ASHI Foundations & Basements Flashcards
6 cards from real ASHI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 ASHI Foundations & Basements flashcards as text
What is the minimum headroom required in a basement by most US model building codes (IRC)?
Answer: 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm)
The IRC requires a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches in habitable basement spaces, with beams permitted to project lower.
During a crawl space inspection, an ASHI inspector finds standing water. This should be reported because:
Answer: Standing water promotes wood rot, mold growth, and deterioration of structural components
Standing water in a crawl space creates conditions for fungal growth and wood decay, directly threatening floor framing and other structural components.
A crawl space vapor retarder should cover:
Answer: At least the exposed soil of the crawl space floor, lapped and sealed at seams
The vapor retarder must cover the exposed soil to block ground moisture from evaporating into the crawl space and wetting structural wood.
Pyrite (iron sulfide) inclusions in fill used beneath a concrete slab can cause:
Answer: Swelling and heaving of the slab as the pyrite oxidizes and expands
When pyrite oxidizes in the presence of water and oxygen, it expands significantly, creating upward pressure that heaves and cracks concrete slabs.
What does an ASHI inspector look for when evaluating foundation settlement?
Answer: Cracks, displacement, out-of-plumb walls, sticking doors, and sloped floors
Settlement manifests as a pattern of related symptoms throughout the structure, including cracks, door and window binding, and floor slope.
Which foundation type is most susceptible to lateral soil pressure causing wall failure?
Answer: Hollow concrete masonry unit (CMU/block) wall
Hollow CMU walls have lower bending resistance than solid poured concrete, making them more vulnerable to cracking and bowing under lateral soil pressure.