CCI CCI Quality Control & Assurance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct curing temperature range for standard Portland cement concrete to achieve optimal strength gain?
- 50°F to 95°F (10°C to 35°C) (Correct answer)
- 32°F to 50°F (0°C to 10°C)
- Above 95°F (35°C)
- Below 32°F (0°C)
Correct answer: 50°F to 95°F (10°C to 35°C)
ACI 308 specifies that concrete should be maintained between 50°F and 95°F during curing to allow proper hydration and strength development.
Question 2: What is the purpose of pre-installation conferences in a quality control program?
- To ensure all parties understand requirements, materials, and procedures before critical work begins (Correct answer)
- To satisfy a contractual billing milestone
- To allow the inspector to meet project subcontractors for networking
- To review contractor insurance certificates
Correct answer: To ensure all parties understand requirements, materials, and procedures before critical work begins
Pre-installation conferences align the contractor, subcontractor, inspector, and design team on specifications, sequencing, and quality requirements before work starts.
Question 3: During quality control inspection of structural steel bolt installation, what torque verification method uses a calibrated wrench to check installed bolts?
- Turn-of-nut verification or torque-wrench verification per AISC and RCSC specifications (Correct answer)
- Visual inspection of bolt head marks only
- Measuring the bolt protrusion past the nut
- Tapping bolts with a hammer to detect looseness
Correct answer: Turn-of-nut verification or torque-wrench verification per AISC and RCSC specifications
AISC and RCSC require pretensioned bolts to be verified by approved methods including calibrated torque wrench testing or turn-of-nut verification with inspection.
Question 4: What is the key difference between quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) in construction?
- QC is performed by the contractor to meet specifications; QA is performed by an independent party to verify compliance (Correct answer)
- QA is done by the contractor; QC is done by the owner
- QC and QA are interchangeable terms with no practical difference
- QA only applies to material testing; QC applies to workmanship
Correct answer: QC is performed by the contractor to meet specifications; QA is performed by an independent party to verify compliance
QC is the contractor's internal self-checking process, while QA is the independent verification by the owner, inspector, or third-party to confirm QC is working.
Question 5: When inspecting fireproofing (spray-applied fire-resistive material) on structural steel, what is the primary measurement the inspector records?
- Dry film thickness using a calibrated depth gauge at required test intervals (Correct answer)
- Color uniformity and surface texture
- Weight of material applied per bag
- Adhesion strength by hand pull test only
Correct answer: Dry film thickness using a calibrated depth gauge at required test intervals
The thickness of applied fireproofing is the critical performance characteristic, measured with a calibrated depth gauge to verify the required hourly fire rating will be achieved.
Question 6: What does ICC/IBC require regarding the qualifications of a Special Inspector for structural welding?
- The inspector must be a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) per AWS D1.1 or approved equivalent (Correct answer)
- Any licensed contractor may perform structural weld inspection
- A Professional Engineer must personally perform all weld inspections
- No specific credentials are required beyond general construction experience
Correct answer: The inspector must be a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) per AWS D1.1 or approved equivalent
IBC requires structural weld inspectors to be qualified as a CWI under AWS D1.1 or meet equivalent credentials accepted by the authority having jurisdiction.
CCI CCI Quality Control & Assurance 2
What is the correct curing temperature range for standard Portland cement concrete to achieve optimal strength gain?