ICC ECP - Soils Plans Module
Exam Questions & Answers with Rationales
This study guide is a practice resource created to help candidates review the content areas covered
by the ICC EC Soils Special Inspector - Plans (ECP) module: General Requirements; Sampling,
Classification & Laboratory Test Results; Grading Plans & Site Preparation; and Fill Monitoring &
Testing.
,Section 1: General Requirements
1. What document establishes the scope of special inspections required
for a project's earthwork and foundation work?
A) The Statement of Special Inspections
B) The geotechnical boring log
C) The as-built survey
D) The contractor's daily log
Answer: A) The Statement of Special Inspections
Rationale: The Statement of Special Inspections, prepared as part of the
permit documents, defines which special inspections are required, including
soils and earthwork, per the building code.
2. A special inspector who discovers work that does not conform to the
approved plans and specifications should first:
A) Stop all work on the project immediately
B) Notify the contractor and document the discrepancy per the approved
reporting procedure
C) Ignore it if it appears minor
D) Correct the work themselves
Answer: B) Notify the contractor and document the discrepancy per the
approved reporting procedure
Rationale: Special inspectors report nonconforming conditions through the
established notification and documentation process; they do not have authority
to halt work or self-correct it.
3. Which party is generally responsible for retaining the special inspector
on a project?
A) The building official
B) The owner or the owner's agent
C) The subcontractor performing the grading
D) The materials testing laboratory only
Answer: B) The owner or the owner's agent
,Rationale: The owner or the owner's authorized agent is typically responsible
for employing the special inspector, per code requirements for special
inspection programs.
4. Inspection reports for soils and earthwork operations should be
submitted to the:
A) Registered design professional in responsible charge and the building
official
B) Only the earthwork contractor
C) Only the property owner
D) Local water utility
Answer: A) Registered design professional in responsible charge and the
building official
Rationale: Special inspection reports are distributed to the registered design
professional in responsible charge and the code official so that conformance
can be verified and documented.
5. The primary purpose of a final report of special inspection for soils
work is to:
A) Bill the client for services rendered
B) Document that the work inspected was, to the best of the inspector's
knowledge, in conformance with approved plans
C) Replace the geotechnical report
D) Serve as the survey of record
Answer: B) Document that the work inspected was, to the best of the
inspector's knowledge, in conformance with approved plans
Rationale: A final report summarizes the inspector's findings and states
whether observed work conformed to the approved documents.
6. Under a typical special inspection program, discrepancies that are not
resolved during construction must ultimately be brought to the attention
of the:
A) Concrete supplier
B) Building official
, C) Landscape architect
D) Insurance carrier
Answer: B) Building official
Rationale: Unresolved discrepancies are required to be reported to the
building official as part of the special inspection process.
7. A special inspector's field notes and daily reports are considered:
A) Optional paperwork with no legal significance
B) Part of the official project record supporting the final report
C) Only useful for the inspector's personal reference
D) Confidential and never shared with the design team
Answer: B) Part of the official project record supporting the final report
Rationale: Daily field reports document observations in real time and form the
basis for the final report, making them part of the project's official inspection
record.
8. Which of the following is NOT typically a duty of a soils special
inspector?
A) Verifying fill is placed and compacted per the approved geotechnical
report
B) Designing the foundation system
C) Observing subgrade preparation
D) Documenting field density test results
Answer: B) Designing the foundation system
Rationale: Design of the foundation system is the responsibility of the
registered design professional, not the special inspector, whose role is
observation and testing verification.
9. The geotechnical report for a project is typically prepared by the:
A) General contractor
B) Geotechnical engineer
C) Building official
D) Land surveyor
Exam Questions & Answers with Rationales
This study guide is a practice resource created to help candidates review the content areas covered
by the ICC EC Soils Special Inspector - Plans (ECP) module: General Requirements; Sampling,
Classification & Laboratory Test Results; Grading Plans & Site Preparation; and Fill Monitoring &
Testing.
,Section 1: General Requirements
1. What document establishes the scope of special inspections required
for a project's earthwork and foundation work?
A) The Statement of Special Inspections
B) The geotechnical boring log
C) The as-built survey
D) The contractor's daily log
Answer: A) The Statement of Special Inspections
Rationale: The Statement of Special Inspections, prepared as part of the
permit documents, defines which special inspections are required, including
soils and earthwork, per the building code.
2. A special inspector who discovers work that does not conform to the
approved plans and specifications should first:
A) Stop all work on the project immediately
B) Notify the contractor and document the discrepancy per the approved
reporting procedure
C) Ignore it if it appears minor
D) Correct the work themselves
Answer: B) Notify the contractor and document the discrepancy per the
approved reporting procedure
Rationale: Special inspectors report nonconforming conditions through the
established notification and documentation process; they do not have authority
to halt work or self-correct it.
3. Which party is generally responsible for retaining the special inspector
on a project?
A) The building official
B) The owner or the owner's agent
C) The subcontractor performing the grading
D) The materials testing laboratory only
Answer: B) The owner or the owner's agent
,Rationale: The owner or the owner's authorized agent is typically responsible
for employing the special inspector, per code requirements for special
inspection programs.
4. Inspection reports for soils and earthwork operations should be
submitted to the:
A) Registered design professional in responsible charge and the building
official
B) Only the earthwork contractor
C) Only the property owner
D) Local water utility
Answer: A) Registered design professional in responsible charge and the
building official
Rationale: Special inspection reports are distributed to the registered design
professional in responsible charge and the code official so that conformance
can be verified and documented.
5. The primary purpose of a final report of special inspection for soils
work is to:
A) Bill the client for services rendered
B) Document that the work inspected was, to the best of the inspector's
knowledge, in conformance with approved plans
C) Replace the geotechnical report
D) Serve as the survey of record
Answer: B) Document that the work inspected was, to the best of the
inspector's knowledge, in conformance with approved plans
Rationale: A final report summarizes the inspector's findings and states
whether observed work conformed to the approved documents.
6. Under a typical special inspection program, discrepancies that are not
resolved during construction must ultimately be brought to the attention
of the:
A) Concrete supplier
B) Building official
, C) Landscape architect
D) Insurance carrier
Answer: B) Building official
Rationale: Unresolved discrepancies are required to be reported to the
building official as part of the special inspection process.
7. A special inspector's field notes and daily reports are considered:
A) Optional paperwork with no legal significance
B) Part of the official project record supporting the final report
C) Only useful for the inspector's personal reference
D) Confidential and never shared with the design team
Answer: B) Part of the official project record supporting the final report
Rationale: Daily field reports document observations in real time and form the
basis for the final report, making them part of the project's official inspection
record.
8. Which of the following is NOT typically a duty of a soils special
inspector?
A) Verifying fill is placed and compacted per the approved geotechnical
report
B) Designing the foundation system
C) Observing subgrade preparation
D) Documenting field density test results
Answer: B) Designing the foundation system
Rationale: Design of the foundation system is the responsibility of the
registered design professional, not the special inspector, whose role is
observation and testing verification.
9. The geotechnical report for a project is typically prepared by the:
A) General contractor
B) Geotechnical engineer
C) Building official
D) Land surveyor
