Residential Building Inspector (B1)

The Residential Building Inspector (B1) certification is provided by ICC. International Code Council (ICC) Certification exams provide the candidate with the opportunity of getting professional recognition. Also by being certified, the candidates are able to demonstrate their knowledge of the various construction codes and standards. A Residential Building Inspector is generally accountable for conducting inspections of structures to manage compliance with the various Building Codes and Standards adopted by his / her jurisdiction. At this level of certification, the Inspector shall be able to inspect one-and-two family dwellings, townhomes not more than three stories in height, and accessory structures.

Being certified from ICC displays a significant accomplishment that can offer many benefits such as:

• Openings in Career Advancement
• Dormant Increase in Salary
• Authenticating your Technical Expertise
• Professional Recognition
• Being Marketable in your Job Search

Exam Details

The B1 Residential Building Inspector exam has an exam ID: B1. The exam is an Open Book Exam. The candidate will be given 2 hours to successfully complete the exam. Also, there will be 60 questions. The Residential Building Inspector (B1) exam method will be Computer-Based Testing( CBT ) and Proctored Online Testing. The ICC examination fee will be $219 USD. The candidate can register for the exam on the ICC website as well as at Pearson VUE.

For more details visit Residential Building Inspector (B1) FAQ

Residential Building Inspector Course Outline

The B1 Residential Building Inspector exam has been constructed on the basis of the following potential areas:

Code Administration 4%

Project Administration

• Verify that project information is provided and is adequate.
• Verify that the project is designed by approved persons when required, and has required approvals.
• Verify that products not detailed in the building code are approved by the building official and installed according to their listing.
• Verify that the required approved plans and specifications are available when required and retained by the building official for the period required.

Public Information and Legal

• For new and existing structures, answer questions about the need for permits and inspections, general code compliance of designs, procedures, and materials.
• Communicate, issue, and maintain inspection reports, correction notices, stop-work orders, and data for the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.

Building Planning 8%

Unit Separation

• Verify that the unit separation is in compliance with the code and tested assembly requirements.
• Verify that unit separation walls and floor/ceiling assemblies are located where required and have correct fire resistance.

Building Location

• Inspect the construction site to see that the building or structure location is in compliance with the requirements of the local ordinances, fire separation regulations, and the site plan.
• Verify that final grade will provide the required slope away from the footing or foundation wall.
• Verify finish floor elevation in flood-hazard areas for compliance with local and federal requirements.

Room and Opening Dimensions

• Verify that the actual and allowable floor area calculations are correct.
• Inspect for compliance that the room dimensions and openings are minimum for light and ventilation.

Footings and Foundations 16%

Footings

• Verify that the building site’s soil load-bearing capacity and stability comply with approved plans or reports.
• Verify that footings are laid out with correct depth, size, and setbacks, and that footings extend below the frost line.
• Inspect footing drains for basements and crawl spaces for compliance with the code.
• Verify that materials used in footings and foundations are in compliance with approved plans and code requirements.

Stepped Footings and Special Foundations

• Verify that stepped footings and specialized foundations are used as per the approved plans or code.

Columns and Piers

• Verify that columns and piers are correctly supported and anchored, and that wood members are protected against termites and decay.

Site Preparations, Foundation, and Basement Walls

• Verify that the area within the foundation walls is properly prepared.
• Verify that foundation stem walls are correctly sized and have sufficient height above grade.
• Verify that foundation wall materials, reinforcement, anchor bolts, and fasteners are correct type, size, and grade and are placed in accordance with building code requirements.
• Verify that foundation dampproofing and waterproofing is installed where required.
• Verify maximum unbalanced fill height. Verify that foundation and basement walls are properly braced prior to backfill.

Floor Construction 14%

Lumber Quality – Floors

• Verify that wood materials are in compliance with the markings, standards, and the material characteristics.
• Verify that the cutting, notching, and borings are within the limitations permitted by code, and that wood members are protected against termites and decay where required.

Floor Joist Framing

• Inspect floor joist framing for proper spans, bearing, and connections.
• Verify that the pre-engineered floor framing is in accordance with the approved drawings and manufacturer’s specifications.

Concrete Slab Inspection

• Verify that concrete slabs are placed in compliance with standards and material characteristics and that proper precautions are used in adverse weather conditions.

Subflooring and Decking

• Verify that subflooring and decking have the required thickness, span, and grade and meets installation specifications.
• Verify compliance of floor design and fasteners.

Crawl Spaces

• Verify that crawlspaces have required clearance, ventilation, insulation, screening, and access openings.

Draftstops

• Verify that draftstops are provided where required.

Wall Construction and Coverings 27%

Lumber Quality – Walls

• Verify that wood materials used in walls are in compliance with the markings, standards, and the material characteristics.
• Verify that cutting, notching, and borings are within the limitations permitted by code, and that wood members are protected against termites and decay where required.

Wood Framing – Walls

• Inspect wood wall framing for proper spacing, bearing, and connections.
• Verify that pre-engineered wall systems are in accordance with the approved drawings and manufacturer’s specifications.

Header Spans

• Inspect header spans for proper span, bearing, and connections.

Steel Framing

• Verify that steel framing is in compliance with the markings, standards, and the material characteristics.

Fireblocking

• Verify that fireblocking is provided where required.

Masonry Materials and Placement

• Verify that masonry materials are in compliance with markings, standards, and the material characteristics.
• Inspect bonding, mortar type, mortar joint thickness, height, size, lintels, and distance between lateral supports for masonry walls.
• Verify that masonry is grouted where required.
• Verify that weather conditions are suitable for masonry construction and that proper precautions are used for adverse weather conditions.
• Inspect masonry reinforcement for size, length of lap splices, clearances between bars, clearances to masonry units and outside face of walls, alignment, cleanouts, and presence of loose rust, oil, or millscale.

Concrete Wall Inspection

• Verify that concrete walls are in compliance with standards and material characteristics, and that proper precautions are used for adverse weather conditions.
• Verify that prefabricated walls and wall forms are installed in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and approved plans.

Braced Wall Panels

• Verify that walls are braced to prevent lateral displacement and that loads are transferred to the foundation.

Interior Coverings

• Verify that wall and ceiling coverings are correct type and thickness and are correctly supported and fastened.
• Inspect walls, floor, and ceiling finishes in bathtub and shower spaces for compliance with the code.

Exterior Sheathing, Veneers, and Weather-Resistant Coverings

• Verify that exterior sheathing, veneers, and weather-resistant siding materials are correctly sized, identified, and installed; protected against termites and decay, and have appropriate clearances to finish grade.
• Verify that exterior veneers and weather-resistive siding have correct anchorage, support, and backing.
• Verify that a weather-resistant barrier is correctly installed for all walls and around all wall openings.

Exterior Plaster, Stucco, and Lath

• Verify that plaster, stucco, and metal lath have correct thickness and fasteners, and are correctly installed.

Roof/Ceiling Construction 14%

Roof/Ceiling Insulation and Vapor Barriers

• Verify that insulation is of permitted materials, is provided where required, and is correctly installed. Verify that vapor and moisture barriers are correctly installed.

Attics/Ceiling

• Verify that attic and ceiling area construction has proper ventilation, screens, and access.

Roof Framing

• Inspect roof rafters, collar beams, and ceiling joists for compliance with span, grade, type, connections, bearing, and quality requirements.
• Verify that trusses are in accordance with the drawings and properly spaced, braced, and supported.

Roof Sheathing

• Inspect roof sheathing for proper thickness, grade, support, and fastening.

Roofs and Roof Coverings and Reroofing

• Verify correct classification of roof coverings, roof slope, installation, flashings, and details, and method of roof drainage.
• Verify that residences that are reroofed comply with code, design, and installation standards.

Fireplaces and Chimneys

• Verify that fireplaces, flues, and chimneys are correctly designed and have required clearances from combustible construction.

Public Safety and Special Construction 17%

Means of Egress

• Inspect for compliance with the means of egress requirements for the building, including emergency egress for sleeping areas.
• Verify that doors and windows intended for use as emergency egress have correct clear opening areas, width, and heights.

Exit Stairways and Ramps

• Verify that stairways and ramps have correct width, rise, run, slope, landings, headroom, height, guardrails, and handrails.

Exterior Construction

• Verify that exterior stairs, ramps, porches, decks, and balconies that are open to the weather are constructed to support designed loads; are of suitable materials; and have required slope and width, tread, riser, headroom, guardrails, and handrail dimensions.

Smoke Detectors

• Inspect smoke detectors for compliance with proper installation, power supply, and locations.

Flamespread of Insulation and Finishes

• Verify that interior wall and ceiling finishes, insulation, and foam plastics comply with flame spread and smoke density requirements.

Safety Glazing

• Verify that safety glazing is installed and labeled where required.

Exam Policies

Results for examinations taken online or at a testing site are available immediately after completion of the examination. For National and UST/AST Certification Exams, The candidate will have six exam attempts within a six-month period. They are responsible for paying the exam fee at every attempt. Once they have attempted an exam six times, they must wait six months from the first attempt to register again.

Preparatory Guide for Residential Building Inspector (B1)

The Preparatory guide gives you a step-by-step learning path to prepare for the B1 Residential Building Inspector exam and validate your skills for better opportunities.

Visit the Official Website 

Touring the ICC official website is an important step while preparing for the exam like Residential Building Inspector (B1). Also, the official website provides a lot of essential information and sources which is very helpful in preparing for the exam. Further, resources such as study guides, courses, sample papers, training programs, whitepapers, documentation, faqs, etc. The candidate can find all such important things on the official page.

Refer the Exam Guide

Before starting your preparation, it is very important to known the course structure and exam guide. For the examination, you should visit the official website to get the B1 Residential Building Inspector study guide and course outline. Below are the objectives of the Residential Building Inspector (B1) examination:

• Code Administration
• Building Planning
• Footings and Foundations
• Floor Construction
• Wall Construction and Coverings
• Roof/Ceiling Construction
• Public Safety and Special Construction

ICC Learning Center

The candidate can also go to ICC Learning Center. The ICC Learning Center offers training programs on every exam. The ICC Learning Center provides programs for a particular exam that contain all information on the exam such as description, intended audience, delivery method, duration, etc. The candidate should join a training program to gain knowledge and skills for Residential Building Inspector certification. With the training courses with ICC, the candidate will receive in-person instruction from ICC experts in one of their state-of-the-art training facilities. This is a fully hands-on learning experience with a subject matter expert to guide the candidates through each exercise and answer all their questions. 

Legal Aspects of Code Administration

Code Official Institute

Procedures for Officers and Inspectors

Join a Study Group 

Joining a group study or an online community will also be useful for the candidate. It will help them to do more hard work. Also, studying in the group will help them to stay connected with the other people who are on the same pathway as them. Also, the discussion of such study groups will benefit the students in their exams.

Evaluate with Free Practice Test 

Practice tests are the one which ensures the candidate about their preparation. The B1 Residential Building Inspector practice exam test will help the candidates to acknowledge their weak areas so that they can work on them. There are many B1 Residential Building Inspector practice tests available on the internet nowadays, so the candidate can choose which they want. The candidate can start taking the Residential Building Inspector sample exam Now!