system. Which of the following must be
verified to ensure compliance with NFPA 17A and the IBC?
A. The system must be connected to the building fire alarm system and supervised.
B. The system must have a manual activation means located within 10 feet of the hood.
C. The system must automatically shut down all fuel and electrical power to the cooking
equipment upon activation.
D. The system must be tested annually by the fire code official.
Answer: C. The system must automatically shut down all fuel and electrical power to
the cooking equipment upon activation.
Rationale: NFPA 17A requires automatic fuel and power shutdown upon system activation.
Option A is not required for all pre-engineered systems unless specified; Option B is
incorrect because manual activation must be within 20 feet and accessible; Option D is
incorrect because testing is the owner's responsibility, not the fire code official's.
Page 3 of 62
, 5. A new retail store (Group M) has a calculated occupant load of 150. The store has
two exits. What is the minimum required egress width for the exits using the IBC
capacity factors?
A. 0.2 inches per occupant for stairways and 0.15 inches per occupant for other egress
components
B. 0.3 inches per occupant for stairways and 0.2 inches per occupant for other egress
components
C. 0.15 inches per occupant for stairways and 0.2 inches per occupant for other egress
components
D. 0.2 inches per occupant for both stairways and other egress components
Answer: B. 0.3 inches per occupant for stairways and 0.2 inches per occupant for
other egress components
Rationale: IBC Table 1005.1 specifies 0.3 inches per occupant for stairways and 0.2 inches
per occupant for other egress components for Group M. Options A, C, and D misstate the
required factors.
6. A project includes a 4-story building with a Group B occupancy and a basement.
The basement is used for storage and has an occupant load of 20. Which of the
following is required for the basement egress?
A. A single exit is permitted because the occupant load is under 50.
B. Two exits are required because the basement is a story below the level of exit
discharge.
C. One exit is permitted if the basement is sprinklered and has a travel distance under 75
feet.
D. Two exits are required only if the basement exceeds 2,500 square feet.
Answer: A. A single exit is permitted because the occupant load is under 50.
Rationale: IBC Section 1006.3.3 permits a single exit for basements with an occupant load
of 50 or fewer. Option B is incorrect because the number of exits is based on occupant load,
not just being below grade; Option C adds conditions not required; Option D introduces a
square footage threshold not in the code.
Page 4 of 62
