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CSLB General Building (B) practice questions

213 free questions with answers and explanations.

Practice test
  1. 151.A framing crew is installing a new set of stairs. The total rise from the finished floor below to the finished floor above is 105 inches. The desired riser height is approximately 7 inches. What is the most appropriate number of risers and the resulting actual riser height (rounded to two decimal places) for this stairway?Framing and Carpentry
  2. 152.A contractor is framing a wall for a new bathroom. The plans indicate that the wall is non-bearing and will contain various plumbing pipes and electrical conduits. What is the maximum percentage of a non-bearing 2x4 stud's width that can be notched, according to typical building codes?Framing and Carpentry
  3. 153.A framing contractor is preparing to install a large, heavy roof structure using engineered trusses. To prevent lateral instability during erection and before the sheathing is applied, what type of temporary bracing is most critical for the top chords of the trusses?Framing and Carpentry
  4. 154.A framing contractor is installing blocking between floor joists to provide lateral support and prevent twisting. The floor joists are 2x10s spaced 16 inches on center. If the joist span is 14 feet, what is the minimum number of rows of blocking required by code for this span?Framing and Carpentry
  5. 155.A contractor is evaluating the use of different types of wood screws for attaching subfloor to joists. Which type of screw is generally NOT recommended or permitted for structural subfloor attachment in typical residential construction due to its brittle nature and tendency to shear under stress?Framing and Carpentry
  6. 156.A framing contractor is installing a new roof on a residential project. The plans specify a ridge board. What is the minimum nominal thickness required for a ridge board in a conventionally framed roof?Framing and Carpentry
  7. 157.A framing crew is constructing a new residential deck that will be attached to the house. The deck joists are 2x8s spaced 16 inches on center and will cantilever 2 feet beyond the support beam. According to typical framing practices, what is the maximum recommended span for the 2x8 deck joists made from Douglas Fir-Larch No. 2, assuming a live load of 40 psf and a dead load of 10 psf?Framing and Carpentry
  8. 158.A framing crew is installing a double top plate on a load-bearing wall. The building code requires that splices in the top plates be offset. What is the minimum offset required between splices in the two members of a double top plate?Framing and Carpentry
  9. 159.A contractor is installing a pitched roof with a 6:12 slope. The common rafters have a horizontal run of 10 feet. What is the approximate length of the common rafters required, assuming no overhang and not accounting for birdsmouth cuts or ridge board thickness?Framing and Carpentry
  10. 160.A framing contractor is installing a new window rough opening. The window is 4 feet wide. To properly support the header and transfer the load to the foundation, which type of stud is installed directly beneath the ends of the header and rests on the rough sill?Framing and Carpentry
  11. 161.A residential building in a high seismic zone requires shear walls for lateral load resistance. The plans specify 7/16-inch OSB sheathing with 8d common nails. The building inspector observes that the framers are nailing the sheathing at 6 inches on center along the panel edges and 12 inches on center in the field. What is the minimum edge distance required for these 8d common nails from the edge of the OSB panel?Framing and Carpentry
  12. 162.A framing contractor is installing roof trusses. The truss design drawings specify a particular type of truss plate with a minimum embedded area and gauge. What is the primary purpose of truss plates (also known as gusset plates or metal connector plates) in a wood truss?Framing and Carpentry
  13. 163.A contractor is framing a wall for a bathroom, and the plumbing requires a 3-inch diameter waste pipe to pass horizontally through a 2x4 stud. What is the maximum diameter hole that can be bored through a 2x4 stud in a non-bearing wall, according to common building codes?Framing and Carpentry
  14. 164.A contractor is reviewing a building's certificate of occupancy. What is the primary significance of a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for a newly constructed or substantially renovated building?Planning and Estimating
  15. 165.A contractor is preparing to pour a concrete slab for a 30-foot by 20-foot garage. The slab will be 6 inches thick. The concrete supplier charges $120 per cubic yard. How much will the concrete cost for this slab, assuming no waste factor?Planning and Estimating
  16. 166.A general contractor is reviewing a critical path method (CPM) schedule. An activity has a total float of 5 days. This means that the activity:Planning and Estimating
  17. 167.A contractor is performing excavation work. Cal/OSHA requires that a means of egress (e.g., ladder, ramp) be provided for employees in a trench. What is the maximum horizontal travel distance to a means of egress for employees in a trench that is 4 feet or deeper?Safety
  18. 168.A contractor is preparing a bid for a residential addition that includes a new concrete patio. The patio will be 20 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 4 inches thick. If concrete costs $135 per cubic yard, what is the estimated material cost for the patio, rounded to the nearest dollar?Planning and Estimating
  19. 169.A contractor is estimating the quantity of lumber needed for a wall framing project. The wall is 30 feet long and 8 feet high, with studs spaced 16 inches on center (O.C.). Assuming a top plate, a sole plate, and a double top plate, how many 2x4x8 studs are needed for the wall, NOT including waste or blocking?Planning and Estimating
  20. 170.Under Cal/OSHA regulations for fall protection, what is the minimum height above a lower level at which guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems are generally required for employees on walking/working surfaces?Safety
  21. 171.A general contractor is estimating the quantity of 2x4 lumber needed for the top and bottom plates of a 40-foot long wall. The wall will have a single top plate and a single bottom plate. The lumber is sold in 16-foot lengths. How many 16-foot 2x4s are needed, assuming no waste is generated from cutting?Planning and Estimating
  22. 172.A contractor is reviewing plans for a hillside residential project. The geotechnical report specifies that all foundations must be designed for a 'minimum allowable bearing pressure' of 2,000 pounds per square foot (psf). What does 'allowable bearing pressure' refer to?Planning and Estimating
  23. 173.A contractor is preparing a bid for a new commercial building that requires substantial excavation. The earthwork plans specify a soil compaction requirement of 95% of maximum dry density. Which of the following tests is typically used to verify this compaction level in the field?Planning and Estimating
  24. 174.A contractor is evaluating the soil conditions for a new foundation. The geotechnical report indicates 'expansive clay soils'. What is the most significant concern for foundation design in these conditions?Planning and Estimating
  25. 175.A contractor is planning to pour a concrete slab for a garage that measures 24 feet by 24 feet. The slab will be 6 inches thick. How many bags of concrete mix are needed if one 80-pound bag yields approximately 0.6 cubic feet of concrete?Planning and Estimating
  26. 176.A general contractor is submitting plans for a new single-family residence in California. Which of the following is NOT typically required for the initial building permit application package?Planning and Estimating
  27. 177.A construction crew is working in a trench that is 5 feet deep. What is the minimum depth at which Cal/OSHA requires a protective system (sloping, shoring, or shielding) to be used?Safety
  28. 178.A contractor is using a scaffold that is 20 feet high. The scaffold has a base dimension of 5 feet by 5 feet. According to Cal/OSHA, what is the minimum distance this scaffold must be from unprotected energized power lines?Safety
  29. 179.A contractor is reviewing a set of plumbing plans. The symbol of a circle with a 'P' inside it typically represents which of the following?Planning and Estimating
  30. 180.A contractor is preparing to use a portable ladder. What is the MINIMUM distance that the base of a portable ladder should be placed from the vertical plane of its support, relative to the working length of the ladder, to ensure stability?Safety
  31. 181.A contractor is preparing to work on a roof with a slope of 5:12. According to Cal/OSHA, what is the maximum roof slope that allows workers to forgo fall protection on low-slope roofs, provided the work is not near an unprotected edge?Safety
  32. 182.A contractor is using a ladder to access a work platform. According to Cal/OSHA, how far above the landing must the side rails of a portable ladder extend?Safety
  33. 183.When working in a trench, what is the maximum horizontal distance that workers are permitted to be from a means of egress (such as a ladder or ramp) according to Cal/OSHA?Safety
  34. 184.When working on a supported scaffold, what is the maximum permissible distance between the front edge of the platform and the face of the work, according to Cal/OSHA, to prevent objects from falling and to ensure worker stability?Safety
  35. 185.A general contractor is developing a preliminary schedule for a commercial tenant improvement project. Which scheduling technique is best suited for visually representing task dependencies and the critical path, especially for projects with complex interrelationships and resource constraints?Planning and Estimating
  36. 186.A contractor is reviewing a set of blueprints for a new commercial building. He notices a symbol that looks like a circle with an 'X' through it, labeled 'FD'. What does this symbol most likely represent?Planning and Estimating
  37. 187.A contractor is installing roofing shingles on a residential building. The roof has a 6:12 slope and the eaves are 12 feet above the ground. Which of the following fall protection methods is acceptable according to Cal/OSHA for this scenario?Safety
  38. 188.A construction site has a 10-foot deep trench in Type B soil. What is the maximum distance a spoil pile should be kept from the edge of this trench, according to Cal/OSHA standards?Safety
  39. 189.A contractor is reviewing plans for a commercial building. The general notes on the first sheet specify that all roof framing connections must comply with 'CBC Chapter 23'. What does 'CBC' most likely refer to?Planning and Estimating
  40. 190.A contractor is preparing a bid for a commercial tenant improvement project. The project requires the installation of new fire sprinklers. Which of the following permits is typically required specifically for the fire sprinkler system installation?Planning and Estimating
  41. 191.A project manager is developing a schedule for a large commercial renovation. The plumbing rough-in must be completed before the electrical rough-in can begin, and the electrical rough-in must be completed before drywall can start. This type of relationship between tasks is known as a:Planning and Estimating
  42. 192.A contractor is planning a bathroom remodel that involves moving a non-load-bearing wall and relocating plumbing fixtures. Which type of permit is generally required for this scope of work in California?Planning and Estimating
  43. 193.An employer is developing a Cal/OSHA-compliant Hazard Communication Program. Which of the following is an essential component that must be included in this program?Safety
  44. 194.A project manager is creating a schedule for a custom home build. The foundation must be poured and cured before framing can begin. What type of logical relationship does this represent between the 'Pour Foundation' and 'Begin Framing' activities?Planning and Estimating
  45. 195.A contractor is preparing to order lumber for roof rafters for a gable roof. The building is 30 feet wide, and the roof has a 6/12 pitch. What is the approximate length of the common rafters needed, assuming no overhang and not accounting for ridge board deduction?Planning and Estimating
  46. 196.A contractor is setting up a supported scaffold. According to Cal/OSHA regulations, what is the maximum permissible height of a supported scaffold before it must be secured against swaying or tipping?Safety
  47. 197.A contractor needs to install a new access panel in a finished wall. According to the California Building Code (CBC), what is the minimum required clear opening size for an attic access opening in a residential dwelling where mechanical equipment is located?Planning and Estimating
  48. 198.A contractor is preparing to dig a trench that will be 6 feet deep in Type C soil. What is the maximum allowable slope for the sides of the trench, according to Cal/OSHA excavation and trenching standards?Safety
  49. 199.A contractor is preparing to use a ladder jack scaffold. Which of the following is a Cal/OSHA requirement for the planks used on this type of scaffold?Safety
  50. 200.Which of the following is NOT considered a hazardous material according to Cal/OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)?Safety