Attics & Crawl Spaces Flashcards
7 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 7 Attics & Crawl Spaces flashcards as text
Which of the following conditions in an attic would an ASHI inspector identify as a sign of prior or active roof leak?
Answer: Water stains on the underside of roof sheathing near penetrations or valleys
Water stains near roof penetrations or valleys indicate where rainwater has entered, making these common leak locations to document.
In a crawl space, wood structural members should maintain what minimum clearance above exposed soil?
Answer: 18 inches
IRC and most building codes require 18 inches of clearance between exposed soil and wood structural members to prevent decay.
An ASHI inspector observes that an attic has rigid foam insulation applied to the underside of the roof deck rather than on the attic floor. This is known as:
Answer: Hot roof or unvented roof assembly
Insulating the roof deck underside creates a hot roof or unvented assembly, which is acceptable when properly designed but eliminates traditional attic ventilation.
Which of the following represents a safety hazard an inspector may encounter when walking an attic?
Answer: Missing or inadequate walking boards over joists covered with insulation
Walking on insulation-covered joists without boards creates a fall-through risk because joists may be hard to locate underfoot.
A crawl space has support posts that are sitting directly on bare soil with no footings. This condition is a concern because:
Answer: The posts will absorb moisture and eventually rot, compromising structural support
Wood posts on bare soil absorb moisture from the ground, accelerating decay and eventually compromising the structural load they carry.
When inspecting an attic, an ASHI inspector finds that recessed light fixtures penetrate the ceiling and are not IC-rated. Why is this a concern?
Answer: Unrated fixtures allow cold air infiltration, reducing energy efficiency, and cannot have insulation placed over them
Non-IC-rated fixtures can overheat if covered with insulation, creating a fire hazard, so insulation must be kept away from them, reducing energy efficiency.
What is the recommended minimum R-value for insulation installed between floor joists over a crawl space in a mixed/humid US climate zone?
Answer: R-30
In mixed and humid US climates, R-30 is the commonly recommended minimum for floor insulation over an unconditioned crawl space.