Free ICC B2 Practice Test
This free ICC B2 practice test has 40 original, unofficial questions: 14 on the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) and 26 using supplied fictional plans or specifications—not assumed code minimums. Keep your IBC open and practice finding the rule, not just remembering it.
Question 1 of 40
B2P-01 · Public Safety and Special Construction · 2024 IBC
An open-sided mezzanine in a Group B office building has a walking surface 9 ft above the floor below. The contractor proposes a 36-in guard along the open edge. What is the minimum guard height?
- A. 34 in
- B. 36 in
- C. 42 in
- D. 48 in
Show answer and explanation for Question 1
Answer: C. 42 in
Required guards must be at least 42 in high, measured vertically from the adjacent walking surface. The proposed 36-in guard is 6 in short.
Why not the others:
- A: 34 in is below the 42-in minimum for this office mezzanine.
- B: The proposed 36-in guard is 6 in below the required height.
- D: 48 in exceeds the minimum; the question asks for the minimum, not a taller permissible guard.
Find it: Chapter 10 → Section 1015 Guards → 1015.3 · Code section: 2024 IBC 1015.3
Source: ICC-authored 2024 IBC technical article: guards at retaining walls, discussion of Section 1015.3
Question 2 of 40
B2P-02 · Building Planning · 2024 IBC
A stand-alone tenant space will be a small coffee shop with an occupant load of 45. It has no other uses. How is it classified?
- A. Group A-2
- B. Group B
- C. Group M
- D. Group A-3
Show answer and explanation for Question 2
Answer: B. Group B
A building or tenant space used for assembly purposes with an occupant load of less than 50 is classified as Group B. Food-and-drink assembly would normally point to A-2, but this small-space rule changes the answer at 45 occupants.
Why not the others:
- A: A-2 is the usual group for food-and-drink assembly, but the separate small-tenant-space rule applies to the 45-person use in this question.
- C: Group M is mercantile (retail sales), not the assembly use described here.
- D: A-3 covers other assembly uses, and the small-space rule would still apply to this tenant space.
- Trap to avoid: the 750-sq-ft rule in 303.1.2 is for accessory assembly rooms inside another occupancy. It isn't the test for a stand-alone tenant space.
Find it: Chapter 3 → Section 303 Assembly Group A → 303.1.1 Small buildings and tenant spaces · Code section: 2024 IBC 303.1.1
Source: ICC, 2024 IBC Chapter 3 sample, Sections 303.1.1 and 303.5, printed pages 67–68
Question 3 of 40
B2P-03 · Wall Construction and Coverings · Supplied plan/specification
A single 2×6 stud (actual depth 5½ in) sits in an exterior bearing wall. The fictional project detail limits a notch in this stud to 25% of its actual depth; no reinforced or engineered alternative is shown. What is the deepest notch permitted by that detail?
- A. About 0.92 in
- B. 2.2 in
- C. 2.75 in
- D. 1⅜ in
Show answer and explanation for Question 3
Answer: D. 1⅜ in
The supplied detail limits the notch to 25% of the actual stud depth. 5.5 × 0.25 = 1.375 in, or 1⅜ in.
Math: 5.5 in × 0.25 = 1.375 in
Why not the others:
- A: About 0.92 in is one-sixth of the depth, not the 25% specified here.
- B: 2.2 in is 40% of the depth, above this detail’s limit.
- C: 2.75 in is half the depth, also above the limit.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 4 of 40
B2P-04 · General Administration · 2024 IBC
Under the unamended 2024 IBC, an owner wants to build a one-story detached accessory storage shed with 150 sq ft of floor area. Is a building permit required?
- A. Yes. The IBC exemption covers only structures up to 120 sq ft
- B. No. Sheds up to 200 sq ft are exempt
- C. No. Any one-story detached structure is exempt
- D. No, as long as the shed has no electrical work
Show answer and explanation for Question 4
Answer: A. Yes. The IBC exemption covers only structures up to 120 sq ft
The IBC exempts one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses only when the floor area isn't more than 120 sq ft. At 150 sq ft, this shed needs a building permit. An exemption also never excuses work from meeting the code.
Why not the others:
- B: The model-code exemption in this question stops at 120 sq ft, not 200 sq ft.
- C: Being one story is only one condition. The floor-area limit still applies.
- D: Electrical work is a separate permit question. It doesn't change the building-permit exemption.
Find it: Chapter 1 → Section 105 Permits → 105.2 Work exempt from permit → Building, item 1 · Code section: 2024 IBC 105.2 (Building, item 1)
Source: 2024 IBC Section 105.2, original model text reproduced in an annotated Indiana proposal, PDF page 11
Question 5 of 40
B2P-05 · Public Safety and Special Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A room in a Group B building has an occupant load of 240. For this fictional exercise, the egress calculation sheet specifies 0.2 in per occupant for doors and other non-stair components, with no reduction. What width results from the capacity calculation alone—not the final combined installed width after individual-door and exit-number checks?
- A. 32 in
- B. 36 in
- C. 48 in
- D. 72 in
Show answer and explanation for Question 5
Answer: C. 48 in
The supplied capacity factor is 0.2 in per occupant. 240 × 0.2 = 48 in of calculated capacity width. This does not establish a complete door layout: individual clear widths, the number of exits and other applicable requirements are separate checks.
Math: 240 occupants × 0.2 in per occupant = 48 in
Why not the others:
- A: A single 32-in dimension does not apply the supplied factor to all 240 occupants.
- B: 36 in uses 0.15 in per occupant, a factor not supplied for this exercise.
- D: 72 in uses 0.3 in per occupant rather than the specified 0.2.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 6 of 40
B2P-06 · Floor Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A 2,400-sq-ft crawl space has a bare earth floor and natural ventilation openings in the foundation walls. Its fictional ventilation schedule requires 1 sq ft of net opening area per 150 sq ft of crawl-space floor. What total net opening area does that schedule require?
- A. 1.6 sq ft
- B. 16 sq ft
- C. 8 sq ft
- D. 24 sq ft
Show answer and explanation for Question 6
Answer: B. 16 sq ft
Use the supplied ratio: 1 sq ft of net ventilation area for each 150 sq ft of crawl space. 2,400 ÷ 150 = 16 sq ft.
Math: 2,400 sq ft ÷ 150 = 16 sq ft
Why not the others:
- A: 1.6 sq ft divides by 1,500, not the scheduled 150.
- C: 8 sq ft divides by 300.
- D: 24 sq ft divides by 100.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 7 of 40
B2P-07 · Building Planning · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional site-plan note requires this distance to be measured perpendicular to the front wall, ending at the centerline of the public street right-of-way. The wall is parallel to the front lot line and 10 ft back from it; that lot line is the near edge of a 40-ft-wide right-of-way. What distance should be entered?
- A. 10 ft
- B. 20 ft
- C. 50 ft
- D. 30 ft
Show answer and explanation for Question 7
Answer: D. 30 ft
Follow the endpoint named on the plan: 10 ft to the near right-of-way edge plus half the 40-ft right-of-way. The total is 30 ft. The width given is the full right-of-way, not just the paved roadway.
Math: 10 ft + (40 ft ÷ 2) = 30 ft
Why not the others:
- A: 10 ft stops at the lot line instead of the centerline specified on the plan.
- B: 20 ft is only half the right-of-way width.
- C: 50 ft measures to the far edge, not the centerline.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 8 of 40
B2P-08 · Public Safety and Special Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional office-stair detail specifies risers from 4 in through 7 in and rectangular treads at least 11 in deep. The measured risers are 7¼ in and the treads are 11 in. No alternative detail applies. What fails the stated criteria?
- A. The risers exceed the 7-in maximum; the treads comply
- B. Both dimensions comply
- C. The treads are too shallow; the risers comply
- D. Both dimensions fail
Show answer and explanation for Question 8
Answer: A. The risers exceed the 7-in maximum; the treads comply
The detail allows risers from 4 to 7 in and treads at least 11 in deep. The 11-in treads pass, and the 7¼-in risers are a quarter inch too tall.
Why not the others:
- B: The risers exceed the stated maximum by ¼ in.
- C: 11 in meets the tread minimum exactly.
- D: Only the risers fail.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 9 of 40
B2P-09 · Footings and Foundations · Supplied plan/specification
At one location, a fictional foundation section shows undisturbed ground at elevation 102.00 ft and the bottom of the footing at elevation 101.00 ft. How far below that ground surface is the bottom of the footing?
- A. 6 in
- B. 12 in
- C. 18 in
- D. 24 in
Show answer and explanation for Question 9
Answer: B. 12 in
Subtract the elevations first: 102.00 − 101.00 = 1.00 ft. Then convert 1 ft to 12 in. This reads the drawing; it does not establish the required footing depth for a real project.
Math: (102.00 ft − 101.00 ft) × 12 in per ft = 12 in
Why not the others:
- A: 6 in is only half a foot.
- C: 18 in would require a 1.5-ft elevation difference.
- D: 24 in would require a 2-ft elevation difference.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 10 of 40
B2P-10 · Wall Construction and Coverings · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional wall detail uses 36-in-wide felt courses installed horizontally. Each course has 34 in exposed after the next course is installed; a separate note specifies 6-in laps at vertical end joints. What horizontal overlap is shown by the course layout?
- A. 1 in
- B. 4 in
- C. 2 in
- D. 6 in
Show answer and explanation for Question 10
Answer: C. 2 in
Subtract the exposed course height from the full width: 36 − 34 = 2 in. The separate 6-in note is for vertical end joints, not the horizontal overlap.
Math: 36 in − 34 in = 2 in
Why not the others:
- A: 1 in would leave 35 in exposed.
- B: 4 in would leave 32 in exposed.
- D: 6 in belongs to the separate vertical-end-joint note.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 11 of 40
B2P-11 · Public Safety and Special Construction · 2024 IBC
A single-pane fixed window has 10 sq ft of exposed glass area. Its bottom edge is 16 in above the floor, its top edge is 6 ft above the floor, and a walkway runs 24 in horizontally from the glass. The glass is not decorative, and no qualifying protective rail is installed. It isn't in or near a door, stair, wet area or guard. Is it a hazardous location that requires safety glazing?
- A. Yes. All four conditions for an individual pane are met
- B. No. The top edge is more than 60 in above the floor
- C. No. Only glazing in doors is regulated
- D. No. The walkway would have to be more than 36 in away
Show answer and explanation for Question 11
Answer: A. Yes. All four conditions for an individual pane are met
An individual fixed or operable pane is a hazardous location when all four conditions are true: exposed area over 9 sq ft, bottom edge less than 18 in above the floor, top edge more than 36 in above the floor, and a walking surface within 36 in horizontally. This panel meets all four (10 sq ft; 16 in; 72 in; 24 in).
Why not the others:
- B: This test uses a top-edge threshold of more than 36 in, not 60 in.
- C: Door glazing is one hazardous location among several. Individual panes are covered too.
- D: This reverses the condition. A walking surface within 36 in is what makes the location hazardous.
Find it: Chapter 24 → Section 2406 Safety Glazing → 2406.4 → 2406.4.3 · Code section: 2024 IBC 2406.4.3
Source: ICC-authored 2024 IBC technical article reproducing Section 2406.4.3 and its exceptions
Question 12 of 40
B2P-12 · Building Planning · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional room schedule specifies these minimum clear ceiling heights: corridor 7 ft 6 in, habitable room 8 ft, occupiable office 8 ft, and storage room 7 ft. Which listed space can meet its scheduled minimum with exactly 84 in of clear height?
- A. A corridor
- B. A habitable room
- C. An occupiable office
- D. A storage room
Show answer and explanation for Question 12
Answer: D. A storage room
84 in is 7 ft, so it meets the storage-room entry exactly. The corridor needs 90 in; the habitable room and office each need 96 in under this schedule.
Math: 84 in ÷ 12 = 7 ft; 7.5 ft × 12 = 90 in; 8 ft × 12 = 96 in
Why not the others:
- A: The corridor needs 90 in, which is 6 in more than available.
- B: The habitable-room entry requires 96 in.
- C: The office entry also requires 96 in.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 13 of 40
B2P-13 · Roof/Ceiling Construction · Supplied plan/specification
For a fictional 1,800-sq-ft attic, the supplied ventilation design requires net free vent area equal to 1/300 of the attic area. The specified screened vents provide net free area equal to 50% of their gross opening area. What total gross opening area is needed?
- A. 6 sq ft
- B. 1.2 sq ft
- C. 12 sq ft
- D. 18 sq ft
Show answer and explanation for Question 13
Answer: C. 12 sq ft
First calculate the required net free area: 1,800 ÷ 300 = 6 sq ft. Only half the gross openings count as net free area for the selected vents, so 6 ÷ 0.50 = 12 sq ft of gross openings is needed.
Math: 1,800 sq ft ÷ 300 = 6 sq ft net; 6 sq ft ÷ 0.50 = 12 sq ft gross
Why not the others:
- A: 6 sq ft is the required net free area, not the gross opening area.
- B: 1.2 sq ft is a decimal-place error.
- D: 18 sq ft exceeds the calculated gross area; it is not the required minimum under this design.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 14 of 40
B2P-14 · Public Safety and Special Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional egress schedule specifies 2 exits or access to exits for 1–500 occupants per story, 3 for 501–1,000, and 4 for more than 1,000; no alternate path applies in this exercise. One story has an occupant load of 650. What minimum number does the schedule assign?
- A. 2
- B. 3
- C. 4
- D. 5
Show answer and explanation for Question 14
Answer: B. 3
650 falls in the 501-to-1,000 row, which calls for 3 exits or access to exits. Apply the row for this story’s occupant load.
Why not the others:
- A: 2 covers only up to 500 occupants under the supplied schedule.
- C: 4 starts above 1,000 in this schedule.
- D: No row calls for 5.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 15 of 40
B2P-15 · Wall Construction and Coverings · Supplied plan/specification
A single 2×4 bearing-wall stud has an actual depth of 3½ in and no notch at the proposed hole location. Its fictional detail limits hole diameter to 40% of actual depth and requires at least ⅝ in of wood between the hole edge and either stud face. No alternative detail applies. Which hole meets both criteria?
- A. A 1¼-in hole centered in the stud
- B. A 1½-in hole centered in the stud
- C. A 1¼-in hole with its edge ½ in from the stud face
- D. A 2-in hole centered in the stud
Show answer and explanation for Question 15
Answer: A. A 1¼-in hole centered in the stud
The maximum diameter is 3.5 × 0.40 = 1.4 in. A centered 1¼-in hole leaves (3.5 − 1.25) ÷ 2 = 1.125 in, or 1⅛ in, on each side, so it passes both tests.
Math: 3.5 in × 0.40 = 1.4 in; (3.5 in − 1.25 in) ÷ 2 = 1.125 in
Why not the others:
- B: 1½ in is larger than the 1.4-in maximum.
- C: The size is fine, but ½ in is closer than the required ⅝ in to the stud face.
- D: A 2-in hole exceeds the 1.4-in diameter limit.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 16 of 40
B2P-16 · Building Planning · 2024 IBC
A fire wall separates two parts of a building whose roofs are at the same height. None of the exceptions apply. What is the minimum height the fire wall must extend above both roofs?
- A. 18 in
- B. 24 in
- C. 36 in
- D. 30 in
Show answer and explanation for Question 16
Answer: D. 30 in
Fire walls must be continuous from the foundation to a point at least 30 in above both adjacent roofs. The section lists exceptions that change this under specific conditions, which is why the question rules them out.
Why not the others:
- A: 18 in is 12 in short of the required extension.
- B: 24 in is 6 in short.
- C: 36 in exceeds the minimum; it is not the minimum asked for.
Find it: Chapter 7 → Section 706 Fire Walls → 706.6 Vertical continuity · Code section: 2024 IBC 706.6
Source: ICC, 2024 Fire Safety hearing monograph, original Section 706.6, PDF page 34
Question 17 of 40
B2P-17 · Floor Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional slab detail specifies at least 3½ in of concrete over 6-mil polyethylene, with polyethylene joints lapped at least 6 in. No substitution is shown. Which proposed assembly meets all three stated minimums?
- A. 3-in slab; 4-mil polyethylene with joints lapped 6 in
- B. 3½-in slab; 6-mil polyethylene with joints lapped 6 in
- C. 4-in slab; 10-mil polyethylene with joints lapped 2 in
- D. 3½-in slab; 6-mil polyethylene with joints lapped 4 in
Show answer and explanation for Question 17
Answer: B. 3½-in slab; 6-mil polyethylene with joints lapped 6 in
The second proposal meets the supplied thickness, material-thickness and lap minimums: 3½ in, 6 mil and 6 in. A thicker slab or heavier sheet does not make an undersized lap acceptable under this detail.
Why not the others:
- A: Both the slab thickness and polyethylene thickness fall short.
- C: The slab and sheet thicknesses meet or exceed the minimums, but the 2-in lap fails.
- D: The thicknesses are right, but a 4-in lap is less than the required 6 in.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 18 of 40
B2P-18 · Public Safety and Special Construction · 2024 IBC
A 9,600-gross-sq-ft space is used entirely as an information technology equipment facility. It contains no offices, training rooms, break rooms or other uses. Using the occupant load factor for that function, what is the occupant load?
- A. 64
- B. 96
- C. 32
- D. 48
Show answer and explanation for Question 18
Answer: C. 32
The 2024 IBC added a separate occupant load factor for information technology equipment facilities: 300 gross sq ft per occupant. 9,600 ÷ 300 = 32 occupants.
Math: 9,600 gross sq ft ÷ 300 = 32 occupants
Why not the others:
- A: 64 divides by 150.
- B: 96 divides by 100.
- D: 48 divides by 200.
- None of those is the factor for this function. Use the row for the actual function of the space, and notice whether a factor is gross or net.
Find it: Chapter 10 → Section 1004 Occupant Load → Table 1004.5 · Code section: 2024 IBC Table 1004.5
Source: 2024 IBC code text reproduced in the Shums Coda update handout, slide 57
Question 19 of 40
B2P-19 · General Administration · 2024 IBC
Under the unamended 2024 IBC, a building permit is issued, but work is never started and no extension is granted. When does the permit become invalid?
- A. 180 days after issuance
- B. 90 days after issuance
- C. 1 year after issuance
- D. 2 years after issuance
Show answer and explanation for Question 19
Answer: A. 180 days after issuance
A permit becomes invalid if the authorized work isn't commenced within 180 days after issuance, or if the work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after it starts. The building official can grant extensions, which is why the question excludes an extension.
Why not the others:
- B, C and D aren't the time limit in 105.5. A local amendment could change it, but the model code says 180 days.
Find it: Chapter 1 → Section 105 Permits → 105.5 · Code section: 2024 IBC 105.5
Source: 2024 IBC Section 105.5, original model text reproduced in an annotated Indiana proposal, PDF page 12
Question 20 of 40
B2P-20 · Wall Construction and Coverings · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional stucco-wall detail requires a weep screed at least 4 in above earth and 2 in above paving. The section shows the screed bottom at elevation 100 ft 0 in, earth at 99 ft 8 in and paving at 99 ft 10 in. What clearances are shown?
- A. 2 in above earth; 1 in above paved areas
- B. 6 in above earth; 4 in above paved areas
- C. 8 in above earth; 6 in above paved areas
- D. 4 in above earth; 2 in above paved areas
Show answer and explanation for Question 20
Answer: D. 4 in above earth; 2 in above paved areas
The screed is 4 in above the earth and 2 in above the paving. Both measurements meet the minimums printed on this fictional detail exactly.
Math: 100 ft 0 in − 99 ft 8 in = 4 in; 100 ft 0 in − 99 ft 10 in = 2 in
Why not the others:
- A: Both measurements understate the elevation differences.
- B: Both measurements overstate the differences by 2 in.
- C: Both measurements overstate the differences by 4 in.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 21 of 40
B2P-21 · Building Planning · 2024 IBC
An indoor arena has permanent spectator seating for 700 people and hosts basketball games. Which assembly group fits this use?
- A. Group A-1
- B. Group A-2
- C. Group A-4
- D. Group A-3
Show answer and explanation for Question 21
Answer: C. Group A-4
Group A-4 is for viewing indoor sporting events and activities with spectator seating. ICC's examples include arenas, skating rinks, swimming pools and tennis courts. The deciding features are the sporting event and the spectators, not merely having seats.
Why not the others:
- A: A-1 is for producing and viewing the performing arts or motion pictures, usually with fixed seating. Fixed seats alone don't make a space A-1.
- B: A-2 is for food and drink consumption.
- D: A-3 covers indoor recreation without spectator seating, such as a gymnasium with no stands. Adding spectator seating for sporting events moves it to A-4.
Find it: Chapter 3 → Section 303 Assembly Group A → 303.5 Assembly Group A-4 · Code section: 2024 IBC 303.5
Source: ICC, 2024 IBC Chapter 3 sample, Sections 303.1.1 and 303.5, printed pages 67–68
Question 22 of 40
B2P-22 · Public Safety and Special Construction · 2024 IBC
A wall finish tested to ASTM E84 has a flame spread index of 60 and a smoke-developed index of 300. What is its classification?
- A. Class A
- B. Class B
- C. Class C
- D. Unclassified, because the smoke-developed index is over 200
Show answer and explanation for Question 22
Answer: B. Class B
Class A is a flame spread index of 0 to 25, Class B is 26 to 75, and Class C is 76 to 200. All three classes require a smoke-developed index of 450 or less. A flame spread of 60 with smoke-developed 300 is Class B.
Why not the others:
- A: 60 is above the Class A range.
- C: Class C starts at 76.
- D: The smoke-developed limit is 450 for every class, not 200. The 200 figure is the top of the Class C flame spread range.
Find it: Chapter 8 → Section 803 Wall and Ceiling Finishes → 803.1.2 · Code section: 2024 IBC 803.1.2
Source: ICC, 2024 Fire Safety hearing monograph, original Section 803.1.2, PDF page 203
Question 23 of 40
B2P-23 · Footings and Foundations · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional foundation plan tags the footing below wall W2 as F2. The footing schedule lists F1 = 12 in wide × 6 in thick, F2 = 15 in wide × 6 in thick, and F3 = 18 in wide × 8 in thick. What dimensions should be read for the footing below W2?
- A. 15 in wide × 6 in thick
- B. 12 in wide × 6 in thick
- C. 18 in wide × 8 in thick
- D. 15 in wide × 8 in thick
Show answer and explanation for Question 23
Answer: A. 15 in wide × 6 in thick
Follow the footing tag, not the wall number: W2 points to F2, and the F2 schedule entry is 15 in wide × 6 in thick. The schedule is supplied practice data, not a universal footing design.
Why not the others:
- B: 12 × 6 in is the F1 entry.
- C: 18 × 8 in is the F3 entry.
- D: This mixes the F2 width with the F3 thickness.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 24 of 40
B2P-24 · Wall Construction and Coverings · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional exterior-foundation detail requires any sill plate in contact with concrete and less than 8 in above exposed earth to be naturally durable or preservative-treated. An installed wood sill meets the concrete at 6 in above earth; it is neither naturally durable nor treated. Which conclusion follows from this detail?
- A. It's acceptable because the clearance is 6 in
- B. It's acceptable if the wood is painted
- C. The detail requires the plate to be raised to at least 12 in
- D. The plate needs naturally durable or preservative-treated wood because its clearance is less than 8 in
Show answer and explanation for Question 24
Answer: D. The plate needs naturally durable or preservative-treated wood because its clearance is less than 8 in
The plate meets both conditions in the supplied detail: contact with the exterior concrete foundation and a clearance below 8 in. At 6 in, this untreated, nondurable plate does not meet that detail.
Why not the others:
- A: The detail uses 8 in as its trigger, not 6 in.
- B: Paint is not a listed alternative in the supplied detail.
- C: The detail specifies a protection requirement; it does not prescribe a 12-in elevation.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 25 of 40
B2P-25 · Public Safety and Special Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional door schedule assigns hardware set PH to every latched swinging egress door from an 80-person Group A banquet room, including its main exit. The legend defines PH as listed panic hardware or listed fire exit hardware, as applicable to the door assembly, and shows no alternate set. What hardware does this schedule require?
- A. Panic hardware is needed only once the occupant load reaches 100
- B. Panic hardware or fire exit hardware is required
- C. It isn't required unless the room is Group H
- D. It's required on the main entrance door only
Show answer and explanation for Question 25
Answer: B. Panic hardware or fire exit hardware is required
Every described egress door is assigned set PH. The legend therefore calls for panic hardware or fire exit hardware, as applicable, on each of those doors. This answer follows the supplied schedule rather than trying to resolve model-code locking exceptions.
Why not the others:
- A: The supplied schedule does not use a 100-person threshold.
- C: The schedule assigns PH to this room; it does not limit that assignment to Group H.
- D: PH is assigned to every described latched egress door, not only the main entrance.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 26 of 40
B2P-26 · Roof/Ceiling Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional attic-access detail calls for a finished clear opening of at least 20 in × 30 in and clear headroom of at least 30 in above it. The rough opening is 23 in × 33 in; a frame reduces each dimension by 1½ in on each of its two sides. Measured headroom is 31 in. Which description gives the finished clear opening and the required headroom check?
- A. 22 in × 30 in
- B. 18 in × 24 in
- C. 20 in × 30 in, with at least 30 in of clear headroom at or above the opening
- D. 30 in × 30 in
Show answer and explanation for Question 26
Answer: C. 20 in × 30 in, with at least 30 in of clear headroom at or above the opening
Deduct both frame sides from each rough-opening dimension: 23 − 3 = 20 in and 33 − 3 = 30 in. The measured 31-in headroom exceeds the detail’s 30-in minimum, so both checks pass.
Math: 23 − 2 × 1.5 = 20 in; 33 − 2 × 1.5 = 30 in; 31 in ≥ 30 in
Why not the others:
- A: A 22-in width does not subtract the two 1½-in frame sides correctly.
- B: Neither clear dimension follows from the supplied frame thickness.
- D: The finished width is 20 in, not 30 in.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 27 of 40
B2P-27 · Building Planning · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional grading detail calls for the ground to fall away from the foundation at 5% over a horizontal distance of 10 ft, measured perpendicular to the wall. What vertical fall meets that specified slope exactly?
- A. 6 in over 10 ft
- B. 3 in over 10 ft
- C. 12 in over 10 ft
- D. 2.4 in over 10 ft
Show answer and explanation for Question 27
Answer: A. 6 in over 10 ft
Convert the horizontal run to inches before multiplying: 10 ft = 120 in. Then 5% of 120 in is 6 in.
Math: 10 ft × 12 in per ft × 0.05 = 6 in
Why not the others:
- B: 3 in over 10 ft is 2.5%.
- C: 12 in over 10 ft is 10%, more than the specified 5%.
- D: 2.4 in over 10 ft is 2%, not 5%.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 28 of 40
B2P-28 · Public Safety and Special Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional combustible-wall detail requires fireblocking at floor and ceiling levels and at intervals of no more than 10 ft measured horizontally along a continuous concealed furred space. That space runs 14 ft along the wall between its end blocks. Which arrangement meets the detail?
- A. Fireblocking at the floor level only
- B. No additional blocking, because the wall length is under 15 ft
- C. An attic-area draftstopping note instead of the specified wall fireblocking
- D. Fireblocking at floor and ceiling levels, plus an intermediate block along the wall so horizontal intervals do not exceed 10 ft
Show answer and explanation for Question 28
Answer: D. Fireblocking at floor and ceiling levels, plus an intermediate block along the wall so horizontal intervals do not exceed 10 ft
Keep the two directions separate. Floor and ceiling blocks close the vertical path. Along the 14-ft horizontal run, at least one intermediate block is needed so neither resulting interval exceeds 10 ft; a midpoint block would create two 7-ft intervals. A 14-ft wall height alone would not establish this horizontal-spacing need.
Math: 14 ft ÷ 2 = 7 ft; 7 ft ≤ 10 ft
Why not the others:
- A: Floor-level blocking alone omits the ceiling and the horizontal-interval requirement.
- B: The supplied maximum interval is 10 ft; it does not contain a 15-ft exemption.
- C: A different attic-area note does not satisfy this wall detail’s requirements.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 29 of 40
B2P-29 · Wall Construction and Coverings · 2024 IBC
The window manufacturer’s instructions do not address a particular junction between the window and exterior wall assembly. Under 2024 IBC Section 1404.4.1, which of these is an expressly recognized way to address that unaddressed flashing condition?
- A. Omit flashing because no manufacturer detail is available
- B. Install flashing only at the head, regardless of the junction
- C. Follow a flashing design or method of a registered design professional
- D. Use the same detail only when the site is in a cold climate zone
Show answer and explanation for Question 29
Answer: C. Follow a flashing design or method of a registered design professional
When the fenestration manufacturer’s instructions do not address a condition, Section 1404.4.1 recognizes alternatives that include the water-resistive-barrier manufacturer’s instructions, the flashing manufacturer’s instructions, a registered design professional’s flashing design or method, and other approved methods. Choice C is one of those express alternatives.
Why not the others:
- A: A missing manufacturer detail does not remove the flashing requirement.
- B: An arbitrary head-only approach is not one of the listed alternatives for resolving the unaddressed condition.
- D: The listed alternatives are not limited to cold climate zones.
Find it: Chapter 14 → Section 1404 Installation of Wall Coverings → 1404.4.1 Fenestration flashing · Code section: 2024 IBC 1404.4.1
Source: 2024 IBC Section 1404.4.1 reproduced in IIBEC’s building-enclosure code-change report
Question 30 of 40
B2P-30 · Floor Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A sawn-lumber 2×10 floor joist has an actual depth of 9¼ in. Its fictional framing detail permits an end notch no deeper than one-fourth of that depth. What is the maximum notch depth under the detail?
- A. About 1.54 in
- B. About 2.31 in
- C. About 3.08 in
- D. About 4.63 in
Show answer and explanation for Question 30
Answer: B. About 2.31 in
Apply the end-notch fraction shown in the detail: 9.25 ÷ 4 = 2.3125 in, or about 2.31 in.
Math: 9.25 in ÷ 4 = 2.3125 in ≈ 2.31 in
Why not the others:
- A: About 1.54 in uses one-sixth, not the specified one-fourth.
- C: About 3.08 in uses one-third.
- D: About 4.63 in uses one-half.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 31 of 40
B2P-31 · Public Safety and Special Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional emergency-lighting schedule specifies a backup-power duration of at least 1.5 hours. The equipment data sheet states the duration in minutes. What minimum value meets the schedule?
- A. 90 minutes
- B. 30 minutes
- C. 60 minutes
- D. 120 minutes
Show answer and explanation for Question 31
Answer: A. 90 minutes
Convert hours to minutes: 1.5 × 60 = 90 minutes. A listed duration below 90 minutes does not meet the supplied schedule.
Math: 1.5 hours × 60 minutes per hour = 90 minutes
Why not the others:
- B: 30 minutes is only 0.5 hour.
- C: 60 minutes is only 1 hour.
- D: 120 minutes exceeds the scheduled minimum; it is not the minimum asked for.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 32 of 40
B2P-32 · Building Planning · 2024 IBC
In a building, the highest occupied floor is 69 ft above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. A roof deck that people use, which counts as an occupied roof, is 78 ft above that same level. Is it a high-rise building under the 2024 IBC?
- A. No. Only occupied floors count
- B. No. A roof deck is open to the sky, so it isn't measured
- C. No, unless the building has at least seven stories
- D. Yes. The occupied roof is more than 75 ft above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access
Show answer and explanation for Question 32
Answer: D. Yes. The occupied roof is more than 75 ft above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access
The 2024 IBC defines a high-rise building as one with an occupied floor or an occupied roof located more than 75 ft above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. The 69-ft top floor alone wouldn't trigger it, but the 78-ft occupied roof does.
Why not the others:
- A and B: The 2024 definition expressly includes an occupied roof, so neither exclusion applies.
- C: The definition is based on height above fire department access, not on a story count.
Find it: Chapter 2 → Definitions → High-rise building · Code section: 2024 IBC Chapter 2, definition of High-Rise Building
Source: 2024 IBC code text reproduced in the Shums Coda update handout, slide 12
Question 33 of 40
B2P-33 · Footings and Foundations · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional sill detail specifies bolts at least ½ in in diameter, at least 7 in of embedment, no more than 6 ft on center, at least two bolts per plate piece, and an end bolt 4–12 in from each end. The installation meets the diameter, embedment, spacing and bolt-count criteria, but one end bolt is 18 in from its plate end. Does it meet the detail?
- A. Yes. The diameter, embedment and spacing all comply
- B. Yes. The spacing doesn't exceed 6 ft
- C. No. Each plate section needs a bolt within 12 in of each end
- D. No. The bolts must be ⅝ in in diameter
Show answer and explanation for Question 33
Answer: C. No. Each plate section needs a bolt within 12 in of each end
The end-distance check fails. The supplied detail permits 4–12 in from the plate end, and the measured 18 in exceeds the maximum by 6 in. Passing the diameter, embedment and spacing checks does not cure that separate discrepancy.
Why not the others:
- A and B: Diameter, embedment, spacing and bolt count pass, but the end-distance rule fails.
- D: The supplied detail permits a ½-in minimum diameter; it does not require ⅝ in.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 34 of 40
B2P-34 · Wall Construction and Coverings · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional structural wall schedule tags bearing wall W3 as LS-2: stud designation 600S162-54 at 16 in on center. The partition schedule tags a different, nonbearing wall P1 as 600S125-33 at 24 in on center. A bundle marked 600S125-33 is delivered for W3. Which conclusion follows from the two schedules?
- A. It matches W3 because both stud designations begin with 600
- B. It does not match the specified W3 stud designation; W3 calls for 600S162-54 at 16 in on center
- C. The nonbearing P1 schedule automatically controls all steel walls
- D. The bundle’s invoice overrides the structural wall schedule
Show answer and explanation for Question 34
Answer: B. It does not match the specified W3 stud designation; W3 calls for 600S162-54 at 16 in on center
Match the complete designation and the wall tag. W3 points to LS-2 and requires 600S162-54 at 16 in on center. The delivered designation belongs to the separate P1 entry; a shared prefix does not make the two entries interchangeable.
Why not the others:
- A: Matching only the first part of a designation ignores the different remainder.
- C: The question assigns W3 to the structural schedule, not the P1 partition entry.
- D: Nothing in the supplied documents gives the invoice authority to change the wall schedule.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 35 of 40
B2P-35 · Public Safety and Special Construction · 2024 IBC
A Group B laboratory fire area is used to research and test lithium-ion batteries. It is not a manufacturing or storage use. Under the 2024 IBC, what sprinkler protection is required?
- A. An automatic sprinkler system throughout the fire areas used for that research or testing
- B. Sprinklers only over the test benches
- C. Sprinklers only if the lab is larger than 2,500 sq ft
- D. None, unless the lab is classified Group H
Show answer and explanation for Question 35
Answer: A. An automatic sprinkler system throughout the fire areas used for that research or testing
New in the 2024 IBC, 903.2.2.2 requires an automatic sprinkler system throughout the fire areas used for research and development or testing of lithium-ion or lithium metal batteries. The protection attaches to the fire area, not just the equipment.
Why not the others:
- B: The rule covers the fire area, not just the workstations.
- C: Section 903.2.2.2 does not include a 2,500-sq-ft threshold.
- D: This requirement applies to the described Group B laboratory; Group H classification is not a prerequisite.
Find it: Chapter 9 → Section 903 Automatic Sprinkler Systems → 903.2.2.2 · Code section: 2024 IBC 903.2.2.2
Source: 2024 IBC code text reproduced in the Shums Coda update handout, slide 51
Question 36 of 40
B2P-36 · General Administration · 2024 IBC
Under the unamended 2024 IBC, when is the required footing and foundation inspection for a concrete foundation made?
- A. After the concrete is placed
- B. Before excavation begins
- C. After backfill
- D. After footing excavations are complete and required reinforcing steel and forms are in place, before concrete placement
Show answer and explanation for Question 36
Answer: D. After footing excavations are complete and required reinforcing steel and forms are in place, before concrete placement
The footing and foundation inspection is made after the footing excavations are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place. For concrete foundations, any required forms must be in place before the inspection. Foundation materials must be on the job, though concrete that is ready-mixed under ASTM C94 doesn't have to be.
Why not the others:
- A: After placement, the excavation and reinforcing can no longer be seen.
- B: Before excavation, there's nothing to inspect yet.
- C: Backfill would cover the work.
Find it: Chapter 1 → Section 110 Inspections → 110.3 → 110.3.1 · Code section: 2024 IBC 110.3.1
Question 37 of 40
B2P-37 · Roof/Ceiling Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional roof rises 18 in over a 72-in horizontal run. Its supplied asphalt-shingle specification permits shingles at 2:12 or steeper, requires double underlayment from 2:12 to less than 4:12, and permits a single-layer path at 4:12 or steeper; no alternative underlayment system is specified. Which choice follows?
- A. No. The roof must be at least 4:12 under this specification
- B. Yes, with the single-layer underlayment path
- C. Yes, with double underlayment under the supplied specification
- D. No. The minimum slope under this specification is 2½:12
Show answer and explanation for Question 37
Answer: C. Yes, with double underlayment under the supplied specification
The slope is (18 ÷ 72) × 12 = 3:12. It is at least 2:12 but below 4:12, so the supplied specification permits asphalt shingles with double underlayment.
Math: (18 in ÷ 72 in) × 12 = 3; slope = 3:12
Why not the others:
- A: The supplied minimum is 2:12, not 4:12.
- B: The single-layer path starts at 4:12, above this roof’s 3:12 slope.
- D: The supplied minimum is 2:12, not 2½:12.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 38 of 40
B2P-38 · Building Planning · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional framing specification requires approved-agency grade marks on the sawn lumber supplied for load-supporting framing. It allows another form of identification only after a written substitution approval. The delivered lumber has no grade marks and no substitution approval. What follows from the specification?
- A. It meets the specification if the supplier’s invoice merely states the grade
- B. It does not meet the stated identification requirement: grade marks are required unless a substitution is approved
- C. It meets the specification if the inspector judges the grade by appearance
- D. It meets the specification with an unapproved contractor letter
Show answer and explanation for Question 38
Answer: B. It does not meet the stated identification requirement: grade marks are required unless a substitution is approved
The specified identification is missing, and the condition for using an alternative has not been met. An invoice, visual opinion or unapproved letter does not satisfy the two paths stated in this fictional specification.
Why not the others:
- A: Merely stating a grade on the invoice is not an approved substitution under the supplied conditions.
- C: Visual judgment is not one of the stated identification paths.
- D: The letter has not received the required substitution approval.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Question 39 of 40
B2P-39 · Wall Construction and Coverings · 2024 IBC
A 1-hour fire-resistance-rated exterior wall has a fire separation distance of 12 ft. The roof/ceiling assembly above it is also rated 1 hour. The wall isn't a fire wall or fire barrier. Where may the wall's fire-resistance rating end?
- A. At the underside of the 1-hour roof/ceiling assembly
- B. At any suspended ceiling, rated or not
- C. It can never end at a roof/ceiling assembly
- D. Only at the roof deck, because the separation distance is more than 10 ft
Show answer and explanation for Question 39
Answer: A. At the underside of the 1-hour roof/ceiling assembly
The 2024 IBC permits the exterior wall's fire-resistance rating to terminate at the underside of a roof/ceiling assembly when that assembly's rating is equal to or greater than the wall's and the fire separation distance is greater than 10 ft. Both are true here (1 hour = 1 hour; 12 ft > 10 ft). This answers where the rating may terminate, not every requirement for the physical wall or a parapet.
Why not the others:
- B: An unrated ceiling doesn't meet the rating condition.
- C: This ignores the option the section gives you.
- D: This turns the distance condition upside down. A separation of more than 10 ft is what allows the rating to stop at the assembly.
Find it: Chapter 7 → Section 705 Exterior Walls → 705.6 · Code section: 2024 IBC 705.6
Source: 2024 IBC code text reproduced in the Shums Coda update handout, slide 34
Question 40 of 40
B2P-40 · Public Safety and Special Construction · Supplied plan/specification
A fictional fire-protection schedule requires either smoke-and-heat vents or mechanical smoke removal for an undivided Group S-1 storage area over 50,000 sq ft, unless an exception expressly listed on the schedule applies. A 60,000-sq-ft general-merchandise warehouse has ordinary standard-spray sprinklers; the schedule expressly says this installation has no applicable exception. What does the schedule require?
- A. Nothing, because the area is under 100,000 sq ft
- B. Nothing, because the building has sprinklers
- C. Smoke and heat removal only after an additional request
- D. Smoke-and-heat vents or a mechanical smoke removal system
Show answer and explanation for Question 40
Answer: D. Smoke-and-heat vents or a mechanical smoke removal system
60,000 sq ft is more than the schedule’s 50,000-sq-ft threshold, and the question excludes its exceptions. Either of the two specified removal methods is required by this fictional schedule.
Why not the others:
- A: The supplied threshold is over 50,000 sq ft, not 100,000.
- B: The question expressly says the installed system does not qualify for an exception.
- C: The schedule already requires one of the two methods; it does not make that requirement conditional on another request.
Basis: The fictional plan/specification and measurements supplied in this question.
Score this practice set
Give yourself one point for each correct answer. An incorrect or unanswered question earns zero. Record your first answer before you open the explanation, and separately mark any correct answer you guessed or could not explain.
After you have answered all 40, divide your correct answers by 40 and multiply by 100. For example, 30 ÷ 40 × 100 = 75.0%. That percentage describes only these practice questions. It is not an ICC scaled score or a prediction of passing; ICC explains that its passing scaled score of 75 does not mean 75% correct.
Answer key
The basis column distinguishes a model-code lookup from a supplied-plan exercise. For a supplied-plan exercise, the written criteria in that question—not an assumed code value—control the answer.
| Question | Answer | Basis or review target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | 2024 IBC 1015.3 |
| 2 | B | 2024 IBC 303.1.1 |
| 3 | D | Supplied plan: Wood wall framing: notching |
| 4 | A | 2024 IBC 105.2 (Building, item 1) |
| 5 | C | Supplied plan: Means of egress capacity |
| 6 | B | Supplied plan: Crawl space ventilation |
| 7 | D | Supplied plan: Fire separation distance |
| 8 | A | Supplied plan: Stairway risers and treads |
| 9 | B | Supplied plan: Footing depth |
| 10 | C | Supplied plan: Water-resistive barrier |
| 11 | A | 2024 IBC 2406.4.3 |
| 12 | D | Supplied plan: Interior space dimensions |
| 13 | C | Supplied plan: Attic ventilation |
| 14 | B | Supplied plan: Number of exits |
| 15 | A | Supplied plan: Wood wall framing: boring |
| 16 | D | 2024 IBC 706.6 |
| 17 | B | Supplied plan: Concrete slabs-on-ground |
| 18 | C | 2024 IBC Table 1004.5 |
| 19 | A | 2024 IBC 105.5 |
| 20 | D | Supplied plan: Exterior plaster: weep screed |
| 21 | C | 2024 IBC 303.5 |
| 22 | B | 2024 IBC 803.1.2 |
| 23 | A | Supplied plan: Footings for light-frame construction |
| 24 | D | Supplied plan: Protection against decay |
| 25 | B | Supplied plan: Panic hardware |
| 26 | C | Supplied plan: Attic access |
| 27 | A | Supplied plan: Site grading |
| 28 | D | Supplied plan: Fireblocking |
| 29 | C | 2024 IBC 1404.4.1 |
| 30 | B | Supplied plan: Wood floor framing: notching |
| 31 | A | Supplied plan: Emergency illumination |
| 32 | D | 2024 IBC Chapter 2, definition of High-Rise Building |
| 33 | C | Supplied plan: Foundation plate anchorage |
| 34 | B | Supplied plan: Cold-formed steel: reading wall schedules |
| 35 | A | 2024 IBC 903.2.2.2 |
| 36 | D | 2024 IBC 110.3.1 |
| 37 | C | Supplied plan: Asphalt shingles |
| 38 | B | Supplied plan: Material quality: lumber |
| 39 | A | 2024 IBC 705.6 |
| 40 | D | Supplied plan: Smoke and heat removal |
Review by area
| Exam area | Weight in ICC’s posted outline | Questions here | Question numbers | Your misses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Safety and Special Construction | 31% | 12 | 1, 5, 8, 11, 14, 18, 22, 25, 28, 31, 35, 40 | |
| Wall Construction and Coverings | 21% | 8 | 3, 10, 15, 20, 24, 29, 34, 39 | |
| Building Planning | 20% | 8 | 2, 7, 12, 16, 21, 27, 32, 38 | |
| Footings and Foundations | 8% | 3 | 9, 23, 33 | |
| Floor Construction | 8% | 3 | 6, 17, 30 | |
| General Administration | 6% | 3 | 4, 19, 36 | |
| Roof/Ceiling Construction | 6% | 3 | 13, 26, 37 | |
| Total | 100% | 40 |
Three to twelve questions per area is a small sample. Use your misses to pick chapters to reread, not to measure how ready you are. The weights come from ICC’s posted B2 content outline (PDF). That outline isn’t dated, so compare it with the Outline tab for your code year in the ICC Exam Catalog. These are editorial study groups, not an official item map; the mix of code and supplied-plan questions does not reproduce the exam blueprint.
Turn misses into lookups
For a code question, check whether you went to the wrong place, stopped reading too soon, or did the math wrong. For a supplied-plan question, check the written criterion before assuming a code minimum. A remembered answer letter won't help you on a new question. Knowing where the rule lives and what condition it turns on will. Log each miss like this:
| Question | What went wrong | Where the answer lives | What I’ll do differently |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example: 5 | Used 0.3 in per occupant instead of the supplied 0.2 | The calculation-sheet criterion in Question 5 | Identify the component and the stated factor before multiplying |
Use these four categories to organize your review:
- Wrong source or chapter. Read the item’s basis label first. For code questions, occupant load is in Chapter 10 and occupancy group is in Chapter 3. Section numbers start with their chapter number, so 1015 is in Chapter 10 and 2406 is in Chapter 24.
- A missed condition. Some rules need every condition to be true. Question 11 needs all four glazing conditions, and Question 39 needs both the rating and the distance.
- A limit or exception. Question 11 expressly excludes certain glazing exceptions. In a supplied-plan exercise, use only the alternatives its fictional documents actually provide; do not import an exception from a different rule.
- Units and direction. Convert feet to inches before taking a percentage (Question 27), distinguish gross from net area (Question 13), and keep horizontal spacing separate from wall height (Question 28).
How this set compares to the real B2
| Row label | ICC B2 exam | This practice set |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 80 multiple choice | 40 original, single best answer |
| Time | 3 hours 30 minutes | Untimed, or an optional 105-minute practice block |
| References | Open book, using the references listed for your exam | 2024 IBC for 14 code questions; complete fictional criteria supplied for 26 plan/specification exercises |
| Code edition | 2021 and 2024 are listed; confirm your selection | Code answers use 2024, not a combined 2021/2024 key |
| Result | ICC scaled scoring; the passing standard is 75 | Your count of correct answers, not an ICC score |
The exam facts come from ICC’s B2 exam page, ICC’s posted B2 content outline (PDF), ICC’s list of current national exams, updated January 12, 2026 (PDF), and ICC’s explanation of its scaled score.
To practice pacing, give yourself 105 minutes for all 40. The real exam allows 210 minutes for 80 questions, or 2.625 minutes (about 2 minutes 38 seconds) per question. At that pace, 40 questions take 105 minutes. This is an arithmetic pacing exercise, not evidence that this set matches the exam’s difficulty or reading load.
What this set does not cover: This is a mixed learning set, not a full-length or blueprint-proportioned mock exam. The foundations, floor and roof groups here use supplied criteria rather than testing all applicable code requirements. There are no substantive masonry-wall, concrete-wall or wall-reinforcement questions, and the set does not teach the full accessibility, deep-foundation or referenced-standard content of the B2. The posted outline assigns 5%, 3% and 2% respectively to those three wall topics—a combined 10%. Use your selected-year catalog outline to identify the topics still to study and its References tab to identify the permitted sources; do not treat a training-course reading list as the exam’s approved-reference list. (ICC B2 outline; ICC Exam Catalog)
Taking the 2021 B2?
ICC lists the B2 in both 2021 and 2024 editions. Match the code year in your selected exam entry to the book you prepare. The year you sit the exam does not, by itself, make this a 2024 assignment. (ICC national exams list, PDF; ICC Exam Catalog)
Don’t use this page’s code questions as a 2021 answer key. The 2024 IBC significant-changes handout (PDF) identifies these new or revised provisions tested here:
- Occupied roofs in the high-rise definition (Question 32, slide 12).
- Lithium-ion battery labs (Question 35, slide 51).
- The occupant load factor for information technology equipment facilities (Question 18, slide 57).
- Exterior wall continuity (Question 39, slide 34).
The supplied-plan exercises are self-contained and are not a second code-edition answer key. For code study, check the requirement and section number in the edition named by your exam entry.
Before exam day
These are the official rules worth knowing before you sit down. Each one links to ICC.
- Books and tabs. For open-book exams, references must be bound: original binding, a three-ring binder or stapled. Notes must be in ink or highlighted, and tabs must be permanently attached. Photocopies of copyrighted material aren’t allowed. Check your exam’s approved references in the Exam Catalog. (ICC exam rules)
- Calculator and scratch work. ICC permits a basic, battery-operated, non-programmable four-function calculator; square-root and percent keys are also allowed. Calculators that store formulas are not allowed. You cannot bring your own paper or pens. For PRONTO, ICC provides an on-screen notepad; follow the materials instructions for your actual testing method. (ICC exam rules)
- Results and retakes. Results are available immediately. A pass is reported as “Pass” without a numeric score; an unsuccessful result includes diagnostic information by content area. For a national certification exam, ICC permits six attempts within six months. After using all six, you cannot register again until six months have elapsed from the first attempt—not six months after the sixth—and another attempt requires another fee. (ICC: After the Exam; ICC exam rules)
For the current registration price, selected code year and delivery choices, use ICC’s B2 exam entry and the Exam Catalog.
For a study schedule, a tab plan and more on the exam format, use the six-week plan in our ICC B2 exam prep guide.
Sources and last verified
By Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team
Last verified October 5, 2026: the linked ICC sources for exam format, offered editions, posted outline weights, scaled scoring, references and retakes; the cited source passages for the 14 model-code questions; and the stated criteria and calculations for the 26 supplied-plan exercises. The selected-year catalog entry remains the place to check your approved-reference list, delivery choices and registration price.
How we wrote and checked these questions. The questions are original and unofficial. Model-code answers cite ICC publications, reproduced 2024 code text, or primary ICC-authored technical explanations. Where an annotated proposal reproduces a rule, the answer uses the original 2024 text—not the proposed amendment. Supplied-plan questions use fictional criteria printed in the item; those values are not claims about general IBC minimums and are not approved construction details.
Your jurisdiction may amend the model code, so for real projects, use the code your jurisdiction has adopted and the applicable approved documents. This resource was developed with AI assistance. Source checking isn’t a professional code-official review. Read how we create and check our resources.
Official ICC sources:
- B2 content outline (PDF)
- B2 exam page
- Current national exams, updated January 12, 2026 (PDF)
- Exam Catalog
- Admin/Rules
- After the Exam
- Understanding ICC’s passing scaled score of 75
Found an error? Follow our corrections policy and include the question ID and the source section.
Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher, not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by the International Code Council. These are not official, recalled or leaked exam questions. Exam and credential names identify their subjects; trademarks belong to their respective owners. This resource does not guarantee a passing score or confer certification, licensure or employment.