NHIE EVALUATION EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
✔✔Two roof trusses passing above an interior hallway have been cut to install a pull-
down attic ladder. There is no cracking or indication of distress in the walls or ceilings.
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate action?
A. This is not a concern since this is no indication of distress.
B. This is beyond the scope of an inspection and does not need to be reported.
C. The inspector can evaluate the remaining pieces of the trusses as if they were site-
built.
D. The inspector should recommend this situation be referred to a structural engineer. -
✔✔D. The inspector should recommend this situation be referred to a structural
engineer.
✔✔The inspector encounters a steam boiler that is shut down for the season. The
inspector has been trained to inspect steam boilers but rarely sees them. What is the
BEST method for dealing with this situation?
A. Visually inspect the boiler, report any visible defects, and note limitations
B. Tell the client that you are not qualified to inspect steam boilers
C. Report that the boiler was shut down
D. Turn on the boiler and fully inspect it - ✔✔A. Visually inspect the boiler, report any
visible defects, and note limitations
Though I'd argue that it's C. Report that the boiler was shut down
✔✔You see during your inspection that the air conditioning system has supply registers
in each bedroom, but only one large return register is located in the center hallway.
Your FIRST course of action would be to:
A. Recommend to your client that return ducts be installed in each bedroom.
B. Check to see if the bedroom doors are undercut at the bottom.
C. Report that the life of the A/C equipment will be reduced.
D. Report that the A/C system will not work well. - ✔✔B. Check to see if the bedroom
doors are undercut at the bottom.
✔✔What is the minimum gap in a crawlspace soil floor to the bottom of a supply or
return air duct?
A. Half the distance between the bottom of the floor joist and soil
B. Minimum of 4" above the floor in the crawlspace
C. Minimum of 8" above the floor in the crawlspace
D. Any distance above the potential flood water level likely to be present - ✔✔B.
Minimum of 4" above the floor in the crawlspace
, ✔✔Damage from ice dams could indicate:
A. Over-exposure of shingles or slates.
B. Rain gutters with too low an outer lip.
C. Insufficient attic insulation.
D. Attic vents left open during winter months. - ✔✔C. Insufficient attic insulation.
✔✔Fiberglass batt insulation slows heat movement by:
A. reflecting infrared radiation off the insulation.
B. restricting vapor diffusion through the insulation.
C. creating a thermal mass within the insulation.
D. slowing air movement within the insulation - ✔✔D. slowing air movement within the
insulation
✔✔A newly built ventilated underfloor crawl space with a vapor barrier is REQUIRED to
have one square foot of net ventilation opening per sf of floor space
A. 150 square feet of crawl space
B. 600 square feet of crawl space
C. 1,200 squre feet of crawlspace
D. 1,500 square feet of crawl space - ✔✔D. 1,500 square feet of crawl space
✔✔The MAXIMUM acceptable variation in riser heights within a flight of stairs is
A. 1/2 inch.
B. 3/8 inch.
C. 3/4 inch.
D. 1 inch. - ✔✔B. 3/8 inch.
✔✔Potable water systems connected to lawn irrigation systems need to be protected
from
A. back siphonage.
B. excessive water usage.
C. mechanical damage.
D. low water flow. - ✔✔A. back siphonage.
✔✔A toilet water supply valve is shut off. The BEST way to deal with this situation is to:
A. turn the valve on, flush the toilet, turn the valve off.
B. report that the toilet was not tested because the valve was off.
C. use a bucket to fill the tank and flush the toilet.
GRADED A+
✔✔Two roof trusses passing above an interior hallway have been cut to install a pull-
down attic ladder. There is no cracking or indication of distress in the walls or ceilings.
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate action?
A. This is not a concern since this is no indication of distress.
B. This is beyond the scope of an inspection and does not need to be reported.
C. The inspector can evaluate the remaining pieces of the trusses as if they were site-
built.
D. The inspector should recommend this situation be referred to a structural engineer. -
✔✔D. The inspector should recommend this situation be referred to a structural
engineer.
✔✔The inspector encounters a steam boiler that is shut down for the season. The
inspector has been trained to inspect steam boilers but rarely sees them. What is the
BEST method for dealing with this situation?
A. Visually inspect the boiler, report any visible defects, and note limitations
B. Tell the client that you are not qualified to inspect steam boilers
C. Report that the boiler was shut down
D. Turn on the boiler and fully inspect it - ✔✔A. Visually inspect the boiler, report any
visible defects, and note limitations
Though I'd argue that it's C. Report that the boiler was shut down
✔✔You see during your inspection that the air conditioning system has supply registers
in each bedroom, but only one large return register is located in the center hallway.
Your FIRST course of action would be to:
A. Recommend to your client that return ducts be installed in each bedroom.
B. Check to see if the bedroom doors are undercut at the bottom.
C. Report that the life of the A/C equipment will be reduced.
D. Report that the A/C system will not work well. - ✔✔B. Check to see if the bedroom
doors are undercut at the bottom.
✔✔What is the minimum gap in a crawlspace soil floor to the bottom of a supply or
return air duct?
A. Half the distance between the bottom of the floor joist and soil
B. Minimum of 4" above the floor in the crawlspace
C. Minimum of 8" above the floor in the crawlspace
D. Any distance above the potential flood water level likely to be present - ✔✔B.
Minimum of 4" above the floor in the crawlspace
, ✔✔Damage from ice dams could indicate:
A. Over-exposure of shingles or slates.
B. Rain gutters with too low an outer lip.
C. Insufficient attic insulation.
D. Attic vents left open during winter months. - ✔✔C. Insufficient attic insulation.
✔✔Fiberglass batt insulation slows heat movement by:
A. reflecting infrared radiation off the insulation.
B. restricting vapor diffusion through the insulation.
C. creating a thermal mass within the insulation.
D. slowing air movement within the insulation - ✔✔D. slowing air movement within the
insulation
✔✔A newly built ventilated underfloor crawl space with a vapor barrier is REQUIRED to
have one square foot of net ventilation opening per sf of floor space
A. 150 square feet of crawl space
B. 600 square feet of crawl space
C. 1,200 squre feet of crawlspace
D. 1,500 square feet of crawl space - ✔✔D. 1,500 square feet of crawl space
✔✔The MAXIMUM acceptable variation in riser heights within a flight of stairs is
A. 1/2 inch.
B. 3/8 inch.
C. 3/4 inch.
D. 1 inch. - ✔✔B. 3/8 inch.
✔✔Potable water systems connected to lawn irrigation systems need to be protected
from
A. back siphonage.
B. excessive water usage.
C. mechanical damage.
D. low water flow. - ✔✔A. back siphonage.
✔✔A toilet water supply valve is shut off. The BEST way to deal with this situation is to:
A. turn the valve on, flush the toilet, turn the valve off.
B. report that the toilet was not tested because the valve was off.
C. use a bucket to fill the tank and flush the toilet.
