INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
From the tread to the ceiling - ANSWER-How do you measure the headroom of a
stairway?
7 3/4" - ANSWER-What is the maximum stair riser height?
3/8" - ANSWER-The greatest riser height within any flight of stairs shall be not exceed
the smallest by more than:
3/8" - ANSWER-The greatest tread depth within any flight of stairs shall not exceed the
smallest by more than:
10" - ANSWER-The minimum stair tread depth is:
3/4"- 1 1/4" - ANSWER-What are the minimum and maximum sizes for nosings on
stairways with solid risers?
4" diameter - ANSWER-What size sphere shall not pass between vertical members of a
guardrail system?
12 feet - ANSWER-What is the maximum vertical rise between floor levels or landings
for a flight of stairs?
36" measured in the direction of travel - ANSWER-What is the minimum dimension of a
landing?
1:48 - ANSWER-What is the maximum steepness for treads and landings?
34 & 38 - ANSWER-Handrail height shall not be less than ______ inches and not more
than _____ inches
1 1/2" - ANSWER-Handrails adjacent to a wall shall have a space of not less than how
many inches between the wall and the handrail
2" - ANSWER-Type 1 Round handrails must have a diameter of not less than 1 1/4" and
not larger than:
3' x 3' - ANSWER-What size landing is required at the top and bottom of ramps?
,30" - ANSWER-How high must a porch floor be above the ground to require a
guardrail?
36" - ANSWER-What is the minimum height for guards on porches which are more than
30" above the grade or floor?
34" - ANSWER-What is the minimum height of guards on the open side of stairways
more than 30 inches in height?
4 inches - ANSWER-What size sphere shall not pass between vertical members of
guardrail system?
6" - ANSWER-The triangular area formed by the riser, tread and rail must not allow the
passage of what size sphere?
In each sleeping room, outside the bedroom, and on each floor and in the basement -
ANSWER-In a dwelling, where should smoke alarms be installed?
Pilings or columns - ANSWER-Buildings erected in coastal high-hazard areas shall be
supported on what?
6" - ANSWER-For proper surface drainage, the grade away from foundation walls shall
fall a minimum of how many inches within the first 10 feet?
1500psf - ANSWER-What is the load bearing capacity of clay soil if no soil tests are
required:
Stainless steel nails - ANSWER-What type of fasteners should be used when nailing a
knee wall on a wood foundation?
2500 psi - ANSWER-The minimum compressive strength for foundation concrete that
will NOT be exposed to the weather is:
2500 psi - ANSWER-The minimum compressive strength for foundation concrete that
will be exposed to the weather is:
12" - ANSWER-The minimum width of a concrete footing is:
10 times their least dimension - ANSWER-The unsupported height of masonry piers
shall not exceed what height?
16 inches - ANSWER-In unreinforced masonry where masonry units are laid in a stack
bond, longitudinal reinforcement consisting not less than two continuous wires each
shall be provided in horizontal bed joints spaced not more than how many inches on
center vertically?
, 1/2" bolts spaced not more than 6 feet apart - ANSWER-Masonry walls shall be
anchored to roof structures with:
They shall consist of at least one No. 4 bar, Spaced not more than 48 inches, Vertical
reinforcement shall be located within 16 inches of the ends of masonry walls -
ANSWER-What are the requirements for vertical reinforcement for masonry elements?
48 inches - ANSWER-What is the maximum spacing masonry reinforcement for walls
that are solid grouted and constructed of hollow open-end units?
24 inches - ANSWER-What is the maximum spacing for masonry reinforcement for
walls that are NOT solid grouted and constructed of hollow open-end units?
The smaller of all of the above - ANSWER-What is the maximum spacing for shear wall
reinforcement?
undisturbed natural soils or engineered fill - ANSWER-Footings must bear on:
6" - ANSWER-The minimum depth of a spread footing is:
To warm side or the building - ANSWER-A vapor retarder should be installed on which
side of the wall?
50 feet - ANSWER-Continuous foundations are required for interior walls longer than?
3 inches - ANSWER-Bottom reinforcement shall be located a minimum of how many
inches clear from the bottom of the footings?
One No. 4 bar. - ANSWER-In certain seismic design categories where a construction
joint is created a concrete footing and a stem wall, what type of bar shall be installed at
not more than 4 feet on center? (The vertical bar shall extend to 3 inches clear of the
bottom of the footing and extend a minimum of 14 inches into the stem wall).
A minimum of one No.4 bar within 12 inches of the top of the wall and one No.4 bar
located 3-4 inches from the bottom of the footing - ANSWER-What are the
specifications for foundation with stem walls?
One #5 bar or Two #4 bars in the middle third of the footing - ANSWER-What are the
steel requirements for a cast monolithic floor slab?
12" - ANSWER-What is the minimum distance the bottom footing can be below grade?
Numbers 1 and 3 - ANSWER-What is the minimum distance the bottom of the footing
can be below grade?
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
From the tread to the ceiling - ANSWER-How do you measure the headroom of a
stairway?
7 3/4" - ANSWER-What is the maximum stair riser height?
3/8" - ANSWER-The greatest riser height within any flight of stairs shall be not exceed
the smallest by more than:
3/8" - ANSWER-The greatest tread depth within any flight of stairs shall not exceed the
smallest by more than:
10" - ANSWER-The minimum stair tread depth is:
3/4"- 1 1/4" - ANSWER-What are the minimum and maximum sizes for nosings on
stairways with solid risers?
4" diameter - ANSWER-What size sphere shall not pass between vertical members of a
guardrail system?
12 feet - ANSWER-What is the maximum vertical rise between floor levels or landings
for a flight of stairs?
36" measured in the direction of travel - ANSWER-What is the minimum dimension of a
landing?
1:48 - ANSWER-What is the maximum steepness for treads and landings?
34 & 38 - ANSWER-Handrail height shall not be less than ______ inches and not more
than _____ inches
1 1/2" - ANSWER-Handrails adjacent to a wall shall have a space of not less than how
many inches between the wall and the handrail
2" - ANSWER-Type 1 Round handrails must have a diameter of not less than 1 1/4" and
not larger than:
3' x 3' - ANSWER-What size landing is required at the top and bottom of ramps?
,30" - ANSWER-How high must a porch floor be above the ground to require a
guardrail?
36" - ANSWER-What is the minimum height for guards on porches which are more than
30" above the grade or floor?
34" - ANSWER-What is the minimum height of guards on the open side of stairways
more than 30 inches in height?
4 inches - ANSWER-What size sphere shall not pass between vertical members of
guardrail system?
6" - ANSWER-The triangular area formed by the riser, tread and rail must not allow the
passage of what size sphere?
In each sleeping room, outside the bedroom, and on each floor and in the basement -
ANSWER-In a dwelling, where should smoke alarms be installed?
Pilings or columns - ANSWER-Buildings erected in coastal high-hazard areas shall be
supported on what?
6" - ANSWER-For proper surface drainage, the grade away from foundation walls shall
fall a minimum of how many inches within the first 10 feet?
1500psf - ANSWER-What is the load bearing capacity of clay soil if no soil tests are
required:
Stainless steel nails - ANSWER-What type of fasteners should be used when nailing a
knee wall on a wood foundation?
2500 psi - ANSWER-The minimum compressive strength for foundation concrete that
will NOT be exposed to the weather is:
2500 psi - ANSWER-The minimum compressive strength for foundation concrete that
will be exposed to the weather is:
12" - ANSWER-The minimum width of a concrete footing is:
10 times their least dimension - ANSWER-The unsupported height of masonry piers
shall not exceed what height?
16 inches - ANSWER-In unreinforced masonry where masonry units are laid in a stack
bond, longitudinal reinforcement consisting not less than two continuous wires each
shall be provided in horizontal bed joints spaced not more than how many inches on
center vertically?
, 1/2" bolts spaced not more than 6 feet apart - ANSWER-Masonry walls shall be
anchored to roof structures with:
They shall consist of at least one No. 4 bar, Spaced not more than 48 inches, Vertical
reinforcement shall be located within 16 inches of the ends of masonry walls -
ANSWER-What are the requirements for vertical reinforcement for masonry elements?
48 inches - ANSWER-What is the maximum spacing masonry reinforcement for walls
that are solid grouted and constructed of hollow open-end units?
24 inches - ANSWER-What is the maximum spacing for masonry reinforcement for
walls that are NOT solid grouted and constructed of hollow open-end units?
The smaller of all of the above - ANSWER-What is the maximum spacing for shear wall
reinforcement?
undisturbed natural soils or engineered fill - ANSWER-Footings must bear on:
6" - ANSWER-The minimum depth of a spread footing is:
To warm side or the building - ANSWER-A vapor retarder should be installed on which
side of the wall?
50 feet - ANSWER-Continuous foundations are required for interior walls longer than?
3 inches - ANSWER-Bottom reinforcement shall be located a minimum of how many
inches clear from the bottom of the footings?
One No. 4 bar. - ANSWER-In certain seismic design categories where a construction
joint is created a concrete footing and a stem wall, what type of bar shall be installed at
not more than 4 feet on center? (The vertical bar shall extend to 3 inches clear of the
bottom of the footing and extend a minimum of 14 inches into the stem wall).
A minimum of one No.4 bar within 12 inches of the top of the wall and one No.4 bar
located 3-4 inches from the bottom of the footing - ANSWER-What are the
specifications for foundation with stem walls?
One #5 bar or Two #4 bars in the middle third of the footing - ANSWER-What are the
steel requirements for a cast monolithic floor slab?
12" - ANSWER-What is the minimum distance the bottom footing can be below grade?
Numbers 1 and 3 - ANSWER-What is the minimum distance the bottom of the footing
can be below grade?
