State Exam Practice pt.1 Flashcards
Questions 1-107 (wrong answered only)
Connections of dissimilar metal in a plumbing system, such as galvanized steel pipe and copper pipe, will usually cause;
A. reduced water pressure
B. decreased water quality
C. glazed pipes
D. electrolysis
D. electrolysis; chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions.
An ungrounded receptacle may be replaced by a ground fault circuit interrupter installed;
A. on the same phase as the receptacle
B. upstream from the receptacle
C. downstream from the receptacle
D. anywhere in the receptacle branch circuit
B. upstream from the receptacle
Which is the LEAST effective on the deflection of a dimension lumber floor system?
A. joist width
B. joist grade
C. joist species
D. joist spacing
A. joist width
Water hammer can occur as a result of
A. a lack of air chambers
B. faulty shutoff valves
C. loose piping
D. low static water pressure
A. a lack of air chambers
If a system designed for use with natural gas is supplied with propane gas
A. no changes are needed for the equipment to function properly
B. the flame will be too high unless a smaller orifice is installed
C. the flame will be too low unless a larger orifice is installed
D. the gas regulator and valve must be replaced
B. the flame will be too high unless a smaller orifice is installed
When looking at the exterior wall of a 60 year old brick masonry house with a gable roof, you notice a horizontal crack in the mortar and outward brick displacement along the gutter edge of the roof. The displacement is the greatest at the center of the top three courses of brick. This condition is MOST likely caused by
A. excessive sand in the mortar mix
B. defective brick bonding
C. improper ceiling joist installation
D. differential settlement
C. improper ceiling joist installation
You inspect a wood framed cantilevered balcony off a second-story bedroom. You find significant wood deterioration (at least one-half member depth) of all cantilever joists at the bearing point of the house. You should
A. notify the occupants of the significant hazard, advise immediate repair to both the occupant and client in the report
B. note the significant hazard and recommend immediate repair, by a licensed professional, in your report
C. refer the wood deterioration to a structural pest control operator for professional opinion
D. recommend sistering existing framing members to increase strength, prior too further use
A. notify the occupants of the significant hazard, advise immediate repair to both the occupant and the client in the report
When a cooling unit is located in an attic where damage may result from condensate overflow
A. attic ventilation must be increased to avoid condensation
B. steel ducting is not allowed because of potential damage from condensation
C. an auxiliary condensate drain system is required
D. a supplemental condensate pump is required
C. an auxiliary condensate drain system is required
Asphalt shingles are NOT allowed to be installed on roofs with slopes less than
A. 1 in 12
B. 2 in 12
C. 3 in 12
D. 4 in 12
B. 2 in 12
Where should squash blocks (web blocking) be found in wood I-joist floor system?
A. at bearing ends and load bearing walls above with support girders below
B. at bearing ends and all splices
C. at bearing ends and plumbing penetrations
D. at perimeter ends, plumbing penetrations, and splices over girders
A. at bearing ends and load bearing walls above with support girders below
In new construction, the MINIMUM overhead eletrical service clearances are
A. walkway: 8ft, roadway: 16ft, deck: 10ft
B. walkway: 9ft, roadway: 15ft, deck: 12ft
C. walkway: 10ft, roadway: 18ft, deck: 10ft
D. walkway: 12ft, roadway: 20ft, deck: 12ft
C. walkway: 10ft, roadway: 18ft, deck: 10ft
During summertime inspections, what could indicate chronic condensation problems in an attic?
A. The attic is very warm
B. There is no vapor retarder on the insulation
C. There are grey/black stains on the north side roof sheathing
D. There are mildew stains on the bathroom ceilings
C. There are grey/black stains on the north side roof sheathing
The purpose of flashing on a roof is to
A. shed water onto roofing materials
B. seal roof shingles to vertical surfaces
C. protect roofing material
D. join different roofing materials
A. shed water onto roofing materials
The house you are inspecting currently has a gas-fired furnace or boiler. Each of the following clues may indicate that the house also has an abandoned buried fuel oil storage tank EXCEPT
A. small diameter copper tubes emerging from the inside of the foundation wan or the floor near the furnace or boiler
B. an approximately 1 1/4W inch diameter vent pipe outside coming from underground up against the foundation
C. the brick chimney serving the furnace or boiler has deteriorated mortar joints at the bottom
D. your knowledge that the neighborhood had or still has some houses served by oil heat
C. the brick chimney serving the furnace or boiler has deteriorated mortar joints at the bottom
What is the MINIMUM electrical service drop clearance from a residential driveway?
A. 12 ft
B. 13 ft
C. 15 ft
D. 18 ft
A. 12 ft
Roof truss uplift can cause cracks to form
A. above exterior doors and windows
B. at interior wall/ceiling intersections
C. in bottom chords of roof trusses
D. in top chords of roof trusses
B. at interior wall/ceiling intersections
When measuring the temperature drop across the evaporator in a central air conditioning system, a properly running unit on a humid summer day should read between
A. 5 F and 15 F
B. 15 F and 25 F
C. 25 F and 35 F
D. 35 F and 45 F
B. 15 F and 25 F
Knob and tube wiring may be acceptable if
A. the home is insulated with fiberglass
B. the circuit breaker system is proper
C. not covered by insulation
D. the fuse system is still in place
B. the circuit breaker system is proper
What is the MINIMUM allowable seperation between a masonry chimney and combustible materials?
A. 3/4 inch
B. 1 inch
C. 2 inches
D. 4 inches
C. 2 inches
The service panel enclosure door is required to open at least
A. 45 degrees
B. 90 degrees
C. 135 degrees
D. 180 degrees
C. 90 degrees
What is a required element of a contract?
A. consideration
B. real estate agent’s name
C. sellers name
D. names of persons attending the inspection
A. consideration
Stringer, tread, and riser are all components of a
A. truss system
B. floor system
C. stair system
D. wall system
C. stair system
What is the most common contributing factor to masonry retaining wall movement?
A. corbelled construction
B. hydrostatic pressure
C. poorly mortared joints
D. too many tiebacks
B. hydrostatic pressure
Buckling in horizontal vinyl siding is generally caused by
A. reflected sunlight
B. improper fastening
C. condensation in walls
D. improper house wrap
B. improper fastening
At what level would water pressure within a single-family dwelling begin to be considered excessive and require correction?
A. 60 psi
B. 80 psi
C. 100 psi
D. 120 psi
B. 80 psi
A newer home with electic heat is being inspected. It has a below grade finished basement containing a bedroom. The inspector should look for a smoke alarm and
A. an escape and rescue opening
B. a carbon monoxide alarm
C. a fire extinguisher
D. a safety ladder
A. an escape and rescue opening
A swimming pool fence must prevent passage of a sphere that is larger than
A. 2 inches
B. 3 inches
C. 4 inches
D. 5 inches
C. 4 inches
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a safety device that
A. disconnects power when the grounding to the outlet is faulty
B. detects moisture and disconnects power in wet locations
C. disconnects the power when sensing current leakage to ground
D. protects against electrical surges and voltage spikes
C. disconnects the power when sensing current leakage to ground
An electrical system with a fuse on the neutral conductor and on the energized (hot) conductors
A. is twice as safe as the system where only the energized (hot) conductors are fused
B. should hav ethe neutral conductor fuse sized to one half the normal ampacity for the circuit
C. is overfused up to 50% if used only for lighting
D. is hazardous and should be corrected
D. is hazardous and should be corrected
To operate a central air conditioner, an eletric clothes dryer, and an eletric range, the ampacity of the service to the house should be AT LEAST
A. 100 amps and 120 volts
B. 125 amps and 120 volts
C. 60 amps and 240 volts
D. 100 amps and 240 volts
D. 100 amps and 240 volts
Which set of building terms do NOT belong together
A. cripple trimmer, purlin
B. arch, header, lintel
C. rafters, ceiling joists, trusses
D. sheathing, flooring, decking
A. cripple trimmer, purlin
Low pressure boiler pipes do NOT carry steam pressure above
A. 15 psi
B. 12 psi
C. 9 psi
D. 6 psi
A. 15 psi
When an asphalt shingle roof is installed over existing shingles, leakage commonly occurs at the
A. eaves
B. penetrations
C. ridge
D. hips
B. penetrations
A subpanel in an older house that is wired with non-metallic sheathed cable (NM) has one circuit with a ground wire. The ground wire
A. should be connected to a seperate grounded buss bar
B. should be connected to a seperate ground rod
C. may be bonded using the panel cover screws
D. may be connected to the neutral buss bar
A. should be connected to a seperate grounded buss bar
Inspecting a very old country house, a gurgling sound is heard from the tub drain when the toilet is flushed. Which of the following is the MOST likely explanation for the sound?
A. Water discharging from the toilet is pulling water from the tub trap
B. The tub drain is partially blocked
C. Water discharging from the toilet is pushing air through the tub trap
D. The branch drain is partially blocked downstream from the tub
A. Water discharging from the toilet is pulling water from the tub trap
Oriented strand board (OSB) is used MOST frequently in
A. roof, floor, and exterior wall sheathing
B. walls and interior sheathing
C. ceramic tile underlayment
D. vinyl tile underlayment
A. roof, floor, and exterior wall sheathing
The pupose of a trap in the waste drainage system is to
A. provide maintenance access
B. prevent siphoning
C. block sewer gases
D. cause water to drain smoothly
C. block sewer gases
A basin makes a gurgling sound at the end of draining the fixture. This may be due to
A. improperly supported pipes
B. inadequate venting
C. an undersized drain pipe
D. improper drain slope
B. inadequate venting
Condensation between glass layers of thermal pane windows indicate the need to
A. repair or replace sealant
B. repair or clean breather holes
C. replace glazing, sash, or windows
D. replace the interior pane
C. replace glazing, sash, or window
Dieletric unions
A. accommodate pipe expansion
B. are undesirable and indicate a problem
C. prevent galvanic action
D. help maintain electrical grouding of pipes
C. prevent galvanic action
The MINIMUM clearance between a wood stove single wall vent connector and combustible materials should be
A. 3 inches
B. 9 inches
C. 18 inches
D. 36 inches
C. 18 inches
Garage door opener electronic eye sensors are properly installed when facing each other
A. 1 to 3 inches above the garage floor
B. 4 to 6 inches above the garage floor
C. 7 to 10 inches above the garage floor
D. 11 to 15 inches above the garage floor
B. 4 to 6 inches above the garage floor
Capillary tubes are part of the
A. evaporator coil
B. heat exchanger
C. condenser coil
D. compressor discharge
A. evaporator coil
Which of the following is a common maintenence task for a residential refrigeration system?
A. clean the heat exchanger
B. replace refrigerant
C. clean the condenser coil
D. replace the thermostat
C. clean the condenser coil
The device used to detect the electrical current to the electric heater coil is called
A. an anemometer
B. an ohm meter
C. a volt meter
D. an ammeter
D. an ammeter
The inspector is required to operate all of the following EXCEPT
A. shutoff valves
B. manual garage door
C. a representative number of windows
D. folding attic stairs
A. shutoff valves
Potable water systems connected to lawn irrigation systems need to be protected from
A. backsiphonage
B. excess water usage
C. mechanical damage
D. low water flow
A. backsiphonage
Most modern kitchen ranges are required to have
A. front edge controls
B. a warming drawer
C. an anti-tip device
D. a tipping alarm
C. an anti-tip device
Overhead electrical service should be a MINIMUM of how many feet above a flat roof subject to foot traffic?
A. 4 feet
B. 6 feet
C. 8 feet
D. 10 feet
D. 10 feet
How are holes in rigid foundation drain pipe aligned?
A. toward the foundation
B. on the top half of the pipe
C. on the bottom half of the pipe
D. away from the foundation
C. on the bottom half of the pipe
What is the primary purpose of control joints placed in concrete driveways?
A. to prevent cracks
B. to drain the surface
C. to reduce random cracking
D. to enhance appearance
C. to reduce random cracking
Where might you expect to find a window with safety glass?
A. less than 18 inches above the floor
B. less than 24 inches above the floor
C. above the kitchen sink
D. on the second story
A. less than 18 inches above the floor
A newly built ventilate crawl space with a vapor retarder is REQUIRED to have one square foot of net ventilation opening per
A. 150 square feet of crawl space
B. 600 square feet of crawl space
C. 1200 square feet of crawl space
D. 1500 square feet of crawl space
D. 1500 square feet of crawl space
A standard claims made errors and omissions insurance policy includes claims filed
A. during the time the policy is in effect
B. after the policy has lapsed
C. before the policy effective date
D. while the inspector maintains any required license
A. during the time the policy is in effect
A poured concrete retaining wall with weep holes is rotating. What is the most likely reason for the rotation?
A. The wall has no deadman anchors
B. The footing has no reinforcing steel
C. There is no gravel behind the wall
D. The wall is cantilevered
C. There is no gravel behind the wall
A poured concrete basement wall has a 1/4 inch wide crack where the wall is bowing slightly. Brown stains are below the crack. What is the most likely reason for this condition?
A. The gutters are blocked
B. The wall contains 5/8 inch reinforcing steel
C. The concrete was not properly vibrated
D. The wall dampproofing was improperly installed
A. The gutters are blocked
A movement joint should be installed in brick veneer
A. at support by different structural components
B. at each floor level
C. at each side of a lintel above a garage door
D. above each soldier course
A. at support by different structural components
Adhered masonry veneer is installed in the same manner as
A. natural stone veneer
B. stucco
C. fiber cement siding
D. steel siding
B. stucco
Which roof covering is most appropriate for a roof with a slope of 11/2:12 above a single family house? Assume standard installation of any required underlayment.
A. metal shingles
B. roll mineral
C. modified bitumen
D. slate shingles
C. modified bitumen
What is the most appropriate fastener material for a slate shingle roof covering?
A. electroplated galvanized nails
B. zinc nails
C. hot dipped galvanized screws
D. copper nails
D. copper nails
A scupper would most likely be located in
A. parapet wall
B. a floor drain
C. an oil furnace vent
D. a K-type gutter
A. parapet wall
A color tie would most likely be found in
A. the attic near the top plate
B. the basement between floor joists
C. a wall at the intersection of two walls
D. the upper part of the attic
D. the upper part of the attic
A notch in a 12 foot long 2x10 floor joist is located 5 feet from the joist end. What is the MAXIMUM allowed notch depth?
A. 2 inches
B. 1 5/8 inches
C. 1 1/2 inches
D. 0 inches
D. 0 inches
Racking is most likely to occur from failure to install
A. wall bracing
B. floor joist bridging
C. roof collar ties
D. foundation wall reinforcing steel
A. wall bracing
